Episode 293: Build Real Wealth Without Burning Out with Lane Kawaoka

About the guest: Lane Kawaoka is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and founder of The Wealth Elevator, a platform dedicated to helping high-net-worth individuals and business owners move beyond traditional investing. A former engineer turned full-time investor, Lane has built a multimillion-dollar portfolio through alternative investments and has built a thriving community that connects accredited investors to real opportunities.

About the episode: In this episode of GrowthReady, host Steve Mellor sits down with Lane Kawaoka, a former engineer who traded his stable career for financial freedom through smart investing and community building. Lane shares his journey from buying his first rental property in 2009 to now leading a network of accredited investors and entrepreneurs focused on growing wealth outside the traditional stock market.

You’ll hear Lane’s insights on the internal vs. external factors that drive growth, why curiosity and humility matter more than ever in business, and how community, not isolation, is the ultimate currency of the wealthy. This conversation is packed with practical mindset shifts for high performers looking to scale not just their income, but their impact.

Takeaways:

• How to know when it’s time to change what got you here
• Why curiosity is the secret growth advantage for leaders
• The importance of community and structured connection
• How Lane transitioned from engineer to full-time entrepreneur
• The difference between external market shifts and internal growth
• The “wealth elevator” framework for building true financial freedom
• Why social relationships, not money, are the real currency of success
• How to stay grounded while scaling to 8 figures and beyond

Connect with Lane:

• Lane’s Book: The Wealth Elevator – Available on Amazon
• Lane’s Podcast: The Wealth Elevator