Episode 33: Forged by Fire, Clay Hepler’s No-Excuse Journey to 7 Figures in Land

May 14, 2025

Join two hosts as they delve into a remarkable journey of land investing, marked by initial setbacks and the need for resilience. Clay shares how family responsibilities intertwined with his entrepreneurial pursuits, navigating the tightrope of work-life balance. They discuss strategic hiring and the importance of seeking potential over cost. From sending out thousands of mailers to securing deals, Clay's story highlights the power of mindset shifts and embracing adversity as a catalyst for growth.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Clay's Tough Land Investing Start

Clay Hepler shares his difficult start with land investing amid financial and personal hardships, including losing his wife's income abruptly.
He sent 15,000 mailers initially with no deals but persisted due to necessity, not a moment of epiphany.

ANECDOTE

First Successes Fueled by HELOC

After initial failure, Clay used a HELOC for his first successful deal, making a 20K profit.
His second major deal netted 80K, crucial to sustaining his business through cash flow challenges.

ADVICE

Hire To Maintain Momentum

Hire help strategically to sustain momentum when life demands your attention.
Clay hired a lead manager and texter before his wedding to maintain lead flow and never lose ground.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

🎙️ Welcome Back to The Ground Game Podcast! 🎙️

In this episode, hosts Clay Hepler and Justin Piche dive into Clay's inspiring journey in land investing, discussing the challenges he faced and the lessons learned along the way. They explore the mindset shifts necessary to overcome adversity and achieve success in the real estate business.

Key Highlights

Personal Updates:
Clay shares his experiences juggling family responsibilities while navigating the ups and downs of his business journey. Justin reflects on a recent birthday celebration and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance amidst the hustle.

Understanding Bottlenecks:
The hosts delve into the significance of identifying and addressing bottlenecks in your business. Clay recounts his early struggles with sending out 15,000 mailers without securing a deal, emphasizing the need to focus on core problems to drive meaningful outcomes.

The Power of Strategic Thinking:
Clay and Justin highlight the importance of thinking strategically about land investing. They discuss how Clay transitioned from flipping houses to focusing on land, illustrating the mindset shifts that led to his eventual success.

Hiring for Success:
They explore the common mistake of hiring based solely on cost rather than potential output. Clay shares his experience of hiring a lead manager and a texter to help scale his business, stressing the value of investing in skilled team members.

Funding and Leverage:
The episode covers the importance of utilizing funding options and leveraging other people's money to expand investment capabilities. Clay discusses how he used a HELOC to finance his first successful deal after a challenging start.

Building a Consistent Business:
Clay and Justin emphasize the need to build a business focused on volume and consistency rather than relying on one-off deals. They share insights on how Clay's perseverance and strategic decisions helped him create a sustainable operation.

This episode is packed with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and actionable insights that can help you break free from the cycle of struggle in land investing. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this conversation is essential for anyone looking to transform their land investment strategy for success.

Learn about Justin’s 1:1 Coaching

Apply for private coaching with clay

Submit Your Deal for funding

The Ground Game Podcast

Justin's Socials:

Clay's Socials: