Experiment Nation — in the lab. 🧪

You don't have a goal problem. You have a leverage problem.

In this solo episode, Ruben comes out of the cave with the reframe that shaped his entire year: stop trying to figure out the HOW — fix the WHAT, then ask one question: "Where is my leverage?" Most people pick a goal, can't see the path, and shrink the dream until it's "realistic." The leveraged do the opposite — because a lever means you don't need 10x the effort to get 10x the result. Nobody saves $300K in cash to buy a $300K house… they put $30K down and leverage the bank. So why does the leverage stop at the mortgage?

Ruben walks you through the full Leverage Audit — the same framework he shared at the School of Hard Knocks meetup in San Diego:

▸ The Internal Audit — the superpower exercise: ask the 3 people closest to you, "Be blunt — where do I have a unique advantage?" Your 9-to-5 has been paying you to sharpen levers for years (project management, spreadsheets, managing people, problem solving). That's inventory, not scratch.

▸ The External Audit — who, not how. The furniture, the dynamic pricing tools, the cleaners, Thumbtack, TurnoverBnB, the neighbor's property, the bank — the levers already sitting in your ecosystem that you walk past every day.

▸ Stacking — how one clean becomes a cleaning company, one furnished unit becomes a co-hosting business, and one skill set becomes an exit (like engineer Tony Whatley's "side hustle millionaire" story).

▸ Which game are you ACTUALLY playing? — asset class or business. The asset stores wealth. The business is the throttle.

▸ The biggest players prove it — Facebook, Uber, Airbnb, Turo, ALE Solutions: they own nothing and control everything. So why aren't you running the same play at your scale?

Because those who don't see leverage only see obstacles. And a mind that is expanded by a new framework can never go back to its old dimensions.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT 📋 Run the audit: internal, then external, then measure it against your desired outcome. Then email me the receipts — [email protected] with the subject line LEVERAGE. Tell me what your audit uncovered, ask me how to run one, or tell me why you'd thrive at a company built on unlimited leverage (our temporary housing agents live this model every day). I read every email.

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 — Welcome back to the lab: a much-needed reframe

01:18 — Going to the source: what "leverage" actually means (physics → life)

02:45 — Divorce the how, determine the what (the lesson of the year)

04:16 — The levers hiding in plain sight

05:40 — The Internal Audit: the superpower exercise

07:46 — Your 9-to-5 is a leverage vault

08:45 — Stacking levers: furniture, pricing tools, cleaners, Thumbtack

09:56 — The $300K mistake: you already leverage the bank

11:00 — AI: the biggest lever of the decade (and what I built on hiatus)

12:33 — Which game are you ACTUALLY playing? Asset class vs. business

17:25 — Proof of concept → business: co-hosting & the cleaning-company stack

19:20 — Money is measurable: the Uber driver who builds a driving agency

21:10 — Building the bridge: the project manager blueprint + Tony Whatley

23:35 — They own nothing, control everything: FB, Uber, Airbnb, Turo, ALE

25:13 — Your assignment: run the Leverage Audit

26:00 — Unlimited leverage: inside our temporary housing agent model

27:57 — You're just one experiment away. Let's build.

🎧 All episodes: https://experimentrealestate.com/podcast 📄 Grab the free 2-page Leverage Audit worksheet (with the AI prompt that turns it into your 90-day game plan): [LINK] 📩 [email protected] · subject: LEVERAGE

In this solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben introduces one of the simplest yet most powerful visuals explaining the current AI revolution: the "Red Dot." Inspired by an insight from entrepreneur and author MJ DeMarco, he challenges listeners to stop asking whether they're too late to AI and instead ask a better question: "Am I becoming a power user?"

Using a fascinating breakdown of AI adoption across the world's population, Ruben explains just how early we still are. While headlines make it seem like everyone has mastered artificial intelligence, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of people have never used it, and only a microscopic fraction are leveraging it at an advanced level. The biggest opportunity isn't creating the next AI company—it's becoming the person who uses AI better than everyone else in your industry.

Ruben also shares practical advice for becoming an AI power user by integrating it into everyday work instead of treating it like another productivity hack. From emails and spreadsheets to business operations and fulfillment, he explains why consistent daily use changes the way you think, helps you recognize new opportunities, and positions you ahead of the coming wave of adoption.

