From clocking in at a 9–5 to building a real estate empire.

Derek Kelley’s story is about work ethic, confidence, and refusing to stay stuck.

Derek has completed 400+ real estate transactions in just 4 years, currently runs 30 active house flips, and owns 300+ doors — all while starting this journey with a W-2 job.

He didn’t wait for the “perfect time.”

He worked nights, weekends, and holidays.

He did his own handyman work, bought foreclosure deals, and learned the game while still showing up to work every day at the plants in Baytown.

In this episode, Derek breaks down what it really takes to scale while still working a job — and the mindset required to move from employee to empire builder.

🔑 In this episode, Derek breaks down:

• 🏗️ How he scaled flips while working a full-time W-2 job

• 🔨 Doing his own rehab work early to keep deals alive

• 🤝 Building partnerships — and knowing when to simplify

• 🧠 Why being the right partner matters

• 📈 How he evaluates deals and adds value every time

• 🏠 Running construction while managing multiple projects

• 💥 Lessons learned from a $150,000 partnership loss

• 🪞 Why your only real competition is the person in the mirror

• 🔍 How he filters partners and structures JV deals before LLCs

• 🔢 Running numbers confidently and performing as a closer

• 🚀 How purpose changes as you grow — and why belief unlocks the next level

Derek doesn’t sugarcoat the grind.

Real estate is hard. Partnerships get tested. Mistakes cost money.

But if there’s a problem, there’s always a solution.

This episode is for anyone still working a job but knowing deep down they’re meant for more.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass

Our guest: Contact Derek Call/Text 281-352-2632

Visit his Facebook page Derek Kelley

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#From9to5 #RealEstateEmpire #RealEstateInvesting #HouseFlipping #RealEstatePodcast #EntrepreneurMindset #InvestorLife #RentalProperties #ScalingBusiness #JointVentures #RealEstateDeals #ConstructionLife #BusinessOwnership #PickupThePhonePodcast #Vancom

James Toler is the #1 lender in Houston and Galveston County, with over 3,000 loans funded since 2021 and more than 100 flips per year under his belt. He’s the owner of King James Lending and one of the sharpest operators in the Texas real estate game.

In this episode, James breaks down the mindset, strategy, and slow, obsessive improvement that built his empire — from earning just $4,000 in commission on his first flip… to becoming one of Houston’s most trusted lenders.

James shares how early exposure to business shaped him, why confidence is essential in investing, and the real behind-the-scenes truth about contractors, private money, and scaling a team.

This episode is packed with game. 👊🔥

In this episode, James breaks down:

🔥 How he went from making $4,000 commission on his first flip → to 100+ flips a year

💰 The deal that made him $60K and shifted his entire trajectory

🧠 Why “slow improvement” is his secret advantage

🛠️ How he built long-term, reliable contractor relationships

🤝 How he secured his first private investor (and the exact structure he used)

👥 Why culture is everything when scaling a team

💼 How his wife helped streamline operations and scale faster

🏦 How he accidentally became a lender — and funded 70–90 loans with his own capital before scaling

📈 Why sales & marketing are the lifeblood of volume

🏗️ His land holdings, new builds, and long-term investment strategy

📊 What he saw in the 2025 market — and how he adapted to win

🚀 His goals for 2026 and the mindset behind ongoing growth:

“Focus on the actions that produce results — not the results themselves.”

James Toler’s story proves that obsession, consistency, and smart systems can take you further than talent alone.

If you’re an investor, lender, or operator — this episode is mandatory.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass

Our guest: Contact James Call/Text 832-256-8596

Visit his website https://www.kingjameslending.com/

His personal Instagram jamesrtoler

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#JamesToler #KingJamesLending #HoustonRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #HardMoneyLender #HouseFlipping #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessLeadership #InvestorLife #TexasRealEstate #SalesAndMarketing #RealEstatePodcast #PickupThePhonePodcast #Vancom #FinancialFreedom #RealEstateDeals #RealEstateEmpire

Crystal De León Sarmiento is a force.

From growing up in Houston’s Southwest side to becoming a certified Business Behavior Analyst, Executive Business Coach, and the first Mexican-American councilwoman in Manvel Texas, her path is built on grit, execution, and leadership at the highest level.

Crystal is the founder of The Ari Source, where she helps business owners scale with systems, KPIs, strategic hiring, and leadership development. She breaks down how personality, communication, and behavior directly impact performance inside every organization.

In this episode, Crystal dives deep into the mindset, strategy, and discipline behind building powerful teams and becoming an influential leader — in business and in politics.

