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This week in Dadages, Chad Hagle hosts a new installment of the Entrepreneur’s Corner series, this time with guest Jonathan Orr, not only an entrepreneur but also an alum of Chad’s company, Aventine Development Corporation. The conversation begins with Jonathan sharing some of his background with the Dadages friends and family, including his time at Chapman University in California and what led to his involvement in real estate and his time with Aventine. 

Jonathan grew up in Southern California and played football in college. The fact that his father was a real estate developer inspired Jonathan to get into the business. He had experience working for Hilton Hotels and other real estate firms, which eventually led him to work at Aventine. Chad and Jonathan then discuss the time of Jonathan’s job interview and hiring, and Chad reveals what is important to him when hiring and selecting people to work with him or in his companies. Chad emphasizes the importance of getting past a “me first” attitude to succeed. 

Jonathan also shares some candid stories of his experience working for Chad Hagle, how he discovered a lot about himself during that time, everything he learned that he has applied in his professional life since (like working remotely before it was common), memories about business road trips, as well as some of the challenges that the industry was facing at the time and how they worked to overcome them, using a time of crisis as an opportunity. 

The conversation continues as Jonathan explains what he has been doing professionally since his time with Aventine. He’s built his business as a developer with a focus on flexibility and adaptation, which he believes are key elements in the current environment. He also discusses the importance of time and how to maximize it by surrounding himself with the right people and setting up clear expectations when it comes to time. In addition, Jonathan shares what it has meant to him to work with family members and what challenges and blessings that setting has brought to him and his business. Chad then gives Jonathan the opportunity to pitch his new venture, 356 Development Advisors, what it does in real estate, its unique business model, and its value proposition. 

As part of this series, the tables turn and the guest gets to ask the host questions pertinent to their business. Jonathan asks for Chad’s opinion on what to look for when interviewing and hiring third-party contractors and how to select the right people to work with. Chad also offers his advice on topics like team building, expansion and diversification to new markets in real estate, communicating and connecting with investors and property owners, and balancing and integrating work and family life. Finally, Jonathan shares a classic dad joke to end the interview!

Make sure you tune in to this episode of Entrepreneur's Corner to learn valuable insights about the real estate business from experienced professionals in the field. 

This week on Dadages, we continue our engagement with the Alcott family, as well as our celebration of disability awareness, by bringing you the second half of Chad’s Entrepreneur’s Corner sit down with father/son duo, Martin and Zack Alcott.

If you missed part one of the conversation, make sure to go back and check it out, as there you will learn all about Martin, Zack, and the entire Alcott family, as well as get an overview of their two companies, Get Skilled Access and The Field.

In this second half of the conversation, Martin and Zack get a chance to ask Chad some questions of their own pertaining to funding, the VC market in the US, how to go about launching their two companies in the US market, and much more.

The conversation concludes with a powerful story from Chad about a recent interaction he had that drove home the importance of everything related to disability awareness that these three have been discussing the past couple of episodes, so make sure you stick around until the end to hear that (yes, tears are shed). 

Today we celebrate the 33-year anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act by bringing you the latest edition of Entrepreneur’s Corner, where Chad welcomes to the virtual studio not one, but two amazing guests, father and son Martin and Zack Alcott.

Dadages Friends and Family may remember Martin Alcott from his recent appearance on Chadding with Dads, where he discussed his family’s experience with disability. Now, Martin returns, this time with (as Chad puts it) another member of the Alcott Braintrust, his son Zack, to discuss their two businesses: Get Skilled Access and The Field.

Get Skilled Access (GSA) is a consulting firm where expert consultants with real-life disability experience work collaboratively to give organizations the confidence to make better inclusive decisions. Ultimately, GSA wants to improve accessibility and inclusion for anyone and everyone.

GSA works with large and small organizations across all industries. They’re purposeful and focused on helping clients achieve their goals. With their holistic approach and professional and disability expertise, they’ll work within a client’s budget to improve accessibility and inclusion across an organization.

The Field is a marketplace platform job site that connects job seekers in the disabled community with organizations that are committed to inclusive hiring and building diverse teams. The Field welcomes job seekers with visible and non-visible disabilities, mental ill-health, neurodiversity, chronic illness, intellectual disability, or any workplace accessibility requirements.

During the conversation, Chad, Martin, and Zack discuss moving away from a medical model of disability and toward a social model, what working with major brands previously in their career taught them, lay out the value propositions of both companies, give insight into trust building within your customer base, and much more.

The conversation was so good that we had to break it up into two parts to fully digest all the value it had to offer. This episode is part one of the conversation and it will be followed by part two next week. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your Dadages content so you don’t miss out!

This week in Dadages, host Chad Hagle brings you the first international episode of the show! This episode continues the focus on the Dadage “Don’t let what you can’t do prevent you from doing what you can” and is also a tribute to Disability Awareness Month. Chad is joined in the virtual studio by Martin Alcott from Australia. Martin is the father of Dylan Alcott, who was born with a disability caused by a tumor on the base of his spine but grew up to become one of the best wheelchair athletes in the world. The audience learns about Dylan’s story, the health issues and struggles he had to face from a very young age, and how he overcame them to get to where he is today. He has won multiple trophies in both wheelchair tennis and basketball, in addition to being a public speaker, running his own foundation, and even working as an actor. Martin gives some valuable advice about facing frightening moments as a parent based on his own experience. He highlights Dylan’s relationship with his older brother Zack and their family dynamics. Chad and Martin then discuss people’s general attitudes about disability and the lack of understanding on how to interact with people with disabilities, visible and not visible. They also discuss the vernacular around disabilities and the right terms to use to talk about the subject. The conversation continues with Martin telling more about his own origin story and what prepared him to be a good father. He also explains some of the problems and biases people with disabilities still face in society and some of the initiatives he and Dylan have been part of to address those issues and make a difference. Finally, Martin and Chad talk about the changes their families have experienced, the way those changes have affected their children, and the good things that have come with remarrying and having blended families. Be sure to tune in next time to learn more about Martin and Dylan and the great work they do in their lives and businesses.

In this week’s solocast episode of Dadages, host Chad Hagle reveals the only four-letter word that was prohibited in his family growing up, can’t. Chad explains how his father not only expected him to figure out how to do something but also expected him to struggle in order to develop self-reliance, and it worked. He learned that there’s always a way; it might not be obvious, and it might take a long time, but there’s no limit to one’s capabilities. Chad also shares some of the responses he got from his father and mother when he expressed frustration over something being too difficult, emphasizing the importance of not giving up. The episode continues with a discussion of the high number of adults who experience disabilities, a subject the Dadages team decided to dedicate time to in July, which is National Disability Awareness Month in the United States, inspired by some members of the Dadages friends and family. Some of them will share their stories in upcoming episodes, make sure you don’t miss it! Chad then talks about the “can do” mindset and its application to professional life, citing some of his own recent career experiences. He discusses the importance of understanding the rules, not to break them but to navigate them to produce the best outcome possible and maximize the results of hard work. Next, Chad explores the principle of tailoring communications toward achieving results in business by introducing efficiency into interactions and being prepared in the event that another party fails to respond or take action, always producing pathways forward. Finally, he addresses how to combat the very damaging human trait of procrastination. Chad’s advice is “Don’t let what you don’t what to do prevent you from doing what you should do.” He also gives some guidance to leaders on how to create a dynamic organizational structure that allows for the optimization of overall performance to ensure the highest level of achievement. Be sure to tune in to learn valuable insights about overcoming obstacles to accomplish great things. Don’t miss the rest of the episodes on this topic for the rest of the month! 

In this week’s episode of Dadages, host Chad Hagle brings you the second part of the final interview of the series “It Takes Credit to Make Money” with Wayne Brandt and Ron Sturzenegger, experts on the banking system. The conversation continues with what Ron calls the “fifteen-minute rule,” the idea that your entire career or life can change in just 15 minutes. Chad, Wayne, and Ron discuss their “current fifteen minutes,” and how their careers are being influenced by current financial circumstances and global factors. They compare and contrast the situation of today and the Great Financial Crisis they went through. Then, the guests break down what has happened with the banking system lately, especially with Silicon Valley Bank, how it’s affected the economy, and the impact it might have on the near future from their perspective. They also explain what it could mean for the real estate industry and give some advice to investors on how to navigate high-interest rates, inflation, and the situation in general. Chad then discusses and gets the guests’ opinions on the changes he has seen in the topic of customer relationships, regulations, and systematic approaches in the banking world. Ron and Wayne also explain what it means to be a “better customer” of a bank, even at a time when banks are not able to be better lenders, and the benefits this brings. The next part of the interview focuses on Wayne’s and Ron’s backgrounds and upbringing. They share how factors like their family structure, work ethic, participation in sports, and an emphasis on education and teamwork taught them many lessons and led them to where they are today. Wayne and Ron also discuss how they strive to pass on these values to the next generation by leading by example, handling mistakes, creating a healthy culture, ownership, motivation, and showing the ethics of business to their teams. Finally, they explain how the same core values and ethics direct their roles as parents and their lives at home as well. Be sure to tune in to learn valuable insights about many aspects of business and life from a group of very experienced and successful professionals!