Tune in now to discover what the Red Dot represents, why this AI window is still wide open, and how becoming a power user today could become one of the highest-leverage decisions you make for your business over the next decade.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AIForBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #Productivity #Automation #SmallBusiness #Innovation #Leadership #InTheLab

In this solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben challenges one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding artificial intelligence: that it's already too late to capitalize on it. Instead, he explains we're still in the earliest innings—and the biggest opportunity isn't building the next AI company. It's becoming the business owner who leverages AI better than everyone else in your respective industry.

Throughout the episode, Ruben breaks down the shift from using AI as a simple chatbot to building agentic workflows that actually perform work inside your business. He explains why the future belongs to founders who eliminate repetitive tasks, redesign operations around AI agents, and elevate their teams into higher-value roles instead of simply replacing them.

Ruben also shares practical frameworks for evaluating your business infrastructure, choosing AI-ready software, documenting workflows, and avoiding the bottlenecks that slow growing companies down. He explains why smaller businesses have a massive advantage over large corporations in this transition—and why speed and adaptability may become your biggest competitive edge over the next several years.

Tune in now to learn where the real AI opportunity exists, how to prepare your business for an agentic future, and why the entrepreneurs who implement first—not necessarily the ones who know the most—will create the biggest advantage over the next 2-3 years.

#ArtificialIntelligence #AIForBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #AgenticAI #Automation #SmallBusiness #Leadership #Innovation #InTheLab

In this episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with investor-focused lender Ben Stef to unpack the lending side of real estate that most investors rarely take advantage of. From growing up working construction jobs to building a business helping investors access capital, Ben shares the lessons, mindset shifts, and sales skills that shaped his journey into the world of real estate finance.

The conversation dives deep into one of the biggest opportunities entrepreneurs and investors can make to tap into the hidden equity in their rentals as hidden leverage regardless of the economy, interest rates, or market conditions. Ben breaks down why successful operators thrive in every market cycle and how focusing on marketing, relationships, and consistent action often matters far more than external conditions.

Ruben and Ben also pull back the curtain on how lending actually works behind the scenes. From underwriting, servicing, and investor financing to creative lending solutions, they discuss the realities most borrowers never see. Ben shares one of his favorite products for investors sitting on significant equity but lacking access to traditional financing, along with the mindset required to use leverage responsibly.

Tune in now to learn how lenders evaluate risk, why ownership beats excuses, how to think about return on equity, and the strategies experienced investors use to unlock capital and continue scaling their real estate portfolios.

Keeping it Real:

04:35 – Sales skills learned through telemarketing

08:20 – Get close to people already doing what you want to do

09:26 – Why business forces personal growth

10:50 – The power of extreme ownership

13:33 – Are interest rates actually high?

15:23 – The real reason business feels slow

20:00 – How underwriting really works behind the scenes

22:31 – What happens when borrowers miss payments

25:31 – What loan servicing actually means

29:20 – Building customer loyalty through relationships

31:58 – The immigrant hospitality advantage in business

36:08 – Why Ben tells some clients NOT to take loans

37:45 – Products vs people: what really differentiates you

41:14 – The investor HELOC most owners don't know exists

45:23 – Return on Equity vs Return on Investment

50:59 – Why lenders are willing to take second position

55:57 – Play defense before you play offense

58:22 – Asset class vs business owner mindset

01:00:28 – Why old real estate advice no longer applies

01:01:18 – The three people every entrepreneur needs around them 

#RealEstateInvesting #InvestorFinancing #HELOC #DSCRLoans #EntrepreneurMindset #WealthBuilding #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateBusiness #BusinessGrowth #InTheLab 

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.fundingfreedom.net/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-stef-b0b741275/

Sign Up For Relay through My Referral Link: ⁠https://join.relayfi.com/partner/?referralcode=temporaryhousingmeetup&utm_source=events&utm_medium=…

⁠In this eye-opening episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in entrepreneurship and real estate investing: confusing an asset class vs. building an actual business. Too many people say they want to “quit their W2 through real estate,” but never stop to ask the deeper question… are they trying to become an investor or build a business machine that produces cash flow at scale?

