Lasting Impact
Welcome to "Lasting Impact," the podcast that dives deep into the stories and insights of extraordinary individuals who are leaving an indelible mark on the world. Here, we'll explore the transformative power of their actions and innovations in the realms of business, ministry, and community. Our guests are the change-makers, the visionaries, and the unsung heroes whose unwavering dedication and passion have not only made an impact but a lasting one. Prepare to be inspired, informed, and empowered as we explore the stories behind the lasting impact these remarkable individuals are creating.
Lasting Impact
Creating Wealth Through Property Development and Family Values
At just 22, Keltner purchased his first investment property for $46,000, later selling it for $90,000 – a pivotal success sparking a journey of hundreds of property acquisitions, over 100 flips, and 20+ new home constructions. But the path wasn't always easy.
The 2008 financial crisis tested Keltner's resilience, leading to bankruptcy from unsold properties. Humbled, he shifted focus to lower-income housing with better cash flow potential. Today, his diverse portfolio reflects wisdom gained from those challenges.
Keltner's innovative approach to business and life is evident in his ability to turn challenges into opportunities, like when he founded a thriving concrete business now 21 years strong.
Ready to change your approach to business, faith, and risk-taking? This conversation could be the guide you've been seeking.
A lot of times I tell them you know, real estate doesn't pay every Friday. Yeah, and I do not recommend jumping full bore into real estate Welcome to the Lasting Impact Podcast.
Speaker 2:I'm your host, mark Marroquin. Join me as I sit down with remarkable individuals making a meaningful difference in business and ministry. We'll explore their stories, challenges and successes, all with the goal of encouraging you to go out and make a lasting impact. If you love what you hear, don't forget to rate, review and share. Welcome to Lasting Impact, josh Keltner.
Speaker 1:Yes, sir.
Speaker 2:Hey man, Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 1:Good to be here.
Speaker 2:Honored to have you. For those who don't know you, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 1:So Josh Keltner married to Leah Keltner, 27 years in November. Three kids Gabe 24. Hope is 22. Cash is 16. Gabe and Hope are married. They've both been married a couple years In real estate, in concrete, in business, in general Been in the Tulsa area since 1997.
Speaker 2:Yeah, happy to be here. Yeah, man. Well, you and I are pals, we've known each other for a long time, there is a lot to you, and so today we've kind of talked outside the podcast here of like, what should this conversation look like Because of how much knowledge you know, tactics and strategy of business, or talk more about the journey? And so I'll try not to keep you here for three hours, man, and and, uh, make this somewhat quick. Um, but looking back, you and I, we met 20 some years ago and our connection was like I had a roommate, um, single at the time, I lived with a couple of guys and my roommate at the time I lived with a couple of guys and my roommate you and him worked at the same bank and, um, somehow we met, like me going up and getting them for lunch or something like that and we met and I probably just glued myself to you somehow some way.
Speaker 2:And here's where I'm going with this. When I met you, you were working at a bank, I'm assuming as a banker, and I know that you had worked at a couple of different banks, right, and so here I know you as a banker, cool guy not thinking much of it and like I feel like I blink. And next thing, I know you're a concrete guy, you have a concrete company, and then you're buying real estate and and then you're doing lots of big things in real estate. Um, let me just kind of say the highlight here, josh you've bought hundreds of homes, flipped over a hundred of them, built 20 plus of them. Um, in commercial stuff, land stuff, development there there really is anything you haven't touched yet.
Speaker 2:So, like in my head, I'm like what the heck? You know, this isn't like 100 years of your life. This is, you know, the last 20 years or so that I've known you and you've just exploded. Yeah, so let's start with this, dude, because I know you have a lot of gold you can share. I mean just the reps that you have on buying hundreds of homes and you've sold some of them and flipped some. Where did it all begin? Like, do you remember when you bought your first house?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I was 22, and I was working at Bank of America at the time when I met you and one of my customers had come in and her dad had died and they were looking to sell the property and actually me and my brother, andy, partnered on it together. We ended up renting it for three or four years, um, I think we bought it for $46,000. Um, and then we sold it for, I want to say, $90,000 about four years later. Um, so that was the one of the first ones. We used hard money to get it and um, so a lot of people ask me about you know how to get into the first time and hard money was an option back then and we use that. And then we quickly refinanced and it cash flowed. Interest rates were low back then and so yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, let me ask you about your thought process on the first house. So you and Andy went in together, right? Did you purchase it as an investment property or, like you and Leah, moved into this house? No, no, we did?
Speaker 1:We purchased as an investment property.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Andy lived in it for three months while we worked on it.
Speaker 2:He was a student at Rhema Okay.
Speaker 1:And um, so then he did some work himself on there and that was kind of his uh injection into the investment. And then, um, we, I think we hired some contractors to finish it out. He moved out to an apartment or something and then, uh, we got renters in there and and started managing property at 22.
