The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast|Real Estate Investing

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down for a family cast with Annette Weber from Minnesota, one of our Wicked Smart® Associates whose journey perfectly illustrates what happens when you combine creative real estate, hands-on coaching, and a relentless mindset reset.  Annette walks through trying three other coaching programs before finding our community, joining the 90-Day Apprentice, attending QLS Live (now 3 Days Live), and leveling up into High 6 and Presidents Club. We unpack how she went from feeling "broken" with zero belief in herself to having a framed $321,648 projected 3 Paydays® check on her wall and a $1.1M goal check dated December 31, 2026.  We talk mindset, coaching access, updated training, community, and confidence on the phone, plus the real-life lows—family health issues, lost deals and how the right support system helps you keep moving. If you've tried other programs, hit roadblocks, or are wondering if you can really do this, Annette's story will give you a very real, very current look at what's possible. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:13 Annette's background: insurance, mobile homes & the long road to real estate 02:07 3 coaching programs that didn't work (and why) 05:06 What clicked when Annette joined QLS Live 07:07 For listeners burned by other programs: what's actually different here? 08:31 Mindset, belief & rebuilding confidence 10:28 Why we obsess over mindset, not just "how to do a deal" 14:30 The $321,648 check & the $1.1M vision check for 2026 16:40 Hitting lows: health issues, lost deals & staying in the game 18:08 Day in the life: 4–6 touches with coaches & a 4:30 a.m. countdown 20:03 Live events: 3 Days Live & why proximity matters 22:20 Every coach, one mission: "Let's all get there" 26:54 Why taking action is the key to your success Quotables "I came in, in uncertain terms, I was broken. I believed in you and the other coaches, but not in myself. I had like zero belief in myself." "There's so many people that need our help, especially sellers… and not to mention the thousands of buyers that I have now on my list." "We're all in the game to win more deals. It's very simple." Links QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm bringing back a good friend of the community, Jim Oliver, one of the world's foremost authorities on Infinite Banking and the founder of CreateTailwind. Jim has 38 years in the financial trenches, 12 of those under the late R. Nelson Nash, the pioneer of the Infinite Banking Concept®. Together, we break down how to take back control from traditional banks, keep more of the interest you're giving away, and use properly structured whole life policies to fund cash-flowing real estate and businesses instead of Wall Street.  We talk about the big problems with indexed universal life (IUL) being sold as "infinite banking," why guarantees and design matter, and how to vet a real Infinite Banking coach. Jim then gives a simple, clear explanation of how banks actually make money off your deposits, how Infinite Banking makes you the depositor, bank owner, and borrower, and the three biggest mistakes people make when they start. We finish with a powerful conversation about escaping the 9–5, changing your identity to "investor," and designing a 2026 vision where you stop exchanging time for money and your assets pay you instead. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:49 What's new in the Infinite Banking world? 02:06 The IUL problem: when "infinite banking" gets bastardized 03:48 Whole life vs. universal life for Infinite Banking 04:12 Chasing short-term optics with low base / high PUAs 05:26 How to vet a real Infinite Banking mentor 08:22 How Infinite Banking really works 10:47 The problem with traditional banking 11:48 Why use a whole life policy as your "bank"? 12:50 How to reach Jim & what working with CreateTailwind looks like 13:58 3 biggest mistakes people make with Infinite Banking 16:17 Entrepreneurship and escaping the 9-5 grind 18:07 Identity & environment: two levers to pull for 2026 19:37 Observe, assist, lead, then teach 20:34 Media, markets & the danger of the herd Quotables "The problem is that we finance every single thing that we buy. We either pay interest to someone else or we give up interest that we could have earned somewhere else." "Any time you have a nine to five, I don't care if you're making millions of dollars a year, you're in captivity." "If you're in the herd, you're in the majority. You're wrong." Links CreateTailwind https://createtailwind.com Breakaway Wealth https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-nWVcVpkLqnDXSdqejEqDxR20TpKfe7z&si=fCMS-e95ckyrQQGw Jim Oliver jimoliver@createtailwind.com NREIG https://smartrealestatecoach.com/nreig QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this special coaching sit-down, I hit pause on tactics and deals and go deep into the mental game of real estate investing—the part that actually determines whether you ever hit your income goals, leave your W-2, or build the life you keep saying you want.  I walk our community through practical mindset work: scripting your perfect day and perfect year, shifting from reaction to creation, removing distractions, and getting brutally honest about where you are vs. where you say you want to be. We talk about vision, exposure, coaching, accountability, and belief, and I share personal stories from rebuilding after 2008 to helping my son Nick rewire his thinking after his accident to show you exactly how this work looks in real life.  