What if your next hire didn't need a salary, benefits, or a Slack account? Raz Mihalyi, fractional AI partner and CTO at AZ Labs, breaks down how business owners are using AI agents to eliminate manual busy work, automate lead generation, and buy back their time — without adding headcount. Whether you've never touched an AI tool or you're already tinkering, this episode makes it practical.

What we cover:

• What AI agents actually are — and how they differ from ChatGPT or Google Search
• The "Second Brain" concept: a personal AI executive assistant that knows your business, goals, and calendar
• How Raz automated multi-source data entry for a lender using AI — without needing API access
• One agent vs. many agents: why starting with one is always the right move
• Why Claude is Raz's top recommendation right now — and what makes Anthropic different
• How to use an AI agent to watch a 2.5-hour course and get a personalized summary in 15 minutes
• When to hire a person vs. deploy an agent — and how to elevate your VA instead of replacing them
• The biggest mistake businesses make when implementing AI (hint: it's not the tech)
• How to automate your calendar using project priority, availability, and delivery dates
• What will separate businesses that win in the next few years from those that get left behind

About Raz Mihalyi:Raz is a software engineer, real estate investor, and fractional AI partner and CTO at AZ Labs. He helps business owners replace manual busy work with automated systems — so they can scale operations without scaling headcount. He works with founders across real estate, lending, and operations on custom AI agent builds and second brain systems.

Chapters:00:54 - Intro + who Raz is01:32 - From W2 software engineer to real estate and Airbnbs03:33 - STR tax strategy for high-income W2 earners06:05 - How Raz became a fractional AI partner and CTO09:14 - How AI lets him scale custom solutions11:15 - How to know when to switch AI tools14:37 - What AI agents actually are (search → answer → agent)16:34 - The Second Brain concept explained19:08 - One agent or many? Start with one21:16 - Best agent right now: why Raz recommends Claude24:40 - The invisible busy work quietly killing your growth25:00 - Automating multi-source data entry for lenders28:31 - Automating Facebook and LinkedIn outreach with agents30:46 - Building a unified inbox across all platforms36:02 - When to hire a person vs. use an agent38:58 - How AI elevates your team instead of replacing them39:39 - Using an agent to watch a 2.5-hour course in 15 minutes42:51 - AI calendar management: the Buy Back Your Time system47:29 - Add CliftonStrengths to your agent to optimize delegation48:09 - Where to start: just get a Claude subscription53:01 - Best first areas to automate in your business55:07 - Biggest AI implementation mistakes founders make57:21 - What clients actually pay Raz for (it's not just the tech)1:00:06 - Raz's ideal client1:01:24 - The Second Brain — available for clients now1:03:17 - What separates businesses that win vs. get left behind1:05:49 - One piece of advice for founders buried in operations1:12:11 - Where to find Raz

🔧 Tools & Resources 🔧Some links may be affiliate partnerships.🤖 Raz Mihalyi — AZ Labs: Instagram @raz.mihalyi💸 Deal Funding 360: app.dealfunding360.com/?ref=EdgarSalgado💤 Eight Sleep: https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado🏢 Prime Corporate Services: https://primecorporateservices.com/?_...🏦 Foundational Funding: https://foundationalfunding.com/fundi...🛠️ Edgar's tools: https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

🔌 Don't forget to 👍 like, 💬 comment, 🔔 subscribe, and share!Instagram: @edgartheconnector

TikTok: @edgarsrei

🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧Not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. Content is not tax, legal, financial, or other professional advice. For entertainment purposes ONLY.

What does it actually cost to learn real estate the hard way — and what can you build after? Jose Cortes, 22-year Air Force veteran turned real estate investor and private lender, gets brutally honest about losing $400K across three fix and flip projects, winning an 18-month court battle, and coming out the other side buying a $500K home in Texas for just $9K using subject-to creative finance.