Throughout the episode, Ruben unpacks the difference between long-term investing, operating a real estate business, and using business income to fund wealth-building assets. He explains why most successful entrepreneurs didn’t get wealthy from the asset class itself first, but from the business engine behind it. From wholesalers and flippers to coaches, syndicators, and short-term rental operators, Ruben challenges listeners to study how people actually made their money instead of blindly copying the final product.

He also dives deep into the importance of context when making business decisions. Instead of asking generic questions like “What’s the best strategy?” Ruben explains why better outcomes come from reverse engineering your goals based on your skills, location, liquidity, lifestyle, time availability, and long-term vision. The episode also explores why B2B businesses create leverage faster than B2C models, and why AI may be the greatest business opportunity window modern entrepreneurs have ever seen.

Tune in now to learn why “the math has to math,” how to stop chasing misleading business models, and why understanding the difference between owning assets and operating a business could completely change your financial future.

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #AssetVsBusiness #QuitYourW2 #B2BStrategy #AIForEntrepreneurs #FinancialFreedom #InTheLab

Sign Up For Relay through My Referral Link: ⁠https://join.relayfi.com/partner/?referralcode=temporaryhousingmeetup&utm_source=events&utm_medium=…In this insightful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Wendy Wei from Relay (a digital banking and money management platform) to unpack one of the most overlooked skills in entrepreneurship and real estate investing: understanding your cash flow. What starts as a conversation around money management quickly turns into a deeper discussion on psychology, conditioning, identity, habits, and the systems that shape how entrepreneurs operate their businesses and lives.

Wendy shares her journey from growing up in a traditional immigrant household to building a career across psychology, marketing, SaaS, storytelling, and fintech. With a background in psychology from Harvard University and experience spanning photography, creator partnerships, and performance marketing, Wendy explains how curiosity, experimentation, and human behavior became the foundation for the work she does today helping business owners better understand and organize their finances.

The episode dives deep into the Profit First framework and how entrepreneurs can stop operating with one giant “bucket” of money and instead build systems that create visibility, automation, accountability, and profitability. Ruben also breaks down exactly how Invested Escapes uses Relay internally across multiple properties, vendors, virtual cards, owner payouts, and operational systems to move faster and stay organized while scaling nationwide.

Relay is a digital banking and money management platform that helps real estate investors get clear visibility into what they’re earning, spending and saving—so they can better understand the cash flow in their business.

Throughout the conversation, Wendy also shares powerful insights around neuroplasticity, conditioning, growth mindset, rewiring limiting beliefs, and how small consistent habits can completely change the trajectory of your life and business over time. This episode blends entrepreneurship, psychology, systems, and financial organization into one conversation designed to help operators think differently about both money and growth.

Tune in now to learn how to stop leaking money, organize your business like a true operator, and build systems that help you pay yourself first while scaling with clarity.

HIGHLIGHTS:

42:21 - Wendy talks about rewiring your brain through growth mindset. 

55:50 - Wendy talks about automating cash flow for entrepreneurs. 

Keeping it Real:

01:00 – Building micro communities

03:20 – Understanding cash flow

06:10 – Graduation season pressure

11:30 – Travel shapes perspective

15:20 – Psychology meets marketing

16:30 – Curiosity drives growth

20:10 – Small actions compound

31:00 – Understanding conditioning

34:30 – Coaching changed everything

36:00 – Rewiring self-talk

42:20 – Neuroplasticity explained

46:10 – Identity shapes habits

51:20 – Profit First explained

54:40 – Automating cash flow

58:20 – Relay inside operations

1:03:00 – Virtual card controls

1:07:00 – Banking misconceptions

1:10:00 – Most-used Relay features

1:15:00 – Building real community

1:17:00 – People over logos 

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bankwithrelay/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyhwei/
#RealEstateInvesting #ProfitFirst #CashFlowManagement #EntrepreneurMindset #RelayFinancial #BusinessSystems #FinancialFreedom #MoneyManagement #RealEstateBusiness #Entrepreneurship 

In this perspective-shifting episode of In The Lab, Ruben breaks down one of the hardest lessons entrepreneurs and investors eventually face: sometimes the thing holding you back isn’t what’s failing, it’s what’s still working. From business ventures to habits, routines, and even ways of thinking, growth often requires subtraction before addition can happen.

