Burning The Ships

In this solo episode of Burning the Ships, I break down one of the biggest questions new and seasoned real estate investors face: how do I fund my deals?

I walk through every major funding option I’ve personally used—cash, self-directed retirement accounts, HELOCs, unsecured lines of credit, private money, hard money loans, and even seller financing. Each comes with its trade-offs, costs, and opportunities for scale. I share real examples from my journey and explain why resourcefulness is the single most important trait you need to figure out how to take down deals consistently.

If you’re ready to scale your investing business but aren’t sure where the money will come from, this episode gives you the roadmap and the mindset to make it happen.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

03:35 JJ’s Joke of the Week

04:36 Cash: fastest, simplest option, but limits scalability and ties up liquidity

06:42 The opportunity cost of using your own cash

07:56 Self-directed retirement accounts (IRAs, Solo 401k) and how they work

10:01 HELOCs (home equity lines of credit)—leveraging equity to fund deals

13:11 Unsecured lines of credit: why bankability matters

14:52 Private money: building relationships with individuals who fund your deals

17:28 Hard money: definition, misconceptions, and how 608B Capital operates differently

19:22 Why hard money might be your best starting point if you lack other resources

21:43 Seller financing: creative strategies when sellers become the bank

23:36 Why seller finance should often be your first question when structuring deals

26:00 Using resourcefulness as the ultimate tool

28:06 Real-life examples: fitting in workouts, staying healthy on the road

31:25 Parenting, schedules, and the family motto: “We figure shit out”

Quotables

“Cash is the fastest and simplest way to buy real estate, but it will cap your growth.”

“Private money is not easy to find, but once you have it, it can change everything.”

“Resourcefulness is the mindset that will get you through deals, business, and life.”

Links

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Brandon Lindsey, founder of The Rehabber’s Playbook, to talk about his journey from baseball dreams to real estate investing and community building.

We cover his first deal inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad, learning construction from scratch, and how he built a thriving national network that helps hundreds of investors succeed in rehabs. Brandon opens up about growing up in adversity, the lessons sports taught him, why mentorship and action beat perfection, and how faith, marriage, and fatherhood shape his drive today.

If you’re an entrepreneur, parent, or investor looking to turn setbacks into purpose, this conversation will inspire you to take action, build community, and stay resilient.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

02:14 JJ’s Joke of the Week

04:47 Brandon’s first deal in college, inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad

07:11 Failing a toolbox pop quiz and how organization, diligence, and curiosity helped him master construction

10:00 Building The Rehabs Playbook from a PDF with grammar errors to a thriving national community

12:13 Baseball dreams, career-ending injuries, and finding a new path

15:40 Growing up in turbulence: family struggles, grandparents’ influence, and how adversity shaped his drive

18:08 Harnessing pain as fuel: why some fold under adversity and others rise

24:30 Taking action vs. over-educating: finding the balance between learning and taking action

27:30 The value of mentorship, paying for education, and why investing in yourself forces action

32:39 Shifting your mindset towards investing in your education

34:17 From zero construction knowledge to running a Class A contracting company

36:05 Sink or swim moments: learning from managing dozens of projects at once

39:14 Why “burning the ships” doesn’t mean reckless quitting

43:49 Air traffic control: the real key to profitability and peace in construction

46:11 Goals vs. visions: why short-term goals and long-term visions beat rigid five-year plans

48:39 Sports analogies, leadership lessons, and how team mentality drives The Rehabber’s Playbook

49:53 Who is The Rehabber’s Playbook for?

55:32 Marriage, support systems, and the importance of choosing the right partner

01:00:51 How becoming a father shifted Brandon’s perspective and motivation

01:03:18 Raising kids without the adversity we had: instilling values, perspective, and gratitude

01:10:48 Resilience, patience, and the compounding power of consistent action

Quotables

“I dove into it. And number two, I found the passion for it. I love the people, the work, and seeing houses go from distressed to beautiful.”

“We make our money when we buy, but most deals die in the rehab.”

“If you’re an entrepreneur, your partner’s support is as important as anything else in your business.”

Links

The Rehabber’s Playbook

https://www.therehabbersplaybook.com/

608B Capital

https://www.608bcapital.com

In this solo episode of Burning the Ships, I open up about the power of goal setting—what it looks like when you miss big, and what it feels like when you blow past goals you once thought were impossible.

I share the story of how our company went from raising just a few hundred thousand dollars in capital to surpassing $20 million in loans made—all in less than three years. From planting seeds with investors and nurturing those relationships, to shifting goals when reality hit, to celebrating milestones like hitting $10 million in a single quarter, this episode is a transparent look at the messy, exciting, and often humbling process of setting and achieving goals.

