• How to Go From Landlord to Lienlord in 2026
    Jan 30 2026
    Welcome to the new era of real estate investing. If you’ve been following the market lately, you know the old rules are changing. Values are shifting, mortgage defaults are ticking upward, and traditional "fix-and-flip" or rental strategies are becoming harder to scale. I’m Scott Carson from WeCloseNotes.com, and I’ve spent years helping thousands of investors transition from the headaches of physical property management to the high-yield world of note investing. In 2026, the biggest opportunity isn’t in owning the dirt—it’s in owning the debt. It’s time to stop being a landlord and start being the bank.5 Key Insights from the 2026 Note Investing OutlookEscape the "Three Ts" of Landlording: Traditional real estate often comes with "Toilets, Trash, and Tenants". Note investors avoid these by owning the mortgage rather than the physical property, meaning you never have to deal with broken ACs or midnight repairs.The Power of the Discount: One of the greatest advantages is buying notes at a significant discount from banks. For example, you might buy a $100,000 debt for $70,000, giving you immediate equity and higher yields than traditional rentals.Capitalizing on Market Chaos: With mortgage defaults increasing and values dropping in some areas, banks are eager to move "non-performing" notes off their books. This creates a massive "secondary market" where savvy investors can find high-potential deals.Passive Income without Property Managers: Because the borrower is responsible for the property's upkeep, taxes, and insurance, your role is purely financial. You collect the monthly principal and interest just like a major bank would.Superior Position in the Market: As a note holder, you hold a superior legal position compared to a landlord. If a tenant doesn't pay a landlord, the landlord loses income; if a borrower doesn't pay a note holder, you have the right to foreclose and take the property itself, often for much less than it’s worth.The window of opportunity in 2026 is wide open, but it won't stay that way forever. Whether you’re a tired landlord, a frustrated flipper, or a new investor overwhelmed by the current market, note investing offers a path to truly passive wealth. Don’t let another year go by dealing with the same old headaches. It’s time to level up your strategy and start making offers that make sense in today's economy. If you’re ready to take the next step, visit NoteBuyingForDummies.com and let’s turn 2026 into your most successful year yet. Let’s go out there and kick some ass!Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    32 mins
  • Case Study: Due Diligence on a Tyler, TX Nonperforming Note Deal
    Jan 27 2026
    Welcome to this episode of the Monday Money Coaching Call. Look, it is absolutely freezing here in Austin, Texas. We are talking 18 degrees, which basically means the entire state shuts down because—let’s be honest—nobody here knows how to drive on ice. So, while the roads are slick, we are chilling inside where the coffee is hot, and the deals are even hotter.If you missed our massive livestream this past Saturday, don’t worry. We spent over two hours breaking down a tape of 3,067 non-performing first liens. But for today’s coaching call, I wanted to peel back the onion a little further. We are doing a deep dive specifically into the remaining 200+ Texas assets. Why Texas? Because it’s the fastest foreclosure state in the country, and when you combine speed with equity, you find the magic.In this episode, I’m walking you through my exact process of filtering a massive spreadsheet—hiding the columns that don’t matter (looking at you, "QM Flags") and highlighting the ones that equal profit. We take a serious look at a specific asset in Tyler, Texas. This isn't just looking at numbers; we become digital detectives. We look at the borrower's emotional equity (solar panels and garden gnomes count!), the "Zillow Zombie" values, and even do a Google search that reveals the heartbreaking backstory of why the borrower likely defaulted.We also tackle the difference between chasing "Subject To" deals versus buying the Non-Performing Note. Spoiler alert: You aren't getting a massive discount on a note that is only 90 days late. We run the math on calculating yields, determining legal balances, and deciding when to aim for a re-performing note versus when to accept that a property is headed for foreclosure (like a massive upside-down property we found in Dripping Springs).In this episode, we cover:The Texas Deep Freeze: Why staying off the icy Austin roads is the best investment decision you can make today.The 3,000 Note Breakdown: A recap of the massive tape we analyzed on Saturday and where to find the remaining opportunities.Geographic