What does flying an F-16 have to do with navigating the chaos of real estate development? According to Chris Kopacek - everything.

In this episode of Decision Points, Chris Kopacek, founder and principal of Lone Star Development Partners shares how the discipline, precision, and teamwork of a military pilot translate into leading a resilient, fast-moving business.

From the cockpit to the boardroom, Chris reflects on his early training at the Air Force Academy and the high-pressure demands of being a fighter pilot - where identifying and eliminating risk is second nature. But in business, he explains, the risks never stop coming. Instead of elimination, entrepreneurs must learn to adapt, pivot, and push forward under pressure.

Chris opens up about building Lone Star Development with partner Ryan Larson, detailing how trust, transparency, and team dynamics became the company’s bedrock. Together, they’ve navigated economic downturns, vertically integrated their business, and expanded into affordable housing - all while remaining agile in a volatile capital environment.

He shares his philosophy for long-term growth: build enterprise value, maintain clarity of mission, and scale smart - with a team that’s ready for turbulence. Whether you’re leading a company, starting one, or rethinking your own approach to risk and resilience, this episode delivers practical insight from a leader who knows what it means to operate under pressure.

Joe Williams didn’t just help build one of the largest real estate franchises in the world - he helped build a movement rooted in empowerment, culture, and visionary thinking. In this episode of Decision Points, Joe unpacks the pivotal moments that shaped his journey from a challenging childhood to co-founding Keller Williams Realty, a global real estate powerhouse.

He shares personal stories of strength and resilience, from losing his father at a young age to overcoming physical setbacks that taught him to fight for the underdog. These formative experiences became the bedrock of a leadership style defined by empathy, vision, and a firm belief in people.

Joe reveals how he and Gary Keller reimagined the brokerage model - putting agents in the driver’s seat as business owners, backed by unmatched training and shared economics. This “better mousetrap” changed the industry forever and powered Keller Williams through some of the toughest real estate downturns in history.

At the heart of Joe’s story is culture. “Create an environment so unique, nobody ever wants to leave,” he says - and it’s this philosophy that gave birth to what he calls the Stable Table Theory, emphasizing four key pillars: vision, economics, talent, and support. As Keller Williams grew globally, Joe remained focused on protecting cultural cohesion, demonstrating how leadership by example and profit-sharing helped build lasting unity across markets.

Now looking toward the future, Joe is applying that same visionary energy to solve one of the biggest challenges facing the next generation: housing affordability. Through it all, his passion remains clear - build with purpose, lead with integrity, and empower others to do the same.

Bill Cawley’s life is a testament to the power of second chances. In this episode of Decision Points, the Chairman and CEO of Cawley Partners opens up about the trials, triumphs, and turning points that shaped his extraordinary path - from a small Midwestern town, through the depths of addiction, to the heights of commercial real estate success.

Bill shares a deeply personal account of battling alcoholism, missing his shot at college, and becoming a father at age 18. With only $300 and a stereo, he moved to Dallas and began rebuilding from scratch. His raw honesty about that season - marked by mistakes, hard-earned Decision Points, and a lot of hustle - paints a vivid picture of what grit and determination really look like.

Then came 1997: a near-fatal motorcycle accident that changed everything. Confronted with his mortality, Bill experienced a spiritual awakening that would anchor his journey into sobriety and purpose. That moment of reckoning led to mended relationships, renewed faith, and a completely redefined sense of success.

Today, Bill leads a 100-person team at Cawley Partners, spanning office, multifamily, and industrial real estate sectors. He shares how early mentors like Rainwater and Bonderman shaped his understanding of deals, and why he believes real success lies not in what you build. but in who you become while building it.

More than just a business story, this is a story of redemption, leadership, and legacy. Bill’s message to fellow entrepreneurs is clear: find your purpose before the business ends, and invest in a life that outlives your career.