The Fort - An Entrepreneurship Podcast

Preston Holland is the Chief Commercial Officer of FLYING Finance, which is an aircraft financing company. Before taking over the finance business, Preston ran FLYING Media Group (now known as Firecrown) as Chief Operating Officer. We discuss: When folks should consider flying privately Costs of owning a plane Chartering, jet cards, and fractional ownership A walkthrough of how to purchase an aircraft We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Preston on X Preston's Newsletter Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:05:33) - Preston’s career (00:18:44) - When to consider flying private (00:21:20) - Chartering (00:36:20) - Costs of plane ownership (00:48:40) - Dry leases (00:54:21) - Jet card memberships (00:59:52) - Fractional ownership (01:03:45) - Pilots (01:06:06) - Partnerships (01:07:50) - The process of buying an aircraft (01:23:02) - Tax implications (01:33:58) - How to know ownership is the right path Support our Sponsors Oshman Aviation: https://bit.ly/3Qr9STF Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Mike Beckham is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Simple Modern, a leading producer of premium drinkware and lifestyle products. Founded in 2015 and based in Oklahoma, SimpleModern currently generates a nine-figure annual revenue and is committed to generosity, donating at least 10% of annual profits to nonprofit organizations. Under Mike’s leadership, the company has grown into a category leader for Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club. We discuss: Building Simple Modern during the peak of Yeti’s domination Hypergrowth strategies and living in a future with AI The power of product licensing and building moats The disadvantages of selling products online We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Simple Modern Mike on X Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:48) - Starting Simple Modern (00:15:46) - How much thought do you need to put into a product as simple as a cup? (00:17:51) - The Stanley Phenomenon (00:22:06) - Influencer marketing (00:24:15) - The pros of hiring your friends (00:33:21) - Learnings from spending 10 years as a pastor (00:43:43) - Hypergrowth (00:48:05) - AI (00:55:23) - Product Licensing (01:04:00) - Building moats (01:09:07) - Does Amazon take more and more margin out of products as you grow? (01:18:35) - Becoming an ESOP (01:27:01) - Offshoring and China (01:34:22) - What are some disadvantages to selling online? Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Mark Hart is the CEO and Chief Investment Officer of Corriente Advisors and an active investor in private technology companies. Throughout his career, Mark has developed a unique process and reputation for identifying potentially powerful macro and investment trends and opportunities ahead of consensus. Mark’s contributions and concepts have been widely showcased across various popular media platforms, earning him invitations to speak at prestigious gatherings of investment professionals in the Western world. We discuss: - Betting against the housing market in 2008 - How Mark developed his macro thesis - Thoughts on China, inflation, bitcoin and AI We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Mark on X Corriente Advisors Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:54) - Mark’s career (00:10:49) - How do you think about research? (00:15:44) - Betting against the housing market in ’08 (X) (00:23:52) - The China trade (00:25:19) - The European sovereign debt crisis (00:29:00) - How do you research a global trade? (00:31:52) - Mark on rebuilding his approach to life (00:37:44) - Thoughts on China in 2024 (00:46:55) - Inflation (00:53:12) - Bitcoin (01:00:52) - AI (01:04:56) - Cannabis Support our Sponsors: Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Relay Human Cloud: https://bit.ly/3sjQcaY Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Omar Morales is an investment sales broker at Berkadia that sells land & multifamily properties across South Florida. He has sold over $3.3 billion worth of real estate ranging from $130M land deals to $355M multifamily properties, even though his average deal size is roughly $50M. In this episode, Chris and Omar discuss: - The state of the Miami RE market - Building a world-class network - The importance of building an online brand We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:34) - The Morales family coming to America (00:10:49) - What’s the state of the Miami RE market? (00:13:52) - Miami sub-market analysis: Brickell (00:19:05) - How