Breakdown: Mapping out opportunities from the Panhandle to the Valley, including Dallas, Houston, and the Piney Woods.Spreadsheet Mastery: How to filter data efficiently—calculating estimated legal balances, equity percentages, and hiding useless columns.The Tyler, Texas Case Study: A full breakdown of a property with 82% equity, analyzing photos, tax records, and potential 17-19% cash-on-cash returns.The "Human" Element: How a simple Google search revealed a borrower's personal tragedy and how that informs our strategy.Bankruptcy & Foreclosure Plays: Analyzing a deal in Montgomery, TX involving a bankruptcy plan, and a luxury builder home in Dripping Springs that is $200k upside down.Sub2 vs. NPN: Why buying the note makes more sense than a Subject To deal when the borrower is 6+ months behind.Texas Foreclosure Trends: A look at Roddy’s List and current numbers in Travis, Bexar, Dallas, and Harris counties.Look, it might be 20 degrees outside, but these yields are keeping us warm. Whether you are looking to get a borrower back on track with a modification or taking a property back in a fast foreclosure state, the opportunity is right there in the data. You just have to know how to filter for it.Make sure you grab the updated spreadsheet from the Basecamp repo (I’ll add the formulas so you don’t have to do the heavy lifting). If you are catching the replay, go back and watch the Saturday breakdown, and then join us live next time at NoteNightInAmerica.com.Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe No
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    52 mins
  • The 20 Most-Asked Questions By New Note Investors
    Jan 23 2026
    Good morning, afternoon, and good evening, investor! Scott Carson here, ready to tackle the burning questions in the note investing world. I went straight to the source – Google's Gemini AI – and asked for the 20 most frequently asked questions by note investors. And let me tell you, AI did not disappoint! Since so many new folks want to jump into the "sexy side of real estate," I'm breaking down these essential FAQs to help you act like the bank, not the pawn.If you’ve ever wondered how much cash you really need, whether you own the property (spoiler: you don't!), or how to avoid common pitfalls, this episode is your no-nonsense guide. As I always say, the pen is mightier than the hammer, and these insights are your ultimate toolkit for 2026.Here’s your AI-powered cheat sheet to note investing:Note Investing 101: The Basics & Beyond: What's a real estate note? (It's an IOU, baby!). What's the difference between performing, non-performing, and "scratch & dent" loans? And seriously, how much money do you actually need to start? (Hint: it can be less than you think!).Yields, Values & Spreads (No, Not Butter): Unpack what constitutes a "good yield" for performing (9-12%!) and non-performing notes (20%+!). Learn about Investment-to-Value (ITV), Unpaid Principal Balance (UPB), and how to calculate your true return so you're not paying too much for the paper.Due Diligence Decoded (Without Owning the House!): Master the art of checking property condition (BPOs!), title (O&E reports!), and borrower payment history (servicing notes!). Plus, the absolute non-negotiables: collateral files and an unbroken chain of assignments – essential to avoid a "dud" deal.Operations & Management: Who Ya Gonna Call? (Not the Borrower!): Understand why you never call the borrower yourself (it's illegal, buddy!). Learn how servicers manage payments, what happens if a borrower stops paying (loan modifications, cash for keys, foreclosure!), and who's really on the hook for property taxes.Funding Your Future: IRAs & Beyond: Discover how Self-Directed IRAs are a game-changer for note investors, allowing tax-free or deferred growth. Learn about "cash for keys" as a smart exit strategy to avoid costly foreclosures, and why a clear plan beats wishful thinking every time.Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the "paper investing" world, these 20 FAQs are fundamental. Don't be that person who learns the hard way because they didn't ask. Take action, get educated, and start acting like the bank. Because in the note world, being smart with your debt can make you a whole lot of dough!Want to learn more? Head over to weclosenotes.com, keep listening to the podcast, or sign up for our next workshop at notebuyingfordummies.com. Go out, take some action, everybody, and we'll see you at the top!#NoteInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #NoteInvestingFAQs #AIinRealEstate #PerformingNotes #NonPerformingNotes #DueDiligence #SelfDirectedIRA #CashForKeys #Foreclosure #InvestmentStrategy #RealEstateEducation #PodcastWatch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    23 mins