You'll hear live questions from our group about negative self-talk, self-sabotage, overwhelm, and balance while juggling a W-2, and we break those down into clear, simple action steps you can implement this week. If you're serious about scaling your real estate business, leaving your job, or just getting unstuck, this episode will help you build the mindset, habits, and environment that make the deals, the 3 Paydays®, and the lifestyle inevitable. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 02:17 The importance of reviewing your vision daily 03:12 Do you have your perfect day/week/year scripted? 04:00 The "drunk monkey" and the biggest stumbling block 05:02 The real test of mindset: not when things are easy, but when things get tough 06:31 What is your biggest risk of 2026? 07:26 The "reaction" vs "creation" exercise 09:57 Should mindset be in your schedule? 11:40 Exposure & who you get around in 2026 13:17 Leveraging the power of community to make the connections you need 14:36 Visualizing your future: what does life look like a year from now? 15:39 Mindset coach & reframing limiting beliefs 16:45 Be brutally honest about where you are (and be okay with it) 17:55 The importance of learning to own your journey and future 19:18 Don't take advice from the average; look at their results 21:30 Should you follow the right coach 100%? 22:18 The "game of tennis" with your coach 24:24 Overcoming your recurring negative thoughts 25:24 Solution: script, record & loop your perfect future 26:48 Descriptive but not restrictive: get deep and don't hesitate 29:55 How the start of your day will impact your success 32:25 The philosophy behind "the action creates the belief" 35:20 The $321K check and visual anchors 37:05 Jim Carrey's $10M check story 38:32 Navigating challenges between balancing business and a W-2 40:13 CEO exercise: if you can only do 3 things 44:30 Mindset work takes longer than scripts Quotables "Your biggest risk in my opinion of not achieving your goals in '26 is not getting rid of distractions." "It's easier to act your way into a new belief than it is to believe your way into a new action." "If someone is where you want to be, and they give you advice, should you do it 100%… even when you don't feel like it?" Links QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm hanging out with someone who's been in the trenches in some of the toughest rental markets and came out retired on a Florida beach — Ron Faraci. Ron has owned and managed several hundred low-income rentals, transformed ugly, problem portfolios into highly profitable ones, and ran CT REIA, the fifth-largest real estate investors association in the country. He's also the author of Confessions of a Landlord and creator of the now-famous 31-page "Bulletproof Lease."  We unpack how Ron quit his job, cashed out his 401(k), and went all-in on class C/D "ghetto-adjacent" properties, why he cares more about terms than price, and how he used forced appreciation and systems to retire in his mid-40s. He shares real-world landlording tactics—no garbage disposals, painted "magic handles," orange-coated copper, even canine-unit letters to chase off drug dealers—plus why he runs his business with "no mercy, no quarter" and a lease tenants initial 80+ times. If you're a landlord, property manager, or aspiring buy-and-hold investor who wants cash flow, control, and fewer headaches, this conversation is a masterclass in how to make tough rentals profitable without losing your mind. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:03 Who is Ron Faraci? 02:30 Semi-retired in St. Augustine, FL (and why the beach isn't "enough") 03:13 Blue-collar beginnings, LA sales job, and a fear of losing it all 04:34 Quitting the job, cashing in his 401K and burning the boats 05:05 Discovering creative financing early in his real estate career 06:02 Finding his tribe in CT REIA and buying it 07:11 Selling CT REIA and realizing that there's no finish line 08:45 Why joining your local REIA is key to getting started 10:20 Macro curveballs & building your "pivot muscle" 11:16 The pivot during COVID: Zoom meetings & over-delivering value 12:44 The money in tough, low-income areas 13:30 The million-dollar "worst two-family" example 14:02 No mercy, no quarter: If you want a friend, buy a puppy 15:16 The importance of knowing your fastball and letting someone else run your business 19:17 Appreciation vs. forcing NOI with cap rates as multipliers 20:38 What doesn't belong in low-income units 22:24 Magic handles, dirty copper & fly-free trash cans 25:30 Clearing out drug dealers with a single letter 27:57 The story behind The Bulletproof Lease 28:31 Where to find a copy of the Bulletproof Lease Quotables "You grow up with no money, you're stressed about having no money. Then you get a little bit, you're stressed about losing it." "If I was playing poker, I pushed all the chips in. If you want to take the island, burn your boats." "No mercy, no quarter… If you want a friend, buy a puppy… and if you want to eff around, you're going to find out." Links The Bulletproof Lease https://bulletprooflease.