EP 81: What 2025 Taught Maria Giordano the Hard Way About Running a Real Estate Business

What 2025 Taught Maria Giordano the Hard Way About Running a Real Estate Business2025 exposed a hard truth for a lot of Real Estate investors: deals don’t save you if your operations are broken.In this episode, Maria Giordano joins me for an honest breakdown of what 2025 revealed about running a Real Estate business in a changing market. With over 20 years of experience, Maria isn’t new to cycles, but this year forced a deep operational reset that reshaped how she thinks about control, leverage, and sustainability going into 2026.This conversation goes far beyond surface-level strategy. We get into the weeds on operations, accounting, rehabs, negotiations, and how slowing down actually created more clarity and momentum.In this episode, we cover:- Why Real Estate rewards operators, not just deal-makers- The operational mistakes that quietly bleed profits in tough markets- How tightening systems and numbers restored control in 2025- Why trusting your local market data matters more than national headlines- How Maria rebuilt confidence after operational breakdowns- Using AI as a practical tool to audit books, document processes, and reduce risk- What “scale by doing better, not more” really looks like- Maria’s focus for 2026, including small commercial, mixed-use assets, and leverage for time freedomThe bigger picture: 2025 Review and 2026 FocusThis episode is part of an ongoing series where I’m sitting down with experienced operators to reflect honestly on 2025 and talk through what they’re prioritizing in 2026. These aren’t highlight reels. They’re real conversations about what worked, what didn’t, and what it takes to keep momentum when markets change.Stay tuned through the endAt the end of the episode, Maria and I share an exciting update about a new direction we’re building inside the Strategic Success Podcast. If you care about leverage, systems, and practical tools that help Real Estate investors operate better, you won’t want to miss it.Connect with Maria Giordano:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mgiordano01Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmariagiordano/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmariagiordanoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCnAQoh8D6_m1wuEANBZBD-A Website: https://www.realestateprofitsystem.com/Connect with Courtney Fricke: Instagram: https://instagram.com/courtneyfrickeTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@courtney.fricke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtneyfricke19/X: https://x.com/courtneyfricke YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CourtneyFrickeWebsite: www.CourtneyFricke.com for more resources.Enjoying the Strategic Success Podcast?Subscribe and follow for regular episodes and clips focused on:- Creative finance- Solution-based Real Estate problem solving- Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida market insights- Using content for deal flow- Building wealth designed for time freedomNew episodes and insights drop regularly.