On this episode of Get Business Smart, Tony Bradshaw talks with Melanie Cox, author of You Have to Know and CEO of EMC Property, about the power of words, building wealth through real estate, and the purpose behind her 4,000 acre animal rescue.

Melanie shares how a health crisis pushed her to write her book, how she approaches multifamily investing, and why she believes business, faith, and stewardship all belong together.We discuss Melanie’s background, her investing frameworks, and the stories behind Blue Oak Rescue, including Bear, the wolf dog who became a ranch guardian. Tony also shares his own lessons on debt, diversification, and raising a large family.

Key topics

• In this episode, Melanie explains how You Have to Know began as a letter to her children during a season of thyroid cancer, exhaustion, and reflection on what her kids needed to survive and thrive in life.
• She describes the book as a practical, faith-based guide built around mindset, truth, and the words people speak over themselves, combining personal stories, Bible references, and supporting studies.
• Tony and Melanie discuss manifestation, but frame it through faith and spiritual alignment rather than a generic self-help formula.
• Melanie shares her belief that words have real power, citing the Bible’s emphasis on speech and the idea that aligning your words with God’s will matters in daily life, business, and purpose.
• Tony reflects on his own experience giving time instead of money during lean years, including free work and his service on the Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce board.
• Melanie outlines EMC Property’s focus on larger projects, especially multifamily, commercial, and select single-family opportunities, with most projects sold to investors rather than held as rentals.
• She explains that she occasionally keeps properties when they connect to a deeper purpose, including a 45-unit building in Palm Desert that was repurposed to serve veterans needing alcohol and mental health support.
• Melanie breaks down her broader investment approach, including stock income, triple net leases, tax-advantaged purchases like car washes, single

CONNECT WITH MELANIE COX at https://melaniecox.org/

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