Episode 002: The Fireman's Hedge: Profit, Purpose, and the Arbitrage Mindset with Ted Harton
Ted Harton runs into burning buildings for a living. That is real risk. But when he gets home? He bets on sports.
Most people hear "betting" and think gambling. They think luck. They think recklessness. They are wrong.
Ted isn't gambling. He is following a protocol. Just like in the firehouse. He uses a system called arbitrage to exploit inefficiencies in the market. It is not about hunches. It is about math.
But Ted didn’t start here. He had to burn his old life down first. He got "lost in the sauce." He was partying. He was unfaithful. He was drifting.
Then business hit him hard. Amazon shut him down. He lost $15,000 in inventory. It was gone. Trash.
The truth is... most people would quit. They would stay down.
Ted didn't. He used the pain. He pivoted. He found a way to hedge his bets in life and business.
In this episode, we talk about the difference between fear and danger. We talk about the "Essentialism" of quitting the wrong things. We talk about how to beat the books using their own money.
Everything you want exists on the other side of fear.
Show Notes & Key Takeaways
- [02:22] The Double Life: Ted is a full-time firefighter. He works 24 hours on. He gets 48 hours off. He uses that time to build wealth.
- [08:26] The Blessing in Disguise: Ted got fired and kicked out of his apartment in Chicago in the same week. It forced him home. It led him to the fire department.
- [24:12] Hitting Rock Bottom: Ted gets real. He talks about cheating on his girlfriend and partying too much. He felt like a fraud. He decided to become the man he thought he was.
- [34:49] The $15,000 Loss: Amazon gated his account before Black Friday. A prep center error destroyed his inventory. He lost huge money. He realized he built a business on sand.
- [43:25] Quitting is a Strength: Ted read Essentialism. He realized his Amazon business wasn't working. He killed his ego. He walked away to find something better.
- [48:45] The System: Arbitrage betting explained. You bet on both sides. You use the difference in odds. You guarantee a profit. No luck required.
- [55:13] Research is the Enemy: You don't need to know sports. You need to know numbers. If you bet with your gut, you lose.
- [1:03:25] The Credit Card Hedge: How Ted uses credit cards to buy gift cards and fund his accounts. He racks up points. He creates cash flow.
- [1:09:50] Be the Light: Emotional regulation is the game. You cannot watch the scoreboard. You have to trust the process.
Connect with Ted Harton
- Website: https://teddybets.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted_bets
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ted.harton
Creators and Guests
Host
Karl Jacobi
Host of The Grit Factor Podcast, Resilience & Performance Coach, Founder, Entrepreneur, Combat Veteran