What we cover:

• From wholesaling and Airbnb arbitrage to lending — Jose's full journey
• How a bad contractor cost him $400K and an 18-month lawsuit
• Why out-of-state investing fails without true boots on the ground
• The Sub-2 deal: acquiring a $500K home for $9K at a 2.765% interest rate
• Creative deal structure: helping a seller avoid tax sale using an LLC membership
• How he underwrites every deal with a 25% "war chest" for unforeseen expenses
• Cross-collateralization explained simply — how to protect private lenders
• Why he always underwrite to long-term rental — even for Airbnb or co-living
• How to show up to networking events with value, not a handout
• What success looks like now: generational wealth, housing vets, and giving back

About Jose Cortes:Jose is a 22-year Air Force veteran, real estate investor, and private lender based in Colorado. He runs free weekly deal underwriting office hours every Tuesday at 6 PM Eastern and leads the Deal Execution Lab community on School.com.

Chapters:00:54 - Intro + who Jose is02:24 - How Jose got into real estate (starting at 19)06:08 - The bad contractor who cost him everything08:26 - 22 years in the Air Force — IT career and transition11:26 - Pivoting to private lending and transactional funding17:23 - Free Tuesday underwriting office hours18:30 - Creative deal: helping a seller avoid tax sale with LLC structure27:41 - The deal that changed everything — $400K loss in Minnesota37:42 - How he evaluates risk differently now38:15 - Sub-2 deal: $500K Texas home acquired for $9K at 2.765%40:55 - The divorce deal breakdown — zero out of pocket, 50% ownership43:16 - What he had to let go of to grow: embracing failure46:43 - Where to start in real estate if you feel overwhelmed51:25 - Don't show up to networking with your hand out53:17 - What success looks like now57:23 - How he handles stress when the stakes are high1:00:00 - Conservative underwriting: the 25% war chest strategy1:05:24 - Should buyers or sellers handle repairs at closing?1:07:20 - How to structure offers with the seller's situation in mind1:09:21 - Stop being the bottleneck — emulate what's working1:13:21 - Where to find Jose + free underwriting Zoom

🔧 Tools & Resources 🔧Some links may be affiliate partnerships.📊 Jose's free deal underwriting (Tuesdays 6PM ET): DM on IG or Facebook🏫 Deal Execution Lab: school.com — search Deal Execution Lab📺 YouTube: Good, Bad & Ugly of Real Estate with Jose Cortes📱 Instagram: @JosePurposeOverProfits📧 Email: jcortez@cortezhomesolutions.com💸 Deal Funding 360: app.dealfunding360.com/?ref=EdgarSalgado💤 Eight Sleep: https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado🏢 Prime Corporate Services: https://primecorporateservices.com/?_...🏦 Foundational Funding: https://foundationalfunding.com/fundi...🛠️ Edgar's tools: https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

🔌 Don't forget to 👍 like, 💬 comment, 🔔 subscribe, and share!Instagram: @edgartheconnector | TikTok: @edgarsrei

🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧Not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. Content is not tax, legal, financial, or other professional advice. For entertainment purposes ONLY.

What if the best city in the world for lifestyle and real estate appreciation was 3 hours from the Texas border — and most Americans don't know they can own it outright? Greg Gunter, broker owner at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in San Miguel de Allende, breaks down how US and Canadian buyers are safely investing in one of Mexico's most sought-after markets.

What we cover:

• Fee simple ownership in central Mexico vs. the coastal bank trust system
• How to close deals safely with no MLS, Zillow, or Redfin
• The 5 checks before wiring a single dollar to a Mexico property
• Why 99% of deals are cash — and what to use instead of a mortgage
• How city center properties have appreciated 20–25% per year post-COVID
• Airbnb rules and the smarter alternative investors are switching to
• The mañana attitude: the #1 expectation gap newcomers must reset
• LLC vs. personal name and how to minimize capital gains

About Greg Gunter:17-year full-time expat, architect, and MBA-trained broker owner of the first Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in all of Mexico. Personally sold 350+ homes in San Miguel de Allende.

