Interview

1107: Industrial Real Estate Investing Strategies to Achieve Higher Returns, Relationship Building, and Avoid Gambling Risks in Business with Principal at Brit Properties Joel Friedland

May 13, 2024

Industrial real estate is a key part of the property market that encompasses a variety of spaces used for industrial activities, such as manufacturing, production, distribution, and storage. Unlike commercial or residential real estate, industrial properties are often located outside urban centers, typically in designated industrial zones. These properties are highly sought after due to their potential for high returns and lower operational costs, making them a valuable asset in an investor's portfolio.

Joel Friedland is a seasoned industrial real estate professional with over 42 years of experience in the industry and is currently a Principal at Brit Properties. He co-founded Epic Savage Realty Partners in 1991 and has since overseen the leasing and sales of over 2,000 industrial properties, totaling more than $2 billion in brokerage volume and $250 million in acquisitions. Today, Joel shares his insights on the unique aspects of the industrial real estate market, including the benefits of investing in this sector, the strategies he employs to market and acquire properties, and the importance of avoiding impulsive, "gambling" behavior as an entrepreneur.

Quotes

“As an entrepreneur, whether in real estate or any other business, you have to figure out how good your decisions are, how solid your due diligence is, and how much you really know. You must avoid making stupid, impulsive decisions.” – Joel Friedland

"I love talking to people and building relationships with those who are interested in better self-awareness. That’s what I love—it’s my favorite thing to do." – Joel Friedland

“It's all about long-term relationships. I find that loyalty is number one—being loyal to each other, to your friends, and to your business associates. Long-term relationships are key.” – Joel Friedland

Takeaways

00:57 Industrial real estate offers a unique opportunity to invest in a less competitive market with higher returns and lower risk compared to traditional residential or commercial real estate.

10:54 Successful industrial real estate investing requires a proactive marketing approach, including leveraging industry networks, online platforms, and direct outreach to find both properties and tenants.

16:23 Avoiding excessive debt and maintaining an all-cash, no-mortgage investment strategy can help mitigate risk and provide stability during economic downturns.

20:36 Developing self-awareness and avoiding impulsive, "gambling" behavior is crucial for entrepreneurs and investors to make sound, informed decisions.

31:06 Building long-term relationships with investors, tenants, and industry professionals is a key driver of success in the industrial real estate sector.

Resources

1106: Mortgage Marketing Insights: Social Media Strategies, Lead Generation, and Influencer Engagement with CMO of loanDepot Alec Hanson

May 11, 2024

Innovative social media and marketing strategies are transforming the mortgage industry landscape. By leveraging platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, mortgage professionals can connect with clients in creative and engaging ways. These strategies not only enhance visibility and brand awareness but also foster meaningful relationships and drive business growth in the competitive mortgage market. 

Alec Hanson is the CMO of LoanDepot, a contemporary leader in the mortgage industry. With a passion for impactful work, Alec helps Americans achieve the dream of homeownership through innovative branding, marketing, and social media strategies. He understands today's consumers want self-educated experiences with control over their journey. Today, Alec shares his transformational approach for authentically engaging customers in the modern digital world. Stay tuned!

Quotes

“Homeownership is uniquely tied to the American Dream concept, owning the land you live on, and a mortgage provides that vehicle. It's a really incredible place to be.” – Alec Hanson

"I think the modern consumer of today is just really done with the catch in marketing. They're done with the gotchas, the emails, and the calls. I think they want to be served in unique ways." – Alec Hanson

“Fall back on your purpose. If you really do have a purpose to help people with your product or service, and many mortgage professionals really have that in their soul, they just want to help people with their products and services.” – Alec Hanson

Takeaways

04:55 Providing value and education through content is more effective than just pushing sales pitches on social media.

12:44 Being active on the social media platforms where your target audience is engaged, even if they seem unconventional, can lead to meaningful connections and business opportunities.

23:45 Overcoming personal insecurities and fears about being vulnerable online is crucial to building a successful personal or business brand.