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I'm finally pulling back the curtain on how we insure our own portfolio. For about 12 years, my family and I have insured all of our non-owner-occupied, investment properties through National Real Estate Insurance Group (NREIG), whether it's buy-and-hold rentals, multifamily, or creative subject-to deals. I'm joined by Seth Markum, Executive VP of Sales at NREIG, with 20+ years in property and casualty insurance and a background in building one of the first national online commercial P&C agencies. We break down landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance, why rental properties are treated as commercial exposure, and how NREIG structures real estate investor insurance across single-family, multifamily, short-term rentals, mobile homes, land, and creative strategies even if you're using multiple LLCs in multiple states. Seth also walks you through their monthly reporting program, how one flexible policy can follow a property from occupied to vacant to renovation without gaps in coverage, and how they handle subject-to insurance the right way. If you've ever wondered how to properly insure your rental properties and real estate investments, this episode will show you exactly what to ask for and how to get a proposal from NREIG. Key Talking Points of the Episode: 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Who is Seth Markum? 03:19 Landlord vs. homeowner policies (and why homeowners "never works") 04:18 One company vs. multiple niches: why customization matters 05:08 No one-size-fits-all: mix forms, deductibles & locations 06:21 What makes NREIG different from other insurance companies 08:19 Why you don't want "agent Bob on the corner" for creative deals 09:01 Making insurance simple for real estate investors 10:02 Dealing with vacancies and fix and flips with NREIG 11:21 How to get a proposal from NREIG 13:10 The importance of understanding the kind of insurance you have Quotables "If you're not getting a customized policy… that may not be the scenario that you want to entertain." "All phases of occupancy are contemplated on our single policy form." "If you just want something that's going to be all encompassing, no matter what your strategy is, this is going to be the best solution for you." Links NREIG https://nreig.com/ sales@nreig.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Alex Arguelles—CEO, co-founder, and operator who scaled from a two-man startup in a garage to 9,000+ units across multiple states by his early 30s. We unpack how he started buying distressed debt right out of college in 2007–2008, raised 100% investor capital, vertically integrated management, and navigated all the headaches that come with growing from 3 employees to 175 and working through 15,000 apartments over 13 years.  We talk about raising credibility when you're young and broke, hiring (and firing) your first key people, managing teams in multiple states, and why Alex believes your unfair advantage is your willingness to "just learn" by getting your hands dirty. Then we fast-forward to today and dive into his new national sale-leaseback platform, Sell2Rent, how it helps investors buy cash-flowing homes with prepaid rent, and why he thinks the people willing to take smart risks in this cycle will be the ones ahead in 2–3 years. If you're trying to go from one or two deals to building something scalable, whether that's a lean portfolio or a full-blown company. This one's a real-world masterclass in cycles, capital, people, and mindset. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:01 Meet Alex Arguelles: From 21-year-old founder to 9,000 units 02:16 Scaling from 3 people to 175 employees before exiting in 2020 03:24 Running toward the fire: distressed debt & vertical integration 05:03 No burn, no money, and desensitized to risk 06:48 The problems with building credibility as a young investor 08:02 Dealing with doubters and how pain tolerance plays into his success 09:06 Learning through Mortgage for Dummies and no YouTube 10:05 Lessons from scaling across states on culture, DNA & hiring remotely 11:20 The importance of hiring better people to avoid big, expensive mistakes 15:04 Where investors can find opportunities in real estate today 16:36 The Florida real estate market: valuations and rents holding (for now) 17:22 The differences between 2008 and 2025 18:30 How data access can help you collaborate with other investors in your area 20:08 The first step to getting involved in multifamily real estate 21:06 How you should navigate the single-family real estate market 22:37 Sell2Rent: A nationwide platform that connects investors with off-market properties 23:49 What makes Sell2Rent different from other similar platforms 25:02 How taking smarter risks today will put you ahead in 2-3 years 27:14 How to get in touch with Alex and his team Quotables "We started running towards the fire. We started buying distressed debt. We had no money, so we had to raise 100% investor funds." "You make all your money in real estate when you hit the returns or when you use other people's money." "For the people who are willing to take a risk right now, I think they're going to be ahead in two years to three years." Links Sell2Rent https://www.sell2rent.com/ QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books 3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this masterclass episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Trevor Mauch, founder and CEO of Carrot, a five-time Inc. 5000 company that's helped thousands of real estate investors and agents generate highly motivated seller leads online. Trevor's not just a "software guy" either—he's a buy-and-hold commercial investor himself, doing owner-carry deals and turning dead space into productive luxury apartments in his small town of Roseburg, Oregon. We start with something almost everyone asks me at bootcamps: lead gen. Trevor breaks down what he calls evergreen marketing, online lead systems that work for you 24/7 instead of keeping you on the hamster wheel of cold calling and direct mail. Then we go deep on AI search visibility, how Google's AI overviews and tools like ChatGPT are changing SEO, and what you can do right now to win in that new world. From there we shift into entrepreneur mindset: breaking through revenue "pain lines," designing your calendar around energy instead of just money, and building a business that actually funds your life vision instead of trapping you. Trevor shares exactly how he scaled Carrot to an eight-figure company, the role coaching and masterminds played, and why your business should give you energy, income, and impact, not just revenue. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:04 Who is Trevor Mauch? 03:02 Trevor's background: Growing Carrot and investing in real estate 04:55 The problem with "hamster wheel" marketing 06:56 How evergreen marketing generates inbound online leads 07:57 The impact of AI in how SEO works today 09:15 Practical AI SEO tips you can implement today 12:26 Taking advantage of hyperlocal links to build credibility online 15:56 Where to find Trevor and the AI Search Visibility Challenge 17:20 Business growth in 3s and 10s: The "Pain Lines" 19:50 Avoiding the "shiny object" churn through 12-month contracts 21:02 Optimizing for revenue vs optimizing for energy 22:01 The Quarterly Energy Audit: Identifying top energy-drainers 23:07 Redefining success and the purpose of being in business 27:09 Business game-changers: Coaching programs and masterminds 31:21 Fitness, faith, and proximity 34:04 What's next: EPIC Coaching, AI, and expanding Carrot Quotables "Business should give us work that interests and energizes us, it should fund our vision, and it should help us deliver an impact we're proud of." "Evergreen marketing might take a little bit longer to get going, but it builds this foundation and it builds amazing momentum." "You're the best person to mentor the person you used to be." Links Carrot https://carrot.com Trevor Mauch https://instagram.com/trevor.mauch QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Arizona real estate advisor and coach Asher Cohen to talk about building a real estate career and portfolio you actually enjoy. We cover how he went from marketing and commercial real estate through the 2008 crash to closing nearly 1,000 deals, focusing on buy-and-hold rentals, high-demand markets, and turning your current home into your first investment property. We also dive into leaving the W-2, using coaching the right way, working with investor-savvy agents, and Asher's core value of "love where you live." If you're an investor, agent, or aspiring full-time real estate entrepreneur, this episode will help you design a values-driven, cash-flowing real estate business. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Who is Asher Cohen? 03:04 From marketing to commercial real estate before the 2008 crash 04:02 Pivot to residential: buy-and-hold, fix-and-flip, and hedge funds 05:08 Personal investing strategy: long-term buy-and-hold & "monopoly boards" 06:10 Arizona market shifts & why cash flow is harder today 07:55 Getting out of your W-2: Take the plunge & have faith 09:28 The role of coaching in making big transitions 10:44 Beware the gimmick coaches: 12:02 Ethics, values & the whole-life approach to coaching 16:09 Asher's three pillars: team, coaching, and transaction management 18:45 How investors should leverage relationships with investor-savvy agents 20:18 The difference between having a dedicated agent vs "whoever brings me a deal" 21:53 Primary transaction markets: Phoenix Metro, plus northern Arizona 23:24 How to get in touch with Asher and his team 24:10 Upcoming episode on The Real Deal with Asher Cohen Quotables "The best investment property is probably the one they own already." "You have to just take the plunge.You have to have the faith in yourself to make that leap." "Everyone should have a coach. The coach should have a coach, the coaches' coach should have a coach." Links Asher Cohen (480) 650-2995 BUYAZRE https://buyazre.com QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books https://3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this solo episode of the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I pull back the curtain on my early days of investing and the messy transition from the 2008 crash into creative real estate. I walk you through the "dead zone" years, the IRS and creditor headaches, the move from a waterfront home into a 900-square-foot apartment, and how those experiences forced me to design what eventually became our Three Paydays™ system. If you're sitting in a W2 you don't love, stuck in analysis paralysis, or wondering how to actually replace your job with creative real estate deals, this one is for you. I'll share the exact sequence: hiring a coach when I had no money, raising $25K for a mastermind, doing my first 12+ deals out of a tiny office, building the team around me, and scaling from zero to 10 properties a month under contract. You'll hear the mindset shifts, the tactical steps, and the hard-won lessons that took me from "completely stuck in my head" to building a business and community that now has 95+ years of combined experience helping students all over North America. The goal is simple: shorten your learning curve, help you avoid my mistakes, and challenge you to ask, "Why not me?" Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:24 The value of getting "a decade worth of lessons" handed to you 03:05 The difference between knowing the path vs. walking it 04:24 30/60/120-second decisions & the cost of indecision 05:47 What your real risk is: Gut check for anyone with a W2 07:13 Goals vs. a real plan with accountability 08:17 Why you don't need the full "how" before you commit to a clear beacon 09:31 IRS, creditors, repossessions, and downsizing to a 900-square-foot apartment 10:10 The birth of the Three Paydays system 11:08 How that "you're done" moment forced me back into the trenches making calls 12:03 Lesson: doubters, weather, circumstances, and past failures can't stop you 14:10 The difference between "crap debt" for toys and investing in yourself 15:34 Proximity, association & eliminating money stress 16:31 How thinking about money 24/7 chokes your creativity 17:20 Why you only need a phone and leads—no fancy tech required 18:13 How 13 deals stacked up between August and December 2013 19:08 Building the team: VAs, Nick, and qualifying buyers 20:23 Why good team members create revenue, not expense 21:29 Lesson: everyone is bad at first—that's normal and fixable 23:53 Tax refund season & stacking big checks 25:05 Future pacing: who are you in 3–5 years? 26:41 Start/stop list & aligning your calendar 28:01 Free resources to help you get on the right track Quotables "There is an enormous difference between knowing the right path and walking it, actually doing it in the trenches." "Only you can stop you." "Good team members will create more revenue, not expense." Links QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast 3 Paydays Books 3paydaysbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources

In this episode of The Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast, I sit down with Mike Stohler—Navy veteran, former airline pilot, and now co-founder of Gateway Private Equity Group to talk about the highs, lows, and pivots that shaped his real estate journey. Mike's story is a masterclass in perseverance and reinvention. He went from losing everything in his early 20s to owning and managing over 1,500 multifamily units and expanding into hotel investing across the U.S. and Spain. We cover how he turned failure into fuel, built confidence through education and mentorship, and made the leap from W-2 employment to full-time investing. Mike also shares his transition from multifamily to hospitality and how partnering with experienced operators helped him scale internationally. If you've ever struggled with fear, self-doubt, or analysis paralysis, this episode will show you what's possible when you commit to learning, surround yourself with the right people, and take calculated risks toward financial freedom. Key Talking Points of the Episode 00:00 Introduction 01:06 Refocusing before the new year and setting goals for 2026 02:02 Meet Mike Stohler: Navy vet, former airline pilot, and real estate entrepreneur 04:01 Buying properties with no experience and losing everything 05:29 Learning resilience through military discipline and rebuilding after failure 07:27 The mindset shift from fear to action—"Just make the move" 09:28 The biggest fears holding investors back and how to overcome them 11:05 Why mentors and proximity are the ultimate accelerators for success 12:06 The power of partnership: how to shadow and learn from experienced investors 17:01 Balancing family, business, and burnout while making the transition from W-2 19:42 "Apartments are not hotels"—why hospitality is a completely different game 21:14 Building partnerships with experienced operators and profit-sharing structures 23:38 Why Spain? Expanding internationally through strong local networks 24:45 Managing hotel investments remotely: systems, teams, and automation 25:13 Turning travel into a business expense: living and investing internationally 26:21 How to get in touch with Mike and his team Quotables "All of the fears that are inside your head are real inside your head—but that's not the truth." "Hotels aren't real estate. They're businesses that sit on real estate." "I'm still learning every day. Warren Buffett's 90 and still reading 10 books a week." Links Mike Stohler https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstohler Gateway Private Equity https://gatewaype.com/ The Richer Geek Podcast https://www.therichergeek.com/ QLS 4.0 - Use coupon code for 50% off https://smartrealestatecoach.com/qls Coupon code: pod Apprentice Program https://3paydaysapprentice.com Coupon code: Podcast Masterclass https://smartrealestatecoach.com/masterspodcast Wicked Smart Books https://wickedsmartbooks.com/podcast Strategy Session https://smartrealestatecoach.com/actionpodcast Partners https://smartrealestatecoach.com/podcastresources