Hey there, Hard Knocks Community!💰 

It's that time again…we're back with another fresh School of Hard Knocks newsletter! Real estate mogul Cody Sperber has flipped thousands of properties, owns over 750 doors, and developed hundreds of new build residential and commercial properties over the last 20+ years. He's also done over $120M in his online education business. Here, we're recapping our recent live call with Cody and sharing some top takeaways from the conversation.

Today’s Schedule

• A Zero to Hero Story: How Cody Sperber Started, Scaled, and Sold His Real Estate Education Empire, Clever Investor.

• From the Hard Knocks Library: Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making

• In Case You Missed It: We went to Miami and interviewed some of the wealthiest entrepreneurs and business people in the country.

Here we go!🔥

A Zero to Hero Story

Cody Sperber is hands down one of the most successful real estate investors and educators in the country. He's flipped thousands of properties over the last two decades and taught tens of thousands of others how to follow in his footsteps. 

Growing up in Mesa, Arizona, Cody originally wanted to be a 9th grade history teacher. However, after realizing how much teachers get paid, he decided to join the Navy instead, just like his dad.

In the Navy, Cody learned valuable lessons on leadership, loyalty, and commitment. In recognition of his team building and leadership skills, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. After his time in the Navy, Cody enrolled at Arizona State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. 

While he was at ASU, Cody met a friend who was into real estate. He was in awe over how his friend made $80,000 from a house flip, especially because he was just an ordinary guy. Cody then went all-in on pursuing real estate investing himself.

However, Cody didn't find success right away. After a year of trying and failing, he got a bookkeeping job, but never stopped dreaming of making it big in real estate. While Cody worked as a bookkeeper, a friend of his invited him to a seminar held by Jack Miller, a well-known real estate educator and author.

Cody had attended many seminars in the past and was hesitant to attend this one, but he eventually caved, thanks to his friend's persistence. Fortunately, it was this seminar that turned the tide for Cody and his mission to succeed.

With a new outlook, Cody partnered up with a mentor named Lyle that he met at the event. Through the mentorship, Cody was able to restructure his real estate business, invest in the right tech and systems, and started generating high quality leads.

Thanks to Lyle's help, Cody finally cracked the code. Within the first three months of mentorship, he made enough money to quit his bookkeeping job and focus solely on real estate. Within the next year, Cody flipped more than 50 houses. 

As of today, Cody's closed over 2,000 single family, multifamily, and commercial real estate investing deals, worth over $500M. His business continues to do several deals a month. Cody's passion for teaching and mentorship also led him to start his education company Clever Investor in 2010.

Clever Investor became hugely successful and grew to one of the top real estate investing education and software companies in the United States. It made the INC 5000 list three years in a row and was also named one of Arizona's best places to work. 

Cody helped over 150,000 individuals through Clever Investor and in 2023, he sold the business for an impressive 8-figures.

Cody dropped a ton of great pointers in a recent call within the School of Mentors Community. Here's what members say were the biggest takeaways:

Buddy System

When looking for partners, Cody looks for those with a complimentary skill set to help him with the things he's not good at. For example, if you're great at sales, marketing, branding, find someone who excels at the operational and systems pieces. Cody says his first partnership fell apart because they were both drivers and they clashed.

Cody also looks at people's track records, especially how they are with money, how loyal they are to their family, and how committed they are to their own personal development. 

Million Dollar Mindset

When you hit your first $10k in profit, Cody says the key to changing your mindset and reaching the $1 million mark is to get in the right rooms to have the right conversations. Masterminds help move the needle more than anything because you are surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs focused on growth. These spaces allow for the sharing of insights on topics like taxes, multiplying income, and managing money effectively.

Being around the right people can elevate you to the next level. Whenever you're aiming higher, it’s essential to connect with those who have the keys to unlock new opportunities.

Stay the Course

One of the biggest mistakes Cody sees new entrepreneurs make is talking to too many people. Sometimes when you tell too many people your plans, you get negative input and it knocks you off your game. Another mistake is not taking enough action. It's good to attend classes and workshops, but if you don't implement what you learn, you won't get ahead.

Having the wrong mindset also gets people into trouble. Many people get "shiny object syndrome" and move onto the next thing before mastering what they've started. Cody advises to stay in one lane, stay the course, live below your means, and tune others out so you can focus. 

Pressure Makes Diamonds

When you're facing adversity or encounter failure, Cody says entrepreneurs need to have a grateful, optimistic mindset. Entrepreneurs are the ultimate firefighters and there will always be a problem to solve. 

To take the pressure off, it's important to have a healthy outlet, whether that's hitting the gym or a spiritual practice. Cody also only surrounds himself with people who have winning energy. Having the right people to lean on takes the heat off leaders, helps them feel supported, and allows them to focus on growth.

Watch our interview with Cody here:

Connect with Cody here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleverinvestor

Did you know that we hold live Q&A sessions every Wednesday with top entrepreneurs like Cody?

Members of the School of Mentors Community get a front row seat to exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in business. When you become a member, not only can you ask them questions about your business, life or career but you also get access to workshops and masterclasses to help you level up your game.

Don’t miss our next session. Sign up today! 👇

Words of Wisdom

From the Hard Knocks Library

In Case You Missed It

In Miami, Florida we interviewed some of the wealthiest entrepreneurs and business people in the country. We talked to people in a variety of industries, including consumer goods, healthcare, sales, and entrepreneurship. These Miami moguls shared everything from how much they make to advice on how to make it big. Check it out!

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