Chapters:00:00 - What most people get wrong about owning in Mexico03:13 - Greg's background and 17-year expat story04:35 - Lost everything in the recession — moved to Mexico anyway12:00 - Real estate without an MLS, Zillow, or Redfin19:05 - Framework to buy safely as a US citizen25:09 - Biggest misconceptions American buyers have27:11 - 5 checks before wiring money37:00 - LLC vs. personal name + capital gains strategy41:13 - What buyers are really getting beyond the house44:07 - 20–25% appreciation and rental strategy48:39 - The mañana attitude and lifestyle expectations54:30 - Rapid fire: mistakes, non-negotiables, first steps57:09 - Where to find Greg

🔧 Tools & Resources 🔧Some links may be affiliate partnerships.🏡 Greg Gunter: dreamprohomesluxury.com | 📞 877-878-4141💸 Deal Funding 360: app.dealfunding360.com/?ref=EdgarSalgado💤 Eight Sleep: https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado🏢 Prime Corporate Services: https://primecorporateservices.com/?_...🏦 Foundational Funding: https://foundationalfunding.com/fundi...🛠️ Edgar's tools: https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

🔌 Don't forget to 👍 like, 💬 comment, 🔔 subscribe, and share!Instagram: @edgartheconnector | TikTok: @edgarsrei

🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧Not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. Content is not tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, or financial advice. For entertainment purposes ONLY.

What if you never had to discount again — and still crushed your competition? That's exactly the philosophy behind today's guest, John Dwyer, founder of the Institute of WOW and the marketer who convinced Jerry Seinfeld to become the face of a regional bank. In this episode, John breaks down his proven framework for incentive-based, direct response marketing that gets results fast — no price wars required.

What we cover:

• Why competing on price is a losing game — and what to do instead
• The "Happy Meal Toy" strategy and how it works for any business
• How a small hardware store beat a Costco-sized competitor with one promotion
• The story behind landing Jerry Seinfeld for a banking campaign
• How to generate hundreds (or thousands) of leads a week on just $20–$30/day on Facebook
• The Contest Leads Machine method and why it's hitting 100% success rate
• The five components of direct response marketing every business owner needs to know
• Why "buy and get" always beats "buy and you might win"
• The difference between a genuine incentive and a gimmick (and how transparency makes all the difference)
• The #1 first step to take this week if you want better marketing results

Episode Chapters:00:00 - Don't compete on price — compete on wow00:36 - Meet John Dwyer, founder of Institute of WOW01:56 - What is direct response marketing?10:11 - What businesses get the best results right now12:11 - The bank that refused to compete on price16:34 - How vacation incentive marketing works25:41 - John's backstory: from Woolworths to Wow Factor30:23 - Get hundreds of leads for $20/day on Facebook35:33 - Dentist gets 991 leads in one week for $30/day43:15 - 100% success rate — why this works every time44:43 - The full Jerry Seinfeld story52:05 - Branding vs. direct response marketing explained53:30 - The 5 components of direct response marketing59:01 - First thing to do this week if you have a business1:02:42 - Message to market match: the beer and turf story1:05:20 - Good incentive vs. gimmick — what's the difference?1:09:43 - Where businesses mess up with incentive programs1:11:57 - Mindset shift: winners vs. spray and pray marketers1:14:39 - The one thing to remember from today1:17:18 - Wrap up + where to find John

About the guest:John Dwyer is a veteran direct response marketer, founder of the Institute of WOW, and the creative mind behind campaigns for McDonald's, 7-Eleven, BMW, the Hilton, and Rupert Murdoch's newspapers. He's best known for convincing Jerry Seinfeld to star in a regional bank campaign — and turning it into a 10-year promotion that never once competed on price.

🔧 Tools & Resources Mentioned 🔧Some of the links below may be affiliate partnerships. We only share tools we personally trust and use.