Throughout the episode, Ruben unpacks the idea of “making room” for bigger opportunities by intentionally removing what no longer aligns with where you’re trying to go. He shares personal examples of shutting down profitable businesses, evolving into new seasons, and why some of the biggest breakthroughs in life come after difficult decisions that initially make no logical sense from the outside.

He also dives into how entrepreneurs can use AI, mentors, and reverse engineering to make smarter decisions with less emotional bias. Instead of asking which tactic or business model is best, Ruben explains why the better question is: “What outcome am I trying to achieve?” From there, the vehicle becomes clearer. The episode reframes how to think about opportunity cost, blind spots, and the hidden weight of trying to carry too many things at once.

Tune in now to learn how to trim the fat, stop overloading your plate, and create space for the version of your life and business that actually aligns with where you’re trying to go.

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #MidTermRentals #WealthBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #ScaleSmart #AIForBusiness #MindsetShift #ExperimentNation

In this episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Anja Schaer, broker, investor, and author of The Hybrid Rental Strategy, to break down how she went from a government job in Germany to building, scaling, and selling multiple businesses in the U.S.—all while creating a real estate portfolio designed for both cash flow and long-term exit.

Anja dives into the real reason more investors are shifting away from short-term rentals and into midterm strategies. It’s not just about higher nightly rates—it’s about stability. Instead of chasing unpredictable bookings, she explains how locking in 3–6 month contracts creates consistent income, reduces workload, and removes the stress of staring at an empty calendar.

This episode also goes beyond tactics and into mindset. From the “immigrant advantage” to breaking social norms and embracing discomfort, Anja shares how stepping outside the expected path creates exponential opportunities. The conversation ties it all together with a bigger play—building systems, leveraging AI, and creating a business that isn’t just profitable, but actually sellable.

Tune in now to learn how to shift from chasing bookings to building predictable income and a real estate business designed for long-term freedom.

HIGHLIGHTS:

36:10 - Anja talks about why Why midterm rentals are exploding

41:36 - Anja talks about the hybrid model

Keeping it Real:

06:00 – The immigrant advantage explained

10:30 – Breaking social norms & taking risks

18:30 – From e-commerce to real estate pivot

24:30 – Finding real estate through Facebook

30:00 – Evolution: flips → wholesale → rentals

36:10 –

41:20 – How the hybrid model actually works

46:30 – Calendar strategy to unlock MTR deals

50:30 – Building a sellable property business

54:00 – AI, systems, and future-proofing

1:06:00 – What buyers will value in your business

1:16:00 – Community, collaboration, and growth

1:21:00 – From communism to entrepreneurship

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://www.peachhausfurnishedrentals.com/contact

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjaschaer/

#RealEstateInvesting #MidTermRentals #PassiveIncome #EntrepreneurMindset #FinancialFreedom #RentalStrategy #WealthBuilding #AirbnbBusiness #PropertyManagement #RealEstateScaling

In this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Dr. Noah St. John, a neuro-performance architect who has helped clients generate billions in revenue, to unpack the real reason so many entrepreneurs stay stuck despite having the right strategies, tools, and knowledge.

Dr. Noah breaks down the concept of the “invisible brake”—the hidden force that silently limits your income, growth, and results. While most entrepreneurs focus heavily on the outer game like marketing, sales, and systems, this conversation reveals why that’s only half the equation. The real bottleneck lies in what happens after you set a goal—when doubt, limiting beliefs, and what he calls “head trash” begin to take over.

Through real examples, including scaling a company from $4M to $20M in under 18 months, Dr. Noah explains how mastering your inner game is what unlocks exponential growth. He dives into why copying successful people doesn’t work, how unconscious beliefs shape your outcomes, and why most people are unknowingly operating with one foot on the brake.

This episode also explores the idea of “permission to succeed,” the difference between conscious and unconscious competence, and how high performers think, decide, and act differently. From breaking through income ceilings to gaining clarity on what you actually want, this conversation gives you the missing piece most people never address.