Speaker 2:So man, do you, do you remember? Like, because that's so, I'm a lender. Obviously you know that most people their first purchase not always, because I've worked with plenty of people like, hey, yeah, your first house, you want it to be. Like they see it, yeah, right away. Like I want to purchase that and rent it out, yeah, and they're not worried about themselves. So not that they just see something in it like, oh, I can live in my parents closet right now. You know, let me go purchase that and start earning some money. That's not most people. Most are, you know, like me and my wife, we buy our very first house together. Or someone who's single and like I want to buy the house I can move into. They're driven to purchase their first house to live in. Was that a temptation for you, or what made it go straight to? Let's make this. You and your bro go invest.
Speaker 1:Well, we quickly found another property that we were going to move into. So I want to say it was all within around the same timeframe, so it was just in a better area. This property, since I was working at the bank, was a good price range and it was, you know something that I saw that I could cash flow. I'm a numbers guy so I ran numbers on it really quick and knew, okay, we can cash flow this. So I think that was the only reason, otherwise we would have probably leaned into buying. Um, you know, like I saw you put post the other day, what would you buy first a duplex?
Speaker 1:yeah, we, yeah. Everybody says hey, go buy a duplex first. That's what we probably would have done but we already had a house lined up for us, so we were looking for the next, the next move.
Speaker 2:So so were you a bank like? Were you doing banking at the bank or you? What was your, your role? Do you remember your? I was a relationship banker.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we did refinances and we did um minor investments and new accounts, stuff like that.
Speaker 2:So when you were there, were you learning. Oh, like cause cause you were helping someone else. You're like dude. I can do this tremendously.
Speaker 1:Okay, I would actually ask a lot of people that came into the bank and take notes and go you know, hey, he's got 10 houses, five houses. How did you do? What did you do here? What did you do in this situation? So it was a big learning lesson for me to be at the bank, even though sometimes I thought man this is yeah. I could do something better with my time, but it was very helpful in my my, so, yeah, Well, there's so much there too, I feel just the way of you.
Speaker 2:What you just said, of you probably felt yourself getting anxious, hungry, starting to see it Like these guys can do it, I can do it, but you needed to stay put a little bit, right, yes, and so while we're here on this spot, I want to talk a little bit about that. Sure, well, I do want to highlight your hunger for learning, like you're learning from the customers that are coming in. Yeah, the light's going off in your head and you're already starting to think how do I make a move, and I think it's awesome. I think it's to point out just because there's a lot, I think a lot of people right now, and I don't want to just I don't want to pick on young people, it's just people in general with the social. I think we do this. If anybody's like me, we probably spend more time studying and thinking and scheming of the way and like no action, you know, no first step.
Speaker 1:Analysis, paralysis. Yeah, honestly yeah.
Speaker 2:Like, don't have to give me the percentage. I can only guess if so many people that want to spend time with you, you may give them the blueprint and give them the map. You'd never see them take a first step.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:My guess is, you probably see a lot of that. I have seen quite a bit. Yeah, they just want. They want to, like we all, like I love, to soak in the knowledge. Yeah, I don't like to take the step and, um, I think that's a lot of people so pulling out of you. I think that, like, right away, just learning that about you, of learning and starting to work out what will my first step be. You see an opportunity and you take it. And even if it wasn't a traditional route, that's even more great. Probably is okay, I might take a, you know, go straight to hard money, maybe because it was easier to get the money.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And but I won't have to live there with that hard money Cause more than likely it's a super high interest rate. Right, you're going to get established and then go get yourself a better rate. Just having that, not give up, I'll find a way. That's you, I believe, and it was already being established early. Yeah, um, talk to me a little bit about what you just said of man. I can be doing better with my time, but it maybe it wasn't time yet.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Was tell me about that time in your life? Is it because, like I needed a consistent paycheck coming in before I go do something wild?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know I'm going. So I started at Arvest Bank when we were in school.
Speaker 1:I worked from 12 to 8.30. So school got out at 11.30. I'm at the job by 12, 12.30 at the latest, and you work till 8.30, sometimes don't get home till 9, 9.15. And then when I got out of school, I was looking for more of a day job. I was looking for more of a day job. I went to Bank of America and then ended up at Chase with my final part of banking. But I did feel for a lot of times it's like, oh man, I'm watching guys come in and flip properties and are in business and I go. I feel like I could just, you know, do more if I wasn't tied down to this. But there's many times that I've looked back and go. I'm so thankful that I have this experience I know what bankers are looking for when they review a deal and it goes to committee and to understand how to basically underwrite a deal and and um turn it over to a banker, so that that experience really has helped me in what I've done um with real estate and even business as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So um man like do you feel God had you in banking to develop? You like to develop, to develop that mindset Like what you just said of like learning what to look for when someone wants to come borrow money.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2:Now we just we do here in my office and it's just kind of grown a little bit with people from outside my work of just we do a weekly Zoom call of business and faith Zoom calls. It's really cool. Yeah, not that you have the time, but if you ever want to log in it's really cool when we just got done, finished talking about Joseph.
