If you think you know Joshua Dorkin’s whole story... think again. In this debut episode, the BiggerPockets founder reveals exactly how he bootstrapped a hobby site into the world’s biggest online community of real estate investors. How he worked 100-hour weeks in his basement (and boxers). And how somewhere along the way, it dawned on him that he’d built a “lifestyle business” that left him with no real life. Joshua traces the business back to the days when Myspace was hot, and gives tips for building an online community that still resonate today. He describes a few moments when he almost quit ($15,000 for a website that didn’t work?!), and reflects on why he waited 8 years to make that game-changing first hire (Brandon!). But for as many lives as BiggerPockets has touched, this episode is about something more profound than one company’s growth. You’ll learn what that is when Joshua reveals why he’s been out of the public eye lately, and the reason he stepped back from day-to-day operations just as BiggerPockets reaches new heights. This show will give you a lot to think about -- whether you run your own business or you’re just thinking about taking that leap. It’s a perfect jumping-off point as we launch the BiggerPockets Business Podcast, and help one another make a real positive impact on the lives of our customers, our teams, and our families. Listen now and make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss an episode. And follow BiggerPockets Business on Instagram @BiggerPocketsBusiness! In This Episode We Cover: Joshua’s eclectic career path before founding BiggerPockets His first disastrous foray into long-distance real estate investing The void he sought to fill when he launched BiggerPockets How he attracted members to the site by providing value in other online communities The moment he broke down and almost quit How hiring a consultant led him to hire his first full-time employee, Brandon Turner Why employee “fit” is more important than impressive credentials Why sticking to his principles (no gurus, no upselling) was good for longterm business Why he decided not to return to day-to-day operations after taking a leave of absence How he negotiated a partial exit from the business by bringing on a private equity firm And SO much more! Links from the Show BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast Brandon Turner's BiggerPockets Profile Scott Trench's BiggerPockets Profile BiggerPockets Money Podcast Joshua's Saturday Night Live Cameo Joshua's Personal Website Joshua and Brandon's Book: How to Invest in Real Estate