After 36 episodes of interviewing other people, Josh and Zach turned the mics on each other. What we're building, what we'd do differently, what we're reading, and what's actually happening at home.

Josh gets into why he won't use the word "lost" — in sports or in business — and the story behind the hardest call he's had to make at ERC and the surprising aftermath.

Zach walks through two and a half years running S2 Pickleball from four hours away, what a great manager can and can't do for you, and the community that grew out of a business — including a couple who met there and got married.

Then the part most business podcasts skip: a 14-year-old calling her award-winning year "kind of mid," a dislocated knee days before tryouts, a private school rejection with no explanation, and a Kyrie Irving free throw that changed how one of our families talks about hard weeks.

Books and shows mentioned:
Wings of Fire · Project Hail Mary · The Comfort Crisis · The Human Connection (Cody Bateman) · Bluefishing · The Logo (Jerry West) · Soul Power · Suits

Chapters:
00:00 — Cold open: how air conditioning built Phoenix
00:33 — Why there's no guest this week, and the new Mountain Green studio
05:00 — Passion business vs. necessity business: two and a half years into S2
07:20 — What changes when the owner isn't in the building
09:40 — Going from 1099 contractors to W-2 employees
10:30 — The community that didn't exist before
11:00 — 80 people had to go. All 80 volunteered.
12:30 — The Facebook group the former employees started
13:45 — Books, part one: Wings of Fire, Project Hail Mary, The Comfort Crisis
16:30 — Why we're all too comfortable
18:50 — The sixth-grade bike ride from Mountain Green to Morgan and back
21:15 — The Human Connection, and the follow-up habit it started
23:30 — Bluefishing and asking better questions
25:00 — What we're watching: The Logo and Soul Power
26:00 — "This year was kind of mid"
27:30 — A dislocated knee at the worst possible time
29:30 — Kyrie Irving, a torn ACL, and two words at the line
31:30 — Two state championships and a summer selling door to door
33:30 — The private school rejection nobody explained
34:30 — Charity: doing more than writing a check
37:30 — Why we're not taking June off this year

He made $20M by 21. Went bankrupt twice. Now sells one door every 6 minutes.

Jeremy Barker's story is one of the wildest we've had on the pod:

→ Created the metal frames used in Tuff Sheds — as a teenager

→ Was doing $20M/year top line by age 21 supplying Home Depot

→ Partied like a 21-year-old with $20M. Went bankrupt.

→ 2008 crash hit. Went bankrupt AGAIN.

→ Became a firefighter at Roy City. $762 every 2 weeks. House payment was $2,311.

→ Lived a full year in the extra-cab of his Dodge Dooley

→ Borrowed $24K from his neighbor John Porter to start Murphy Door

→ First door sold for $3,000 on a red-and-black website with green-screened fake photos

Today: one door every 6 minutes, $60M+/year

In this one we get into failure as a system, the Britney Spears analogy for why untested success breaks people, and the line I can't stop thinking about — "There's no firmer ground than the bottom."

#murphydoor #entrepreneurstory #foundermindset #podcast #resilience #flatbillinvestor #thejoshz

In this powerful episode of the Flat Bill Investors Podcast, we sit down with Haysam Sakar, who went from being a stateless refugee in Egypt to a successful entrepreneur in the U.S.—building businesses in both the automotive and solar energy industries.

Haysam shares his story of navigating citizenship challenges, making bold career pivots, and leaning into moments of serendipity that changed his life forever. From waiting tables in Times Square to running car dealerships and launching a commercial solar company, his path is anything but typical—and endlessly inspiring.

🔑 Topics Covered:

Growing up stateless in Egypt and immigrating to the U.S.

How a student visa call changed everything

Climbing from rental cars to car dealership ownership

Why Haysam left automotive to pursue commercial solar

The power of relationships, faith, and saying yes to the unknown

💡 Whether you're an entrepreneur, immigrant, or dreamer—Haysam's story reminds us that resilience, connection, and faith in the process can lead to life-changing results.

🎧 Subscribe for more real stories of business, reinvention, and financial freedom from Flat Bill Investors.

#HaysamSakar #FlatBillInvestors #RefugeeToEntrepreneur #CommercialSolar #ImmigrantSuccess #EntrepreneurJourney #SolarEnergyBusiness #AutomotiveIndustry #InspiringStories #Resilience #BusinessGrowth #AmericanDream #StartupStories

In this inspiring episode, real estate investor Christion Sadler opens up about his transformation from a troubled youth into a successful entrepreneur and innovator in the real estate industry.

Raised by a single mother in a low-income household, Christion discovered early on that real estate ownership was the key to wealth and freedom. Instead of becoming a traditional realtor, he dove straight into investing, fueled by a relentless drive and early mentorship.

