This week's guest is Sam MCone, a lifelong Dubai resident and the visionary founder of McCone Properties. Having moved to Dubai at the age of two, Sam has a unique, ground-level perspective on the city's meteoric rise from a quiet trading post to a global powerhouse. His journey in real estate began as an agent, but his innate, level-headed resilience led him to build his own successful brokerage over the past 13 years.

In this deeply personal episode, Sam opens up about the tough lessons learned from transitioning from being a tennis ace as a youth, to a top salesperson then to becoming a business owner. He shares invaluable insights on finding a niche in a saturated market of 9,000 brokerages and the uncomfortable but vital role of social media in building a brand. Beyond business, Sam gives a raw and honest account of his complex relationship with his past as a tennis academy student, the challenges that shaped him, and how it contrasts with his current extreme physical challenges, including his upcoming attempt to run 200km in 24 hours to raise 1 million AED for The Sparkle Foundation in Malawi.

01:40 - Growing Up with Dubai

05:30 - An Honest Audit of Dubai's Pros & Cons

09:53 - The Coming Real Estate Correction

17:29 - From Salesman to CEO

23:20 - Carving a Niche in a Crowded Market

42:12 – Running 200 KM in 24 hrs

45:01 – The Past Trauma

48:01 - Parenting Through the Lens of Past Trauma

56:40 - The Story Behind the 200km Run and self-worth

Show Sponsors:

AYS Developers: A design-focused company dedicated to crafting exceptional homes, vibrant communities, and inspiring lifestyle experiences.

https://bit.ly/AYS-Developers

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