Escaping the 9-to-5 Grind: Lane Kawaoka on Leaving a W-2 & Climbing the Wealth Elevator

Apr 1, 2025

56:28

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In this episode of From Adversity to Abundance, host Jamie Bateman sits down with Lane Kawaoka, a former engineer who broke free from the traditional 9-to-5 grind to achieve financial independence through real estate. After spending 12 years in engineering, Lane realized that the conventional path—working hard, saving in a 401(k), and hoping for a comfortable retirement—wasn’t the key to true wealth. Instead, he started investing in rental properties while working his W-2 job, gradually shifting from passive to active investing.

Today, Lane has invested in over $2 billion worth of real estate and owns or has a stake in more than 10,000 rental units. But this episode isn’t just about his impressive portfolio—it’s about challenging the status quo. Lane shares the mental hurdles of leaving a stable career, the struggles of early investments, and how he navigated real estate deals that didn’t go as planned. He also calls out common financial myths, including the overpriced guru programs that promise wealth but often underdeliver.

Guest Introduction: Lane Kawaoka

Lane Kawaoka is a former civil engineer who left his 9-to-5 job to become a full-time real estate investor. Starting with a handful of rental properties, he now manages investments in over 10,000 units and has been involved in $2 billion worth of real estate transactions. He is also a podcast host, author, and educator, helping others break free from the traditional financial system to achieve financial freedom.

Episode Highlights:

Breaking Free from the 9-to-5 – Lane shares how he realized the traditional career path wasn’t for him and how he took the leap into real estate.
Scaling Real Estate Investments – From 11 rentals to 10,000+ units, Lane explains his shift from passive investor to full-time real estate entrepreneur.
The Struggles of Transitioning Careers – The mindset challenges and practical difficulties of leaving a stable job.
Lessons from Real Estate Deals That Went Wrong – What Lane learned from setbacks and how he adjusted his approach.
Calling Out the Gurus – Why Lane believes you don’t need a $30,000 course to be successful in real estate.
Building Real Wealth – How Lane uses his podcast, community, and experience to educate others on achieving financial freedom.

Key Takeaways:

The traditional financial path may not be the best route to wealth and freedom.
Investing in real estate can provide a way to escape the 9-to-5 grind, but it requires the right mindset and approach.
Setbacks and failures are part of the journey—learning from them is key to long-term success.
You don’t need to spend thousands on expensive mentorship programs to succeed; education and action are what matter most.
A refreshing, no-nonsense approach to financial independence can be both inspiring and practical.

Resources:

Website:https://www.theWealthElevator.com

Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/simplepassivecashflow.com/id1118795347

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/

Check out his book “The Wealth Elevator" on his website:

https://thewealthelevator.com/home/book/

Integrity Income Fund:

https://labradorlending.com/investors/passive-investors/

Labrador Mentorship:

labradorlending.com/investors/active-investors/

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