Whether you’re in real estate, business, or just trying to level up personally, this conversation will give you a roadmap to set goals that scare you, hold yourself accountable, and build momentum that compounds over time.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:47 JJ’s Joke of the Week

02:28 Surpassing Q3 goals: $10M in loans and crossing the original $20M annual goal

03:13 Setting a scary $20M loan goal for 2025 and hitting it early

05:31 Early days of raising capital: first $300K investor, frustration, and impatience

08:05 Shifting from “sell today” insurance mindset to long-term seed planting

10:20 Selling a vision instead of a commodity: trust and relationships over transactions

12:42 The farming analogy: planting, watering, nurturing, and waiting for harvest

15:06 Ending 2024 with $5M under management vs. the $10M goal—lessons from failure

18:14 Setting realistic KPIs for 2025—$20M in loans as the new North Star

21:20 Why failing at one goal set the stage for bigger wins later

24:20 The difference between scary goals and unrealistic ones

27:17 Pushing for $10M in Q3 instead of $8M and hitting it

28:07 Tactical goal-setting tips: dissecting goals, setting micro-goals, and building accountability

29:50 The power of going public with goals—creating accountability and credibility

31:36 Building fans of your business like the Savannah Bananas build fans of baseball

Quotables

“I wasn’t selling insurance anymore. I was selling a vision. And that takes time.”

“The hardest part of goals isn’t setting them—it’s backing into the micro-goals that make them possible.”

“When you put your goals out there publicly, you create accountability and build credibility at the same time.”

Links

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly insightful Davion McKnight—veteran, farmer, real estate investor, and community advocate. From a viral hunting reel to a deep dive into his philosophies around land stewardship and regenerative agriculture, Davion shares the powerful story of how he turned personal discipline and curiosity into a multi-faceted life mission.

We explore how his upbringing, military service, and love for the outdoors shaped his vision for building generational wealth and self-sufficiency through land ownership. Whether you’re interested in real estate, farming, personal development, or just want to hear a raw, purpose-driven perspective, this conversation will leave you both informed and inspired.

Timeline Summary:

[0:00] - Introduction

[1:03] - How a hunting video sparked a conversation worth having

[2:58] - Davion introduces himself and his mission of community education

[5:06] - A childhood shaped by challenges and the fork in the road that led to the Marines

[7:17] - From sharecropping roots to farming: reclaiming land and legacy

[10:36] - The mindset shift from service to investment

[12:13] - Why “Lifting Weights and Real Estate” is more than just a handle

[15:14] - Scaling a real estate portfolio and investing in community

[21:07] - What sparked Davion’s return to the land and starting a 64-acre farm

[24:08] - Creative pathways to land ownership for everyday people

[29:13] - Building a content platform by staying true to purpose

[35:05] - Resources and programs for veterans in agriculture

[38:35] - A real look at regenerative farming and redefining what a “farm” is

[48:08] - Public land threats, conservation, and what we stand to lose

[56:18] - Animal welfare, ethical food, and what factory farming hides from you

[57:30] - Davion’s elevator pitch on legacy, knowledge sharing, and stewardship

Quotables

• “Every time a matriarch or patriarch leaves this place, a library burns down.”
• “People don’t want to feel vulnerable, but even when you say good things or bad things—you’re still saying something.”
• “You might see a commercial for a high-end car, but you’ve never seen one that tells you to buy land. That’s intentional.”
• “Land is the greatest asset available. It begins and ends with land. You can’t do anything without it.”
• “My health and my wealth go hand in hand—because neither can wait.”
• “When you mitigate food insecurity, you solve a lot of a community’s problems.”
• “The goal isn’t just ownership—it’s stewardship.”

Links & Resources

• Follow Davion McKnight on Instagram: @liftingweightsandrealestate
• Learn more about the Farmer Veteran Coalition: https://farmvetco.org
• Watch Joel Salatin’s work on regenerative farming: Polyface Farms
• Learn about the Utah public lands controversy: Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and review Burning the Ship on your favorite podcast platform. And don’t forget to share it with a friend who needs to hear this message!

In this solo episode of Burning the Ships, host Jason Seward unpacks one of the most common questions new real estate investors ask: How do I actually find a deal?

From his early investing days while working a full-time corporate job to building a rental portfolio using just a few simple strategies, Jason shares tactical ways to source real estate deals that work—even if you have limited time or money. He breaks down the different strategies that helped him and Bill grow their portfolio, and explains how to build relationships, define your buy box, and create a reputation as a reliable buyer.

