Description

This repost episode features Zeke Freeman as a guest on the Build to Scale Podcast by Quinn V. Schilz, where he shares the pivotal moment that reshaped his career—being laid off in 2008 with a pregnant wife at home—and how that setback became the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. From mastering architecture and learning sales to launching his own firm and stepping into real estate development, Zeke breaks down the real path to ownership, explaining why skill sets matter more than hype, why cash flow is king, and how young entrepreneurs can strategically move from earning income to building assets. 

He unpacks practical real estate fundamentals like house hacking, leverage, appreciation, and liquidity, while also sharing how he built a high-performing remote team using systems, daily accountability huddles, and clear SOPs. Zeke also reveals how launching the Radical Hospitality podcast became a strategic growth engine for attracting clients, building trust, and positioning for future boutique hotel developments, making this episode a practical roadmap for anyone serious about building long-term wealth through intentional growth and ownership.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why Zeke says failure in 2008 was the best thing that happened to his career
• The difference between working for money and making money work for you
• A step-by-step path for young entrepreneurs to buy their first property
• Why learning a skill adjacent to real estate is a strategic advantage
• How house hacking and ADUs can reduce risk while building equity
• The truth about leverage, cash flow, and overextending in today’s market
• The real benefits of real estate: mortgage paydown, tax advantages, and appreciation
• How to structure daily team meetings with three simple questions
• Why SOPs and systems are critical to scaling a business
• How podcasting became a client acquisition and capital-raising strategy
• Practical ways Zeke uses AI without losing human creativity
• His 10-year vision for scaling boutique hotel developments

Built to Scale Podcast

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@builttoscalepod?si=rifm68Rq0Qka3ppV

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/built-to-scale-podcast/id1823789408

Connect with Zeke Freeman:
Instagram: @zekefreeman_rootarchitecture and @rootarchitecture
YouTube: @rootarchitecture
Facebook: @RootArchitectureandDevelopment
LinkedIn: Zeke Freeman
X/Twitter: @zfreemanroot

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