• 🎁 Vacation incentive vouchers (less than $50 for podcast listeners): 👉 vacationsincentive.com
• 📈 Facebook Contest Lead Generation: 👉 contestleadsmachine.com
• 📖 John's free Avalanche Leads book: 👉 bookofwow.com
• 💸 Need funding for your next deal? Get approved fast: 👉 app.dealfunding360.com/?ref=EdgarSalgado
• 💤 Sleep better, dream bigger — Eight Sleep: 👉 https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado
• 🏢 Get your LLC — Prime Corporate Services: 👉 https://primecorporateservices.com/?_...
• 🏦 Foundational Funding, EMD, Transactional Lending, Double Close: 👉 https://foundationalfunding.com/fundi...
• 🛠️ All productivity tools Edgar uses: 👉 https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

👉 Don't forget to 👍 like, 💬 comment, 🔔 subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this!🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌

Instagram: @edgartheconnector

TikTok: @edgarsrei

🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in this episode shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, or financial advice. It may be outdated or inaccurate; it is your responsibility to verify all information. This is for entertainment purposes ONLY.

If your marketing feels busy but not profitable, this episode will help you slow down, get clear, and build a strategy that actually drives revenue. Mike Davis breaks down why most businesses do too many tactics too early and what to fix first.

What we cover:

• Why tactics without strategy create chaos
• How to connect marketing actions to actual revenue
• The difference between being busy and being effective
• Why knowing your audience matters more than posting more content
• How to find your “why” and build messaging around it
• Why business owners should focus on one core thing first
• The role of systems, KPIs, and leading vs. lagging indicators
• Why “just take action” can be bad advice without calculated risk
• The best first hire for an owner stuck in chaos

Guest:
Mike Davis is the founder of Anchor and Staff and a retired U.S. Army psychological operations leader who now helps business owners turn brand confusion into clarity and chaos into systems.

Resources / links:

• Anchor and Staff: anchorandstaff.com
• Email: hello@anchorandstaff.com

Follow Dream Start Own for more real conversations on business, ownership, and building your path with intention. Then share this episode with an entrepreneur who needs more strategy and less guesswork.

👉 Don’t forget to 👍like, 💬comment, 🔔subscribe, and share.

🔧 Tools & Resources Mentioned 🔧
Some of the links below may be affiliate partnerships. We only share tools we personally trust and use.

💸 💸 Need funding for your next deal? Get approved fast here:
Get approved here:
👉 app.dealfunding360.com/?ref=EdgarSalgado

💤 Sleep better, dream bigger!
Affiliate link: Eight Sleep
👉 https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado

Get your LLC 👉 Prime Corporate Services
👉 https://primecorporateservices.com/?_...

👉 Foundational Funding, EMD, Transactional Lending, Double Close
👉 https://foundationalfunding.com/fundi...

► Get the tools I use for productivity
👉 https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌
Instagram: / @edgartheconnector
TikTok: / @edgarsrei

🚧🚧🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧🚧🚧
We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these videos shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, or other and may be outdated

What happens when your kid says, “I miss you,” and you decide you’re done with life on the road? Eric Richards shares how he left a high-paying union job to build a real estate business rooted in ethics, reputation, and real solutions for buyers who need a path to ownership.

What we cover:

• The moment that triggered Eric’s “all gas, no brakes” shift
• Why rent-to-own gets a bad name—and how to structure it ethically
• Lease options vs predatory land contracts (what to watch for in the paperwork)
• Credit coaching + financial literacy as part of the buyer journey
• Repairs, maintenance, and how Eric structures responsibility
• Building credibility in a small market: “keep your word” or you’re done
• Why partnerships can be the hardest part—and how to protect your reputation

Guest: Eric Richards runs Rich Investments Group in Eastern Ohio / West Virginia, focused on ethical creative deals, renovations, and local trust.

Resources / links:

• Eric’s site: richinvestmentsgroup.com
• Instagram: @theericrichards

Follow Dream Start Own and share this with a buyer or investor who wants to do real estate the right way, without burning people to win deals.