This episode is a must-listen if you’re just getting started in real estate, stuck in analysis paralysis, or simply want to build a stronger acquisition pipeline.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 – Welcome to the Burning the Ships solo series

00:29 – Sponsored by 608B Capital

01:11 – The #1 question new investors ask: how to find a deal

03:18 – JJ’s Joke of the Week

05:01 – Why finding a deal is the real first step—not underwriting

09:08 – Finding hidden third-bedroom potential to increase ARV

11:23 – Overpriced listings: lowball offers and seller timing

13:00 – Build relationships with agents who understand your buy box

14:00 – Strategy 2: Why wholesalers were Jason and Bill’s #1 source for deals

16:17 – Understanding assignments and how wholesalers make money

18:13 – Becoming a VIP buyer: perform, don’t waste time

19:08 – What’s a “buy box” and why most investors don’t define theirs

21:11 – Strategy 3: Direct mailer campaigns done right (even with limited budget)

24:06 – Real-world example: handwritten letters and two closed deals

26:17 – Strategy 4: In-person networking and why meetups still matter

27:51 – Use tools like PropStream and BatchLeads to pull targeted lists

28:10 – Strategy 5: Driving for dollars (and why Jason would still do it today)

30:42 – Use “bird dogs” to scale your driving-for-dollars efforts

32:18 – Build trust with deal sources by consistently closing

37:21 – Use what you have—especially your time

39:10 – Mindset Segment: Persistence is the most important skill

41:58 – Get used to hearing “no”—real estate is a 90% fail rate game

42:57 – 20 offers per week: how Jason and Bill built deal flow

45:16 – Fitness analogy: persistence compounds over time

46:53 – Don’t go it alone—partner with someone who does have grit

48:10 – This solo series won’t be just real estate—more tactical topics ahead

49:16 – Recap: Be persistent in everything, and results will follow

Quotables

“You will not source any deals if you don’t pick a few strategies and go at it over and over and over.”

“The MLS isn’t dead—it just requires creativity, timing, and attention to what others miss.”

“Most people are uncomfortable hearing ‘no’—but in this game, you better get used to it.”

“Be able to articulate what you’re looking for, or you’re going to waste a lot of time and miss a lot of deals.”

Links

• 608B Capital – https://608bcapital.com

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Brad Ritter, author of School of Grit and one of the few civilians to complete SEALFIT’s Kokoro Camp—a 50-hour crucible designed by Navy SEALs to break down and rebuild your mind, body, and spirit.

Brad and I dive into his journey from humble beginnings in sales to pushing himself through one of the toughest training experiences on the planet. We talk about how purposeful adversity forged his character, why service to others became his biggest lesson, and how his book and coaching help people cultivate grit in everyday life.

This episode is packed with lessons on resilience, faith, fitness, and how to raise kids with grit in a world where comfort is the norm.

If you’ve ever wondered how to train your mind and body to thrive under pressure or how to instill grit in the next generation, you won’t want to miss this one.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

00:58 JJ’s Joke of the Week

01:11 Who is Brad Ritter?

04:06 Brad’s background: family, 20-year marriage, and being intentional with fatherhood

05:31 Meeting his wife at Menards, building their first home, and early careers

11:11 Struggles after college: FedEx graveyard shift, inside sales, and humble beginnings

13:15 Lessons from failure, sleep deprivation, and owning responsibility

17:42 Transitioning into sales: liquor industry, Xerox training, and building resilience

22:05 Medical sales, confidence-building, and learning by pushing past limits

25:09 Getting fired before Christmas, leaning on his network, and authenticity

30:13 Influence of Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins and the accountability mirror

33:00 Discovering SEALFIT’s Kokoro Camp and choosing adversity at age 35

37:30 The Kokoro experience: 50 hours, no sleep, minimal food, and team-first mindset

43:43 Lessons learned: selfishness vs. service to others

46:07 From Kokoro to School of Grit: arrival fallacy, coaching, and legacy

51:26 Parenting, adversity, and how to raise kids with grit in a comfortable world

58:57 Modeling grit for kids: workouts, prayer, and setting the example

01:05:52 What’s next for Brad: kids coaching, retreats, and online courses

01:10:17 Building grit, starting small, and doing the hard things

Quotables

“Rejoice in adversity. How do we become warriors? It’s through adversity.”

“Blame is the enemy of progress. Ownership is the fuel for momentum.”

“Maybe what’s been holding you back is that your life has been too comfortable.”

Links

School of Grit

https://schoolofgrit.org/

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this new solo series of Burning the Ships, I’m shifting from weekly rambles to tactical deep dives and today we’re kicking off with how to underwrite a single-family fix and flip deal.

