Before the Millions

Born and raised on the south-side of Chicago, today’s guest, Pongee Barnes embarked on her real estate career as a college student in 2005 at the age of 20, buying her first condo. From 2008-2011, Pongee owned a furniture rental staging business which birthed from her passion of staging and flipping homes. Today, as a seasoned investor, more than her passion for real estate she has a central focus on inspiring black millennials to invest. On today’s episode, we discuss the ups and downs of “hands on” landlording but more specifically, managing your rentals with a partner. Key Points From This Episode: * How Pongee lost money on her 1st deal * Why Pongee started staging property, renting furniture & flipping homes * Why Pongee decided to drop out of Law School * How to take advantage of “Cash for Keys” * If and how you should partner with your spouse * How to raise a family around real estate investing   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Pongee’s Instagram Before the Millions Books: Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley Listen to this book for free! Lifestyle Design App: Free Training: Building A Lifestyle Business Through Real Estate Investing

168 hours in a week. 56 hours a week is spent sleeping 50 hours a week spent working 62 hours a week left for overtime, errands, family time, business or 2nd job, cooking/cleaning, workout, leisure, volunteering, events, nothing, hobby, significant other, etc…   How in the world do we get it all done and have enough time to grow a business that’ll allow us to escape the rat race? Tune in to the 100th episode of the Before The Millions Podcast and you’ll learn how to Make more with less time and with better results…   Before the Millions Books * 4 Hour Work Week * 12 Week Year * The One Thing Listen to these books for free!   Lifestyle Design Apps * Power Nap * Calendly * ScheduleOnce (Now OnceHub) * ConvertKit Free Training: Building A Lifestyle Business Through Real Estate Investing

Today’s guest, Paula Pant, a freelance writer (but actually much more) started out making $21,000 a year in 2005.   With a knack for saving and a frugal lifestyle (even sometimes sharing a 3 bedroom apt with 5 roommates), she was able to save a whole years worth of money to travel the world and backpack in Europe with a cost of living less than 1k per month. When she returned back to her dreaded job, she realized that things could never be the same after such an amazing experience.   Paula went from freelance writing as a hobby in 2006 to a full time writer in 2010, writing for some really big outlets. 18 months later Paula had a 6 figure income and said good riddance to her JOB (Just Over Broke).   One of the biggest value-bombs dropped on the episode was a moment we were discussing the sacrifice to save, simple but profound – it boils down to how bad you want it. “The more roommates you have, the cheaper rent gets”. Paula practice this until her rent was just $200, at which point she could save heavily.   Today Paula is a millionaire in every sense of the word. As a thriving real estate investor and writer she gives us a ton of advice to pursue an afford anything life.   Key Points From This Episode: * Why Paula bought a one way ticket to Egypt * How Paula spent the next 2 years backpacking in Asia and Australia * How Paula was able to save 25K only making 21K a year salary * Why it “pays” to be a digital nomad * How you can use freelancing to fund your real estate dreams * The benefits of house hacking at any age   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Paula’s Website Before the Millions Books: Millionaire Next Door 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Rich Dad Poor Dad Stumbling Into Happiness The Power of Habit Listen to this books for free! Lifestyle Design App: Wunderlist Life-Hack: Run Your Own Business! Free Training: Building A Lifestyle Business Through Real Estate Investing

Justin Wilmot, today’s guest, loves to surf so he created a business that allows him to surf all day every day. The vehicle he uses is real estate but it’s much more than that. Justin has been able to build an ideal lifestyle around the things that make him happy. On today’s episode, we walk through Justin’s entrepreneurial journey and uncover exactly what it takes to get a deal done without every stepping foot in the state that the property is located.   For those of you looking for freedom through real estate and you’re done being frustrated with trial and error, not actually gaining any real traction, I have your solution. I noticed that tons of people would love to jump into real estate investing but most don’t quite understand how exactly they should build their business to guarantee success.  I am currently hosting a live webinar to to show you the exact step by step process that I used to build my portfolio. The same exact process my clients use to escape the rat race. The same exact process today’s guest, Justin, followed to surf all day long anytime he wants. This will be a live webinar with a ton of value so you won’t want to be late. Register for the webinar here and I’ll show you how you can escape the rat race in 2 years or less. Spots will fill fast —–> Register here.   Key Points From This Episode: * How to get real estate deals done, virtually * What mobile wholesaling his and how you can get started * The most important app you’ll ever need as an investor * Justin’s not so rags to riches story   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Justin’s Website Before the Millions Book: How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie Listen to this books for free! Lifestyle Design App: Docusign

On today’s bonus episode, Daray Olaleye is being interviewed on the Good Success Podcast. Daray talks about what sparked his initial interest in real estate and how his discontentment at his 9-5 job pushed him to find alternative options to achieve true financial freedom. You’ll learn about the power of perseverance and getting started where you are. Daray will explain house hacking in a way a caveman can do it! Yes, you can get paid to live for free…. And with little to no money down. Lastly, Daray talks about how he leveraged the power of coaching and mentorship to fast track his success in business and life and how he’s now helping others do the exact same thing.   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Lifestyle Notary: Become a Loan Signing Agent and get paid $75-200 per appointment Before The Millions Workshop: Create and Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio Before The Millions Mastermind: Expand Your Real Estate Related Business and Life