Speaker 2:We're in the middle of talking about Joseph and this last week we just talked about God developing him at every stage that he was at. You know, he just didn't go from the pit to Pharaoh's house, you know, to second in command in Egypt and just like we're talking today, I'm asking with question one, because what you are today, the hundreds of homes and the experiences and the reps and the people that work for you, like that, just that wasn't 20 years ago at Chase Bank, right? No, it wasn't. You were in the learning stage, right? You're in learning stage. You're in developing stage. Um, so when did you? Was there a moment that clicked? That was like that went well, let's keep doing this. Can you think of an experience? Or was it just pretty like that was money, let's do more. Or was there like a moment?
Speaker 1:well in in business or real estate.
Speaker 2:I mean mainly in real estate that's right, because you're you're, um well, let's go back, let's go back a little bit. So cause? When did concrete come in so concrete?
Speaker 2:I would say this sorry, I'm not trying to be choppy but, like I said at the beginning of the podcast, there's a lot to you. It's not a simple story I mean it is but there's a lot. You know you're serial entrepreneur sort of. You've got a lot of things going on. When did you leave banking full-time and what was the first things you said okay, I'm leaving here and I'm going to do full-time this.
Speaker 1:Sure. So we were building a house in 2003 to 2004 in Broken Arrow. We had hired a builder. We got all of our construction loans in our name, so he was a consultant and we wanted to do stained concrete floors. So we reached out to three different companies and it was a fairly good site. We wanted to do all of the downstairs, so it was a good-sized project, and we couldn't get anyone to bid the job.
Speaker 1:So my nature is just all right, I'll figure this out. And so we went to a training class in Nashville and learned how to do it Me and a guy that worked at the bank with me. Wow, and we ended up staining my house. My neighbor said, hey, can you stain mine as well? So we stained his house. The guy who was helping us build said can you stain my friend's house, my house and my pool? So we got like five jobs, all you know, really quickly. Wow. And so the next thing I had to hire him to run the job while I stayed at my banking job, run the business while I stayed at my banking job. So fast forward to January and I need to leave because I'm so busy on concrete. This was like in September by.
Speaker 1:January I've got to leave of 04. I've got to leave because, um, you know, we're we're so busy and there's some other details that go along there too. But um, yeah, yeah, so that that that got me started in concrete and then, then you know, I'm still doing concrete today, 21 years later.
Speaker 1:And we've got quite a few guys that work with us and we do a lot of commercial work and God is good and you know we're busy. But yeah, so I would say, you know a few years ago, to answer your question in business, I go, wow, you know, a few years ago, to answer your question in business, I go, wow, you know, doing some larger commercial projects where you know how to do your job, you've got a good team that does their job well and you're just thankful that God's blessed you and where you're at and it's not as difficult as it used to be. I might get some backlash from guys that work with me but yeah, it's, you know it's, god's blessed it.
Speaker 1:So, and then, as far as you know houses and things, one of the things that was beneficial, you know being knowing how to build a house. We had come off of, you know, 08 and 09, which is a rougher season, and we built a house in 11 and finished it in 12, and we were well under what it appraised for and it was just a very redemptive time that me and Leah had gone through and God had blessed that house. And ever since then we've done that many times. So we've moved into a house and fixed it up and sold it and built new ones, and every time we've made money with them and we've continued to, you know, grow.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, man, you have such a knack for like. I just remember talking with you too about like stood out to me when we were younger. Of like you went and bought a car and then, just like, sold it and made a few grand off of it or whatever it was.
Speaker 2:I don't remember the numbers and just me thinking, like you know, I don't know if I would ever like, it's not even on my mind to do that, but I think how God has designed you is, or where I sit looking at you, how God has designed you of this brain to be thinking of ways of increase yeah, you know, that's not vanity. I mean just like this, his design. I feel like I just see that in you of like cause, I cause. That stood out to me. Yeah, and and maybe this like anybody who like moves into a house that fixes it, stays there for a while, then sells it, and this, there's not much emotional attachment, a lot of times because you're just thinking other like let's live here forever and make memories forever, and yeah, there's some awesomeness to that.
Speaker 2:But for this conversation of like man it the, let's go back to the staining like I'm kind of rambling here but, like most people are going to be like no, I want, I want this done. So I'm going to go to a conference and learn and I'm going to come back and do it myself.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like I shut my wife down when she has like project ideas. I was like, ah, we're going to ruin our walls or whatever. I could be so uptight and afraid you know afraid. Yeah, we will do this wrong. Yeah, we will do this wrong. Yeah, we will mess up. We won't Let me call someone and you're the person who's like I don't want there's no one to call, I want to go do it myself, and that's just Can be good and bad.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, we did many things on that house to learn. I mean, you know, I had a budget that I wanted to stick to and, like I said, it can be good, can be bad. Meaning my 47-year-old self now would probably say you know what? I don't think we're going to do this, this or this on that project. You know we might stick to this one thing. So I was young, I was naive, I was hungry. Yeah, you know, yeah, I want to.