🔥 In this episode, Crystal breaks down:

• How she closed her first multi-million-dollar deal at 23 💼
• Becoming a #1 best-selling author and out-ranking Joel Osteen 📚
• Why a bad hire can cost 7x a salary — and destroy culture 🔍
• The truth about leadership: “Nothing more, nothing less than influence.”
• Why most business owners fail in the first 5 years
• How to identify ego vs. confidence when hiring 💡
• How she coaches companies on KPIs, communication, and accountability
• Why she stepped into politics — and what business owners really need from their leaders
• Her run for Congress & why representation matters in her district 🇺🇸
• “The American Dream, not the socialist scheme” — her mission for her community

Crystal’s story is bold, powerful, and unapologetically driven.

This episode is a blueprint for anyone who wants to lead — in business, in community, and in life.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass

Our guest: https://crystaluscongress.com/

Her personal Instagram crystal.lioness and her official campaign Instagram crystalforcongress

Facebook Page Crystal De León Sarmiento For Congress CD09

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#CrystalDeLeonSarmiento #TheAriSource #BusinessLeadership #ExecutiveCoaching #WomenInBusiness #LatinaLeaders #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #EntrepreneurPodcast #PickupThePhonePodcast #Vancom #BusinessMindset #Congress2026 #LatinaForCongress #TexasPolitics #ManvelTexas #HoustonLeadership

Most people fear debt. Richard Marquez used it to build a $10M real estate empire. 🔥

He now owns 39 units across single-family and multifamily — built through strategy, discipline, and smart leverage. And he reached full financial freedom doing it.

But his story didn’t start in real estate.

Richard began in sales, transitioned into banking, and eventually became a branch manager. That’s where everything shifted. He realized everyday people were quietly buying rentals on the side — and building wealth.

That sparked the vision:

You can work a 9–5 and build a portfolio at the same time.

In this episode, Richard breaks down exactly how he scaled to 39 doors and hit financial freedom:

• 🏠 How he grew from buying houses one-by-one to owning 39 units

• 💳 How he mastered credit and used it as a weapon for opportunity

• 💵 Leaving his banking job after realizing the equity he had built

• 🔑 Moving from traditional loans → private lenders → DSR loans

• 🛠️ Why he stopped flipping & built an in-house remodel crew

• 🏘️ How he bought his first multifamily property — and why he wants more

• 📐 His buying criteria and formula per square foot

• 📅 How he compressed his work week into 3 days

• 💰 Getting loans even from PayPal — and how he uses them

• 🚀 How he maintains financial freedom while still growing the portfolio

Richard proves that with the right mindset, the right lenders, and the right credit strategy, anyone can build wealth in real estate — one door at a time.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass and pickupthephonepod

Our guest Visit Facebook: Richard Marquez or call/text Richard 832-616-1719

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#RealEstateInvesting #FinancialFreedom #RentalProperties #RealEstatePortfolio #RealEstateInvestor #Cashflow #DSCRLoans #PassiveIncome #RealEstateStrategy #RealEstateHouston #RealEstateBusiness #LandlordLife #CreditStrategy #InvestorMindset #Vancom #PickupThePhonePodcast

Jay Bustos and his wife run a high-performing mortgage + real estate operation — generating over $100M in loans every year and $50M+ in real estate transactions, backed by a team of 40+ people. Loan officers, realtors, and operations all moving under one vision.

Named one of Houston’s Top 20 Under 40 Realtors, Jay became obsessed with building, scaling, and creating generational wealth through smart moves and strategic leadership.

In this episode of Pickup The Phone, Jay breaks down:

• 📈 How he and his wife built a fully integrated mortgage + real estate company

• 🌐 His plan to expand across Texas by 2026

• 🏡 Why he invests in Airbnbs in Austin — and the strategy behind them

• 🧱 How delegation and leadership helped him scale fast

• 🔨 His shift from flipping houses to land development & duplex projects

• 🤝 How he builds strong company culture and grows leaders on his team

• 💸 His perspective on today’s interest rates and market conditions

• 📚 What he’s studying now — commercial real estate, land, and generational wealth

Jay’s mindset is simple: build systems, build people, and the results follow.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass and pickupthephonepod

Our guest Visit Instagram: Jay_bustos or call/text him at 832-542-4037

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#JayBustos #RealEstateEmpire #MortgageBusiness #100MLoans #RealEstateInvesting #LandDevelopment #AirbnbInvestor #TexasRealEstate #RealEstateEntrepreneur #BusinessEmpire #ScalingBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #LeadershipInBusiness #RealEstateLife #Vancom #PickupThePhone #BusinessPodcast #HoustonRealEstate #InvestorLife

Over $100M in real-estate sales and $1M net worth before 25 — Kaleb Monroe is proof that execution beats excuses. 👊

Kaleb is the founder of The Monroe Team, a Houston-based real estate company known for its strong culture, rapid growth, and relentless mindset. He started in 2020 — right when the world shut down — with zero experience and one goal: move fast and learn faster.