26:58 Aligning your social media strategy with your core purpose and passion for helping others can give you the motivation to keep going.

30:10 Developing a consistent, empathetic, and educational content strategy across multiple social platforms can snowball into significant business growth over time.

Resources

1105: AI Unmasked: Enhance Content Integrity, Streamline Content Creation, and Navigate SEO with Founder of Originality.ai Jon Gillham

May 10, 2024

Unchecked AI poses significant risks, from spreading misinformation in factually incorrect articles to compromising the integrity of websites through overreliance on generated text. As AI becomes more prevalent in content creation, there's a growing concern about its potential to manipulate information and deceive audiences. It's crucial for organizations and individuals to exercise caution and implement safeguards to mitigate the dangers of unchecked AI in our digital landscape. 

Jon Gillham is the founder of Originality.AI, an AI content-checking tool that detects plagiarism and AI-generated text. With a background in engineering, John understands the challenges of communicating across different domains. He developed Originality.ai to give publishers control over their content by verifying writers are not passing off machine-generated articles. Today, Jon explores the promises and pitfalls of tools like ChatGPT and uncover techniques for customizing models with your own data while avoiding generic AI styles. Stay tuned for more!

Quotes

“AI is a great aid in helping to enrich facts in content that you're reviewing, to ensure that they're sourced correctly and accurately.” – Jon Gillham

"AI's capability starts to plateau around the existing level of human knowledge because that's what it's being trained on." – Jon Gillham

“The truth, like most things, is that we live in a world where it's more complex than that. Detectors can have a high level of accuracy, but they do produce false positives and false negatives.” – Jon Gillham

Takeaways

00:46 AI-powered content checkers can help detect plagiarism and ensure the accuracy of published content.

07:08 Customizing AI language models like GPT with one's own data can produce content that better matches the user's writing style and tone.

13:45 Incorporating AI-generated content into one's workflow can improve productivity and collaboration across an organization.

17:24 Regularly monitoring for updates and changes in AI technology and its impact on SEO is important for content creators and publishers.

22:25 Understanding the limitations and potential pitfalls of AI detection tools is crucial to using them effectively.

Resources

1104: TomCo Solutions: Industry Leadership and Marketing Strategies to Stand Out in the Construction Industry with President & CEO and Florida Certified Contractor of TomCo Solutions, Inc. Tommy Whitehead

May 9, 2024

Are you struggling to stand out in a crowded construction industry? Start to market and promote your business effectively. Contrary to what everybody thinks, marketing and networking are necessary in the construction industry. There are proven yet affordable marketing tactics you can start with such as podcasting or public speaking, anything that will expand your profile to others. Though it sounds hard, your success is guaranteed if you are willing to surpass yourself!

Tommy Whitehead is a licensed contractor, the President and CEO of TomCo Solutions, Inc. and the author of “Building Success: A Toolbox for Coming Out on Top.” Today, Tommy discusses the importance of marketing and networking in the construction industry, emphasizing the need for contractors to step outside their comfort zones and adopt a more proactive approach to promoting their businesses. He shares his own journey, from being a "poor kid" to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and highlighted various strategies he has employed, such as leveraging social media, hiring marketing professionals, and hosting events to connect with the community.

Quotes

“If you want to become a very effective contractor, you have to think about becoming a disruptor in your industry.” – Tommy Whitehead

"Marketing is often planting a seed, and you’ve got to cultivate the crop over time. It’s not hunting; sales is hunting." – Tommy Whitehead

“You’ve got to let go, have a little faith, and find someone who’s good at those things. Do what you’re good at, what you have a passion for. Stop slaving at your own job—especially if you're an entrepreneur. You shouldn’t be slaving; it should be something you enjoy.” – Tommy Whitehead

Takeaways

01:56 Contractors need to step outside their comfort zones and adopt a more proactive approach to marketing and networking to stand out in the industry.

05:30 Starting small with affordable marketing efforts, such as a $100 monthly social media budget, can lead to incremental growth and bigger results over time.