Speaker 2:I wanted to make an impact on you know people around me and I want to be a conduit for him, and so I was hungry to move forward, but yeah, I believe that about you and that's I don't think that was on my notes really, but I do believe that about you the time that we spent together, when we get to talk and and I feel you pour into me wisdom that is a lot that's coming out of you. A lot of the big picture you think or dreaming big is is from the Lord. You talk about increase. You're rarely talking about building your own kingdom. When you and I are talking, I feel you're always talking about building God's kingdom or this is for the kingdom.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:You know for the kingdom, the more God's blessing you, the more he can bless his kingdom because, he trusts you.
Speaker 2:He trusts you and, leah, I'm sure you believe that. I think it's been proven that God could trust you with increase. Well, yeah, I mean I can make things sound like all gravy because of like the seat you're sitting in now and you know, people got to think practically of those at a high level still have hard times. They could look different. They still have stresses. Level still have hard times. They could look different. They still have stresses, they still have burdens. It can look different. And I think a lot of times it's thinking of maybe not even like their personal paycheck for the month, but of like this affects this goes wrong. Here's the domino to. It is what I've seen on people that operate at a high level or have a lot of responsibility. So what are? With that said, what are some challenges that you faced? That other were like man, I think this could really destroy. Like this could be it. Have you ever felt that way? Like this could be the one that, like I'm going back to banking or I'm going back to something.
Speaker 1:There's been those times.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, I'll go back.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, in 08, 09, as most people did, I went through a rough time and, um, I remember the day I had to really draw a line in the sand and say I'm, I'm not going to, um, I'm not my own source anymore, you're my source and I'm, I'm fully dependent upon you, god, for direction, guidance, wisdom and finances. Um, and so, when it looked like there was times that were heading like what you're saying, going back to banking, doing what, um, you know, I, I would have to really not get in fear because the the thing that I used to do prior to drawing the line in the sand was to generate business by calling builders or calling people and saying, hey, you know, we're free, what do you? What do you? Got, you know, and, and inevitably you would get a deal or a job and it would cost you money by the end of it every time.
Speaker 1:Time. So, not getting in fear, um, when balances dwindle, when it looks like there's not projects on the horizon, and I can tell you so many times when I look back and go, oh, if we didn't have that happen and that was right in the nick of time, or you know, years ago, and even still.
Speaker 1:I mean, it doesn't matter what level you're at, if you're not relying on him daily. Something's wrong, and so yeah.
Speaker 2:Man, that's really good. What I want to go back to the, because there's this one thing that we say in our office is action over anxiety. So you know the sales team, if the anxiety is starting to get really high, you know we're going to be encouraged to take action, which meaning like, hey, you can sit around and stare at the pipeline, just dwindle away, or get on the phone, start making the calls to set the realtor appointments, call the past clients, all the tactics and strategies that we know that will generate business, and that's going to help just dilute that anxiety. And there's truth to that, just like you just said.
Speaker 2:It's like hey, you know the way I help solve problems is just like go get more deals. And there is so much truth to that. Said it's like hey, you know way I help solve problems is just like go get more deals. And there, there is so much truth to that, practically speaking, and there's probably some spiritual truth to it too. But what is lost a lot of times is what you just said is that is like rarely does anybody say like, hey, I'm just going to stop everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And 100% devote my trust to God. Yeah One, I don't think most people would know what that looked like, and I'm not saying I do, um, but a lot of times our answer is more action will bring you increase. Answer is more action will bring you increase. Yeah, that is true. Yeah, but I don't know if that's 100% God's rule or God's way, because it could be like okay, keep having your way.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Okay, of course you have your formula. Yeah, and this will bring you. It's the law of sowing and reaping. You're right, you got that down. Go do more, you'll get more Okay.
Speaker 1:Well, that's because the grind does produce results. That's right, but is it what he wants to add to your life? So I just go. As someone said a long time ago, friend of mine, that more time with him is less time with them. And what I think that means is more time you spend with him and he will lead you to the right deals where we don't have to spend all the time chasing the wrong deals. So I think that's what I meant by that.
Speaker 2:And not doing it in fear where it's, where it's like you know.
Speaker 1:I've got to get this deal, and people smell that you know, and they hear it through a conversation and they go. It repels them. They don't want to work with you for some reason. They can't explain why. But when there's confidence, there's faith, there's an ease and a gentleness about you. When you talk to someone, then it attracts people.
Speaker 2:Dude, that's awesome. Yeah, you did say that, and I was thinking that when you said that, just to look like you, you had to watch yourself from getting full of fear. So the fear will create the action. The fear will create the action sometimes. And that's not what God wants, because now you're, you're, you're like.
Speaker 2:He doesn't want you to live in fear, like, oh great, let fear fuel me. He wants that, um, that trust in him and rely on him. And he wants you to use his formula and I'll gosh. I want this for my life to be able to spend time with the Lord, and not that I'm afraid of the grind, but I would rather him guide me to the right contacts. I'd rather him guide me to the right people and say serve here, bless them All the gifts and talents I've given you, devote it right there. I would take I mean, I want that for my life, I would want that for my life over. I mean I want that for my life, I would want that for my life over man, 100,000 phone calls and work, the percentages.