Andre is a nationally acclaimed entrepreneur and philanthropist. Judy Lichtenberger quit her full time job in record timing.   They both control their time, schedule and paycheck..   What else do both of today’s guest have in common?   For one, they can get paid $75-$200 per appointment (sometimes more) They can take a whole week off or work 7 days straight They can get paid to build key relationships in Real Estate   On today’s episode, we’ve stumbled upon a niche in real estate that help you make some extra cash on the side. It takes practically no start-up cost (less than $500) and a few weeks max to be up and running.   Key Points From This Episode: * How to become a Notary Public * What a Loan Signing Agent is and how this differs from a Notary * Why Loan Signing Agents get paid $75-$200 per appointment * Out of the box business for less than five hundred dollars * Why Andre started a loan signing service  to get you signings * How Andre uses his prior knowledge in business to build his next   Become a Notary/Loan Signing Agent Today —–> Lifestyle Notary <—— Become a Notary/Loan Signing Agent Today   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andre’s Website Before the Millions Book: The Wealth Choice by Dennis Kimbro Listen to this books for free! Lifestyle Design App: Fiverr Email Marketing Software: ConvertKit   Before The Millions Workshop: Create and Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio Before The Millions Mastermind: Expand Your Real Estate Related Business and Life

As a mortgage banker with an eye on millennial demographic and a reputation as a media liaison, Ralph is redefining the role of the banker in today’s buyer centric real estate market. There is a new world real estate game and if you’re not branding yourself in the 21st century no matter your age or background, Ralph believes that you are missing out on so much opportunity. On today’s show we discuss exactly what it means be become a niche brand as a real estate investor, professional or entrepreneur. In today’s world, its becoming more and more imperative to carry an online/social media presence to grow and expand your business. If you haven’t yet thought about social media as a source for business, this episode is for you.   Key Points From This Episode: * Where interest rates are heading in 2019 * 08 crash from a New York brokers’ point of view * The millennial buyers market share * How to use PR to brand yourself * Using Instagram to grow your business * How to test your message   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Ralph’s Website Before the Millions Book: Unbreakable by Tony Robins Listen to this books for free! Lifestyle Design App: LinkedIn   Before The Millions Workshop: Create and Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio Before The Millions Mastermind: Expand Your Real Estate Related Business and Life

Today we have on the show a millenial by the name of Josh Culler. Josh is a multifaceted entrepreneur with his hands in a few projects such as a media company and the owner of a non-profit charity called Hope & Strength Project. We brought Josh on the show for his expertise with well run masterminds. Although Josh is 25 years old, he has a ton of wisdom to share on the show. Our discussion today centered around relationships and the importance of making a conscious effort to find the right relationship circle for your goals. As entrepreneurs and real estate investors, it’s easy to get off course but there have been a few hacks along the way of the successful the ensure they reach “good success” status. Key Points From This Episode: * Josh’s 1st divine encounter * The power of relationship building * The masterminding phenomenon broken down * How to work hard, smart and still find time to spend with family   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Josh’s Website Before the Millions Book: The Richest Man Who Ever Lived The Compound Effect Listen to this books for free! Lifestyle Design App: Loop Habit Tracker   Before The Millions Workshop: Create and Grow Your Real Estate Portfolio Before The Millions Mastermind: Expand Your Real Estate Related Business and Life

Have you created income for retirement that you can’t outlive? Today’s guest, Mark Willis, helps people who want to grow their wealth in ways that are safe and predictable, become their own source of financing, and create tax-free income in retirement. As a certified financial planner and best selling author, his mission is to help individuals take back control of their financial future and build their businesses with sophisticated, tax-efficient financial solutions. On today’s episode we get into emotional financial intelligence. Dave Ramsey influenced Marks financial decisions early on but quickly came to realize that there was a better way for himself and family. Our emotions play a major part in our financial decisions as well as our financial indecisions. Many of us are depending on a traditional 401k savings to sustain our retirement years. You will be absolutely shocked at just how little the 401k will mean to you during retirement after listening to this episode.   Key Points From This Episode: * Emotions and Money, they correlate more than you know * The truth behind average rates of return vs real rates of return * Is Dave Ramsey wrong? * the benefits of dividend paying whole-life insurance * The outlook on baby boomers entering retirement * Why you shouldn’t pay off your debt   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Mark’s Website Before the Millions Book: Find Your Why by Simon Scenic Listen to this books for free! Lifestyle Design App: Calm

As a real estate entrepreneur, I’m sure you’ve heard that half of all businesses fail in their first year, 80% are gone within five years and that 96% of all business fail within 10 years. I know just how hard it is to work a full time job, invest in real estate and create/run your business on the side. In 2017, I ended a successful career as a financial professional to pursue my own journey of full-time, self-employment, so that I could do the work that I felt most called to do. Having being groomed as an “employee”, I realized just how much I didn’t know about what it took to actually own and operate my own business. My first full year fending for myself was brutal. It was riddled with self doubt, overwhelm from all that I believed, and lack of clarity of what I needed to focus on next. As a result, that first year was the most difficult year, that I have ever experienced in my lifetime. However, it was all so worth it! With that being said, when I look back at all the challenges that I faced, I realized that it didn’t have to be so hard. In this episode, Paul Thompson and I share how involvement in a healthy mastermind group as helped to turn things around for us and countless others on the journey to full-time self employment. Masterminds have had such a profound effect on me that I knew by launching my own I could help that that same effect on others and their businesses. Are you looking to build a successful business around your real estate investing efforts? If so, then I warmly welcome you to apply and be apart of the Before the Millions Mastermind. So that together, we can take your business to all new heights!   Key Points From This Episode: * You have a one of a kind message, no such thing as oversaturation * How to build a suite of products from scratch * Why you should create a channel to enhance your business * How to start your own mastermind * The structure, length and content needed for successful masterminding   www.pauldavidthompson.com/jumpstart www.beforethemillions.com/mastermind