In this episode, I sit down with Zachary Beach, CEO of Smart Real Estate Coach and longtime real estate investor, to unpack one of the most relatable entrepreneurial journeys we’ve had on the show. Zach went from bartending and personal training to building a scalable real estate investing company alongside Chris Prefontaine — and the transition wasn’t accidental.
We dive deep into the real shift that happens between doing your first deal and deciding you’re actually going to build a business. Zach shares how mastering seller communication, systemizing follow-up, and thinking in scalable processes — not just transactions — allowed him to go from side hustle to multiple deals per month. This conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone trying to leave their W2 job, scale past their first few deals, or stop being the bottleneck in their own business.
Episode Timeline & Highlights
[0:00] – Introducing Zachary Beach and his journey from bartender to full-time investor.
[2:58] – Why social skills don’t automatically translate to phone skills — and what actually matters.
[4:27] – The three-part structure of a high-converting seller call: introduction, clarification, and permission.
[6:13] – Why asking hard questions builds trust faster than avoiding them.
[9:01] – Motivation discovery and why most investors never dig deep enough.
[12:59] – Zach’s first creative deal and the mindset shift that followed.
[15:08] – Moving from getting paid for hours to getting paid for results.
[18:29] – The early follow-up system using physical 1–31 folders.
[21:23] – Why the fortune truly is in the follow-up — and why most people still avoid it.
[24:38] – Transitioning from paper systems to CRMs like Podio and beyond.
[27:01] – The seven steps to a “taken” and building predictable deal flow.
[29:50] – Delegation vs. doing everything yourself — the doctor’s office analogy.
[33:19] – Building a team that operates in systems, not personalities.
[35:23] – Zach’s free book offer and the three-paydays strategy.
5 Key Takeaways
Links & Resources
Closing
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review That Real Estate Tech Guy. Share it with someone who’s stuck between their first deal and their first scalable system. The shift from operator to business builder starts with mindset — and then it’s reinforced with systems. More high-impact conversations coming next.