18:07 Expanding the scope of a podcast or other content beyond a narrow niche can lead to unexpected connections and opportunities.

23:31 Delegating tasks that are not core competencies and hiring quality people can free up time for entrepreneurs to focus on their strengths and passions.

26:59 Embracing failure as a learning opportunity and believing in oneself are key to overcoming challenges and achieving success as an entrepreneur.

Resources

1103: Scaling to Your First Million: Entrepreneurial Resilience, Sales Optimization, and Adaptive Strategies with Business Coach Paul Lemberg

May 8, 2024

Are you stuck growing your business? Do you find yourself too busy with the day-to-day tasks to step back and strategize how to accelerate growth? In this situation, it is best to get out of your own way and try new approaches to breaking through to the next level. Doing so will surely overcome these challenges and scale your company to new heights.

Paul Lemberg is an entrepreneur, author, and business coach with over 28 years of experience helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Today, Paul discusses his passion for "changing the world, one entrepreneur at a time." He shares his insights on overcoming self-limiting beliefs, systematizing business processes, and leveraging the CEO's time and skills to drive growth. Paul emphasizes the importance of adapting to new challenges and strategies, rather than relying solely on past successes.

Quotes

“What got you to where you are won’t take you to the next level. If you're attached to that because it worked before, and it made you successful, you might think that’s how you need to keep going. But that’s not true—you need to come up with new and different ways to move forward.” – Paul Lemberg

"If you want to hand your business over to someone else to run it the way you do, you have to cover all the bases. If you don’t, they might reach a critical aspect of running the business and not know how to handle it." – Paul Lemberg

“’No battle plan survives first contact with the enemy.’ I don’t rely on long-term strategic plans.” – Paul Lemberg

Takeaways

01:37 A coach or mentor can provide valuable perspective and guidance to help entrepreneurs overcome their own limitations and unlock new growth opportunities.

03:14 Entrepreneurs often get stuck in their own way, unable to see new strategies that could help their business grow.

06:17 Systematizing a business through comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a "turnkey" approach enables scaling and duplication.

14:12 Prioritizing high-leverage activities like sales, marketing, and product development can significantly impact a business's growth.

23:30 Short-term, adaptable plans are more effective than rigid long-term plans, as the market and business conditions are constantly changing.

Resources

1102: AI in Business: The Promise and Perils of Generative AI with Digital Automation and Robotics Limited CEO Kieran Gilmurray

May 7, 2024

New technologies are shaping the modern world and by extension, our future. However, as we marvel at their potential to transform industries and improve lives, it's important to also consider the potential downsides. Navigating the complexities with caution and foresight can allow us to harness the benefits of new technologies while reducing their risks for a brighter future. 

Kieran Gilmurray is the CEO of Digital Automation and Robotics Limited, the author of “The A-Z of Organizational Digital Transformation,” and a thought leader in AI and digital transformation. With over 30 years of experience implementing AI solutions for businesses, he understands both the incredible potential and real risks of new technologies. Today, he discusses his expertise and experience with AI, mistakes he's made with AI projects, how businesses can ethically leverage AI and automation, and his resources for helping others do the same.

Quotes

“We always overestimate what technology can do in the short term, and we always underestimate just how impactful technology can be in the long term.” – Kieran Gilmurray

"Dynamite was invented to clear roads and mountains to improve transport but guess what happened—it was used for bad things. People didn't think beyond where the nefarious might get involved. We need to be careful, similarly with AI and anything we do as human beings on a daily basis." – Kieran Gilmurray

“If we look at AI, it's an 80-year-old overnight success story. It's full of mistakes. Why? Because we as humans created it, full of our own frailties, spillover, our own biases.” – Kieran Gilmurray

Takeaways

04:34 Embracing new technologies like AI in their infancy, rather than playing catch-up later, is crucial for businesses to stay ahead of the curve.

06:11 Digital transformation is not just about implementing technology, but rather reorienting the entire business to leverage digital tools and strategies to better serve customers.

10:30 Businesses need to invest in both technology and people to successfully undergo digital transformation, as the two work hand-in-hand to drive innovation and growth.

