In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Lisa Ferris — investor, private money expert, Deal Maker Central Texas leader, and author of How to Find and Fund Any Real Estate Deal Without Cash or Credit. Lisa’s story is one of the most relatable we’ve had on the show.

She was a stay-at-home mom for 18 years. No Wall Street background. No big pile of capital. No “perfect” timing. Just a mindset shift, a willingness to ask, and the courage to figure it out in real time. What started with one uncomfortable offer on a house she didn’t want to list turned into a full-blown investing business built entirely on private money — without using her own cash or credit.

We talk about imposter syndrome, asking for money without feeling like you’re begging, why good deals always find funding, and how introverts can still win big in networking rooms. Lisa opens up about writing her first book, stepping into leadership with Deal Maker, and why she’ll never retire — because she genuinely loves the game.

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have the money,” or “I’m not that person,” this episode will challenge that narrative.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 “I’ll never retire — this is just a passion.”

01:12 Introducing Lisa Ferris and Deal Maker Central Texas

02:13 JJ’s Joke of the Week

03:12 From stay-at-home mom to licensed Realtor

03:37 The first deal: making an offer with no money

04:14 Asking the seller to take payments — and wholesaling the deal

04:36 McDonald’s meeting that launched her private money journey

05:23 Writing her book: How to Find and Fund Any Real Estate Deal Without Cash or Credit

06:33 “I don’t want to be 70 years old opening doors.”

07:43 Ready, fire, aim — learning on the fly

09:20 Why good deals always get funded

10:12 When lenders say no, it might not be a deal

11:28 Understanding you’re offering opportunity — not begging for money

13:39 Thinking outside the box as her superpower

14:22 “Everything is figureoutable.”

15:10 Shifting from introvert wallflower to intentional networker

17:52 Writing the book despite being a “starter, not a finisher”

21:24 Overcoming imposter syndrome

22:58 “Just ask. The worst they can say is no.”

24:32 Showing up on social media despite fear and insecurity

31:37 Being visible creates opportunity

35:39 Loving the journey more than the destination

37:33 Why integrity drew her to Deal Maker

41:19 Struggling to balance work and life in a retirement community

43:40 Core principles from her book

44:00 Relationship-based investing

44:30 You are offering an opportunity, not asking for a favor

46:55 Presenting professional reports to lenders (Rehab Valuator)

48:08 Find a mentor and split your first deal

52:07 Introvert strategy: identify three people to meet at every event

55:26 Pull new attendees into conversations to break their comfort zone

Quotables

“What’s the worst that can happen? They say no.”

“If it’s a good deal, the funding is the easy part.”

“You’re not begging for money. You’re offering an opportunity.”

“Everything is figureoutable.”

“I’ve always been scared to ask — I just do it anyway.”

“The rooms you put yourself in matter.”

Links

Lisa Ferris – Instagram

@lisajferrisinvests

Deal Maker Central Texas

(Find on Facebook)

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with someone whose work has impacted not just my life, but the lives of millions around the world — Sharon Lechter, co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and a global pioneer in financial literacy.

This conversation is personal for me. Back in 2016, while I was still in my W-2 career, a single book lit a fire that eventually led to me burning the ships on corporate America. Since launching this podcast, more than half of my guests have referenced that same book as a pivotal moment in their journey. So getting the chance to sit down with Sharon — the powerhouse behind that movement — was something special.

We go far beyond Rich Dad Poor Dad. Sharon shares stories about growing up in a family that talked about assets at the dinner table, becoming one of the first women in public accounting in the 1970s, burning the ships on her own career, building the Rich Dad brand globally, serving on presidential advisory councils, partnering with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, and continuing to “refire” instead of retire at 72.

We also talk about marriage, adversity, losing a child, faith over fear, mentorship, legacy, and what true wealth really means. If you’ve ever felt called to something bigger, questioned retirement as the ultimate destination, or wondered what lasting impact really looks like — this episode is for you.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 “I’m not retiring — I’m refiring.”