Speaker 2:Like there's truth to that, but I'd rather have God guiding me to where he wants me. That's good. I mean, I feel like you're like that when we didn't spend time with that. You know you talk about prayer a lot, you talk about seeking God and hearing God. Is there been like? And I not to ask the same questions of you but what are the things that you faced? That man, if we didn't face that particular hard moment, I wouldn't be what I am today. Or, if that makes sense, like there's a lot of people that don't overcome anything because they bail out and they quit and they don't conquer anything. And probably talking about myself, so it's just like I couldn't relate to that. I could be like that's not going to happen, so I'm just going to quit.
Speaker 2:Going back to that Zoom call we had this week, it was like that was the discussion of like this, what I thought was a disaster happened to me, but actually in that I developed my skillset and I think he talked about a little bit with the concrete thing, but like that might've been an opportunity, but talking about like man, like my boss talks about, when all his sales staff left, like they all just left, and just a pivotal moment in his life of surrendering to God and letting God change his life and redirect his life, transform him and his family. And, yeah, he's more successful now than he would have been just doing what he wanted to do. So, going back to that, these tragedies like in Joseph's life, without a doubt he was learning, skill set and developing. Come to find out, these were development stages for him and, looking back, do you think of anything that is like man? Well, I learned this because of that mess I was in.
Speaker 1:And now whoa now I'm good at something or whatever, yeah yeah, I mean, I'm open about it so I'll share it. It's in 08 and 09, I had a lot of real estate that was not selling and I had that what I called draw a line in the sand. After that, going through bankruptcy with that um, there was houses and lots that I had that I couldn't sell um, they were higher end. I learned a lot through that um. So 90 percent of my portfolio now is lower income housing and it's different, where I can sell it, rent it, do an owner finance, do whatever I need to do to get rid of it. So that period of time was when you thought you did all the right things on paper and everything looked right, but the market um, the market came into play and things weren't selling. There was actually people interested in houses, but we couldn't get financing. So it was a. It was humbling and I wouldn't change anything. Um, it taught me so much Um and that, you know, and it's kept me very humble.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to say the least so but yeah, did you still feel? How did you feel? What was your relationship with God during these tough times?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean crying out to him why. You know, and I remember going to church many times, you know, and I remember going to church many times. I mean we went every week but, and praying Lord, you know we can bring a buyer for these houses that will qualify and it just didn't. It didn't work out and it's made me even be more cautious on the other side of it, as far as you know getting, there's a period of time when you go through some of that stuff where you go.
Speaker 2:Can we sell a house? Yeah, right, can we do this? Right?
Speaker 1:yeah, and I think in my, in my wife's mind for a little bit she'd struggle with a little bit of that yeah, but we've done many, many since then and, um, you know, god has redeemed a lot of things that were lost and trust, and you know, thinking that it was something we did, and yeah, so it was a very good growth time for me to rely on God in many ways.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, Well, when you start talking well, it sounds like I mean you start especially being a math guy or a numbers guy. You really start watching what has good margins and what doesn't have good margins. No matter what it looks like, you care about the margins, I would imagine, and the pool of buyers.
Speaker 1:The biggest pool of buyers is lower-income housing. Why do I want to Unless you're really gifted and and you've got the experience behind you to go into the larger? You know specs and things, I mean it, I I don't go there. I mean we've done some sense, sure, but it's not something that I stay in a lot just because of the risk, yeah. So, um, you know and I'm sure other people have different views on opinions on that but I would much rather have 10 that I can sell for a million versus one. So that's just me.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, you're definitely getting more reps and you know what. And over all these years, like I, we kind of run together in similar circles and families have friends with mutual friends and you're well known and well respected in our church community and our school community. I know people are always wanting to have a coffee with you, like they want some of your time. I know I'm one of them. I'm one of them, and is there like a running theme when you're meeting with people? And when I say that I'm sure it varies because you meet with pastors, you meet with business leaders and you meet with young people. You meet with someone who wants to be an entrepreneur or a young person Like I just want to own a house one day, and I hear you're the most part like is I'm sure it's all different, but with the? With that being said, is there like a running theme that that people want to meet with you about?
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, um, I feel like, um, when I was 22, I was driving down Yale and 51st actually here, and I feel like the Holy Spirit said you're gonna help people realize their dreams. And so what that means is I clean the windshield of life and point and go hey, have you considered this Avenue over here? Have you looked over here? Have you done this over here? And so a lot of times when we have coffees, guys are looking to I want to get into business, I need to finance a deal, I need to flip a property, I want to buy a rental, I need to replace income, do whatever, I'm cleaning that windshield of life and going have you looked over here? Have you tried this? Have you looked over here? Have you tried this? Have you looked into this? So I would say that's probably the running theme Wow that is amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what a gift you know, what a blessing, and it's been through experience.