  • Why You Need to Learn How To Rinse & Repeat to Dominate Your 2026
    Jan 21 2026
    Good morning, afternoon, and evening, everybody! Scott Carson here, still shaking off the flu but fired up to drop some serious knowledge. Remember those 4,200 distressed notes we talked about last week? Well, a fresh list of 3,000 more notes just landed on my desk – assets that didn't get bids the first time around! This isn't just about the deals (though there are plenty of cherry-pickable non-performing notes, REOs, and subject-to opportunities); it's about the marketing mindset you need to grab them!Too many of you are "Powder Puffs" when it comes to consistent marketing, thinking one post is enough. That's like watching a commercial once and buying the product forever – it doesn't work! It's time to learn how to rinse, repeat, and repost your way to being AI-searchable and attracting the deals and capital you deserve.Here’s how to stop being a ghost and start being seen in 2026:The Second Chance Note Bonanza: Dive into the details of the remaining 3,000 distressed notes – including 355 severely non-performing assets and 119 REOs. Learn why these overlooked deals are ripe for the picking and how to make a strategic offer.The Consistency Commandment: Discover why daily, consistent posting is non-negotiable for real estate investors. Your content is only visible for a few hours; if you're not reposting, you're "nonexistent."Leverage Reposting Tools (Like Buffer.com): I'll show you how simple, often free, tools like Buffer.com allow you to schedule, clone, and endlessly repost your content across LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, maximizing your visibility with minimal effort.Case Studies: Brian Dills' LinkedIn Playbook: See how fellow investor Brian Dills uses just 7 simple images, repurposed and reposted daily, to attract capital and deals – a perfect example of effective, consistent marketing.Be AI-Searchable: Outsmart the Algorithms: Learn why AI is changing how people find information and how being AI-searchable (via consistent, repurposed content on platforms like LinkedIn) is crucial for competing with the "Bigger Pockets and Zillows" of the world.Don't let "lazy assets" (yours, not the notes!) keep you from profiting in 2026. This is your chance to turn consistent marketing into consistent deal flow and capital. Remember, 80% of sales happen after the fifth contact. So, go out there, grab those deals, and for the love of God, keep posting!Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    33 mins
  • Lazy Assets & Private Capital: Scott Carson's No-BS Guide to the Money Raising Mindblock
    Jan 20 2026
    Good morning, afternoon, and good evening, investors! Scott Carson here, and if this episode hits a little hard, it's coming from a place of tough love! For too long, I've seen too many of you out there with "limited funds" (a thousand bucks, $18,000, or even zero!) trying to squeeze a square peg into a round hole, hoping a partial note deal will magically appear. Newsflash: a thousand bucks won't even buy you a decent partial, and all that effort for a "crappy deal" will eat your profits faster than a Texas heatwave!It’s time for a come-to-Jesus meeting with that six-to-eight inches between your ears. That "mind block" is your biggest hurdle to success in real estate. If you want to own something, grow wealth, and actually invest, you need to raise private capital. And in 2026, it's not a suggestion; it's a non-negotiable. Stop waiting, stop wishing, and start doing.Here’s your 5-pronged approach to getting off your lazy ass and raising capital in 2026:Social Media: Post Like Your Business Depends On It (Because It Does!): Pull your head out of your ass, even if you "hate Facebook." Post daily about deals, case studies, or properties you're evaluating across LinkedIn (easy connections!) and Facebook groups. Use tools like Buffer or Hootsuite if you're a "Powder Puff" too tired after work.Email Your Database (Yes, YOU Have One!): Whether it's 50 or 5,000, your email list is golden. Send regular emails (not just once a month!) about new deals, market insights, or just to say "hey." Remember, 80% of sales are made after the fifth contact – so keep hitting that send button!In-Person Networking: Ditch the Secret Agent Vibe: Get off your couch and hit your local Real Estate Investor Associations (REIAs) or BNI groups. You can't be a "secret agent" and expect to raise capital. Show up, talk to people, and build those connections.Target Self-Directed IRA Investors (They're Everywhere!): Learn to find SDIRA investors by searching county records for "Equity Trust" or other SDIRA companies. Send them postcards, letters, and multiple follow-ups. They have the money, you have the opportunities.Rinse and Repeat (Daily, Not Just When You Feel Like It): The most successful investors do these things again and again and again. Marketing for deals and money is a daily grind, not a weekly wish. If Warren Buffett markets to raise capital, so should you!Stop making excuses. If you hate your job, you owe it to yourself to spend 30 minutes to an hour daily on these activities. It's a small investment of time for a massive payoff. Otherwise, you'll get the same "lazy ass" results as last year. Your family, your goals, your "why" deserve more. So go out, take some action, and let's build you a river of private capital in 2026!Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    19 mins
