On today's episode of gathering the Kings. Is that how you're motivated? Is, like, tell you you can't do something and then you're gonna go do it? You know, looking back now that you asked the question, that's probably exactly it because, you know, I've always had that chip on my shoulder of go ahead and underestimate me. And let me prove you wrong. You know? So that's, that's really, yeah, at this this a podcast or a therapy session, because I feel like I'm getting a couple throughs here.
So, you know That's awesome. You are listening to Gathering the Kings with Chaz Wolfe featuring fellow 78 and even 9 figure business owners who have real battle scars from business and life, but have prevailed as the king that they are designed to be. We welcome high performing entrepreneurs to the stage in order to reveal the real of the real on what it takes to build a successful business today.
We dissect the good and bad decisions they've made along the way Chaz give a true and accurate picture of the journey of success and how you too can get there. Through this dialogue, you will learn the value of growing your network and surrounding yourself with power players and kings like today's guest. Grab your pen and notebook because we're about to dive in. What's up, everybody? I'm Shazwolf. I'm your host, gathering the Kings. I've got Lee Nugent on the king stage, brother.
Thank you so much for coming today. How are you? Yeah, man. It's my pleasure to be here. Thank you. Yeah, brother. So we're we're actually it's it's one of those days where we're supposed to be on vacation Memorial Day. This won't be dropping on Memorial Day, but when you're listening to this, you'll know that, you know, Kings in the business, sometimes you take vacations, sometimes you don't. And here we are. We're working, and, we're trying to provide value to people who aren't there yet.
So Lee, tell us what kind of business you got, man. Well, real estate and real estate related businesses. My wife and I, we've got a number of rental properties that we built up starting in 2015. And, well, it just started expanding, you know, Kiosaki, actually, you can look in there, and you'll see Rich Ed Porthead over my shoulder there. Yep. One of the things it talks about is creating 7 streams of revenue.
And I heard a great concept of one time Chaz talked about create the river and the streams will come. And, you know, we just started on real estate, and it did. So it shut off to short term rentals, property management company, and brokerage, real estate coaching, mentoring, things like that. So Yeah. Love it, man. Lots of lots of different angles that we can go as far as your history, but I love what you said there as far as creating the river and the streams will come.
I think that in every, at least serial entrepreneur Chaz we're always at least open to the idea of, like, how does this turn into something else? Or or maybe not else, but in addition to, right, Yeah. It sounds like you've done that well in real estate. So before we dig too much into your history, though, I've gotta ask at this stage in the game, Why do you still do what you do? You could probably sail into the sunset. Yeah. So there's there's a few reasons.
One of them is just Chaz one of my favorite quotes is it's not about the money. It's about the freedom that the money provides. So I plan on living an incredible life. And with that, You need to have some freedom with it. Right? One of my goals is in within the next 7 years, I wanna take my wife on one of those chartered Mediterranean yachts So you can't do that if you're only sitting there making 30,000 a month.
Yeah. Yeah. It's so funny because what you just said, I don't think people realize the weight of what you just said you can't do that if you're only making 30 k a month. 30 k, you're talking about 360 k for the year. Which is darn near top 1%. But you have to understand the freedom is what you're saying. It's not really about the money, about the freedom. That keeps pushing you forward. 30, 50, a 100, 200, a 1,000,000 a month, whatever it is. Right? Is there a specific number that you're after?
Yeah. Yeah. I know. It makes a lot of people uncomfortable just to hear it, but I'm looking for 1,200,000 a year. There you go. Yeah. No. That's just my base. Right? So that's the passive income. That's not the active of other businesses because any entrepreneur retirement doesn't really come for us. I don't feel that it does. I think that we just go to a different level of it. And whenever I say that that one point to a year, that's just my passive.
That's That's what I said Chaz my beginning benchmark into retirement as you would put it. Yeah. I love it. And there's another part to that you know, and it's that further installation for risk. Like I explained to somebody, if your net worth is a $100 and you lost half of it, that's gonna be more detrimental than if you've got 10,000,000 in half. So just that further installation, you know, as we know, we're living in some crazy times right now. That's right.
And with that, it comes with eviction mortuary. Well, related to real estate and government stepping in to tell you different ways that you can and can't control your businesses. That's the other one. And then last is obviously legacy. I think that we all do it for a reason. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Legacy is a huge play. Maybe we'll we'll talk about that further, but I relate to that. But the the freedom piece really is the it's it's the marching order, whether whether the listener realize it or not.