23:23 Responsible implementation of AI is essential, as it can have unintended consequences if not developed and deployed thoughtfully.

22:37 Admitting and learning from mistakes is a sign of maturity and a key to success when navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and digital technologies.

Resources

1101: Strategies to Keep Engagement, Branding and Grow Your Audience with Las Vegas Entertainers Hall of Fame Member Aaron Phillips

May 6, 2024

Feeling stuck with your podcast's growth? Need to boost audience engagement and reach? Running a show demands constant effort to captivate and expand your listener base. While it's challenging, your passion, perseverance, and kindness will lead you to a thriving and successful podcast journey.

Aaron Phillips is a successful radio personality, author of the book, “Let My Voice Speak to You,” and public speaker based in Las Vegas. He hosts and produces various broadcast shows with varying topics, including his own show called "Aaron's Hour with Aaron Phillips." Today, Aaron talks about his journey into the broadcasting industry, starting from answering an ad on Craigslist to becoming a member of the Las Vegas Entertainers Hall of Fame. He also speaks on his passion for sharing his personal health journey and using his voice to make a positive impact on people's lives.

Quotes

“Believe in yourself. It’s too easy to make excuses not to do things. The hard part is getting past those excuses and saying, ‘You know what? I’m going to at least give it a try.’” – Aaron Phillips

"If you have a passion for what you're doing, it's not work—it's fun." – Aaron Phillips

“Be kind to everybody. That’s the message I end every show with. I hope people will apply it in their own way to make it meaningful for themselves.” – Aaron Phillips

Takeaways

04:22 Passion and belief in oneself are key to overcoming excuses and achieving success.

09:12 Sharing personal stories and experiences can have a powerful impact on an audience.

11:44 Podcasting and radio hosting require adaptability, continuous learning, and a focus on creating an entertaining, natural conversation.

18:45 Effective branding, promotion, and diversification are essential for building a successful media career.

21:53 Kindness and a positive attitude can make a meaningful difference in one's work and life.

Resources

1100: Transform Leadership and Culture: Empower Teams, Unlock Potential, and Develop Leaders Through Adversity with Leader and Consultant Gilbert Chestnut

May 5, 2024

Leadership development is key to growth in personal and professional life. Good leadership isn't only about decision-making but also about inspiring others, creating a vision, and handling problems well. This is especially important in today's quick and constantly changing business world, where leaders need to be flexible, understanding, and good at planning.

Gilbert Chestnut is the owner of GC Consultation and a proven leader with over 35 years of experience in various fields, including the US military and federal government. Today, Gilbert discusses his passion for leadership development and culture transformation. He shares insights on the importance of engaging and empowering team members, overcoming adversity, and the transformative power of leadership, drawing from his own experiences and the principles outlined in his book, "The Leadership Stride."

Quotes

“Leadership often involves adapting based on what others say leadership should be. But it's like a house, you find ways to give it a new look, a fresh perspective. A leadership strategy gives us the opportunity to take something we've been doing for a while and add a whole new, refreshed approach. That's what makes it so exciting.” – Gilbert Chestnut

"Adversity brings out true character. I believe that, as a leader, in the midst of adversity, we have the opportunity to reflect on our goals, true aspirations, values, and principles." – Gilbert Chestnut

“As leaders, we must understand and appreciate that our impact goes beyond those we directly lead. It affects and influences those they will eventually lead as well, because much of their leadership style will be based on how we led them. Our reach extends much further than we realize, and we need to make it count.” – Gilbert Chestnut

Takeaways

06:46 Effective leadership is about transforming people's thought processes, not just changing processes.

09:02 Engaging and empowering team members through communication, recognition, and unlocking their potential is crucial for successful leadership.

15:04 Maintaining integrity and a commitment to helping others develop their leadership potential is more important than personal success.

16:55 Adversity presents an opportunity for leaders to reflect on their values and principles, rather than letting the situation define them.

21:48 The impact of a leader's influence extends beyond their direct reports, shaping the leadership of future generations.