Speaker 1:You know, if we go back to the house, you know me trying staying concrete, me doing the stucco on the house, painting the inside, doing Venetian plaster that I'd never done with a girl from Rayma, got her to help me do that and it's things that I go okay, let's not do that again, let's try this. So, with all that experience and different things that I've done, I'm able to share with people and go hey, this is a good path, this is a good avenue, try this, do this, and it's helpful for people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean we're keeping it high level today, but obviously I hope what people see high level slash surface when it comes to business. So I'm hoping people see like, yeah, if you go buy over a hundred homes or let's say, you flip or remodel whatever a hundred homes, like you're getting the reps on who does great carpet in town, who, who, who's the, you know who's the great lumber guy, who's the great flooring person and the roofers, and like you're you're learning all of that. So, yeah, when someone comes and says I want to, you know I want to start this business I mean there's a good chance you've been shoulder to shoulder with someone who owns a business like that or knows how to run it. Yeah, that's hard to um, or most don't see yeah, or most don't see like the mistakes. It's easy to say, um, well, I'll never do that again yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, most of us are so concerned about the embarrassment of making a mistake or, um, you know, not doing it right for the client Because you want to do a good job for a client. Yeah, absolutely. The fact is that you're just going to make mistakes sometimes. And but there are I think there's a lot of people that they're not willing to risk anything, whether it be buy their first property or, like I want to start a social media account, but because they scroll so much and they look at everybody's content and whether it's good or bad, like they can't they can't say their first word or write their first post or, because of fear gripping them, they got something to protect.
Speaker 2:Mark Delaney talks about that all the time. It's like what are you trying to protect? And you're trying, they're afraid to take the risk. I think you speak to that a lot, man. We were talking a little bit outside this um podcast of, like the greatest piece of advice that you were getting was was about risk, right, yeah, absolutely, um, what did you tell me? It was a risk at all. Yeah, yeah, and uh, yeah, not to leave you out. I was trying to remember if it's like yeah, or yeah, it was.
Speaker 1:Um, it's worth the risk. Um, yeah, yeah, um.
Speaker 2:It's worth the risk.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, risk it all, then give your all. Yeah, risk it all. Like that really stood out to me because we were talking a little bit. I wrote that down.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was at Bank of America and this is probably 2002, 2003. And he was a very successful real estate guy had come in and I got the opportunity to sit in front of him. So I asked him and he said, yeah, risk it all, it's worth it and give it your all, yeah. So that really stood out to me. I was like man that's gold.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when you said that to me, when we talked about that, like that stood out to me.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, the second part give it your all, give it your all, yeah, like the risk it all, risk it all, like dude, yeah, but the give it your all is that was like okay, like that seems more manageable a little bit, like I feel that help for me.
Speaker 2:As I read that and some some stuff that I'm pursuing right now of I get nervous about spending that, investing in that. Yeah, um, because all I'm seeing is like, uh, there's more outgoing than there is incoming, or the risk of the embarrassment, or like I will do this wrong. I'm going to get nervous. But when you wrote to me and said, and give it your all, that's something I can work with, I feel Like that is something like okay, if I really am going to risk in these certain areas in business or or ministry, um, I need to work on the give it my all and I think that that helps the risk it's so many people are I just they're, they're you brought up fear earlier. That's standing out to me, the fear and the risk as I have. We have a lot of mutual friends and you come up a lot in our conversations like, especially after they just had a coffee with you, like dude, I can't tell you how many times to be honest with you, I'll be meeting someone who's like man.
Speaker 2:I just had coffee with Kellner the other day and they'll just share a great nugget, yeah, and a lot of it will be like hey, at some point you will have this. Is them telling me about their time with you. A lot of it will be like but then Josh ended up saying at some point, though, if you want to get in those bigger numbers, well, at some point, if you really wanted such and such, you're going to have to make bigger moves. You're going to have to do bigger moves. You're going to have to do this more. You're going to and you just have that way again, that windshield, the dream of helping someone really get past that it's. You're helping them get past that fear of like this won't work, right, this won't work.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Because when I'm with you or I read something you sent me, it's yeah, that's true. You know, like, if you want to, if you're going to have to get, you're going to have to start investing more than your 10 bucks. If you want to really get to a million, yeah, if, or whatever it is.
Speaker 1:Do you believe in it?
Speaker 2:Do you believe in yourself? Yeah yeah, I'm talking way too much, I'm just like not giving you room to share the gold, but it is the believe. Do you believe in yourself? And I think the are you willing or to give it all will help believe in yourself. When you're not even trying, you're literally saying I don't believe in myself.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:When you're won't even take a first step, whether it is to. I mean, josh, I talked to so many people. I'm like hey, for free we can have a conversation for free. I will do a soft pull on your credit, which will not be a hard inquiry, does not cost you, cost our company.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Cost my time 20 year plus free analysis. I will map out for you how to purchase your home and you you can just see it just like on a lot uh I just uh, just okay, let me get back to you in the fall, and it's like okay yeah it's a wide open door right there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that I mean. But this is my gift to you. Honestly, I'm not trying to be cocky or whatever. I'm sure you feel the same way. I'm like hey, this is my gift to you. I will map out a way for you that, no matter what situation you're in, give me 12 months, I'll make you into a believer. I'll give you the steps.