It's it's why every entrepreneur has started the side hustle, or they're in the 6 figure business now, or they've finally gotten to 7 or even 8 figures, that's the dream. It's to be able to do what you want when you want with who you want, however you want. It's it's real freedom. And the reality of it is, like you said, is that it comes down to not just income, but income not associated to my action. And so the listener today is most likely a 6 figure business.
And so there may be dreaming of creating this business system that Kiyosaki talks about inside their business or potentially one day being able to invest in real estate or other assets that can produce this, passive income that you talk about. But Right now, they're trying to figure out the x's and o's, and they're trying to get to where they can even, like, hey. We have this head space to be able to do so.
So I'm curious obviously, you you, like, pretty quickly there, you had your number, which I we didn't plan that. I'd I didn't know that ahead of time. Right? So have you always been like that? Like, I'm gonna kinda peel away some of your your history here, but, like, have you always been numbers oriented? You know where you're going, targets, that type of thing, or is that new? Man, let me tell you.
Until I was thirty five years old, and I'm forty 2 now for anybody listening, I really didn't have anything together until about that time in my life. Both my parents had passed away. My father in 7, my mother in 2014, and it was kind of a catalyst for me that kinda said, hey. Look. If you really plan on building a life, you might wanna start now. And my parents lived relatively short lives about today's, you know, modern medicine standards.
And like I explained to my to my wife, I said, I don't know how long of a time I've got. So I know that I can't just drag it out until they're projected in. So that's where we decided that, look, I don't know exactly what it's going to take, but let's get started, and we'll figure it out along the way. Yeah. So this, this event or a couple of events with with family members kinda put it in perspective for you around, like, wow. Maybe I don't have that much time.
And if these things are important to me, legacy or building a life, doing cool stuff, real freedom. In that moment, what do you was it Was it or maybe it was both, actually? I'm I'm asking a question here.
Were you running or were you motivated by the pain of that moment of, like, seeing your parents go early and kind of, like, shaking you and or going like, oh, man, running now towards, like, I've always said that I want these things So I I probably should get get get moving towards them, or was it both? So I was always well, I was always a dreamer. Right? It's a child.
So Okay. Not only was that kid that you saw Superman for the first time, then you go and you grab, you know, a towel out of the out of the bathroom. And now you sit there, think you can fly. Wolfe, I always Chaz that dream about money, you know, because we grew up what I call country poor. You know, there were times we didn't have electricity. You know, we That's that's probably the most common thing I ever heard my parents argue about was money or lack thereof.
And it's it's not that they you know, didn't work hard. They did. They worked themselves to early grace, but what they didn't understand was finances, budgeting. And, unfortunately, it wasn't passed along to me, to Chaz that was important. You know, what was important is get a job and put in 40 years and, you know, then you can retire with a gold watch. Right. And, you know, that just never sat well with me. Something about that said there's got to be a better way.
And it wasn't until I really met my wife until I started to realize that there are better ways because when we were dating, she she saw me living paycheck to paycheck, making $40 a year. And she was like, you know, if we're ever gonna get serious about us, you gotta get serious about yourself. And I'm telling you that, you know, that was one of those moments, you know, that I was like, oh, alright. Well, let me start getting more serious. You know, there's so much packed into what you just said.
I love it from you not having the, you know, the upbringing. I totally relate to that. I think a lot of entrepreneurs especially, I put out the staff of the day. I looked it up. It was, like, 80% of all millionaires are self made, meaning they didn't come for money. You and me, the exact same scenarios. Right?
Where for you, like, along the way, or was it specifically just your wife, or was it a mixture of, like, your wife having, like, a background in finance or just kinda challenging you and then you figuring it out, like, where how describe a little bit more of that moment So it was more so the challenge, but also finally putting people in my life that believed in me. That was that was key for me. Whenever I was a child, really, nothing was expected. You know?
Whenever I was sixteen, seventeen, out of my junior year in high school, I was failing, and My dad gave me the option. He said, look. Go ahead. You can drop out. And I don't I don't understand to this if he meant that in a way to motivate me, but that's what it did. Got it. He said, look. You can go ahead and drop out. I can get you a job over here at a at a lumber mill to start.
And just the thought of manual labor, you know, who was like, you know, I just I I like to tinker with my hands, but to make a living with it. You know, I know what that does to a body. It breaks down the body prematurely and, you know, you're sitting there 40 with a bad back and nothing else going on for you. So that's where I said, no. That that won't be me. And to the day, knock on wood, that's that's where it still is. So you went you went right back to class and started getting good grades.
