Entrepreneur Duane Donner shares his journey from growing up in Louisiana to founding Founders Advisors, an investment banking firm. He discusses his early career, military service, and first entrepreneurial venture, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned. Duane details his spiritual transformation and how faith now guides his approach to business. The conversation explores best practices for selling a business, the importance of early planning, and how Founders Advisors helps owners maximize value. He also introduces tools and resources for business readiness, emphasizing the impact of trusted advisors and strategic preparation.

Thomas and Blake continue their conversation about Blake's journey from real estate rentals to business acquisitions, particularly in equipment rentals. Blake shares insights on building a diverse real estate portfolio, reinvesting cash flow, and transitioning from a hustler to a CEO mindset through coaching. They talk about faith-driven leadership, financial literacy for children, and strategies like the “golden handoff” for scaling real estate teams. Thomas and Blake share insights on balancing business growth with family priorities, teaching kids about money, and the importance of aligning business decisions with personal values and long-term goals.

In this episode, Birmingham real estate investor and agent Blake Schultz shares his journey from his first flip—marked by costly mistakes—to building a diverse real estate portfolio. Blake discusses lessons learned from rental properties, navigating HOA challenges, and partnering with his father. The conversation covers multifamily deals, the value of strong teams, and strategies for long-term success, providing practical advice for both new and experienced real estate professionals.