Resources

1099: Buy Back Your Time and Achieve Scalability by Learning to Work ON Instead of IN Your Business with Strategist and Co-Founder of Better Than Rich Mike Abramowitz

May 4, 2024

Ever wanted to reclaim your time and achieve greater freedom in your schedule? Some strategies such as discovering what drains your energy and setting certain boundaries can give you back control of your time. As you implement these, you'll not only become more efficient and less stressed but also find yourself with more freedom to pursue your passions and nurture meaningful connections. 

Mike Abramowitz is a business strategist and the co-founder of Better Than Rich, a business training and coaching program. He helps others achieve time freedom by identifying energy-draining tasks, setting clear boundaries, and leveraging AI assistants to automate workflows. After spending 8.5 months in the hospital with his newborn son, Mike learned how to systematize his own business to run without him, allowing him to focus on his family. Today, Mike shares his expertise on delegating tasks, creating systems and processes, and leveraging technology and virtual assistants to free up time for entrepreneurs.

Quotes

“My focus is helping entrepreneurs who have a business and a family and are high earners. It's to help them buy back their time so they can reinvest it into what matters most to them.” – Mike Abramowitz

"Know what season you're in and make sure you're navigating with the appropriate strategy depending on the season." – Mike Abramowitz

“If you want an apple tree in the fall, make sure you're planting apple seeds for the type of business you want. If you're in a summer season, grinding and working, keep your head down and don't try to tackle multiple things at once.” – Mike Abramowitz

Takeaways

03:25 Entrepreneurs should define the purpose of their business and prioritize their time and energy accordingly to achieve time freedom.

08:48 Implementing systems, processes, and documentation (playbooks) can create predictability and efficiency in a business, allowing the owner to step away.

16:49 Systematizing a business requires ongoing maintenance and improvement to ensure it remains efficient and effective over time.

21:08 Delegating and offloading administrative tasks to virtual assistants and a dedicated team can free up an entrepreneur's time to focus on high-value activities.

24:54 Knowing the current "season" of one's business and adjusting strategies accordingly is crucial for navigating challenges and opportunities.

Resources

1098: Surviving Genocide and Tribal Conflict in Zimbabwe’s Caves: A Teacher’s 4-Year Ordeal and Journey to Overcoming Trauma with Author Julian Bhebhe

May 3, 2024

How can resilience and spirituality help bridge divisions and foster unity in our communities? Cultivating inner strength and connecting with deeper values are essential for overcoming conflicts and finding common ground. Embracing these principles enables anyone to navigate differences with grace, compassion, and a shared sense of humanity. 

Julian Bhebhe is an organization development practitioner, teacher of online business communication in higher education, and an author. Through his harrowing first-hand account in his book "Four Years in a Cave," Julian brings awareness to the brutal military purge he survived and its lasting trauma. His story shines a light on the atrocities faced by ordinary citizens and helps combat indifference to human rights violations. Today, he tells the story of his experiences and teaches lessons of resilience, spirituality, and overcoming divisions, so stay tuned for more!

Quotes

“The lesson right here is to get your system cleaned up and to stop fighting each other.” – Julian Bhebhe

"People must open their eyes and rise above petty differences and learn to work together." – Julian Bhebhe

“There must be order so that people can get together and improve their quality of life.” – Julian Bhebhe

Takeaways

40:45 Tribalism and envy can lead to unjust suffering, but maintaining faith, perseverance, and community support can help one overcome even the most extreme adversity.

08:29 Young people who are misguided can commit horrific acts, highlighting the importance of guidance, education, and accountability to prevent such tragedies.

10:59 Connecting with a higher power and exercising sound judgment can provide the strength and clarity needed to navigate through life's most challenging circumstances.

26:28 Pension and bureaucratic struggles can compound the trauma of survivors, underscoring the need for systemic reform and international intervention to provide justice and closure.

41:20 Sharing personal stories of resilience can inspire others, raise awareness, and potentially lead to positive change in the face of ongoing injustice.

Resources

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