Well, I got passable grades. So big difference, man. Smoke at like a true entrepreneur. Exactly. So I was able to skate in just under that or just over that graduation mark. There you go. You know, never really looked back to to high school anyway. So Yeah. Exactly. I think that the the education piece, at least not for numerous anybody who's listening to this show, they're obviously interested in educating themselves to a degree. Right? They're trying to they're trying to pick up nuggets.
Right? So I think that's where you and I maybe can super agree. We've already been so agreeable on many things, but, you know, the the box of school, you know, may maybe it helped me a little bit and and and taught me some different principles, but how to think or or how to process money or understand finance, like, none of that. And so it sounds like you picked it up along the way.
And also sounds like not only your dad, but then your wife later on were the ones that kinda poked or challenged you. Is that how you're motivated? Is, like, tell you can't do something and then you're gonna go do it? You know, looking back now that you asked the question at probably exactly it because, you know, I've always had that chip on my shoulder of go ahead and underestimate me and let me prove you wrong. You know?
So that's, that's really, yeah, at this this a podcast or a therapy session, because I feel like I'm getting a couple breakthroughs here. So You know? That's awesome. Yeah. I I would have to say that that definitely Chaz definitely motivates me is for people to meet me and write me off because, you know, tattooed up and I don't have the best education. I don't wear the fine close. Matter of fact, I couldn't give a damn less what label somebody wears. Right.
It's that's not going to indicate who a person is to me. And Unfortunately, a lot of people do. They they look at you and they size you up from the moment that they see you. And if you're not wearing this season's fashion in this or that, Man, I'm sorry. I'm too busy making money to worry about how much a close cost. Right? So That's right. I'm not and not to mention We just moved to Florida last month.
And, brother, I've seen so many millionaires walking around with $20 T shirts that it's Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Being authentically you is, I think, the the the point there. And I think for every listener too, that's super important because even inside of the business. Like, there there's there's days or there's moments when you have to play a certain Wolfe. Right? Like, okay. So you're tatted up.
I am too, but you know, if if you're going to, you know, if you're gonna be a salesperson, you're gonna go in and sell something in someone's home, maybe you wear a long sleeve shirt. Maybe you don't. It it just depend upon where you are or what your process is. Right? So you do, which is fine. It doesn't really matter to me, but the the point is is that sometimes we have to wear hats or or rolls But then the the underlying theme of it is to be authentically you.
You could still be you on a long sleeve shirt, knowing that you're bringing a presence to a you know, a meeting, but I think it's so important, you know, just to be Well, you gotta push past the snap judgment. There was a French poet I can't tell you who it was because I don't remember. I just remember the line. He says, give me 5 minutes to talk away this ugly face, and I can bed the queen of England. There you go.
And I thought to myself, Wow. That's actually kind of profound because, yeah, you have to push past that initial judgment that somebody's going to give you. Just like when someone asks, what do you do for a living? They're not asking because they care. They're asking to judge how much respect to give you because a lot of the times, if you've answered it, oh, I'm a janitor. Alright. Well, their level of respect is down here. However, you say I'm a hedge fund manager. All of a sudden, ah, yes.
I enjoy polo too. Alright. You know? So that's that's who they are. And, you know, you've gotta play the game sometimes. Yeah. I received Chaz, and I think that there's I think it's also too, like, the flip of the coin there is us Chaz individuals. If if we know someone's judging us and what you're saying is, look, just get past it. Don't worry about it. Don't take offense to it. Just press through. I think it's where you and I are just like, you know what?
I really don't care what you think, anyway. Now in certain circumstances, we're gonna, you know, wear certain hats, wear certain rolls. But then it's also then the giving of Chaz. Like, when you realize that, then you can give that to someone as well when you first meet someone. And your brain does the same thing. They you go to initial judgment But when you when you can understand the power of, like, this person has a story, this person maybe comes from a different place.
And and now I'm curious. Now I wanna get to know this person. Opens you up to networking and creating relationships, doing podcasts with each other ex, you know, dot dot dot dot dot dot down the road, you know, which is just where real real things can happen. In real life, real relationship, whether it's business deals or not, I just opened you up to to what's actually being genuine with people. Right? Yeah. Alright. Well, so along the way, you've made some some decisions.
