Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprintIn this reflective episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks the concept of “relationship equity”—the unseen deposits we make when we give value first without expectation in return—and how this principle has created full-circle moments in his real estate and entrepreneurial journey. Drawing from his own experiences and those of past podcast guests, Ruben highlights how relationships built on giving often return dividends in the form of opportunities, mentorship, and growth.

He recalls pivotal lessons from Michael Elefante (Episode 161), whose transparency and content-driven brand inspired collaboration and mutual support, and Michael Shogren (Episode 91), whose Airbnb strategy shifted Ruben’s path entirely. Ruben also shares how contributions to Dr. Rachel Gainsbourg (Episode 263) and Will Dodtson ( Episode 265) later came full circle into opportunities that opened new doors.

This reflective conversation breaks down why “relationship equity” matters more than transactions, how small acts of service compound over time, and why long-term giving creates reputational capital that no market crash or downturn can erase.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn networking into true opportunity, this episode will shift your perspective. Tune in now to learn how to build a relationship equity bank that compounds into partnerships, contracts, and doors you never knew existed.

#EntrepreneurMindset #RelationshipEquity #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateInvesting #Networking #ExperimentNation

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with George Otel, a finance expert, entrepreneur, and investor who has carved a unique path from trucking fleets to becoming “the finance guy” for business and real estate deals. George immigrated to the U.S. in 2011, built a trucking fleet, then pivoted into real estate, business loans, and funding strategies after realizing the leverage and creativity that come from finance. Today, he’s the go-to resource for SBA loans, equipment financing, commercial real estate, private lending, and complex deal structuring.

George reveals how he helps entrepreneurs and investors unlock capital, stack funding sources, and position themselves for growth—whether it’s acquiring businesses, scaling commercial assets, or tapping into the $10 trillion wave of baby boomer business exits. With a deep belief in buying back your time and focusing on one core skill, George shares how discipline, mentorship, and deal structuring literacy shaped his journey.

If you’re looking for a roadmap to financing smarter, leveraging hidden equity, and positioning yourself for the coming wealth transfer, this episode is packed with practical strategies and actionable insights. Tune in now to learn how George’s “finance-first” approach can change how you play the game.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

21:38 George talks about creative financing.

43:45 George talks about the $10 trillion baby boomer wealth transfer.

KEEPING IT REAL:

09:10 – Redefining financing

12:40 – Structuring deals with multiple funding stages

17:18 – Equity in equipment as collateral

19:13 – Commercial brokers vs. finance brokers

22:28 – Seller financing and tax advantages in acquisitions

26:05 – Bridge loans, DSCR loans, and refinancing strategies

31:12 – From trucking fleets to real estate and finance

37:45 – Adding value when networking with mentors

44:00 – The $10 trillion baby boomer wealth transfer opportunity

51:50 – The sweet spot for acquisitions

55:30 – Buying back your time and building teams using Dan Martell’s frameworks

1:02:25 – Business owners should own their buildings

1:09:00 – Where capital is flowing next

1:27:04 – How to connect with George

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website:https://www.usbizfunding.net/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeotel/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeotel/?hl=en

X: https://x.com/george_otel

#BusinessFunding #RealEstateInvesting #Entrepreneurship #WealthTransfer #PrivateLending #CommercialRealEstate #BusinessAcquisition #FinancialLiteracy #IndustrialRealEstate #DealStructuring

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint In this episode, Ruben shares a simple but powerful framework from his mentor, Myron Golden —the three C’s of fulfillment—and shows how it applies to business, real estate, and life. If something feels “off,” it’s usually because one (or more) buckets is empty: Create (projects, content, opportunities), Connect (community, proximity, masterminds), and Contribute (impact beyond self). When all three are present, work becomes meaningful and momentum compounds.

Ruben maps the 3 C’s onto the temporary housing / mid-term rental niche: creating listings and deal flow, curating rooms and meetups that foster connection, and building brands and businesses that contribute to something bigger. You’ll hear practical ways to fill each bucket—hosting or co-hosting meetups, joining rooms outside your niche to expand surface area for luck, creating content because “if they don’t know you, they can’t flow you,” and designing purpose-driven business systems that reward contribution across your team and partners.

