Debt gets a bad reputation - but what if the issue isn’t debt itself, but how we use it?

In this episode, we challenge the idea that all debt is dangerous. We unpack the difference between consumer debt that drains wealth and strategic debt that accelerates it. From high-interest credit cards and lifestyle inflation to house hacking, investment properties, and business acquisitions, we explore how leverage can either trap us or propel us forward.

We also discuss how credit scores really work, why wealthy people don’t avoid debt (they avoid dumb debt), and how to position ourselves to access better financing terms. For communities that have historically inherited debt habits instead of wealth strategies, this mindset shift is critical.

Debt is neutral. It’s the strategy behind it that determines the outcome. The question isn’t whether to use debt - it’s how.

We Talk About:

[00:00] Intro

[01:17] Why Most People Experience Debt as an Anchor

[02:38] Lifestyle Debt vs. Wealth-Building Debt

[05:49] When Debt Becomes Survival Instead of Strategy

[09:23] The Hidden Cost of High-Interest Debt

[11:23] Why Access to Credit Matters More Than Using It

[14:02] The Formula for Good Debt: Cash Flow Over Cost

[17:25] Why House Hacking Can Accelerate Wealth

[28:36] How Optionality Gives You Leverage With Lenders

[36:24] Debt Is Neutral — Strategy Determines the Outcome

Resources:

• Learn more at The Color of Money
• Learn more from Dave Ramsey: https://www.ramseysolutions.com
• Listen to previous episodes of The Color of Money featuring Mark King
• Listen to previous episode of The Color of Money featuring Will Roundtree

Become a real estate agent HERE

Connect with Our Hosts

Emerick Peace:

• Instagram: @theemerickpeace
• Facebook: facebook.com/emerickpeace

Daniel Dixon:

• Instagram: @dixonsoldit
• Facebook: facebook.com/realdanieldixon
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dixonsoldit
• YouTube: @dixongroupcompanies

Julia Lashay:

• Instagram: @iamjulialashay
• Facebook: facebook.com/growwithjulia
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julialashay/
• YouTube: @JuliaLashay

Bo Menkiti

• Instagram: @bomenkiti
• Facebook: facebook.com/obiora.menkiti
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bomenkiti/

Produced by NOVA

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

Running a business doesn’t stop when life gets heavy. In this episode, we talk openly about what it really means to lead with care and concern when everything feels unstable—emotionally, socially, and economically.

Julia Lashay shares real-time insight from Minneapolis, where fear, uncertainty, and disruption reshaped how agents showed up for their families, clients, and communities. We unpack how survival mode impacts decision-making, why integrity shows up most clearly during hardship, and how leadership is tested when there’s no clear playbook.

We also explore the importance of communication, the power of community, and why silence from leaders speaks louder than words. From financial reserves to mission-driven leadership, this conversation reminds us that care isn’t a slogan—it’s a habit. When chaos hits, who we are becomes impossible to hide.

We Talk About:

[00:00] Introduction

[02:33] How Do You Balance Running a Business When Your People Are in Survival Mode?

[04:44] Is Care a Slogan—or a Habit Rooted in Integrity?

[06:27] Why Does Community and “Your Tribe” Matter More During Crisis?

[08:11] What Do You Say When You Want to Help but Don’t Have Answers?

[11:35] Are Phone Calls Still the Gold Standard for Showing You Care?

[18:53] Are Financial Reserves the Real Difference Between Panic and Stability?

[20:12] What Does It Mean to Lead With Care and Concern in Uncertain Times?

[23:05] How Should Leaders Speak Up When There’s an Elephant in the Room?

[31:02] Can Care Be Taught—or Must It Be Lived?

Resources:

• Learn more at The Color of Money
• Become a real estate agent HERE

Connect with Our Hosts

Emerick Peace:

• Instagram: @theemerickpeace
• Facebook: facebook.com/emerickpeace

Daniel Dixon:

• Instagram: @dixonsoldit
• Facebook: facebook.com/realdanieldixon
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dixonsoldit
• YouTube: @dixongroupcompanies

Julia Lashay:

• Instagram: @iamjulialashay
• Facebook: facebook.com/growwithjulia
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julialashay/
• YouTube: @JuliaLashay

Bo Menkiti

• Instagram: @bomenkiti
• Facebook: facebook.com/obiora.menkiti
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bomenkiti/

Produced by NOVA

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

In this episode, we tackle a conversation many professionals are quietly having: what it really means to start over. Not because we failed, but because the rules changed. Markets shifted, costs rose, and what once worked no longer does.

We unpack how rebuilding begins with getting honest about where we are today, taking stock of our skills, relationships, and lessons learned, and letting go of identities tied to past success. We talk about the importance of reassessing who we listen to, finding energy through aligned action, and rediscovering the joy of being a beginner again.

We also explore the emotional side of rebuilding, including ego, expectations, and the fear of letting go of what once was. The takeaway is clear: don’t be intoxicated by past success or hungover from past failure. This next chapter isn’t about going backward. It’s about building forward, smarter, clearer, and more aligned than ever.

We talk about:

[00:00] Introduction and Welcome

[01:56] Who Should Be in Your Circle When Rebuilding?

[03:02] How Do You Get Honest About Where You Are Now?

[05:45] Where Does Energy Come From When You’re Burned Out?

[08:45] What Should You Keep Doing—and What Should You Let Go?

[10:26] How Do You Rebuild After Debt, Losses, and Setbacks?

[15:49] How Do Ego and Identity Get in the Way of Starting Again?

[21:49] Setting Aside Our Old Version of What We Used to Do.

[30:42] Outro

Resources:

• Learn more at The Color of Money
• Become a real estate agent HERE

Connect with Our Hosts

Emerick Peace:

• Instagram: @theemerickpeace
• Facebook: facebook.com/emerickpeace

Daniel Dixon:

• Instagram: @dixonsoldit
• Facebook: facebook.com/realdanieldixon
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dixonsoldit
• YouTube: @dixongroupcompanies

Julia Lashay:

• Instagram: @iamjulialashay
• Facebook: facebook.com/growwithjulia
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julialashay/
• YouTube: @JuliaLashay

Bo Menkiti

• Instagram: @bomenkiti
• Facebook: facebook.com/obiora.menkiti
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bomenkiti/

Produced by NOVA

This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.