have you built a world-class network? (00:28:11) - Blackstone (00:30:40) - How hard is it to enter the Miami market? (00:35:16) - Are there noticeable differences between domestic and foreign buyers? (00:36:31) - What’s your activity been like this year? (00:43:31) - How are people dealing with insurance in your market? (00:46:25) - The Condo crisis (00:55:59) - What are the things that get you to a quick ‘no’? (00:59:01) - Where would invest $20m in Miami and where would you invest $200m? (01:00:52) - Miami sub-market analysis: The Wynwood market & Design District (01:03:48) - What characteristics do your smartest clients have that separate them from the rest? (01:06:54) - What has building a brand online done for you? Omar Morales: Follow Omar on X Omar on LinkedIn Berkadia Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital RE Cost Seg: https://bit.ly/3oC7JcY Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Elaine Agather is Chairman of the Dallas Region for JPMorgan Chase & Co. She also serves as the Central Region Head and Managing Director of The Private Bank at J.P. Morgan. Elaine joined Chemical Bank of New York in 1979, working in London, San Francisco, and New York until she relocated to Dallas in 1984. After the 1986 merger of Chemical Bank and Texas Commerce Bank, Elaine was promoted to Chairman of Texas Commerce Bank in Fort Worth in 1992 and joined the Private Bank to manage client advisory groups across the state in 1997. In 1999, she was elected Chairman and CEO of Dallas. On this episode, Elaine and Chris discuss: - Working with Jamie Dimon - Wealth Management 101 - Bank runs, cyber threats, AI, and the state of Banking We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:43) - Elaine’s early career in banking (00:15:40) - Taking over an underperforming bank (00:18:46) - Elaine’s rodeo career (00:28:11) - Working with Jamie Dimon (00:31:17) - Wealth Management (00:34:08) - How to transition wealth well (00:39:07) - The process of bringing in a generationally wealthy client (00:42:19) - The SVB & First Republic bank runs (00:45:04) - How to find an exceptional wealth manager (00:46:11) - Cyber threats, crypto & AI (00:48:40) - The state of banking (00:51:36) - DFW (00:55:03) - How do you know you’ve done a good job? (00:58:29) - Elaine’s 8: Get over it Support our Sponsors Juniper Square: https://bit.ly/45yiYUqFort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

David Perell is a writer, teacher, and podcaster. He believes writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. David seeks to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. More than 1,500 people from more than 70 countries have participated in David’s Write of Passage programs. The five-week bootcamp draws on David’s experience writing online, building an audience, and his interviews with dozens of great writers on his How I Write Podcast. On this episode, Chris and David discuss: David's upbringing and influences David's writing and creative processes How the Internet has changed the goals of writers The Jetski Theory, the Never Ending "Now" Theory, and other great takes explained We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links: David on X How I Write Podcast - YouTube, Apple, Spotify Write of Passage David's website The 11 laws of show running What the hell is going on? By David Perell - https://perell.com/essay/what-the-hell-is-going-on/ Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:32) - David’s upbringing (00:07:43) - The influence of Walt Disney (00:10:48) - The loss of soul and creativity (00:15:18) - David’s creative process (00:17:54) - How David writes (00:25:50) - Why should other people start writing? (00:29:14) - Writing in text vs. Google Docs (00:31:15) - How have people benefitted from your writing program? (00:33:10) - Storytime (00:38:17) - Great writers on Twitter (00:42:38) - How has the internet changed the goals for writers? (00:42:28) - Setting out to prove or disprove the story of Jesus (00:51:51) - The Internal Struggle of American Idolatry (01:01:24) - David explains various takes (01:22:33) - How will AI impact the world? (01:24:35) - The shiny dime theory Support our Sponsors Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Charles Anderson founded Bandera Ventures with Pryor Blackwell and Thomas Leiser in May 2003. The Partners have over 140 years’ of experience in commercial real estate development, encompassing more than 62 million square feet of development and acquisitions throughout the United States and Canada. Bandera’s real estate development expertise includes