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If you've ever wondered whether you really have the time, energy, or bandwidth to work a full-time job and build a real estate portfolio, this episode is for you. I'm talking with my friend Leon Barnes, Director of Membership at the Collective Genius mastermind, and someone who not only helps top-tier investors grow their businesses, but also quietly manages his own rental portfolio on the side.

In this conversation, I pull back the curtain on what it actually looks like to balance a demanding role with actively buying and holding real estate. Leon shares how he went from the traditional "go to college, get a good job" path into corporate sales, burned out on the rat race, and then pivoted into real estate by helping grow a high-volume flipping business. That journey eventually led him into Collective Genius, where he now serves as a true connector for some of the best operators in the country.

We talk about what makes Collective Genius unique as a mastermind community: the culture of leaving your ego at the door, learning from investors doing hundreds of deals a year, and the power of being in a room where someone with "only" a handful of deals can still teach something valuable to the big players.

Leon also explains how he personally scaled his own rental portfolio strategy not by doing everything himself, but by finding the right "who's" to partner with, including a long-time friend who now handles acquisitions and day-to-day operations.

We dig into the hard truths around unit counts and cash flow. Leon talks openly about chasing the vanity metric of "100 doors," and how rising interest rates forced him to re-evaluate everything. Instead of focusing on door count, he now prioritizes cash flow vs equity, sanity over vanity, and the freedom that comes from fewer, better, and eventually free-and-clear rentals. His perspective lines up with what I've seen over and over: you don't win just by stacking properties, you win when those properties actually support your life.

If you're new to real estate, still stuck in Wall Street-only investments, or nervous about your first step, Leon shares practical advice on how to start. We talk about finding trusted advisors and mentors, using turnkey options wisely, and learning to underwrite deals so you're not flying blind. Whether you want to stay passive or eventually build a more active investing business, there's a path that fits your season.

We wrap up by talking about Leon's personal ripple effect using his role as a connector and community builder to help entrepreneurs grow businesses that change their families' financial futures for generations. If you've been questioning whether you can realistically build wealth in real estate while working full time, this episode will show you that it's not only possible, but doable with the right people, strategy, and mindset.

Leon's Links:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-barnes-79a71652/ 
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AcfVqEhHa/?mibextid=wwXIfr 
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leongbarnes?igsh=YzhxNXRtNjlhN2k4