Tune in now to learn how to identify your invisible brake, eliminate the beliefs holding you back, and finally align your inner and outer game to unlock the results you’ve been chasing.

HIGHLIGHTS:

09:22 - Noah talks about why results matter more than personal success

17:53 - Noah talks about outer and inner game.

Keeping it Real:

05:06 - Why most entrepreneurs fail despite good intentions

07:43 - The truth about “fake gurus” and social media

09:21 - Why results matter more than personal success

12:10 - Why proximity alone doesn’t create results

13:19 - Architect analogy: why watching isn’t enough

15:27 - $4M plateau to $20M breakthrough story

17:47 - Outer game vs inner game explained

20:13 - How beliefs control every area of your life

22:24 - Why “The Secret” missed the real work

25:28 - Gary Vee and unconscious competence

27:51 - The concept of “permission to succeed”

31:17 - The framework behind the invisible brake

32:17 - Why most people sabotage their own goals

33:11 - Driving with one foot on the brake analogy

35:03 - Neuroplasticity and rewiring your beliefs

36:19 - From poverty mindset to building wealth

40:33 - Decision vs doubt: what actually drives action

42:05 - Pain vs pleasure as motivators

46:04 - Technology’s impact on your inner game

47:19 - Identifying your invisible brake

50:42 - Power habits of successful people

51:08 - Why clarity beats “wanting more money”

52:34 - The myth about personality and success

54:01 - Building a clear vision that actually works

55:27 - How to identify your “head trash”

56:30 - Turning limiting beliefs into opportunity

57:03 - Where to connect with Dr. Noah 

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: ⁠https://noahstjohn.com/⁠

Linkedin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahstjohn/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/noahstjohn/⁠

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@drnoahstjohn

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #WealthBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #HighPerformance #MindsetShift #FinancialFreedom #SuccessHabits #ScaleYourBusiness

In this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Joe Downs, CEO of Belrose Group, to break down how real wealth is built through iteration, problem-solving, and identifying opportunities most people overlook. This conversation goes beyond surface-level strategies and dives into the mindset required to build across multiple industries and market cycles.

Joe shares his journey from early failures—including losing $100,000 in a restaurant—to raising nearly $100 million in real estate and building a mortgage resolution company that purchased over 20,000 distressed loans. His story highlights a key truth: success doesn’t come from getting it right the first time, but from learning, adapting, and continuing to move forward through every setback.

The episode also explores one of the biggest opportunities ahead—acquiring cash-flowing, mom-and-pop businesses. With millions of owners aging out, Joe explains how inefficiencies in operations, pricing, and systems create massive upside for those willing to step in, optimize, and scale. From distressed debt to self-storage, the same principles apply across industries.

Tune in now to learn how to identify hidden opportunities, leverage acquisitions instead of starting from scratch, and build long-term wealth by thinking differently, acting faster, and eliminating excuses in today’s market.

HIGHLIGHTS:

12:12 - Joe talks about the “mind your kitchen lesson”

35:25 - Joe discovers self storage

Keeping it Real:

04:30 – Growth through acquisitions

10:15 – Leaving finance after 9/11

12:24 – Mind your kitchen lesson

15:23 – Raising millions before crash

16:50 – Discovering distressed debt

20:33 – Mortgage resolution explained simply

23:01 – Loan modification strategy

26:23 – Becoming the bank model

27:30 – Regulation forces reinvention

31:24 – Starting hard money lending

35:25 – Discovering self-storage opportunity

36:56 – Mom-and-pop inefficiency insight

41:25 – SBA financing unlock explained

43:11 – Why opportunity still exists

45:21 – Using AI for learning

49:00 – AI improves communication skills

51:31 – Seller financing deal strategies

53:39 – Future storage vertical opportunities

58:13 – Biggest demand opportunities ahead

1:00:23 – No excuses mindset

1:02:31 – Where to connect

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://belrosegrp.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-downs-7990851/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josephmdowns/

#RealEstateInvesting #BusinessAcquisitions #EntrepreneurMindset #WealthBuilding #CashFlowStrategies #SelfStorageInvesting #FinancialFreedom #PassiveIncome #InvestingStrategies #BuildInPublic