office, industrial, retail, medical, data centers, and build-to-suit projects. We discuss: How Trammell Crow was able to produce so many successful RE operators Building Bandera Ventures Why DFW is the best real estate market in America We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Bandera Ventures Trammell Crow Company Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:06) - Chuck’s background (00:07:39) - Experiences working at Trammell Crow (00:10:39) - Thoughts on the current market (00:15:20) - How Trammell Crow was able to have so many All-stars under one roof (00:17:58) - Chuck’s role at Trammell Crow (00:19:57) - Ideating Bandera (00:22:35) - Battling cancer & the power of Bible study (00:32:32) - Advice for young folks (00:34:58) - Inside Bandera (00:40:50) - Data centers (00:47:08) - Bandera’s org structure (00:50:13) - Recourse Debt (00:52:54) - What would it take for you to do an office deal? (00:53:59) - TI (00:57:22) - Super luxury markets (01:00:27) - Capitalizing deals (01:05:42) - Development (01:07:08) - Why DFW is the best market in the country (01:15:43) - Permitting and Zoning (01:18:50) - Market predictions Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Rusty Reid was named president and CEO of Higginbotham in 1989 at the age of 27. At that time, he implemented the firm’s defining “single source” service model whereby customers can obtain all their insurance and financial services under one roof. He also had the foresight to establish Higginbotham’s employee ownership structure, aligning all employees’ interests in the success of the firm. Under Rusty’s leadership, Higginbotham has grown to become the nation’s 21st-largest independent insurance brokerage firm and Texas’s largest—one with full property/casualty, financial, and HR service capabilities through offices coast to coast. We discuss: How to recruit well and build a culture Successfully integrating acquired companies Philosophy of generosity We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Higginbotham Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:56) - Infectious energy (00:04:38) - Rusty’s early life and career (00:22:34) - Company growth strategies (00:31:30) - How to recruit well (00:37:35) - Building culture (00:42:15) - Rusty on ‘buying themselves’ (00:56:18) - Going on offense and acquiring companies (01:01:27) - The value in staying busy (01:05:52) - How to value an insurance business (01:11:16) - How do you integrate an acquisition? (01:17:10) - StonePoint partnership (01:20:45) - Thoughts on AI (01:26:51) - Philosophy on generosity Support our Sponsors Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Car Dealership Guy is currently the fastest-growing automotive media brand in the U.S and has captivated audiences with its top-rated podcast, weekly newsletter, and viral social channels, boasting a combined 80+ million impressions per month. On this episode, Chris and Yossi discuss: Yossi’s early career that lead to CDG How he grew the brand into a full-time business What it takes to drive meaningful growth on social media The state of the car industry in 2024 We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Car Dealership Guy The CDG Podcast Car Dealership Guy on X Yossi on X Who The F*ck is Car Dealership Guy - Reveal Video Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:32) - Yossi’s early career and car industry insights (00:12:39) - Buiding Gettacar (00:26:51) - Building Car Dealership Guy (00:32:24) - Content & growth inflection points (00:41:07) - Deciding to make CDG a full-time business (00:47:07) - The content flywheel (00:51:54) - The value of Podcasts (00:56:12) - What channels matter to you? (01:03:46) - Yossi’s decision to make himself public (01:10:47) - What is the big vision for CDG? (01:15:51) - What does Apple dropping their vehicle project mean? (01:19:57) - What’s captivating you right now in the industry? Support our Sponsors Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Dean Macfarlan is the founder of Macfarlan Capital Partners, a real estate investment sponsor based in Dallas, TX. He has 40 years of industry experience in the development, acquisition, repositioning, and sale of investment properties exceeding the $1.5 billion mark. On this episode, Chris and Dean discuss: Marriage philosophy Life over living Dean’s 10 Life Lessons We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Dean's 10 Life Lessons Macfarlan Capital Partners Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:19) - Who is Dean? (00:12:01) - Coming to Christ (00:18:06) - Marriage (00:29:54) - Life over Living (00:38:19) - 10 Life Lessons Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

