In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with longtime CG member Andrew Newlon out of Springfield, Missouri, for a deep conversation on what real scale actually looks like—especially in smaller Midwest markets. Andrew's journey is a masterclass in patience, focus, and learning the hard lessons that most entrepreneurs only understand after going through them.

We talk about Andrew's evolution from military service to real estate, the rise and fall of partnerships, nearly breaking the business by scaling too fast, and how rebuilding with intention completely changed his trajectory. From adopting a "better, not bigger" philosophy to becoming a true local authority through social media, Andrew shares how discipline, profitability, and purpose—not ego—are what create long-term success.

[0:00] – Andrew's market overview: Springfield, Missouri and a Midwest strategy

[3:00] – Building a business around wholesaling, flipping, and rentals

[4:45] – How market cycles forced shifts in exit strategies

[6:00] – Military background and early exposure to real estate

[7:30] – First deals: lease options, credit cards, and late-night rehabs

[9:00] – Lessons learned from early partnerships

[10:45] – Why most partnerships eventually break

[12:30] – The three non-negotiables for partnerships: purpose, values, goals

[14:15] – Why partnerships need a "prenup" from day one

[16:00] – Andrew's first exposure to Collective Genius

[18:00] – Walking into a room of operators far ahead—and staying anyway

[21:00] – The biggest early mistake: scaling too fast, too wide

[22:45] – Hiring too many people, expanding markets, and breaking the business

[25:00] – March 2020: running out of money as the world shut down

[26:30] – COVID as a second chance to rebuild the business

[29:00] – The shift to "better, not bigger"

[30:30] – Cutting expenses by 60% and rebuilding profit-first

[32:30] – Why lean teams outperform bloated org charts

[34:00] – Hiring generals, not specialists

[35:30] – Becoming a local authority through social media

[37:00] – Building trust, credibility, and brand awareness locally

[38:45] – How social media drives sellers, buyers, and private money

[41:00] – Why local presence still wins in real estate

[43:00] – Adding a retail arm once the wholesaling business stabilized

[45:30] – Creating more solutions for sellers without inflating overhead

[47:30] – Goals for 2026: responsible growth and family time

1. Better Beats Bigger – Profitability, focus, and sanity matter more than vanity metrics.
2. Partnerships Require Alignment – Purpose, values, and goals must stay aligned—or the partnership won't last.
3. Scale Responsibly – Growing revenue without growing expenses is the real definition of scale.
4. Local Authority Wins – Social media isn't about going viral; it's about building trust in your backyard.
5. One Thing at a Time – Sustainable growth comes from focus, not stacking shiny objects.

• ExploreCG.com – Learn more about the Collective Genius community

If Andrew's journey resonated with you, it's likely because you're at a crossroads between growth and discipline. Remember—real scale isn't about doing more; it's about doing the right things, better.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate, review, and share the Collective Genius Podcast with someone who's building a business for the long haul.

In this CG Live episode from our Select and Elevate event in Dallas, I sit down with Jason Reynolds, a former pro baseball player turned real estate investor, who joined CG in January and has already tripled his business in under a year. This is a masterclass in action-taking—from construction bottlenecks to team building, Jason walks us through how the right conversations at the right time completely reshaped his company.

He shares how moving project management in-house saved him tens of thousands per deal, how mentoring from other members like Phil Jackson helped him fast-track solutions, and why transforming as a leader—not just a hustler—has been the key to scaling his business and his life. If you've ever felt stuck wearing too many hats or unsure how to build a team you can trust, this episode is your blueprint.

