The Power of Referrals: How a Paper Route Lead to Real Estate Investing Success

Hosted by passionate leader Dan Cantillana, The DanCan Show is where faith, business, and personal growth intersect. With an unwavering belief in living with purpose and running a business rooted in biblical values, Dan empowers listeners to invest wisely—in themselves, in others, and in real estate.

This isn’t just another podcast about success—it’s a journey of self-discovery, intentional living, and building a life you love. Dan shares insights, stories, and strategies designed to help you achieve financial freedom, live with integrity, and make money effortlessly by aligning your work with your faith.

If you believe in loving what you do and doing what you love, you're in the right place.

Protect. Provide. Promote.

Join the movement!

https://investwithdancan.com/
https://wavecapitallending.com/
http://www.bizzybeebookkeeping.com/
https://www.dancanspokane.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcWABX1LXk6wSDfndW4PIAQ/ 

Welcome to The DanCan Show! In this episode, host Dan Cantillana reflects on how his first job as a 10-year-old paperboy in Keyport, Washington taught him key life and business lessons—hard work, customer service, collections, and referrals—that now fuel his real estate success. From humorous grocery store stories to flipping high-end homes and building referral networks, Dan shares insights to help you provide, protect, and promote in business and life. If you're a husband, father, or leader wanting passive income through real estate (especially in Spokane), this episode is filled with practical takeaways and reminders that relationships and trust are vital to financial growth.

 1. Introduction and Podcast Purpose
Dan’s motto: “love what I do and I do what I love”
Focus: using early skills to build wealth
Audience: husbands, fathers, leaders
Mission: provide, protect, promote
2. Dan’s First Job & Referrals
Paper route at age 10 via friend’s referral
Learned service, collections, and reliability
Power of referral trust
3. Real Estate Referrals
Finding off-market deals
Working with wholesalers
Closing fast with private money
4. Market Activity
July recap, focus on starter homes
Courthouse buying, tenant care
5. Direct Mail Leads
New campaigns and old-school strategy
6. Dan’s Musings
Grapes, berries, and integrity
7. Lessons & Relationships
Early work ethic, community kindness, building strong connections
8. Final Takeaways
Lead sources + reminder to provide, protect, promote

Timestamps
00:00 Paper Route Start
04:29 Referral Power
08:13 Rottweiler Notice
11:01 Produce Check
13:59 Donut Theft
17:19 Referral Business

Discussion Questions:

1. What lessons did Dan learn as a paperboy?
2. Why are referrals central to his success?
3. What is “transfer of trust”?
4. How does Dan maintain his network?
5. What are pros/cons of courthouse deals?
6. Why does direct mail still work?
7. What does the grape story teach?
8. How does Dan strengthen relationships?
9. How do market shifts impact strategy?
10. What habits helped Dan succeed?