George Young is the CEO of Pegasus Resources, a mineral and royalty company based in Fort Worth, Texas, focused on the acquisition and management of properties primarily located in the Permian Basin. Pegasus is financially backed by a $600 million equity commitment from EnCap Investments L.P. On this episode, Chris and George discuss: George’s career in Oil and Minerals The history of the Texas Oil Fields Leadership stories and philosophies We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Pegasus Resources Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:23) - The Cook Ranch (00:12:45) - The Young family’s entrance into the oil business (00:18:40) - George’s early life & career (00:40:24) - 10% Ted (00:59:06) - Career stories (01:22:52) - Getting into the mineral world Support our Sponsors: Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Chris, aka @Gas_biz, is the owner of Vi-Mac, Atlanta’s hometown gasoline transportation company, which services approximately 1000+ gas stations throughout the State of Georgia. We discuss: The economics of the gas station business Chris’ career: the rise, the fall, and the comeback How to flip gas stations Where gas stations stand in an EV world We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links: Chris on X 'Fuel for Thought' Newsletter Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:54) - The family gas business and Chris’ early life (00:08:41) - How is money made in gas stations? (00:12:00) - The perfect site for a gas station (00:14:13) - What is ‘great service’ in gas stations? (00:17:13) - What are the anchor products in the shop? (00:22:34) - Buying 25% of the family business (00:24:33) - The economics of check cashing (00:27:12) - Growing the business (00:30:32) - Making mistakes (00:41:13) - The light at the end of the tunnel (00:50:20) - How do you flip a gas station? (00:52:58) - Selling the business (01:01:14) - Gas station crime (01:03:51) - The trucking business (01:05:48) - Management philosophies (01:06:51) - Running a great trucking company (01:09:14) - The gasoline supply chain (01:10:09) - What do you see as disruptive to the gas station industry? (01:15:15) - Environmental processes (01:17:19) - The video poker industry Support our Sponsors Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Simon Wagner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Granite Oak, a private investment firm with over $250mm of assets across Real Estate and Venture Capital. His career spans more than 20 years of investing and entrepreneurship in financial markets and alternative investments. On this episode, Chris and Simon discuss: Working in mortgage-backed securities at Morgan Stanley in 2006 Developing his commercial mortgage thesis The Irish real estate market Planning & Entitlements We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Granite Oak Simon on X Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:51) - Meeting Simon and his journey to the United States (00:10:44) - Working in mortgaged-backed securities at Morgan Stanley in ’06 (00:24:35) - Forming the commercial mortgage thesis (00:39:54) - Lending Lessons learned (00:42:26) - Entering the Ireland market (00:45:24) - Simon’s first deal (00:56:25) - Irish vs. American loans (00:57:13) - Simon’s portfolio today (00:59:37) - Ireland’s influx of foreign capital and housing shortages (01:07:21) - Fundraising (01:13:53) - Planning and entitlements Support our Sponsors: RE Cost Seg: https://bit.ly/3oC7JcY Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Jamie Winship has decades of experience bringing peaceful solutions to some of the world’s highest conflict areas. After a distinguished career in law enforcement in the metro Washington D.C. area, Jamie earned an M.A. in English and developed a unique process of resolving inner conflict that results in the ability to lead and innovate from a position of authenticity and freedom. His unconventional efforts to bring about societal and racial reconciliation led him to Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, Israel, and back to the U.S. We discuss: How to discover your true identity Separation and Connection world views Jamie’s experiences working in the Middle East Bringing terrorists to the US and converting them to Christianity We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Jamie's website Living Fearless by Jamie Winship Identity Exchange Finding Hope in Depression Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:55) - Jamie’s