Say you've probably made some really good ones, but before we go to the good ones, I wanna know something that you did was just a terrible decision. Like, give us the really juicy bad one. Alright. So this one is it's actually gonna be more personal than Okay. Business decision. So in 2017, February 2017 just to lay the framework for you. I had gotten my real estate license. I was doing inside sales, working 8 to 5, and I I felt that was gonna be the job that I was gonna ride out. Right?
That was that was the one. And we had been buying some rental properties and That's going to be our retirement. Everything's gonna be great. And then steps in another catalyst. And this guy was just he was like Steve Jobs without the talent. You know, this guy was a manager, not a leader, and Chaz was his way of provoking or motivating was through negativity. So he just really the the whole work environment, the wholesale team just really was not enjoying it.
So he motivated me to go ahead and get my license because I realized the previous year that I actually would have exceeded my annual income just in commission on the stuff that we had bought. Right. So I said, alright. Great. I'll just get licensed by my own, and then I'll sell some other real estate on the side. Sure. Little did I know how that was gonna change, but we'll talk about that later.
Yeah. So that being said, I I got so super motivated, and I'm not sure if you have it or not, but I feel like I've got a touch of the ADHD. Oh, yeah. I think every entrepreneur does. Man, yeah. Oh, god. It can be such a powerful tool, but also detrimental. So and that's what happened. You know, I would wake up at 5 o'clock. I would scour the MLS looking for deals and for anybody that's not familiar with real estate. That's the multiple listing service.
Kind of like our hot sheet of deals coming on the market. And I would look at Chaz. Contact clients send out warning texts And then about 7 o'clock, I'd scramble to get out the door and get to work. And then I would put in until my break time. I'd make my sales calls for my job. And then that 15 minute break I would go out and I would return text emails, come back in, work till lunch. After lunch, boom.
I'm running out there, scheduling showings, if I can get one in, and then I'll get back there and finish up the day. Afternoon break. Well, here comes 5 o'clock. 5 o'clock is now my time. And I started taking Chaz, and I was running with it, man. I was I was working till 9, 10 o'clock at night, you know, showing houses, analyzing deals, just doing everything that I could. Kind of just a kinda like a rabbit animal.
You know, I mean, I was just all over the place getting whatever I could to get the results that I needed. To be able to quit this job. Everything that you've described so far, so I can't wait for what you're about to say. Everything that you said so far, I think that every entrepreneur listening can relate to. The extra, the hustle, the 5 o'clock being halftime. Like, we've all put in the hours. We've all been ADD, so I'm curious to know here with what you guys said.
Well, it was actually my wife. It was I don't know. I'm trying not to, like I don't talk about this part a lot. But, I don't know. It was probably 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock 1 night. I was out some country ass road waiting for my client to show up so I could show a house. And I remember distinctly, stopped the convenience store, grabbed the burrito for supper. And I was talking to my Wolfe, and she actually told me she's like, you know, what are we doing? You know, I I feel like I don't see you.
I feel like we're roommates. And, man, that hit me like a fucking sledgehammer. I'm not gonna lie. So it was in that moment. I realized, what what am I doing all this for if the person that I'm doing this for isn't going to be around to enjoy it. So at that point, I realized work life balance had to be there. So I immediately started bringing that in. And then that was the realization for me.
That, you know, it's good to have the hustle or not if it's gonna cost you the person that you're doing it for. So that was, yeah, that was my biggest mistake. You know, I think every entrepreneur can relate to that. And, you know, wife, kids, freedom, if we're gonna go back to that, right, is I mean, there's this constant, like, back and forth. You you press in, you grind, or you have freedom. Right? And and as soon as you, at least high performers, at least how I Chaz.
As soon as you get to that place where you've created some systems, you've got a little passive income. It feels freedom feels as if maybe you're taking foot off the gas. It does. And you feel guilty for Chaz. And you feel guilty. Yeah. And so tell us what you've done since that moment, because, obviously, that was, like, you know, huge for you, even just you sharing it is is big. And so that became important to you, but, like, practically, what does that look like now? Scheduled date nights.
So that's that's one thing that we started, you know, really focusing on because like I explained to her, you know, my day will fill And you know what cognitive dissonance is, I would assume, right, to where it's like, if it's not in front of me, it doesn't exist. I Wolfe I would have to check my schedule and say, oh, I need to wrap this up. I've got dinner tonight. You know? So we became more intentional about the time that we did have together.
And with that, also was able to explain to her why We were working so hard. And my wife's personality type is very much you will need resistance if she doesn't understand what's going on. So once I learned that and started to explain to her, she was able to have an option to buy in.