I walk through the full process step by step: from defining your goals, to calculating ARV (After Repair Value), to backing into your Max Allowable Offer. We break down the often-overlooked holding costs, closing costs, and realtor commissions that can kill your margins if you don’t account for them.

But this episode isn’t just about math, it’s about discipline. Because the hardest part of underwriting isn’t the numbers, it’s sticking to them when your emotions want the deal to work.

Whether you’re an investor or just someone looking to sharpen your mindset, this episode will give you a framework for discipline that applies far beyond real estate.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

02:26 Mindset nugget preview: discipline is the glue to success

03:33 JJ’s Joke of the Week

05:13 Why principles of underwriting haven’t changed in decades

06:46 Step 1: Define your goal—profit target and purpose

07:50 Step 2: Force appreciation—renovating to increase value

09:20 ARV (After Repair Value): why it’s the cornerstone metric

10:23 How to calculate the MAO (Maximum Allowable Offer)

11:38 Back-of-the-napkin math formula and following the 70% rule

13:13 Understanding closing costs on front and back end

14:37 Holding costs: utilities, insurance, taxes, lawn care

17:22 Realtor commissions: 5–6% adds up fast

19:10 Why conservative underwriting creates buffer for unknowns

22:09 Running comps: Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, or CMAs

24:15 Why you need to get extra conservative with rural or unique properties

27:33 Rehab estimates: why you need a contractor’s expertise

31:16 Common mistakes: overestimating ARV & underestimating repairs

33:07 Full deal example: breaking down numbers on a Newport News property

38:11 Transition to mindset: discipline in underwriting

39:41 Discipline means sticking to your Max Allowable Offer

42:43 Why motivation fades but discipline sustains long-term success

44:41 How discipline builds reliability, trust, and reputation

49:21 Where can you add value today?

Quotables

“The hardest part of underwriting isn’t the math—it’s the discipline to stick to it.”

“Motivation is fleeting. Discipline is what sustains success over time.”

“If you’re not disciplined in underwriting, emotions will push you into bad deals.”

Links

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Sam Hopkins, a 26-year-old real estate investor who’s built a powerhouse business in record time. From buying his first deal at 20 with just $11,000 in savings, to scaling into 180+ transactions a year, Sam’s journey is proof that focus, discipline, and the right mindset can accelerate your success.

We talk about his early days working two jobs while wholesaling on the side, how he transitioned into flips and rentals, why he brought on an integrator to free himself for high-level work, and the role fitness plays in keeping his discipline sharp. Sam also opens up about working alongside his fiancée, building a team, and what legacy means to him this early in the game.

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re too young or too inexperienced to succeed in real estate, this conversation will flip that belief on its head.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:06 JJ’s Joke of the Week

02:51 Sam’s background: Growing up in small-town Virginia & first exposure to real estate

04:45 Discovering Rich Dad Poor Dad at 19 and shifting his mindset

07:00 Early mentorship experience: Shadowing a flipper while making $11/hour at AT&T

08:53 Wholesaling in 2020 to doing 100 deals a year and breaking seven figures

11:19 Transitioning from wholesale to flips, rentals, and private capital

12:40 Building a team: cold callers, acquisitions, transaction coordinators

13:29 Bringing on an integrator: Why visionaries need operators

15:45 “Who Not How” and learning to focus on unique ability

19:11 Confidence, imposter syndrome, and buying glasses to look older

21:08 Lessons on logistics: Flipping nationwide vs. Focusing on Virginia, 100+ flips a year

25:55 Taxes, cost segregation, and why syndications don’t appeal to him

27:25 Why Sam doesn’t want a fully passive business just yet

31:32 Working with his fiancée inside the business + future roles

33:48 Business and personal life overlap—why they don’t separate it

35:40 Coaching & mentorship: Why Sam is not focusing on it yet

37:36 Who are Sam’s customers in business?

38:22 Lessons from The One Thing and Jesse Cole’s Fans First

40:01 The next 12 months: EOS & operations upgrades

42:23 Thinking about legacy and impact beyond money

44:23 Lending partnerships, integrity in deals, and working with 608B Capital

47:49 Fitness, bodybuilding, nutrition, and discipline through structure

54:45 How consistency on social media can attract deals and capital

Quotables

“I actually bought glasses at 20 years old just to look older so people would take me seriously.”

“No one cares how old you are. In fact, most people want to help you when they see you hustling young.”

“I don’t want 1,000 rentals. I want quality doors in good neighborhoods that appreciate.”