  • Beyond the Rat Race: Unlock Your Financial IQ & Build Legacy Wealth with Dave Wolcott
    Jan 16 2026
    Good morning, afternoon, and good evening, everybody! Scott Carson here, and boy, do I have a treat for anyone asking, "What am I gonna do in 2026?!" Our special guest isn't just a rockstar; he’s the man, the myth, the legend who got smacked with an "oh, sh*t, I gotta do something FAST" moment when he and his wife welcomed triplets! That's right, Dave Wolcott of Pantheon Investments, author of Holistic Wealth Strategy, joins us to map out your blueprint to financial freedom. This isn't about silver spoons; it's about intentional living and kicking the "rat race" to the curb!Dave's journey, from 20 years in the Marine Corps to building a phenomenal alternative investment portfolio, shaped his unique 5-phase framework. He’s here to show you how to escape Wall Street's paradigm, boost your Financial IQ, and finally achieve that true legacy wealth you've been dreaming of.Here are Dave's 5 Pillars to building your Holistic Wealth:Mindset is 80% of the Game: Learn why focusing on the "six to eight inches between your ears" and cultivating an "asymmetric mindset" (higher yield, lower risk!) is crucial to overcoming self-doubt and conventional financial planning myths.Elevate Your Financial IQ: Discover why your net worth is directly proportional to your financial IQ. Embrace Warren Buffett's wisdom: only invest in what you truly understand, opting for "Main Street" private assets over Wall Street's "pawn" game.Fortress Your Finances with Infrastructure: Understand the importance of building robust infrastructure around your wealth, including solid tax strategies (aim for 20% or less!), infinite banking, and using tools like Pantheon Wealth OS to track your portfolio.Strategic Asset Repositioning: Uncover creative ways to reallocate "trapped" capital from qualified plans (401k) into self-directed IRAs for alternative investments, or leverage home equity for smart arbitrage (borrowing at 8% to make 12%+).Massive Passive Income Through Action: Dave breaks down how to build a diversified portfolio of non-correlated assets (notes, real estate, oil & gas) to achieve the "trifecta": tax efficiency, passive income, and forced appreciation – all by taking consistent action!If you've been hoping your financial future will magically sort itself out (spoiler: hope is not a strategy!), this episode is your wake-up call. Dave proves that true wealth is built intentionally, not accidentally. He'll show you how to stop listening to the "too risky" crowd and start making moves that make sense.Grab your free copy of Dave's book at holisticwealthstrategy.com and start your intentional journey today! Because like Dave's kids, who are already crushing fix-and-flips using infinite banking, it's time to teach yourself (and your family) how to play chess with money, not checkers.Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    41 mins
  • The Top 10 Marketing Strategies for Raising Capital in 2026
    Jan 14 2026
    Good morning, afternoon, and evening, everybody! Happy Money Monday! Scott Carson here, finally shaking off that flu (mostly!) and ready to kick off 2026 by tackling a question I get constantly: "How do I raise private capital when I've only got $19?" This isn't about wishing for a magic cheat code or waiting for Moby Dick to show up with a half-billion-dollar fund. This episode is about the real, raw, mental game of raising money, and how to pump up those "money muscles" (yes, I like that hashtag!).I dove into the AI well (Chatbot, Gemini, all the cool kids) to get the straight goods on the top 10 marketing strategies for attracting private money. But let's be real, folks: these tools mean squat if you're not playing the mental game right. Stop being a "wallflower" at events or thinking you're "begging for money." You're offering opportunity, and it's time to act like it!Here’s your no-nonsense guide to pumping up your private capital:Conquer the "Mental Money Block": Ditch the fear of "begging" and embrace the fact you're offering opportunity. Remember the "80% of