[0:00] – Jason joins CG in January and hits the ground running

[1:46] – Doubling the business? No—tripling it

[2:05] – Based in Allentown, PA—75% fix and flip, 25% wholesale

[3:52] – The first CG event and how it delivered immediate clarity

[4:14] – Struggles with GCs led to an in-house project management breakthrough

[5:00] – Saving $15K–$20K per project after implementing advice from other members

[5:35] – Shoutout to Phil Jackson for helping map out the hiring plan

[6:11] – Bigger team, better systems: the move from doer to leader

[7:12] – Weekly 1:1s, team goals, and building real buy-in

[8:28] – Why pouring into your people builds more than just profit

[9:06] – The "Roger Bannister" effect—seeing what's possible in this room

[9:45] – Fundraising session takeaways: not ready for a fund, but building for it

[10:13] – Investor updates and strengthening capital relationships

[11:27] – Day one CG insight: becoming less of a micromanager, more of a leader

[12:12] – Creating culture and consistency to drive long-term growth

[13:01] – The power of taking action and building high-value relationships

1. The Right Conversation Can Save You $20K: Jason's decision to bring project management in-house came directly from CG connections—and paid off immediately.
2. You Don't Build a Business Alone: Learning to lead and develop others is what took Jason from hustle to scale.
3. Be in the Room Where the Growth Happens: Real transformation happens when you learn from those already doing what you're trying to do.

• Explore CG Membership: https://www.explorecg.com

If Jason's journey inspired you—if you're done flying solo and ready to scale with the help of leaders who've been where you're going—rate, follow, and review the Collective Genius Podcast. And if you're ready to get in the room, head to https://www.explorecg.com and apply now.

In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Dustin Singer out of Pittsburgh for one of the most powerful conversations we've had on the show. Dustin's story is a real-time example of what happens when personal growth finally catches up to business ambition—and how everything changes when it does.

We unpack how Dustin doubled his revenue, doubled his team, and expanded into commercial real estate in a single year—not by working more hours, but by rebuilding himself as a leader. From losing 50 pounds and reclaiming his discipline to implementing simple KPIs, building the right team, and running his business like a pilot flies a plane, this episode is proof that business growth follows personal growth every time.

[0:00] – Dustin's background and diversified investing business in Pittsburgh

[2:45] – Why commercial real estate became his new focus

[4:00] – Doubling revenue and contract volume year over year

[5:30] – The turning point: prioritizing health and personal discipline

[7:00] – Losing 50 pounds and rebuilding energy, focus, and confidence

[9:00] – Why leadership starts with how you treat your body

[11:00] – The first 90 days: regaining momentum and decisiveness

[12:30] – Reinvesting energy into hiring and team growth

[14:00] – The first key hire: lead management

[15:30] – Building the right team instead of spending more on marketing

[17:15] – How physical discipline transferred into business discipline

[18:30] – Treating health like a business KPI

[20:00] – "Life is a sport": training for longevity, not just aesthetics

[21:30] – Creating vision, cadence, and accountability for the team

[23:30] – The 7 KPIs Dustin tracks to run the business

[25:00] – Daily huddles, weekly syncs, and monthly reviews

[27:00] – Why data—not stories—drives better decisions

[28:45] – Learning from CG and implementing one thing at a time

[31:00] – Expanding into commercial real estate with the right team in place

[33:00] – Buying a $3.2M commercial property

[35:00] – The pilot analogy: KPIs as flight instruments

[37:00] – How autopilot systems free you to think bigger

[38:45] – How to connect with Dustin

1. Personal Growth Precedes Business Growth – When Dustin rebuilt his health, everything else followed.
2. Energy Is a Leadership Tool – You can't lead people well if you're exhausted and undisciplined.
3. Hire People Before Spending More on Marketing – Team leverage unlocked real scale.
4. Simple KPIs Win – A small set of metrics tells you exactly where the business is breaking.
5. Run the Business Like a Plane – Systems, checklists, and instruments create safe, scalable growth.

• ExploreCG.com – Learn more about the Collective Genius community
• Connect with Dustin – https://www.facebook.com/dustin.singer.33

If Dustin's story resonated with you, it's probably because you know something needs to change—personally or professionally. Start with one thing, build discipline, and let the momentum compound.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate, review, and share the Collective Genius Podcast with someone who's ready to grow, lead, and scale at the next level.