This Mindset Shift Separates The 1% from Everyone Else | Giovanni Vaccaro

On this episode of the Strong New York Podcast, host Kenny Santucci sits down with Giovanni Vaccaro — co-founder of Glamsquad, an on-demand beauty service platform and founder of Peak Mode Coaching, his high-performance coaching business for executives, founders, and entrepreneurs. Strength isn't just something you build in the gym — it's a mindset. Giovanni breaks down his journey from shampooing hair 25-30 times a day at a top Manhattan salon to building a beauty-tech company from the ground up, and the mental toughness, discipline, and "radical responsibility" that took him from stylist to CEO to executive coach. This one is packed with lessons on staying strong through setbacks, building unshakable habits, and why nobody is coming to save you. In this episode: \- Growing up in an immigrant Italian family and the blue-collar work ethic that shaped him \- Paying his dues: 2.5 years shampooing hair before ever touching scissors \- The "light bulb" moment that led to founding Glamsquad \- Building the mental strength to shift his identity from "hairstylist" to "entrepreneur" \- Why imposter syndrome is actually a sign of strength, not weakness \- Hiring for your weaknesses and killing the "self-made" myth \- Glamsquad's near-collapse during COVID — and the strength it took to rebuild \- His non-negotiable 5am routine: meditation, prayer, gratitude, training \- Training for his first marathon and the obsession behind elite performance \- The 3 things every strong, high performer has in common \- "No one's coming to save you" — radical responsibility and ditching the victim mindset \- Why he started Peak Mode Coaching and how identity-first coaching builds mental strength Chapters: 0:00 – Intro: Radical responsibility & don't play the victim 2:10 – Welcome Giovanni Vaccaro + Strong New York 10th Anniversary 4:00 – Growing up Italian, working for his father, discovering the salon world 8:15 – Telling his dad he wanted to be a hairdresser 10:00 – Starting at the bottom: 2.5 years to become a stylist 14:30 – Building a client book & why every person is an opportunity 18:00 – The Glamsquad "light bulb" moment 22:00 – Shifting identity from stylist to entrepreneur 25:30 – Imposter syndrome as a sign you're playing a bigger game 28:00 – The power of a great business partner 32:00 – Hiring for your weaknesses, not your ego 36:00 – Launching Glamsquad & the slow build to viral growth 41:00 – What makes a great Glamsquad pro (and the hiring process) 45:00 – Money vs. purpose: what really drives high performers 50:00 – His 5am routine: meditation, prayer, gratitude, cold plunge 55:00 – Training for his first marathon & building mental strength 59:00 – The 3 non-negotiables of every strong, high performer 1:03:00 – "No one's coming to save you" — radical ownership 1:08:00 – Losing weight at 13 and the discipline that followed 1:14:00 – Glamsquads' worst year (COVID) and the rebuild 1:18:00 – Why he started Peak Mode Coaching 1:23:00 – Identity-first coaching & closing thoughts CONNECT:   Follow Kenny: @kennysantucci Follow the Strong New York Podcast: @strongnewyorkpod Follow Giovanni Vaccaro:  @giovannivaccaro #GlamSquad #EntrepreneurMindset #Selfimprovement  This episode is sponsored by: 🔥 Celsius — the energy drink that fuels every Strong New York workout. Follow @celsiusofficial on Instagram for all the new flavors. 🩸 Marek Health — optimize your hormones, recovery, and performance at marekhealth.com. Use code KENNY for 10% off Diagnostics, Supplements, and Guided Optimization. 🤝 Founders Club — a trusted circle of 2,500+ builders across North America who share resources, open doors, and raise the bar for entrepreneurship. Learn more at FoundersClubOfficial.com.