Sleep better, dream bigger!
Affiliate link: Eight Sleep
https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado

🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌
Instagram: / @edgartheconnector
TikTok: / @edgarsrei

► Join The Subto Community for Life & Learn Creative Finance from @PaceMorby
https://join.nre.ai/mQ9T9vZ

► Learn How to Make Money on Other People’s Deals with the Gator Method
https://join.nre.ai/mQBDJK5

► Get the tools I use for productivity
https://linktr.ee/Edgartheconnector

🚧🚧🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧🚧🚧
We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these videos shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, or other and may be outdated

If you’ve ever wondered how investors buy distressed houses ethically and turn rough properties into safe homes and thriving neighborhoods, this episode is for you. Kevin Dairaghi breaks down the systems, mindset, and team-building behind RestoreSTL.

What we cover:

• The “dream, forge, finish” framework (and why half-finished bridges fail)

• Doing 8 acquisitions/month with a team—and avoiding burnout

• How Kevin uses education (not pressure) to make offers with dignity

• The hidden cost beginners miss: trying to do it alone (mentor vs mistakes)

• Funding early deals with partners, then scaling with private lenders

• “Vibe checks,” integrity red flags, and walking away from dirty deals

• Kevin’s “Winning the Day” habit: affirmations + 2 relationship calls/day

Guest: Kevin Dairaghi is the owner of RestoreSTL, restoring homes and neighborhoods in St. Louis.

Follow Dream Start Own and share this with someone who wants to do real estate the right way—profitably, ethically, and with a team.

Sleep better, dream bigger!
Affiliate link: Eight Sleep
https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado

🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌
Instagram: / @edgartheconnector
TikTok: / @edgarsrei

► Join The Subto Community for Life & Learn Creative Finance from ⁨@PaceMorby⁩
https://join.nre.ai/mQ9T9vZ

► Learn How to Make Money on Other People’s Deals with the Gator Method
https://join.nre.ai/mQBDJK5

► Get the tools I use for productivity
https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

🚧🚧🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧🚧🚧
We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these videos shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, or other and may be outdated

What does it actually take to build (and turn around) RV parks—while keeping the “people” side of the business front and center? In this episode, Mychele Bisson shares the real mechanics behind outdoor hospitality and how she’s turning personal loss into a mission-driven portfolio.

What we cover:

• Mychele’s “Turning Loss Into Purpose” mission for families facing heart transplants

• How she negotiated a $1.6M Scottsdale deal down to $565K (and built a boutique resort)

• The RV park deal that dropped from $3.0M to $1.8M—plus seller finance + private money

• Why she doesn’t “fall in love with the deal” during negotiations

• Long-term vs vacation parks (and why the business models are totally different)

• Extra revenue streams: day passes, golf cart rentals, arcades, events, boat charters

• Seller-finance psychology: turning “no” into a monthly-paycheck win for sellers

• Buy box guidelines + red flags (especially integrity + bad books)

Guest: Mychele Bisson is an outdoor hospitality operator scaling RV parks and marinas while building a legacy-first brand rooted in community and culture.

Resources / links:

• Wayhaven Resorts: wayhavenresorts.com

• Blueprint to Cash Flow: blueprintcashflow.com

• Email: michelle@bisonpeakventures.com

• Info + invest / submit a deal: mychelebisson.com

Follow Dream Start Own for more real operator playbooks—and share this with someone who wants to scale without losing the human side of business.

Sleep better, dream bigger!
Affiliate link: Eight Sleep
https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado

🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌
Instagram: / @edgartheconnector
TikTok: / @edgarsrei

► Join The Subto Community for Life & Learn Creative Finance from ⁨@PaceMorby⁩
https://join.nre.ai/mQ9T9vZ

► Learn How to Make Money on Other People’s Deals with the Gator Method
https://join.nre.ai/mQBDJK5

► Get the tools I use for productivity
https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector

🚧🚧🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧🚧🚧
We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these videos shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, or other and may be outdated