In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Ken Majmudar, a longtime member of our CG community and one of our distinguished CEO members. Ken’s journey is anything but traditional—born in India, Ivy League-educated, and an expert in public securities and investment management. We dive into his recent trip to Argentina, his deep curiosity for emerging opportunities, and how he transitioned into real estate investing. Ken shares incredible insights about his background, how life experiences shape investment philosophy, and what it really takes to build partnerships based on integrity.

If you’re looking to learn how non-traditional paths can still lead to massive success in real estate and business—and how being endlessly curious can open doors you never imagined—this episode is for you.

[0:00] Introduction

[1:25] Ken’s recent trip to Argentina and what sparked his interest in their economy

[3:17] Why Javier Milei’s economic philosophy caught Ken’s attention

[5:01] Ken’s approach to investing in Argentine companies through public securities

[6:28] Ken’s immigrant story and upbringing in Jersey City, New Jersey

[8:01] Academic journey: From Columbia University to Harvard Law School

[10:01] Transition from law to investment banking and early career reflections

[13:04] Founding Ridgewood Investments and building a business over 22 years

[19:12] The role of early passions in shaping a career in finance and investing

[21:05] How Ken recognized real estate as an opportunity alongside public markets

[26:00] Investing in REITs and transitioning to direct real estate investments

[29:32] People first, project second, structure third: Ken’s investment philosophy

[34:00] Evaluating character and integrity when choosing real estate partners

[38:15] Lessons from early real estate deals: understanding cycles and leverage

[41:12] The real risk of leverage and how market downturns reveal weaknesses

[42:08] How a chance series of events led Ken to discover Collective Genius

[46:00] The power of masterminds and lifelong learning

[51:00] Why Ken values CG as much for the people as for the financial benefits

[53:36] Key lessons on investing in yourself and building better businesses

1. Curiosity can lead to unexpected and lucrative opportunities, even in unfamiliar places like Argentina.

2. Success in real estate and investing comes down to people first, deals second.

3. Real estate markets are cyclical, and understanding leverage is crucial for long-term success.

4. Investing in yourself, communities, and lifelong learning can exponentially grow your business.

5. Serendipity often rewards those who are open-minded, willing to take leaps of faith, and ready to build meaningful relationships.

• Learn more about the Collective Genius: TheCGPodcast.com

• Book Mentioned: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

• Book Mentioned: 10x is Easier Than 2x by Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Thanks for tuning in to the Collective Genius Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation with Ken Majmudar, make sure to rate, follow, and share the show. Your support helps us reach more ambitious real estate entrepreneurs. Stay curious and keep scaling your business with Collective Genius.

In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with the unstoppable Phil Green—San Diego-based real estate investor, business builder, and longtime CG member. Phil’s story is packed with insight, hustle, and the kind of clarity that only comes from years of in-the-trenches experience. From his early days as a brokerage agent to building multiple businesses—including fix-and-flip, multifamily, property management, and even marketing companies—Phil walks us through what it takes to thrive in one of the nation’s toughest markets.

We also dive deep into leadership, the power of gamification in team culture, data-driven hiring, and how surrounding yourself with the right people (and community) can shave years off your growth curve. Plus, we explore how Phil’s love for competition, strategy, and even video games shaped his business mindset—and why his next big play might just be in AI.

TIMELINE SUMMARY

[0:00] – Introduction

[0:54] – Phil’s real estate roots in San Diego and the challenge of thriving in a hyper-competitive market

[5:25] – From broker to investor: how Phil transitioned and built multiple income streams

[7:30] – Childhood leadership lessons and the surprising role of sports and gaming in his business style

[10:42] – His journey of shifting passions—from Navy SEAL aspirations to entrepreneurship

[17:00] – The billionaire mentor moment that changed his mindset forever

[24:03] – His first big win (and losses) flipping properties, and how those lessons stuck

[26:51] – Getting into CG and how it completely changed his business trajectory

[30:00] – Sharper Business Solutions and the Level 10 meeting that reshaped his team’s execution

[32:12] – Gaining access to proven marketing channels through CG and how it doubled their deal flow

[34:38] – Hiring through assessments: Phil’s bold decision to trust data over gut

[43:08] – Why CG has been the most impactful business decision he’s made

[46:48] – The mindset of learning from every room—no matter the level

[50:35] – Phil’s most gifted book and how he applies its principles

[57:50] – What lights him up right now: fishing, coaching, and building with AI

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Your market doesn’t limit you—your mindset does. Phil thrives in Southern California by embracing the challenge and out-executing the competition.