If you’ve ever grown your numbers but still felt underwhelmed, this episode is a reset: fill the three buckets and fulfillment will follow.

Tune in now to learn how to use the Create–Connect–Contribute framework to realign your business, energize your week, and build a portfolio (and life) that actually feels good to run.

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #RealEstateStrategy #MidtermRentals #Leadership #CommunityBuilding #PersonalDevelopment #ExperimentNation

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connect

Get the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this solo briefing, Ruben breaks down Airbnb’s move to a single host-only fee (15.5%) for listings managed through property management software (PMS)—what’s changing, when it hits, and what it means for operators. He clarifies the Aug 25 & Oct 27, 2025 timelines and why this shift underscores a hard truth: Airbnb optimizes for guests first, not hosts.

Ruben shares the immediate, practical fix: adjust PMS channel markups (not your global pricing tool) so Airbnb prices reflect the new fee without mispricing you across other OTAs. Then he zooms out to strategy—leverage Airbnb’s traffic, but don’t depend on it. Diversify across VRBO/Expedia/Furnished Finder/Zillow, build direct-booking pathways through brand presence in-stay, and set business guardrails (no auto IB if it breaks your ops).

You’ll also hear how to turn Airbnb visibility into long-term relationships, protect margins with smarter pricing ops, and operate like a true B2B temp-housing brand. This isn’t “Airbnb or nothing”—it’s Airbnb and a resilient distribution stack.

Tune in now to learn exactly how to update your pricing, protect profits, and future-proof your portfolio while still riding Airbnb’s massive demand engine.

Get the Midterm Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

#ShortTermRentals #AirbnbHost #PMS #MidTermRentals #HospitalityOps #RevenueManagement #OTAstrategy #ExperimentNation

In this focused solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben unpacks the lessons he learned from attending a three-day Nike tennis training camp and how they directly apply to business, real estate, and personal growth. He reflects on the four key pillars that make intensive training so powerful—proximity, reps, correction, and longevity—and why missing just one of these can make the entire experience meaningless.Drawing from his own journey as an athlete, coach, and entrepreneur, Ruben explains how the right environment accelerates progress, why repetition creates mastery, and how a single correction from a mentor can completely shift your trajectory. Most importantly, he emphasizes the compound effect: real transformation doesn’t come from a one-time intensive but from consistent application over time.If you’ve ever been inspired by a boot camp, conference, or training program but struggled to sustain the momentum afterward, this episode will show you how to turn short bursts of intensity into long-term growth. Tune in now to learn how to leverage intensive training for lasting success in your business, health, and personal experiments.

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connectGet the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #Leadership #RealEstateStrategy #MindsetShift #CompoundEffect #ExperimentNation

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connect

Get the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this reflective solo episode of In The Lab, Ruben shares the lessons he gained from running his first 10K race and how they directly apply to entrepreneurship, real estate, and life. From training with mentors to pushing through discomfort and finding the right environment, Ruben unpacks why success is less about talent and more about discipline, persistence, and proximity to the right people.

Using powerful analogies from sports and business, he explains how identifying your targets, surrounding yourself with the right environment, and pacing yourself against stronger peers can accelerate growth. Ruben also dives into the importance of environment over automation in today’s AI-driven age—and why genuine relationships remain irreplaceable.

If you’re re-evaluating your goals mid-year or searching for the right push to keep going, this episode will help you reflect, reset, and realign with the fundamentals that never change: preparation, mentorship, consistency, and celebrating each milestone along the way.

#EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessGrowth #MentorshipMatters #Resilience #RealEstateStrategy #Leadership #MindsetShift #ExperimentNation

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connect

Get the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this high-impact episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Brandon Rickman, an Atlanta-based investor, entrepreneur, and general contractor who has flipped over 500 houses, developed 100 new-construction single-family homes, and built vertically integrated businesses spanning private lending, self-storage, and consumer products. With over 25 years in real estate, Brandon shares how his career evolved from flipping houses to raising private capital for large-scale developments—including a three-story, Class A self-storage facility outside Atlanta.