sales after the fifth contact" rule – consistency, not desperation, wins!The AI-Approved Marketing Arsenal: Get the top 10 strategies (straight from the internet's brain!) for attracting investors: from compelling pitch decks and one-page summaries to killer case studies and targeted email newsletters.Your Email List is Your Gold Mine: Why owning your audience through your email database and an investor newsletter (like LinkedIn's, which hits their inbox!) is your most valuable asset, far more reliable than fickle social media platforms.ABM (Always Be Marketing) & Momentum: Learn why consistent daily/weekly marketing activities – whether it's short videos, email blasts, or networking – are crucial. You can't build "money muscles" by only hitting the gym once a month!Networking Ain't a Spectator Sport: Stop hiding! Show up at local investor clubs, ask questions, and be ready with your pitch deck. Investors fund people they know, like, and trust, not anonymous logos or people glued to their phones in the corner.This isn't about an overnight transformation (unless you "cut a leg off" to lose 50lbs!). It's about consistent action. If you want different results in 2026, you gotta do different things. And guess what? Most of you are smarter and more educated than 99% of people out there – so start sharing your "gold" (deal flow, expertise)! Don't let your "perfect" stand in the way of "delivered."If you're ready to get off the sidelines and into the game, join me at our upcoming workshop (notebuyingfordummies.com) or book a call (talkwithscottcarson.com). Let's make 2026 your most profitable year!#PrivateCapital #RealEstateInvesting #NoteInvesting #CapitalRaising #InvestorMarketing #AIMarketing #FinancialFreedom #Networking #Podcast #MoneyMuscles #PitchDeck #EmailMarketing #ConsistencyWatch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    41 mins
  • Lifestyle Design & Loopholes: How Phil Louden Builds Wealth with Wraps & Seller Financing
    Jan 12 2026
    Good morning, afternoon, and good evening, everybody! Scott Carson here, jacked up to introduce you to a creative financing wizard who’s making serious lemonade out of lemons: the head honcho over at Wrap Academy, Philip Louden! If you’ve been feeling like a hamster on a wheel in the "wholesaling hustle" or dreaming of financial freedom beyond the 40-hour work week, Philip's story is your beacon of hope.From digital nomad to debt dominator, Philip cracked the code on building sustainable, passive wealth through wraps, lease options, and seller financing. He's ditched the "always starting from zero" grind of wholesaling for a system that consistently delivers cash flow, leveraging an "opportunistic" mindset and an understanding that the market's always shifting, not stopping. This episode is your ticket to escaping the rat race and truly designing your lifestyle!Here’s how Philip Louden helps investors build cash flow and freedom:Wholesaling vs. Wraps: The Scalability Showdown: Discover why Philip traded the "at war" feeling of transactional wholesaling for the scalable, passive cash flow of wraps and seller financing, turning $5-7k flips into $150k+ long-term profits."Blue Ocean" Deal Sourcing & Automation: Learn how Philip finds his golden geese, from direct-to-seller (distressed, probate, pre-foreclosure) to agents, and now primarily leveraging wholesalers who bring him deals, automating the acquisitions process to free up his time.Targeting for Cash Flow & Equity: Uncover Philip's strategy for aiming for a minimum of $400-500 in monthly cash flow, often securing $700-800+, through "affordable housing" in C-class neighborhoods, creating massive equity cushions and minimizing risk.Creative Structuring: From Sub-To to the "Jacket Strategy": Get insights into his deal structuring, including taking over mortgages, negotiating seller financing, and the "jacket strategy" (BRRR + Wrap) to create significant equity and cash flow, even in today's market.The Wrap Academy Advantage: Learn how his community helps investors cut through "shiny object syndrome," master this passive exit strategy, and build a portfolio delivering $10k+ in monthly cash flow, offering hands-on coaching and resources for repeatable success.Philip is living proof that you don't need a million bucks to get started, just a smart strategy and the guts to build your own damn prison (just kidding, it's a freedom machine!). If you're ready to make a whole lot of lemonade out of other people's lemons, this is the episode for you.Check out Wrapacademy.net for his next master class and start your journey to true financial independence! Go out, take some action, and we'll see you at the top!Watch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest
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    40 mins