And once she bought in, Man, I realized that I wasted so much time, you know, just with the stress of everything else, whenever I could've just brought her in at the beginning, and shared my goals, my vision, and also the expectations of what it's going to take to make it happen.
Yeah. I mean, the topic of what we're discussing is so powerful in every home Chaz, especially where there's a business, But but even more than that, just a healthy relationship when you're communicating expectation, when you're communicating targets and goals, and I can I can relate to you from having a a strong willed wife? What I'm hearing you say on the other side No doubt. Yeah. So for you guys okay.
So here's where I think a lot of, especially, you know, male entrepreneurs, is like, oh, I don't wanna bring home the stress. Right? I don't want her to have to wait you know, have the weight of it. And and I feel that same way too. And so there are plenty of things that I bring my wife in, especially when it comes to goals and and trying to dissect things but then there are things that I don't. Where where do you find that you guys have found the balance there?
I give her as much information as she wants. So one of the things that I also learned was not only does she need to to buy in, but it was probably 3 years ago, 2 years ago. I actually, you know, I showed my wife. I said, look. This is how we open LLC and congratulations. This is your LLC now. This is how we buy our properties. This is how I want you to analyze everything else. It was just like I took on a mentoring student.
And to that point, we actually go and she starts buying rental properties under her LLC name. She's the only one on it. She does the promissory notes everything according to that structure and that educated her into the process. But, also, whenever she starts seeing those rent checks come in, that have payable to her LLC. And she gets to go and say, oh, I wanna do LV parts. Well, baby girl. You got it. Go get it.
You know, so that's that's where, you know, at that point, now she's able to understand it, but also I realized that I was doing her a disservice by trying to shelter her from everything. You know, whenever a tenant would call and they would, you know, cuss because I'm charging them late fees for being 10 days late, or if I have an eviction, you know, something like that that, you know, she was like, she's going to ask me why, why, why? So I decided, why don't we just bring you in?
And give you just that in person experience. So now whenever, you know, I get one of those calls, she no longer says, who was Chaz? What was that? And you know, to us, we might feel like they're they're asking a 100 questions just to make us repeat the day, but they just want to understand what we're doing and what we're going through. Chaz was really one of the keys for me was to to bring her in, create her own business as well. And, I mean, shoot. Now she's got Ford, well, for Airbnb.
She's taking some of her rentals converted a couple to Airbnb's and Yeah. I mean, she's she's killing it. You know? So Chaz awesome. Not too bad. Yeah. Yeah. I love that you connected it to the, like, mentoring, like, a student. You know? And if she was willing to you know, have that relationship where she wanted to learn. She wanted to go with you, you know, and kinda, like, learn your ways. I think that that makes so much sense.
And and then now the conversations are more about where we're going as opposed to what happened to them. Exactly. You know, how do we get past this? You know, the pandemic, the moratorium, one of the key things for her, and she just it was like the flip of a switch, she, you know, she's like, well, what do we do? We we can't evict anybody. We, you know, all this other stuff. And for anybody listening, there was an eviction moratorium And with that, we could not evict for nonpayment of rent.
What people fail to pivot or realize during this is the Yeah. That's true. You couldn't evict for non payment. However, you could evict for lease violations. And on your new leases, you did not have to commit to a year. So ever since then, we've changed our entire business model to where we only do month to month leases except for housing tenants. Section 8 does require your long lease.
So those are just a couple of those things, but it became more of a collaborative effort than me just saying, oh, we do this. And then, you know, answering an interrogation or any kind of line of questioning? No. She understand that she's ready for it. Yeah. So I I love how, you know, long story short. That was your bad decision. That turned into, but basically helping you a ton in your business, which I I love.
So let's flip the coin here, and let's talk about maybe a good decision that you made along the way. Maybe outside of bringing in your wife since you just kinda gave us a a secret to that one. What what else have you done that just, like, catapulted the business? So I think that a lot of it really just kinda comes down to understanding Chaz regardless of whatever the obstacle is, there's a solution somewhere. And, you know, the good decisions really come with that ability to pivot.
And I I would say that navigating through the eviction moratorium with Only one no. I'm sorry. We had 2 evictions that we had to do through during that time for nonpayment of rent, and that was Chaz was the only thing that I I really have to say it really changed the game for us is being able to pivot and see obstacles as opportunities. That was that was the best decision, and it really kinda comes down to mindset. Chaz, I know that in talking to me, you've already picked it out.