Speaker 1:I promise you.
Speaker 2:The worst of the worst, and I mean I should say worst of the worst. Give me 24 months, but you're just surprised. It's like what they're saying is like I don't believe in myself. I'm too scared.
Speaker 1:You're right.
Speaker 2:I can't take that risk, even if I'm like I'll find out. Like we have down payment assistance program. Not a penny out of your pocket, you know. I got a seller over here that I know will cover your closing costs, yeah, and so not making fun of them, but that's like a low that. That that fear is in a lot of people, not just at that very entry level stuff, but the person who is the family man that has a few little kiddos and is starting to see the like don't quit your job and stop bringing in a paycheck but start those nights and weekends, man. And what we didn't talk about and I know we don't have a lot of time to talk about is you did not just leave your career right.
Speaker 2:You left when you were busting out of the seams on the side hustle. We all like saying side hustle now. So let's you know when that side hustle is busting it like it's not a side hustle. If it's your only hustle, right. If it's like that's just your thing, it's the side. When it's the thing you're doing on the side. Had a business owner on here, Matt Schrader.
Speaker 2:You may know, matt, I do so Matt was teaching at Lincoln for a lot of years and he has a window cleaning business right now and I love his story. He's remained a teacher at Lincoln for I think it was like four years after, like he stayed and he just kept this pattern of dude. Like you said, school got out at 1130. I was at my office by 12. Matt's like school's out by 12.
Speaker 2:I wore khakis. I could just keep my khakis on and change out the polo shirt, my pickup was already packed, ready to go, the supplies and I would finish up class. Dude, it was just awesome. Listening to his efficiency, I would get my planning set done at this certain amount of time, I would have it ready to go and I'd hop in the car and go to my first job and I can end it by such and such. And then, just like I thought the story was going to be like, he did that for a few months and then launched out. Dude did it for four years straight until he had enough clients to say I can now quit this out, like I now quit corporate yeah, yeah and I have enough coming in to do it on my own.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and a lot of people when I meet with them want to jump ship. You know they'll go. I need to quit my job, you know, or not, want to give it a very big window, and they want to go. I need to leave my corporate america job and go straight into real estate, which, you know, determine things sometimes and they'll sit on the market longer. They'll rent, won't rent out, and so you got to be careful, and I think that's wisdom to stage your job for years when you know you probably didn't have to either.
Speaker 1:It's probably just a decision of I'm not quite ready to go yet and that's wisdom.
Speaker 2:So yeah, absolutely it's wisdom, and I think it's a little bit of like. Okay, let's start with reality. What was number one? $45,000. And I went in it with my brother.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know very safe with my bro Yep.
Speaker 1:Low payment of 300 bucks a month or whatever.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so there was some level of like okay, if this should go, we can still handle it, not like man. That was some nice cash flow. Let's all leave our jobs, man ask God to bless that man that could be kind of scary and on the weekends we would go clean. I think we grew from 22 to 26.
Speaker 1:We had, I think, six properties, and so we would go on the weekends and work on them and fix them up Saturdays when we were off. So you had, I think, six properties and so we would go on the weekends and work on them. Fix them up Saturdays when we were off. So you know, got to put time in.
Speaker 2:You do have to put time in, josh, and you know we'll do this again and maybe get into some more of those details of like put in the work. You know, ultimately it could have been easy for you to come in today and let's just talk about all the glamour and the glitz and the house you live in today and the cars you drive today and where you send your families on vacations and someone just say like, okay, real estate and concrete's the answer, but honestly, that's a little like it serves people better to hear. You will have to roll up your sleeves. You will have to do the webinars. You'll have to read the books. You know, know, listen to the YouTube channels, listen.
Speaker 2:I mean everything. I don't do Josh to learn, you know, to figure it out. It's just there is an importance to absorbing and soaking in the info, but without any implementation, that is misery. Any implementation, that is misery. Yeah, like that is a recipe for some deep, dark depression. To just like study the dream and not take any steps towards the dream. It's not God's design. No, well, let's start writing it down.
Speaker 2:And I want to talk, talk how you're like, where you're at serving our church and serving families. We've talked some business and I know obviously you're always. There is no, josh, in business without Christ. I know that you're kingdom minded and that that God is number one for your life, number one in your life, and he's Christ centered is how you've built your business and how you run your businesses. So right now you know, gosh, you you don't have.
Speaker 2:There's a lot of wealthy people who don't serve our church. Like our church, there's a lot of wealthy people who don't serve their local church. That I'm not jabbing them, but I think a lot of times I love seeing when people are well off but they also give of their time to to serve and maybe philanthropy or whatever else. But I, I, I love the. I have a passion for the local church and I love seeing when not just when families obviously give of their time, because we all have different gifts and we all God's given us different ways to increase. But, man, that combination of when you see a family that's doing really well financially and they're gifted and blessed, but they also stop and person to person, human to human, give of their time and love on people and serve. So right now you and your wife Leah, you serve in a young adults ministry. We do what do you do there.