💥 What You’ll Learn:

How Christion’s childhood shaped his real estate vision

Why he rejected the realtor path and pursued investing directly

Key lessons from mentors like Carlton Sheets & Robert Allen

How he survived the 2008 housing crash with grit and creativity

The vision behind PREIshare—a platform revolutionizing passive real estate investing

🎯 Featured Topic:
Christion is now pioneering PREIshare, a platform that solves the liquidity problem for passive investors in commercial real estate. Learn how it's creating transparency and flexibility in an industry known for lock-in deals.

🔥 Whether you’re new to real estate or a seasoned investor, this episode is packed with wisdom, strategy, and motivation.

👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes!

Follow Christion on social media: https://www.instagram.com/christionsadler

For all the swag you need: https://www.drip-swag.com/

#ChristionSadler #RealEstateInvesting #FlatBillInvestors #PassiveIncome #EntrepreneurJourney #PREIshare #CommercialRealEstate #FinancialFreedom #RobertAllen #Mentorship #InvestorStory #OvercomingAdversity

In this episode of the Flat Bill Investors podcast, Joshua Lindsey—business broker and mergers & acquisitions expert—shares his powerful journey from financial hardship to successful business ownership. Learn how early money struggles shaped his path, how he overcame consumer debt, and why understanding EBITDA is critical in evaluating business value.

Joshua breaks down the real-world lessons of M&A, business turnarounds, debt management, and what it takes to succeed in business brokerage. Plus, discover his passion for teaching kids about financial responsibility, work ethic, and the mindset needed for lasting success.

Whether you're exploring entrepreneurship, looking to buy or sell a business, or simply want better financial habits, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

Follow Joshua Lindsey here: http://www.utahbusinessowner.com/

For all the swag you need: https://www.drip-swag.com/

#Entrepreneurship #FinancialFreedom #BusinessBroker #MergersAndAcquisitions #JoshuaLindsey #EBITDA #PersonalFinance #FlatBillInvestors #MoneyMindset #TeachKidsFinance

We sit down with Bryan Hurd—a devoted husband, father, and real estate professional—to dive deep into the journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and the Evolution Project: a movement empowering men to live with greater intention and connection.

🌱 Topics Covered:

The power of presence in personal and professional life

Navigating fatherhood and marriage with authenticity

How entrepreneurship can drive personal growth

The role of community in overcoming emotional isolation

What the Evolution Project is and how it supports men aged 30–50

Embracing life’s challenges as part of your hero’s journey

💬 Brian shares how awareness, intentional living, and open dialogue help men evolve beyond survival—and into deeper purpose.

🔗 Learn more about the Evolution Project: https://www.myevolutionproject.com/about

📺 Subscribe for more honest conversations on growth, leadership, and life.

Drip check! You gotta see this swag 🔥: https://www.drip-swag.com/

#FlatBillInvestors #BrianHerd #SelfDiscovery #PersonalGrowth #MensMentalHealth #TheEvolutionProject #MindfulLiving #EntrepreneurshipJourney #BePresent #RealTalk #MenSupportingMen #Hero’sJourney

Can you go from engineer to real estate investor—and make it work? Jaiden Olsen did.
In this episode of the Flat Bill Investors Podcast, we sit down with Jaiden Olsen, a former engineer who made a bold leap into real estate investing. From wholesaling an 18-unit property and pocketing $100K, to integrating AI into his engineering business, Jaiden shares a journey full of risk, resilience, and rewards.

💡 In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why Jaiden left his stable engineering job to pursue multifamily real estate full-time

How he closed a seller-financed six-plex with just 2% down

The role of AI in modern engineering and real estate investing

How he balances business with family life and coaches T-ball for his kids

Key lessons from a failed land development deal—and how he bounced back

How he’s saving $6 million on a 2.6 million sq ft warehouse project in Illinois

Whether you’re an engineer looking for a new path, a real estate investor hungry for smart strategies, or someone interested in how AI is shaping the future of business, Jaiden’s story offers powerful insights.

🔗 Learn more and connect with Jaiden Olsen | https://www.instagram.com/jaidenolsen23/?hl=en

Check out Drip Swag here: https://www.drip-swag.com/

#RealEstateInvesting #EngineerToInvestor #JayOlsen #FlatBillInvestors #MultifamilyRealEstate #SellerFinancing #AIInEngineering #RealEstateSuccess #PassiveIncome #WorkLifeBalance #EntrepreneurJourneys

In a world where many men suffer in silence, the importance of discussing mental health and authenticity cannot be overstated. In this episode of the Flat Bill Investors Podcast, we welcome Joe Speredon, a man whose journey through personal struggles has led him to advocate for men's mental health and community support.