I'm not the most educated guy. I'm a little rough around the edges. But I do believe that mindset is key in whatever you're going to do. Yeah. Yeah. It's funny Chaz you were talking there, I was thinking in my brain, oh, this is all mindset. And then boom, you're like, it's just all mindset. I'm like, man, yes. It is absolutely mindset. And what which is which is controllable. Yes. And and it's doesn't matter where you come from.
Doesn't matter that you grew up single mom family and no money, or it doesn't matter that you you know, didn't know your dad growing up, or it doesn't matter that you dropped out a or all balls dropped. Chaz. You know, so it's like, I I just think that the mindset piece is is something that you can grow in, even constantly, even now. Like, I'm trying to level up in mindset even today because I think it controls most things.
And so tell me about, like, when it comes to decision making, do you have a certain process or a discipline that you kinda decisions through in order to kinda kinda press into good decisions nowadays? Yeah. So one of the things that I really focus on is blending practicality with intuition. You know? And if a deal is on the table and it all pencils out, but something still doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to walk away and find another opportunity.
Chaz really just kinda drawing that line and teaching other people how to treat you. You know, like, my clients, my investors that I work with, they understand I'm not taking your call at 10 o'clock at night unless it's an emergency, you know, and I I have had that before where clients Wolfe just call because over time, you develop a friendship.
But that friendship, what they don't understand is you just put in 14 hours and you're trying to spend some time with the family and If you wanna call me to shoot the shit, do it tomorrow. You know? So that and being able to, like I said, draw that line of how you're going to treat me and how I'm going to treat you, setting expectations, also holding people accountable.
You know, I would say that that's really the process because holding people accountable will teach you who you can work with and who you can't work with. Yeah. I get you gave so many just, like, clear practicals there. I wanna kinda pull them out for the listener.
Number 1 is don't be afraid to walk away from the So even though the deal may pencil out or the client and the depending upon what type of business they're running, whether it's the client, whether it's the deal, whether it's the the whatever, If it if it doesn't pencil out number 1, you just don't do it.
If it does pencil out, but your intuition is saying, maybe not, I've gotta do, actually, right now, I got a 150 acres under contract, and I think it's, like, the super unique thing, but I there's just something. I've already spent, like, almost $10 on it, like, with a Yeah. Like, all this history and and and the research that I've had to I've hired a consultant. And I'm I'm walking away from the deal spending this type of money on going, ah, there's so much opportunity here.
But, anyway, you gotta walk away from the deal. And then, Chaz the practicality of of what that looks like, you know, afterwards is being able to go, well, there's opportunity training gonna come the next time or another client or whatever, but you gotta straight, say, true to that decision making process, if you will. So that's huge. I appreciate that. Yeah. You know, you'll always or I feel Chaz if you choose peace over profits, profits will come.
But if you're just living in utter chaos and miserable the whole time, who cares? Who cares about profit? You know? Yeah. I actually just walked away from a deal. Prime. I'm in Naples, Florida. And if you're familiar with Southwest Florida, it is just insane right now. A guy brought me five and a half acres for $850,000, and it's on prime location. I'm talking self storage. It was gonna be a nice 8 to $10,000,000 project. And too many red flags, you know, too much pressure from the wrong angles.
And I'm like, you know, something just doesn't feel right here. So, respectfully, sir, I don't think that I can do this with you. So you gotta take the peace. Exactly. Exactly. And and I think at this point, you know, because I'm thi I'm just thinking back to the listener shoes, you know, in a six figure business. And whether you've been there for a long time, or not, the reality of it is is that you're you're only so far down the road in business.
And so for me, mentally, at that point, I was I was just trying to grab on to something to get me there. You know? And so I think that you we can you can lose sight of the poise that you're talking about in that deal making of, this isn't the right one for me.
But when you're but when you're just trying to figure out the the right little hook and And maybe you'll mention it later, but, you know, the the book that you had told my team about, but sometimes it's like, you just, you know, like, you just need to grab on to something that gives you a little luck. You know?
And it's not, luck as, like, something random happened, but it's like, I was just trying to grab the right opportunity at the right time that up, you know, from the outside looks like luck. But when you do that, you're you're not focused. Kinda go back to the add piece where it's just like you're just like you're just trying to grab on to anything and you lose time, money, effort, energy, freedom. Really? You mentioned chaos. Right? You lose freedom. Really? Yeah. It's one thing.