01:06 The book that changed my life and so many of my guests’ lives

03:50 How David Richter connected me with Sharon

05:00 Growing up discussing assets, liabilities, and cash flow at the dinner table

07:30 Becoming one of the first women in public accounting in the 1970s

08:33 The “Why not?” philosophy that shaped her career

09:56 Leaving a secure W-2 to become an entrepreneur

11:02 A failed business decision that led to meeting her husband of 46 years

12:23 Building a global children’s publishing company through Disney licensing

14:17 Dedicating her life to financial literacy after her son’s college debt wake-up call

16:21 Meeting Robert Kiyosaki and turning a board game into Rich Dad Poor Dad

18:57 Realizing the book had taken on a life of its own

22:52 The power of association and building authority

24:36 Sharon’s personal success equation (Passion + Talent × Association × Action + Faith)

29:15 “When was the last time you did something for the first time?”

31:13 Why she chooses to refire instead of retire

33:17 Introducing her new book: Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth

36:49 Losing her son in 2012 and choosing to move forward

39:16 Turning fear into faith and purpose

41:00 Marriage advice after 46 years together

44:12 Why the journey is the destination

Quotables

“Why not? Why not take the road less traveled?”

“We can control three things: our thoughts, our words, and our actions.”

“True wealth is not what you accumulate — it’s who you become along the way.”

“I’m not going to retire. I’m going to refire.”

“Respect your spouse even more than you love them.”

“Turn fear into focus, and focus into fuel.”

Links

Sharon Lechter

https://sharonlechter.com

Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth

Available wherever books are sold

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Chris Lloyd — a young but incredibly sharp real estate investor and broker who built serious momentum in a very short period of time. From selling sunglasses out of his lunchbox in high school to running a high-volume real estate team and leading a Coast-to-Coast brokerage in Virginia, Chris’s story is all about action.

We talk about what it really looks like to leave a “safe” W2 job, grind through six months of zero results, reinvest your first commission instead of upgrading your lifestyle, and build a real estate business around investors instead of retail buyers. Chris breaks down why working with investors supercharges an agent’s career, how to build systems instead of burnout, and why most people fail simply because they won’t take consistent action.

If you’re an agent, investor, or entrepreneur stuck in analysis paralysis — this episode is your reminder that the only difference between where you are and where you want to be… is action.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Why working with investors supercharges a real estate career

01:03 Introducing Chris Lloyd and his background

02:00 JJ’s Joke of the Week

04:00 Selling sunglasses in high school and building a “mini CRM” in a lunchbox

05:50 Learning high-ticket sales at a bicycle shop

07:20 Taking the “safe” job at Newport News Shipyard

08:11 Realizing performance doesn’t equal promotion in corporate America

09:40 Reading Rich Dad Poor Dad and the lightbulb moment

11:00 Buying a duplex, house hacking, and living for free

13:00 The $6,000 sewer repair as “cost of tuition”

15:00 Taking action when others don’t

17:59 Why courses don’t matter if you won’t act

21:00 Accountability vs. lone wolf entrepreneurship

29:22 Getting his license and grinding six months with zero results

31:00 Reinvesting his first commission instead of upgrading lifestyle

32:00 Quitting his W2 job after proving the math

34:00 Time blocking, discipline, and earning his spouse’s support

44:00 Burnout from doing everything alone — and building a team

47:00 Connecting with David Greene through Instagram Live

49:00 Raising your hand when opportunity appears

53:00 Why most agents avoid investors (and why that’s a mistake)

54:00 Building recurring business through investor clients

57:00 Telling clients NOT to buy bad deals

58:00 Playing the long game with investor relationships

Quotables

“Information means nothing unless you take action.”

“My $6,000 sewer bill was cheaper than my college tuition — and way more valuable.”

“I wasn’t happy being restricted by tenure instead of performance.”

“You don’t need more clients — you need better ones.”

“Choose the work you want to do. Real estate is going to be work either way.”

Links

Coast to Coast Brokerage (David Greene)

https://coasttocoastbrokerage.com

608B Capital

https://608bcapital.com