In this week’s episode of Dadages, Chad Hagle hosts the first part of the last installment of the series “It Takes Credit to Make Money.” Chad is joined in the virtual studio by two titans of the banking industry and fellow Stanford Alumni Real Estate Council members, Wayne Brandt and Ron Sturzenegger. They were both successful senior banking executives, and both have since left the world of big banks to pursue other career adventures. Chad introduces the guests and all their impressive accomplishments. Wayne and Ron talk about their time at Stanford and how what they learned there, and in their graduate programs in prestigious east coast schools, and the mentors they encountered have been valuable in their lives and careers. The audience learns how the guests’ backgrounds lead them to the real estate industry. Chad, Wayne, and Ron then share the importance of the networks they have built throughout the years in school and different business settings, not only to become successful but also to mentor and help other people. Wayne and Ron also explain their roles in investment banking and their years at Wells Fargo and Bank of America, including the culture they created, the time of the financial crisis, and what they did to handle it. The conversation continues with insights about topics like capital and team management, motivation, navigating a highly regulated system, and helping clients make money. Finally, the guests tell some stories from their experience in investment banking and the career lessons they learned from them. Be sure to tune in to learn valuable information about the world of real estate investment and business in general from a group of very successful experts in the field, and come back next week for Part 2!

In this week’s episode of Dadages, Chad Hagle hosts the second installment of Entrepreneur’s Corner with a very special guest, entrepreneur Kent Keirsey, the founder of Acre Homes, a unique and innovative home-buying platform. 

Kent, a listener of Dadages, shares his story of being a father and a mentor with a passion to help others learn from his mistakes. Kent, like Chad, is a Stanford grad, where he completed the combined J.D./MBA program. Kent comes from a military family and also attended the West Point Military Academy. He decided to serve the country right before 9/11 happened, which he calls a pivotal moment in his life. Kent tells some stories and explains some challenges from his service years and his deployments in Iraq. 

Kent then shares how he went into real estate technology, found his co-founder and business partner, and learned to build a company. His product in real estate tech was a model that predicted how likely an individual was to sell their home in 6-12 months, using data from the individual and the property. It was a great pathway that eventually led to Acre Homes. 

The conversation continues with Chad putting Kent “in the spotlight” and giving him the opportunity to present what Acre is and why it’s important to him and to the Dadages audience. Kent talks about how his experience has taught him that giving people a sense of ownership in their place is crucial. Acre allows residents of homes to share in the ownership of that home, to have a better financial outcome over the time they’re at the home, and to have a better experience, which all, in turn, provide a better outcome for investors. Kent goes on to give more details about how Acre works as a business and its benefits. Chad and Kent then share insights and important components of residential real estate that are different from what Chad regularly encounters in his business. 

To continue the conversation, the tables are turned and the guest becomes the interviewer. Kent asks for Chad’s opinion on mitigating and managing risk when going to investors. Chad explains the different kinds of risk and how to accommodate them to potential changes in the market, which the business model needs to be prepared for, and the importance of articulating the way the company is going to be resilient to investors and lenders. Chad also mentions the role of committed team members, management, and key people who are aligned with the business. 

Next, Kent seeks Chad’s insight on the differences and similarities between investing in technology and real estate. Chad gives one piece of advice that guides all his investments, “trying to find the right balance between diversification and concentration,” which means committing to the things he feels strongest about in a substantial way to see a worthy return. He advises Kent to work on acquiring not only individual customers but also some of the institutional players within the residential real estate space because they can evolve into strategic investors in the future. Finally, Chad also gives several pieces of general advice for Kent to implement as his company scales, such as hiring, processes, culture, communication, accountability, and creating a resilient structure that can grow. 

This is the second episode of the Entrepreneur's Corner series, where the script is flipped and the guest gets to ask the host questions. Make sure you tune in to learn all about the real estate world from two very experienced entrepreneurs in that field.

In this week’s solocast and first-ever Father’s Day episode of Dadages, host Chad Hagle discusses the Dadage “High achievers and entrepreneurs are wired to look ahead, but sometimes it is just as important to look back.” Chad explains how he sees the world with a type of vision that comes from a combination of analytics and intuition, which helps him recognize patterns and potential outcomes while also using past experiences. Additionally, he talks about living in the moment and being present, how he uses some principles from Buddhism, philosophy, and yoga to accomplish this, and the importance of taking time to look at the past and understand it. Chad shares with the audience the significance of knowing history to avoid the mistakes that have led to bad consequences in the past, the dangers of information manipulation, and how to be good masters of our own memories. Finally, Chad applies all this knowledge to a business context and gives some actionable tools that can be implemented in a work environment as well as some tips to be used in everyday life. Be sure to tune in to learn valuable insights about looking back and forming and using meaningful memories, along with a few dad jokes just in time for Father’s Day!

In this week’s solocast episode of Dadages, host Chad Hagle discusses a Dadage he learned from one of his mentors, “Some of the greatest deals of my career are the ones I didn’t do.” Chad talks about the notion of real estate as a risk management business, not an opportunity-seeking business. He shares some stories of deals he didn’t do in his career with the audience, emphasizing how he came to those decisions, all the factors he took into account, and the reasons why they were the right choices for his business and life overall. Chad explains how roads not taken and opportunities not pursued can be good and help avoid bad consequences and preserve the potential for greater long-term success. Finally, Chad warns the Dadages friends and family about the dangers of losing money on deals that don’t get done, through overhead and other costs, with examples from his own experience. Be sure to tune in to learn valuable information about real estate deals and decision-making from a business perspective.