In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with the unstoppable Phil Green—San Diego-based real estate investor, business builder, and longtime CG member. Phil's story is packed with insight, hustle, and the kind of clarity that only comes from years of in-the-trenches experience. From his early days as a brokerage agent to building multiple businesses—including fix-and-flip, multifamily, property management, and even marketing companies—Phil walks us through what it takes to thrive in one of the nation's toughest markets.

We also dive deep into leadership, the power of gamification in team culture, data-driven hiring, and how surrounding yourself with the right people (and community) can shave years off your growth curve. Plus, we explore how Phil's love for competition, strategy, and even video games shaped his business mindset—and why his next big play might just be in AI.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

[0:00] – Introduction

[0:54] – Phil's real estate roots in San Diego and the challenge of thriving in a hyper-competitive market

[5:25] – From broker to investor: how Phil transitioned and built multiple income streams

[7:30] – Childhood leadership lessons and the surprising role of sports and gaming in his business style

[10:42] – His journey of shifting passions—from Navy SEAL aspirations to entrepreneurship

[17:00] – The billionaire mentor moment that changed his mindset forever

[24:03] – His first big win (and losses) flipping properties, and how those lessons stuck

[26:51] – Getting into CG and how it completely changed his business trajectory

[30:00] – Sharper Business Solutions and the Level 10 meeting that reshaped his team's execution

[32:12] – Gaining access to proven marketing channels through CG and how it doubled their deal flow

[34:38] – Hiring through assessments: Phil's bold decision to trust data over gut

[43:08] – Why CG has been the most impactful business decision he's made

[46:48] – The mindset of learning from every room—no matter the level

[50:35] – Phil's most gifted book and how he applies its principles

[57:50] – What lights him up right now: fishing, coaching, and building with AI

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Your market doesn't limit you—your mindset does. Phil thrives in Southern California by embracing the challenge and out-executing the competition.

2. Leadership is recognizing talent early. Phil's superpower is seeing people's strengths and putting them in the right roles—something he started doing as a kid on sports teams.

3. Community accelerates growth. Phil credits CG for helping him cut years off his learning curve by gaining real-time access to proven operators and vendors.

4. Hiring can (and should) be data-driven. By using assessments like Predictive Index, Phil removes emotion from hiring and gets better results—even without interviews.

5. Always be a student. Whether it's a CEO or a brand-new investor, Phil's mindset is to take notes, ask questions, and find the lesson—because everyone has something to teach.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• The Collective Genius Podcast: https://go.thecollectivegenius.com/podcast/
• Book: Principles by Ray Dalio
• Book: Sales Acceleration Formula by Mark Roberge
• Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Sharper Business Solutions: https://sharperbusiness.com/
• Predictive Index (hiring assessments)

CLOSING REMARK

If this episode fired you up, inspired you, or gave you something new to think about—do us a solid. Rate, follow, and leave a review wherever you're listening. And don't forget to share it with someone in your network who's on the same path. Until next time—keep scaling, keep learning, and keep playing to win.