Links

Sam Hopkins

https://www.facebook.com/sam.hopkins.3726

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this solo episode, I open up about the pivot we’re making with Burning the Ships and why it’s time to shift gears. For almost two years, my Weekly Rambles have been a mix of mindset lessons, random thoughts, books I’ve read, and ideas I wanted to share. But with the growth of 608B Capital and the demands of building our lending business, I realized I’ve been scrambling to keep up with these episodes and that means the quality hasn’t always been what I want for you.

So, we’re pivoting. Going forward, solo episodes will be more structured, tactical, and practical—think step-by-step breakdowns on topics like underwriting a fix-and-flip, the BRRRR strategy, or scaling through short-term rentals. And while I’ll still end every episode with a mindset nugget, I’ll also be bringing in experts from my network to share their insights in areas like real estate, business, fitness, and finance.

This episode is both an update and a mindset lesson in itself: the power of pivoting. I share why flexibility is key, how stubbornness can kill momentum, and how learning to “zoom out” has been one of the biggest game changers in my life and business.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:11 The history of the Weekly Ramble and why it worked… until it didn’t

02:02 Challenges: lack of prep time, rushed ideas, scrambling to record

05:33 JJ’s Joke of the Week

06:51 Moving from random rambles to tactical, structured solo episodes

08:22 What to expect in the new structure of Burning the Ships

10:48 Adding mindset nuggets to anchor tactical lessons

12:08 Bringing in expert guests to teach tactics in their fields

16:00 Why structured episodes benefit you, the guest, and our team

17:20 Updating intros, outros, and integrating 608B Capital transparently

20:47 The importance of pivoting in business and life

22:40 Embracing humility: being willing to admit when something isn’t working

25:55 Why refusing to pivot is often the death of businesses and ideas

30:44 Zooming out: seeing opportunities, threats, and weaknesses from 30,000 feet

36:05 Where do you need to pivot in your own life right now?

Quotables

“Patience is not passive. It’s planting seeds every day and trusting they’ll grow—even when nothing seems to be happening.”

“Pivoting is vital—not just the act of pivoting, but the awareness that you’re going to need to do it again and again in life and business.”

“Ego and pride will keep you locked into bad ideas. Humility frees you to change course.”

Links

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this powerful episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Wendy Coles, whose story is a raw, inspiring example of resilience, resourcefulness, and redemption. From a troubled relationship with her mother and running into legal trouble at 18, to raising four kids, rebuilding her life, and eventually finding freedom through real estate and service, Wendy’s journey shows what it means to keep moving forward—no matter the storm.

We dive deep into her early struggles with identity, her time on the run while pregnant, and how she turned setbacks into stepping stones for growth. Wendy also shares how she discovered her true heritage later in life, how real estate investing gave her the stability she always sought, and how giving back through Chair the Love (a charity that delivers wheelchairs worldwide) has reshaped her purpose.

This conversation is about more than real estate—it’s about storms, strength, and the courage to step into who you’re meant to be.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:27 JJ’s Joke of the Week

02:32 Wendy’s background: strained relationship with her mom, identity struggles, and introversion

05:33 Meeting Eddie, stolen cars, jail time, and learning she was pregnant at 18

08:20 Running away to Canada while pregnant, fear vs. fearlessness, and life on the run

13:08 Homelessness, shelters in Buffalo, and the decision to turn herself in

17:17 Jail, probation, teen motherhood, and the burden of a felony record

19:25 DNA test reveals her true identity—meeting her Filipino father and half-siblings

25:28 Raising Jocelyn, honesty about her father, and building family bonds

29:27 Balancing kids, divorce, and survival as a single mom with sales jobs

35:10 Marriage, entrepreneurship, running a sports training facility, and parental validation

40:28 Closing the facility, husband’s health issues, and pivoting into real estate

42:35 From flipping to buy-and-hold: building long-term wealth and getting licensed despite felonies

45:16 Managing rentals, short-term rentals, and self-managing tenants successfully

49:09 Discovering Chair the Love: providing wheelchairs, mission trips, and real estate mastermind connections

59:03 Health, habits, and staying youthful at 54—honesty about struggles with food and workouts

01:03:11 Storms as opportunities: why challenges clear the path for something better

Quotables

“Storms destroy what isn’t solid and reveal what is.”

“Most kids won’t remember the money you made, but they’ll remember the time you spent.”

“Getting uncomfortable is where the best results in life come from.”

Links

Chair the Love

https://www.facebook.com/CTLFlorida/

Wendy Coles

https://www.facebook.com/wendy.r.coles

608B Capital

https://www.608bcapital.com