You know, business will be chaotic. However, you have to work to control that as much as possible. Or insulate yourself from the highs and the lows as much as possible. Yeah. I think you said that at the beginning, which was even just the the number that you're after trying to insulate for the up and down. You know, I'm trying to live a lifestyle that that is free, but at the same time, I don't wanna I don't wanna just live a cush life for a couple of years.
And then something, you know, happens. I wanna self sustain. Good stuff, man. Okay. Well, I love to what transition here to the speed ground, if you're ready. Yeah. Yeah. K. One word answers if possible, but I might dig in for more. First question is if you could only pick one metric in all of your businesses, so think about them all. You only pick one metric to pick and track for the rest of all time. What would it be? Productivity. Productivity. Tell me what that means.
It means that if you spend 40 hours and you only made 2 calls, you're not very productive, are you? So, however, if you spend 1 hour, and you were very intentional with that time, and you made 20 calls. Well, I'm sure you're gonna be more productive because now you still got to get 39 hours that I just gave him this example to go do something else. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Productivity. There you go. Exactly.
Second question is, what book would you recommend that a 6 figure owner read who's trying to get to that 7 figure mark? You know, I've bounced back and forth on that I've gotta tell you, team asked a really good question with Chaz. And just kinda circling back to mindset. Yeah. The daily snowing. Let me Give us give us your your your snapshot on the daily stoic. Yeah. So it's got great meditations from.
You've got some of the other philosophers, Seneca, for example, to where the stoic lifestyle is more so to where not conditioning yourself to be a robot, but to understand that chaos comes, chaos goes, it's temporary. Joy will come. Joy will go. It's temporary. Same with sadness and everything else. And by being aware of that and focusing on it, then you're able to control yourself a little bit more.
Because if you're able to control yourself, well, you're gonna really be surprised at what happens around If you're always in chaos, don't be surprised if your life is also full of it. You know? So with that, it's a daily meditation. It's a one page read, which is perfect for me. I promise you. So that that one page read, I sit there and I think on it, and then I do my daily meditation. And then I have to say, alright.
Great. Now I'm ready for the but that one book, I'll I'll have to say is a constant improvement. And really, you know, you can't stay in business if you don't strive to improve. Yeah. A 100%. I agree with that. For the listener's sake here, I heard you say several things. I just wanna benefit their their note taking skills here. So number 1 is being able to like you said, almost insulate the top and the bottom.
It's the it's the emotions that we go through and not to be stoic or or robot, like you said, but to be able to know that those things come and go and to be able to control the environment is huge.
And then beyond that, you also said that to to repeat it so you do it every single day, as well as then to have clear mind space so that you can think whether it's, like you said, meditation, whether it's walking outside, whether it's prayer, whether it's, you know, whatever you wanna call that moment, where you just, like, stop and be, and maybe there's a a provoking question or scripture or or meditation piece or whatever, but it it takes
you to another place outside of the chaos that's gonna happen in your business, especially at the 6 figure mark. They're in they're in it. They're wearing the Chaz. Like, they got probably fourteen hats, you know, as soon as they hit the door, AKA, maybe even the phone, it's just like, it hits them every single day. I I know that feeling. But what you're saying is that that place before all that is actually a super important in order to be able to control that piece of it.
Wolfe, and learning to respond rather than react is key. You know, for example, you've got people under you. I've got people under me, and I can tell you that they would not respect us as leaders. Now they might respect us as the person that signs their paycheck. So if the person that they look to as their leader in this business and for their financial security because that's what we're providing them.
If the smallest thing happens over here and they go off the hinges, that's not somebody you really wanna follow into battle daily, is it? Right. So about learning to respond rather than react and and kind of adopting somewhat of a stoic philosophy, you know, I think that that that helps. Yeah. I I'm in so much agreement there. Okay. Next question is, do you intentionally network or mastermind with other business owners? Yes. K. And why? Alright.
So a a lot of that really is comes down to that philosophy of your network is your net worth. Right? Yeah. So I knew starting out as an investor as a realtor. So I'm wanting to grow the business. People have to know that I'm in the business. You know? So my social media tries to reflect Chaz. You know, I go out there from mindshare, and then I'll target market. Sure. I want people to know that I'm out there. My name is Lee Nugent. How are you doing? And I'm gonna share some content with you.
It's gonna make you laugh. It's gonna make you think. It'll make you contemplate. And then every now and then you're gonna still get that subtle reminder that, hey. I'm pretty badass realtor, and that's where it is. Or, you know, you would be amazed at, you know, the deals that we found by simply telling people, hey. We're looking to buy flip this week. Who do you know that has a fixer upper? You know, so I'll go to networking events.