background and upbringing (00:05:49) - Being recruited into the CIA (00:11:43) - What is identity? (00:15:32) - How can I discover my true identity? (00:27:32) - Separation vs. connection world views (00:35:41) - Jamie’s experiences working in the Middle East (00:52:55) - How to change the mentality of another person (01:06:30) - Bringing Palestinian terrorists to a Christian men’s retreat Support our Sponsors Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Ian is the founder of MicroCapClub.com, a global community of microcap investors. He is also the founder of Intelligent Fanatics Capital Management LLC, where his team works with private wealth clients to help give them exposure to the smallest public companies in the world. We discuss: The world of microcap investing Why the greatest investors started in microcap Building MicroCap Club Ian’s process for investing in a company We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Ian on X MicroCapClub.com Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:06) - Growing up near the Amish (00:06:31) - Getting into Microcap investing (00:13:42) - Why most microcaps lose money (00:16:02) - The cost of being a public company (00:17:57) - Why the greatest investors started in microcap (00:21:22) - Experiences during the GFC (00:26:29) - Starting MicroCapClub (00:32:20) - Ian’s process (00:49:30) - Do you expect stock movement when you buy into a company? (00:54:40) - Due diligence (01:02:01) - Finding undervalue (01:03:32) - Emotion in Investing (01:07:05) - Thoughts on the market (01:12:02) - What size does a microcap end? (01:14:06) - What are the best sources of information for mIcrocap? Support our Sponsors Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Bill Cawley is the brand and vision behind Cawley Partners, a full-service, Dallas-based real estate company historically focused on commercial office product. Over the course of his career, Bill has owned all classes of commercial real estate in multiple markets across the country. He is continually recognized as one of the most influential business leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth. Cawley Partners has been the premier office developer along the Dallas North Tollway, developing more than $500 million of Class A office space and totaling more than 1.5 million square feet within the last 5 years.  On this episode, Bill and Chris discuss: Bill's near-death experience and coming to Christ Experiencing the 80's crisis in Dallas The state of the Office market Advice for folks entering RE We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links Cawley Partners Avery Capital Topics (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:23) - Bill’s near-death experience and coming to Christ (00:19:10) - Rebuilding burned bridges (00:25:19) - Legacy (00:28:36) - Bill’s mission trip to Cuba (00:31:52) - Bill’s career in real estate (00:40:50) - Being in Dallas during the 80’s crisis (00:44:13) - How the DFW tollway has evolved (00:52:06) - The state of the Office market (01:02:28) - The buyer market (01:04:33) - Construction (01:06:11) - Reflecting on Bill’s career (01:16:05) - Building Multifamily (01:19:24) - Advice to RE folks Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Juniper Square: https://bit.ly/45yiYUq Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Barry Sternlicht is Chairman & CEO of Starwood Capital Group, the private alternative investment firm he formed in 1991 that is focused on global real estate. He also serves as Chairman & CEO of Starwood Property Trust (NYSE: STWD), a leading diversified finance company. For the past 32 years, Barry has structured investments with an asset value of $240B+. Starwood Capital’s investment vehicles have invested in approximately 290,000 residential units, 4,000 hotels, 103M SF of office properties, 75M SF of industrial, 56M SF of retail and 70,000 lots of land in residential subdivisions. On this episode, Chris and Barry discuss: - Stories of scaling the business to 120k employees in 6 years - The value of “A Shared Pair” REIT - How to take a company from $1B in AUM to $10B - Selling Caesars Palace - Thoughts on the 2024 market Links: Starwood Capital Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I RE Cost Seg: https://bit.ly/3oC7JcY CRE Daily: https://bit.ly/4bteOQw Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:07) - AI & Hotels (00:08:48) - The Midas touch (00:10:46) - Scaling to 120k employees in 6 years (00:15:48) - Shared Pair REITs (00:28:41) - Thoughts on Blackstone (00:36:26) - How to buy a REIT (00:40:39) - Taking a company from $1B in AUM to $10B (00:49:57) - How did you keep Starwood Capital moving while you stepped away? (00:58:42) - Selling Caesars Palace (01:08:01) - Thoughts on the market in 2024 Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