Speaker 1:So Tuesday nights we go to Notion Coffee, which is downtown Tulsa. They have three different services. We serve at one of those um. They have three different services. We serve at one of those um. So we, we meet younger kids they're mostly college age, I think it's 18 to 27, 28 years old, um, and then we do a dinner party at our house once a month.
Speaker 1:So once a month we, you know, put it on for a friday or saturday night and um they have church caters, food in and we serve the kids and get to know them and hang out and we play pickleball and we talk and we play games, and, and what happens a lot of times is that the young men will reach out to me, and when I go to coffee, and young ladies reach out to Leah, and, and then our daughter.
Speaker 1:Hope and her husband, owen serve there as well on Tuesday nights. And, uh, so it's, owen serve there as well on Tuesday nights. So it's been a really great thing to get to know these young adults and at first, yeah, I think we were a little bit of fish out of water, probably getting to know them and realizing the age gap. But we did, and it's been a couple years now and we enjoy it and I feel like there's a lot of good relationships that we've made. And I'll get the random calls in the text, you know. Just hey, let's grab coffee, I got something I want to share with you and it's been great. We really feel like that's where we're at right now. Is our purpose part of our purpose?
Speaker 1:And yeah and we're being used and God's blessing it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's awesome. You know, I do love that our church is trying to help focus on this mentorship side of things. You know, obviously we're driven on discipleship, yeah, and that mentorship needs to be there too, and I love that, where church is making space and that families like you and a lot of our other friends are are making space for that, making the time and doing that and investing in them. So you're and you're, you're you give to the kingdom in a lot of different ways, not just your financial resources, and I and I love that about you and your family and your family. So a couple of last questions. You're, you know we're dads.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And you have, like you said, hope your daughter, then a couple of boys, gabe and cash. Gabe's in his twenties and cash is a teenager, so you kind of get in a second round with the teenage boy, cause you've you've already lived through that with Gabe. Um, is there some anything in particular that okay, second time around with my, with my next boy, I'm going to do this different than than I did the first time around. Is there anything that sticks out to you?
Speaker 1:um, you know, I think it's as a dad. It's just um there's a daily, um I won't even call it a burden, but it's something that you want to spend more time with them. And um, I do make time for golf with him and we, we um. We do that, we um. We'll go to the gym, sometimes together, we um.
Speaker 1:But but, I think the main thing is just the burden of making sure that you do spend time, because you feel guilty if you don't. Um, and I don't want it to feel guilty Like it's you know, something that I missed out on and didn't do, but I so I would say, um, I'm more aware of how quick. Um gabe grew up versus you know cash now and trying to get those that time in.
Speaker 2:So that's right yeah, and you see there's never enough time. Yeah, that's right, you're seeing, you're seeing the value of time. Yeah, you're seeing the value of time, how fast it can go by, and yeah, and well, I think that's great advice for dad's listening of just knowing that it's going to go faster, and it is going faster than we think, and I think that's what's hitting me is, unfortunately, at the same time where, like my son, jack is getting a little bit older, like, oh, let's go do some things together. Well, his time also wants to be split up to other people too.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And so, right where I'm like, oh, I'm going to have you all to my like when you're this age, all to myself. We're going to be doing these things together. There's truth to that. But, man, what you kind of don't see coming is his desire to be other places, not out of like them over you, but like I'm happy for you, like man you got invited to a friend's house.
Speaker 2:That's awesome, like have a great time. And once you have great experiences, um, you know, weekends come and go and there's homework in there and there's a lot. So, man, it really does start whittling down to yeah, I'm still 16.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man I bet, dude, like he's gonna get his set of wheels at some point and, um, gonna be a little more independent. So you're really going to like, I'm going to be like, hey, can you put me on your calendar? And that's going to tick me off, you know, but I'm feeling that now of just okay, time is precious, I want to spend it with him. Every moment counts, but you're also in a lot of training season too. So there's like this directness with him, of helping him, and they also have like, hey, let's put all that to the side and just go spend, just go hang man. Um, well, last question, dude, so the, the podcast is lasting impact. And, uh, my last question to you is what does lasting impact mean? What's that lasting impact mean to you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, you know, I was thinking about that when you said that. Um, really, you know, when I was younger, my mom said something, um, that was just, it's always stuck with me and I've shared with my boys and, and hope and, um, and really it's very simple. It's do what's right, do it because it's right and then do it right. So it was just a simple phrase and I've shared that with my boys and just to know there's always a way to do the right thing, and just, you know, if I could say that's a lasting impact, they'll hear and know that, you know and take that with them in the future.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, yeah, that's great man, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:Um well, thanks for being here. This was fun. We'll have to do it again. Uh, this is Josh Keltner, and he's making a lasting impact. If you liked today's conversation and want to hear more, hit that subscribe button. Don't forget to leave a review and share your thoughts. Your feedback keeps the impact going.