I'll I was actually past president of our local real estate or association back in Louisiana. And, you know, being that we just moved here to to Florida, I've been practicing what I preach. So I'm back in it. So I'm going to just about every networking event I can find shaking hands, collecting business cards, giving them out, and then seeing what value that I can bring to somebody else.
I like to lead with a value whenever I do my networking so that people don't just sit here and think, what's this person want from me? Totally. Yeah. 100%. I love Chaz. I love that mindset. We keep going back to mindset, but it helps us do everything. So I I appreciate that. You can Google every formula out there for analyzing real state and business. But if your mindset isn't there, it's it's all the waste.
Yeah. And I think even to the next level there, what you were just saying, you can you can get the how tos in a course or on YouTube or or TikTok, whatever, but they they can't know Lee specifically unless Lee sticks out of his hand. You know? He can't do deals with Lee unless they know Lee. And so I think that everything you just said is huge. And I think it applies for every single person listening.
It's part of the reason why I Chaz the question there, but they have to be able to get outside themselves. Networking and master mining could be different, but shaking hands and and like you said, the people that surround yourself you know, around you are a big deal. Okay. Last question. Are you ready? Fire away. If you lost it all. What would you do, man? Shit. I borrow 5 bucks from you, and I'd go and adopt that Gary B Garage sale strategy. I mean, seriously.
So know a lot of people joke about it, man, but one day my wife and I actually did it. We we woke up on a Saturday morning. There was a neighborhood garage selling. I said, look. I'll tell you what. We're gonna bet each other dinner that we're gonna go out here. I'm gonna give you 5. I'm taking 5. Whoever sells for the most profit. Chaz person actually gets dinner from the other person wherever they choose. And needless to say, I bought something. She bought something. She sold hers for $45.
I got it for 46. And let me just leave you guys with another lesson that sometimes it's better to just let your wife win. Oh, yes. Especially just $1, bro. No. No, man. Yeah. That was that was insult to injury right there. So You know, it's funny if she heard you say that. She'd be like, don't let me win. You know? Well, she might know for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Because she damn sure won't let me. So, you know, I've gotta earn everyone I'm Yeah. That's right. That's right. Well, good stuff, man.
I hear you saying that you you wouldn't be the end of you. It wouldn't be the end of you guys, you and your and your Wolfe, And you probably just build it back up, it sounds like. Yeah. I mean, well, I came from nothing. If I go back to it, it's just a quick stop. I'll build it back up. Yeah. It's so interesting to think about what you know now. And if you had to just hit the reset button, you know, how much faster that you could do it. Yeah. Yeah. That's true.
The history of the goods, the bads, the ugly, all makes it worth it. So Lee, I just so appreciate your time, man. How can one of the listeners connect with you if they wanted to find you? I know you you haven't really plugged it, but you do some real estate coaching and some consulting. Yeah. If they wanna reach out to you on that, how how can they find you? Most social media you'll find me at r e with Lee. So just think real estate with Lee. And, yeah, I'm on most major platforms.
So Facebook, insta, I even have a TikTok account where I try to share some investing content and then just some stupid shit that I found along the way. So, you know, ignore that. And then, yeah, so real estate investing, private money lending, we started doing Chaz. Just whatever we can to to add value. If there's anything that I can do to reach out, please just understand that my DMs do get a little packed. It might take a while to get back to you.
However, I do I would like to say I respond to everybody that reaches out. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, I just so appreciate your time, the value that you've given here today, not only from a from, like, a business, but also from an investing, but also from just a being a good husband and making those adjustments in your marriage that, I think everybody listening probably was challenged today because of it. So thank you for that. I appreciate it personally.
And we just wish you nothing but success, man. I hope that the relationship continues, and, we just lost some deals together. I appreciate that, man. Thank you. Thanks for listening to Gathering the Kings. We hope you got a ton of value today and learned a thing or 2 about taking your best to 7 figures and beyond. If you desire more and want a community around you to help you get there, I want you to go to gathering the Kings dot com.
That's gathering the king's dot com, and I want you to apply for our next becoming a king 90 day intensive. We are extremely exclusive by nature as a group. What that means that we're really wanting only the entrepreneurs who take their business and targets super serious reply. So if that's you, you think you got what it takes to level up your business. I want you to go to gathering the king's dot com and apply, and we will see you on the other side.