In this conversation, I sit down with my partner and Fort Capital CEO Jason Baxter to talk about our current fundraise, company wins, building out Fort’s custom AI, deal pipelines, profitability, how the team has grown, and an outlook for 2024. Past 'Year in Review' episodes: 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:04:17) - Reflecting on 2023 (00:08:07) - Fundraising (00:16:16) - Company Wins (AI, Company Challenges, Team Meeting Structures) (00:35:05) - Fort Capital’s custom AI - Foster (00:52:30) - Pipeline (01:00:49) - Profitability (01:07:20) - Highlighting the Team (01:10:33) - 2024 Outlook Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Juniper Square: https://bit.ly/45yiYUq Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Devon Eriksen grew up with images of the galaxy and the imagined worlds of the golden age of science fiction. Now a retired software engineer, he writes with one purpose in mind: to give the reader something to love. On this episode, Chris and Devon discuss: Why culture is upstream of law The era of whining being over Property Rights Why we need to push back on bad ideas Artificial Intelligence Rent-Seekers Links: Devon on X Devon's Book: Theft of Fire We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:23) - Devon’s multiple careers (00:03:42) - “Culture is upstream of law, and law affects us.” (00:17:33) - How does the non-left get back into the cultural dialogue? (00:30:54) - The era of whining is over. (00:34:43) - Property Rights (00:41:48) - Pushing back on bad ideas (00:46:13) - Artificial Intelligence (01:00:26) - Predicting the future (01:03:11) - Rent-Seeking (01:07:05) - Who are the fiction gatekeepers? (01:14:18) - Who is ‘they’? (01:16:53) - The Principle-Agent Problem Support our Sponsors: Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts

Chris Hoffmann currently serves as the CEO at Deutschmann Lane Holdings (DLH), which operates a family of companies including Hoffmann Brothers, Ferguson Roofing & Exteriors, Deutschmann Lane Real Estate, and HBH Investment Company. Before joining DLH, Chris served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, leaving active duty in 2014. On this episode, we discuss: Chris' experience in the Marine Corps Taking over the family business Scaling the business Retaining and training labor The future of the trades Scaling acquired businesses We'd appreciate you filling out our audience survey, so we can continuously work on providing relevant content to our listeners. https://www.thefortpod.com/survey Links: Chris Hoffmann on X Chris Hoffmann on LinkedIn Hoffmann Brothers Nexstar Network Tugboat Institute ServiceTitan Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:19) - Chris’ time in the Marines (00:10:17) - Taking over the family business (00:14:41) - Scaling the business (00:19:18) - The first year in the business (00:23:04) - What metrics matter in your industry? (00:25:25) - Scaling the business after $20mm (00:27:30) - Successfully retaining labor & Hoffmann Brothers University (00:32:43) - The future of the trades (00:34:06) - Purpose-driven ownership vs. PE (00:41:09) - What questions should sellers be asking buyers? (00:45:12) - Scaling acquired businesses (00:48:01) - Call centers (00:50:34) - The future of marketing is not paid search (00:51:58) - The importance of Google reviews (00:52:29) - Is B2C harder than B2B? (00:54:13) - Recession resistance (00:57:06) - Business ideas: House managers (00:59:29) - What do the next 10 years look like for Hoffmann Brothers? (01:02:40) - The family dynamic within the business (01:06:19) - Do you have a succession plan? (01:09:03) - Mistakes made (01:12:23) - What do you see for the future of your industry? Support our Sponsors Better Pitch: https://bit.ly/42d9L0I Relay Human Cloud: https://bit.ly/3sjQcaY Fort Capital: https://bit.ly/FortCapital Follow Fort Capital on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fort-capital/ Chris on Social Media: X: https://bit.ly/3BYIjcH LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/45gIkFd Watch The Fort on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3oynxNX Visit our website: https://bit.ly/43SOvys Leave a review on Apple: https://bit.ly/45crFD0 Leave a review on Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Krl9jO The FORT is produced by Johnny Podcasts