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In this episode, Gevorg Shahbazyan shares a story shaped by rejection, resilience, and relentless ambition. Despite earning a master’s degree, speaking multiple languages, and completing internships in Washington D.C., he was rejected by nearly 60 employers before pivoting into real estate. One of the most defining moments in his journey came after closing a major deal early in his career - instead of maximizing his own commission, he voluntarily offered his broker a larger share than expected. That act of fairness earned deep trust and mentorship, accelerating his growth dramatically. Rather than becoming comfortable once the commissions started flowing, Gevorg dreamt bigger, teaching himself development from scratch and eventually building Starlife Group into one of the world’s top 100 development companies with over 2,000 units and 5 million square feet under development.

The conversation also explored his philosophy around risk, leadership, and lifelong learning. Gevorg spoke about constantly choosing growth over comfort - from walking construction sites to learn development firsthand to later joining Harvard’s AMDP and OPM programs to continue evolving as a leader. He emphasized the importance of optionality in business, strong capitalization, surrounding yourself with exceptional people, and never becoming complacent. More than anything, his story reflected the belief that persistence matters most: when life feels like walking through fire, the only way out is to keep moving forward.

Here are the Top 10 Takeaways from the conversation:

1. Rejection doesn’t define your ceiling - Gevorg was rejected by nearly 60 employers before finding his path in entrepreneurship.
2. Long-term trust matters more than short-term gain - offering his broker a larger commission share created a mentorship that changed his life.
3. Mentorship compresses time - the right mentor can teach you in years what may otherwise take decades to learn.
4. Don’t become comfortable too early - even after earning significant commissions, he pushed himself toward bigger goals.
5. Curiosity compounds - Gevorg taught himself development by studying projects, reading extensively, and walking construction sites.
6. Success is about optionality - every real estate project he takes on has multiple exit strategies to reduce risk.
7. Strong businesses are built conservatively - he emphasized high equity positions and disciplined financing over excessive leverage.
8. Exceptional talent is worth paying for - he believes great people create disproportionate value inside an organization.
9. Lifelong learning is a competitive advantage - despite major success, he continues investing in programs like Harvard AMDP and OPM.
10. Persistence is everything - his advice to his younger self: “Never give up. If you’re walking through fire, keep walking.”

Books:

• The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to His Son 
• The Art of War 
• The Prince 
• Why Nations Fail