Brandon opens up about the peaks and valleys of entrepreneurship, from multi-million-dollar exits in the consumer products world to surviving the 2008 market crash when banks abruptly called his loans. He reveals the data-driven criteria he uses to reverse-engineer self-storage projects for REIT buyers, the add-on revenue strategies that maximize NOI, and why private lending has become a major growth focus.

If you’re looking for a transparent blueprint to scaling across multiple real estate verticals while building resilience through challenges, this conversation is packed with insights on strategy, mindset, and execution.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

14:46 Brandon talks about self-storage investment strategy

44:55 Brandon talks about entrepreneurial resilience and scaling across multiple real estate verticals

KEEPING IT REAL:

05:20 – Why self-storage is Brandon’s top focus today

06:47 – How syndication works for self-storage investors

10:04 – Understanding demand: square footage per capita and site selection data

14:46 – Reverse-engineering self-storage for REIT buyers

17:47 – Pricing power and tenant retention in self-storage

22:05 – Increasing NOI through add-on services and rentals

26:27 – Automated vs. manned self-storage operations

30:08 – From consumer products to multi-million-dollar exits

44:51 – Surviving the 2008 market crash and negotiating with banks

59:22 – Big wins: high-margin flips, 7-figure syndication potential, and legacy deals

1:10:08 – Building a $20M/year private lending business

1:14:10 – Advice for 20-year-old entrepreneurs

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-rickman-9885a22/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonrickman08/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQGTzF6JvH4qqT_V8Lx2cw

#RealEstateInvesting #SelfStorage #EntrepreneurMindset #PrivateLending #FlippingHouses #ResilientEntrepreneur #CommercialRealEstate #BusinessGrowth #REITStrategy #FinancialFreedom

Connect with me at https://experimentrealestate.com/connect

Get the FREE Mid-Term Rental Insurance Blueprint: https://experimentrealestate.com/#blueprint

In this powerful and paradigm-shifting episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with Jay Cameron, real estate investor, international speaker, and founder of Maximum Impact Travel. Jay opens up about the pivotal moment when he realized that grinding through life just to pay bills wasn’t enough. After building financial stability through real estate and entrepreneurship, he made a bold decision to travel to Africa—facing his fears, confronting his conditioning, and ultimately transforming his life.Jay shares the mental due diligence required to break out of the bubble, why many Americans have a flawed perception of Africa, and how embracing global citizenship reshaped his identity and his business. From launching a multimillion-dollar travel company to leading over 2,000 people on transformative international trips, Jay explains how deep experiences—not just dollars—pay the highest dividends.If you’ve ever felt stuck in routine, this episode will challenge you to rethink your own story. Tune in to hear Jay’s journey from constraint to clarity and how you can unlock a life filled with purpose, expansion, and global impact.HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:11:03 Jay talks about overcoming the old paradigm of fear, routine, and mental confinement38:33 Jay talks about why Africa’s branding is broken KEEPING IT REAL:04:26 – How travel shaped his identity and business10:58 – The old paradigm: fear, routine, and mental confinement13:30 – First fearful leap to Africa in 201816:55 – A better way to grind? Unpacking hustle culture20:39 – Use low overhead to create freedom30:58 – Reframing travel as a personal investment32:59 – “Die With Zero” and building memory dividends37:15 – Why Africa’s branding is broken42:27 – Doing your own mental due diligence45:53 – How expanding your mind dismantles generational programming50:26 – Smiles, dignity, and the universal human connection51:22 – Turning the world into an adult summer camp53:23 – From viral YouTube video to travel empire54:05 – Why this business is the reward after the grindCONNECT WITH THE GUESTWebsite: https://www.maximumimpacttravel.com/#Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-cameron-532a2951/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaycameronofficial/?hl=enYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/maximumimpactwithjaycameronLinktree: https://linktr.ee/maximumimpacttravel#RealEstateInvesting #GlobalCitizenship #MindsetShift #LifestyleDesign #EscapeTheGrind #MaximumImpact #TravelEntrepreneur #MentalDueDiligence #AfricaUnfiltered