Welcome to the very first episode of The Collective Genius Podcast! I'm your host, Leon G. Barnes, and today, we're kicking things off with none other than Steve Trang—a powerhouse in sales training, real estate investing, and entrepreneurship. If you've ever struggled with scaling your business, staying focused, or understanding the importance of coaching, this is the episode for you.

Steve shares his journey from electrical engineering to becoming a real estate agent, wholesaler, brokerage owner, sales trainer, and podcast host. We dive deep into the lessons he's learned along the way—how shiny object syndrome nearly derailed his success, why coaching was a game-changer, and the tough decisions he had to make when the real estate market shifted. Plus, he reveals the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to scale. If you're looking for actionable insights and inspiration to level up your real estate game, you won't want to miss this.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Introduction

[2:00] – How a flip-flop-wearing agent changed Steve's career trajectory

[4:07] – The impact of Rich Dad, Poor Dad and why Steve left engineering

[7:16] – Transitioning from a W-2 job to full-time real estate

[9:55] – Making the leap without a backup plan—was it worth it?

[12:30] – Building a real estate team and the painful lessons learned

[14:46] – Struggles with being a real estate agent and why Steve pivoted

[18:05] – Hiring a coach and how it transformed his business

[22:00] – The moment Steve realized he needed to shift from retail to investing

[26:20] – The market crash of 2022 and its impact on his business

[29:45] – How distractions and shiny object syndrome nearly derailed his success

[35:10] – The importance of focusing on predictable, repeatable revenue

[38:50] – Why entrepreneurs often struggle with staying in their lane

[41:20] – The rise of Real Estate Disruptors and how the podcast changed everything

[44:50] – Sales training and how it became Steve's passion

[49:30] – The best advice Steve received from the Collective Genius community

[51:45] – Extreme ownership and how it shifted Steve's leadership approach

Five Key Takeaways:

1. Focus is essential for long-term success. Many real estate investors try to do too much at once. Steve learned that the most successful entrepreneurs are those who master one thing before expanding into others.

2. Coaching accelerates growth. Steve initially resisted hiring a coach, but when he finally did, it transformed his business. The right mentorship can compress years of trial and error into months.

3. The market will shift—be prepared. When the real estate market changed in 2022, Steve held onto too many expenses for too long. His biggest lesson was learning to pivot and adjust quickly.

4. Know yourself and build a business that fits your strengths. Steve realized he wasn't built for retail real estate because he hated constant follow-ups. Understanding his personality helped him move into roles better suited for him.

5. Sales skills are the foundation of success. Whether you're wholesaling, flipping, or raising capital, mastering sales is one of the highest-impact skills an investor can develop.

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Steve Trang: https://www.stevetrang.com/

• Check out the Disruptors Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/realestatedisruptors

• Learn more about Collective Genius: https://thecollectivegenius.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review the show. Your support helps us bring more high-level insights from industry leaders like Steve. See you next time.