2. Leadership is recognizing talent early. Phil’s superpower is seeing people’s strengths and putting them in the right roles—something he started doing as a kid on sports teams.

3. Community accelerates growth. Phil credits CG for helping him cut years off his learning curve by gaining real-time access to proven operators and vendors.

4. Hiring can (and should) be data-driven. By using assessments like Predictive Index, Phil removes emotion from hiring and gets better results—even without interviews.

5. Always be a student. Whether it’s a CEO or a brand-new investor, Phil’s mindset is to take notes, ask questions, and find the lesson—because everyone has something to teach.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• The Collective Genius Podcast: https://go.thecollectivegenius.com/podcast/
• Book: Principles by Ray Dalio
• Book: Sales Acceleration Formula by Mark Roberge
• Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Sharper Business Solutions: https://sharperbusiness.com/
• Predictive Index (hiring assessments)

CLOSING REMARK

If this episode fired you up, inspired you, or gave you something new to think about—do us a solid. Rate, follow, and leave a review wherever you’re listening. And don’t forget to share it with someone in your network who’s on the same path. Until next time—keep scaling, keep learning, and keep playing to win.

In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Damon Lines—longtime CG member and high-level CEO operator—for a conversation that blends grit, strategy, and a whole lot of entrepreneurial wisdom. Damon shares how he went from making six figures in college as a part-time mortgage guy to navigating a near-bankruptcy during the 2008 crash. He opens up about the hard choices he had to make and the key decisions that helped him scale a multimillion-dollar wholesaling business.

We cover Damon’s deep-rooted partnership with Doug Hopkins, what it really takes to build a lean and profitable real estate business, and how a leap into TV advertising—when everyone else said it was too risky—became a game-changer. Whether you’re just getting started or you’re at a crossroads in your real estate journey, this episode is full of insights that will challenge the way you think about growth, discipline, and focus.

[0:00] - Introduction

[2:00] - How Damon and Doug built their wholesaling business in Southern California and Phoenix

[4:00] - Why laser focus on wholesaling became their superpower

[7:00] - The strength of their partnership and what makes it last

[10:00] - Damon’s pivot from pursuing dentistry to making $150K in college

[15:00] - The mental toll of the 2008 crash and how Damon rebuilt from near-zero

[20:00] - How a systems-driven approach helped scale to 250 homes/month

[33:00] - The birth of Sellers Advantage and betting big on TV ads

[39:00] - Why TV advertising outperformed all other lead sources

[47:00] - Building a small but elite team—and why fewer, better people win

[54:00] - What changed after joining Collective Genius and how feedback improved their operation

[57:00] - The value of responding to leads fast—and how it transformed their conversion rates

[1:00:00] - Damon’s perspective on smart hiring, gut checks, and when to ignore the data

1. Focus Wins – Damon and Doug found long-term success by resisting distractions and staying committed to wholesaling—even when others pivoted.

2. TV Still Works – While most investors overlooked it, TV became their number one lead source and continues to drive results in highly competitive markets.

3. Lean and Profitable Beats Big and Average – With fewer than 25 employees across two markets, their team operates lean but earns more by hiring exceptional talent and paying them well.

4. Partnerships Matter – Damon and Doug’s complementary strengths and shared vision have helped them navigate challenges and stay aligned for nearly two decades.

5. Feedback is Fuel – Joining Collective Genius helped Damon see blind spots in his business—from response time to process improvements—and accelerated their growth.

• https://www.sellersadvantage.com/ – Damon and Doug’s California-based home buying company

• https://www.doughopkins.com/ – Their Arizona operation and brand

• https://go.thecollectivegenius.com/podcast/ – Learn more about the mastermind behind this podcast

If this episode hit home or gave you a new perspective, do me a favor—rate the show, follow us, leave a review, and share this conversation with someone else in the real estate game. We appreciate you listening and being a part of the Collective Genius community.