In this episode, Kaleb breaks down how he built a powerhouse operation before most people finish college:

• From selling knives in high school to leading The Monroe Team 🔥
• Hitting $100K+ by his 2nd year in real estate as a realtor
• Building a team, firing half of it, and learning what leadership really means
• Closing 120+ transactions and acquiring 34 rental units by age 25 🏠
• Why conversations and appointments are the lifeblood of sales
• How he turned social media into his ultimate business card 📲
• Implementing AI and systems to scale even further in 2026
• Growing from realtor → investor → developer and raising private capital

Kaleb’s story is all about mindset, hunger, and extreme ownership.

He proves that success comes from taking massive action — even before you feel ready.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass and pickupthephonepod

Our guest Visit Instagram: kalebrmonroe & monroe.team and his website https://www.texaslistings.co/

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#KalebMonroe #TheMonroeTeam #RealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #RealtorLife #RealEstateDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #SalesLeadership #HoustonRealEstate #Vancom #PickupThePhonePodcast #BusinessPodcast #SuccessDriven #Grit #Mindset #Hustle #Investors #FlippingHouses

Andrea Cruz is the founder of a multi-million-dollar wholesale company that flips, wholesales, and renovates properties — all built from grit, risk, and smart execution.

Her story starts with a tough lesson — losing $80,000 on her first flip — but that loss became her greatest teacher. With no mentor and no system, she paid the price to learn what not to do. Later, with the right mentorship, Andrea learned how to build systems, scale her business, and hit massive milestones.

In this episode, Andrea breaks down how she went from struggle to scaling 👊

• From hairstylist to 7-figure real estate investor 💰
• Losing $80,000 on her first flip — and turning it into a comeback story
• How borrowing $20,000 from her mom led to $100K months 🚀
• The power of mentorship, systems, and leadership
• How she built and scaled her real estate operation
• Why mastering emotions is key to handling business at scale
• How she launched her coaching program “Operation X: From Average to Savage” 🧠
• The marketing approach that now drives her business growth

Andrea’s story is one of resilience, execution, and mindset — proof that real success comes from taking risks, learning fast, and never backing down.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass

Our guest: Visit Instagram: @andreabuyshouses_ or call/text Andrea at 832-392-2801

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into scaling your business! 🔔

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#AndreaCruz #WholesaleRealEstate #RealEstateInvesting #FlippingHouses #RealEstateCoaching #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Vancom #PickupThePhonePodcast #RealEstateMentorship #Novations #PropertyInvesting #SalesMindset #Leadership #SuccessDriven #Hustle #Grit

Adam Hunt is a commercial developer and the founder of Hunt Commercial & Housing, a private boutique real estate company.

He didn’t start with success — far from it.

In 2015, Adam had just $36 left on his credit card. A friend got him a leasing job, and within two weeks, he became the #1 sales agent on the team. But his real turning point came years later — when a contractor walked away in the middle of three high-end flip projects, leaving him out over $90,000.

Most people would’ve quit right there. Adam didn’t.

He doubled down, finished the builds himself, and that’s when he decided to start building for real — on his own terms.

In this episode, Adam shares the journey from rock bottom to running multiple development projects across Houston 👊

• How he built Hunt Commercial & Housing from the ground up 🏗️
• Losing $90,000 on a deal and using it as fuel to start building 💸
• Going from leasing apartments to developing and managing properties
• His first profitable construction project and what it taught him
• Why he shifted from flipping homes to commercial development
• How he funds and structures deals for growth 💼
• Managing multiple duplex projects simultaneously
• The mindset that turned $36 into a multi-million-dollar operation 🚀

Adam’s story is all about grit, execution, and discipline — proof that sometimes your lowest moment becomes the foundation for everything you build next.

Entrepreneurship is about making calls others won’t. That’s where we come in — combining AI, people, and relentless hustle to fill your pipeline with leads and scale your business.

Click on the link below to see how Vancom can help! 🔗 https://vancom.io/calendar-page

Connect with Us: Instagram / josuellanass and pickupthephonepod

Our guest: Visit Instagram: adamhuntre & huntcommercialhousing or visit his website https://www.huntcommercialhousing.com/

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful stories of business, real estate, and scaling your business! 🔔

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#AdamHunt #HuntCommercialHousing #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateDevelopment #PropertyManagement #ConstructionBusiness #ProjectManagement #RealEstateDesign #HoustonBusiness #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #Vancom #PickupThePhonePodcast #Leadership #SuccessDriven #Mindset #Grit