From childhood dreams in Boer City, Louisiana to living the dream with real estate, Scott’s journey shows how a vision planted in his youth grew into a lifelong pursuit of real estate success. His story proves that dreams don’t fade—they wait for the right opportunity.

In this interview, you’ll discover:

• How childhood dreams shaped Scott’s path to real estate investing
• Why mentorship was the turning point in his success
• Why other courses failed him—and what made this program different
• The lessons he wants every new investor to know before starting
• The milestone of reaching $500,000 in net profits and what freedom feels like today

The Spark of Real Estate Ambition

Every investor’s story begins with a spark—an early inspiration, a moment of clarity, or a mentor who shows the way. For Scott, that spark came as a child in Boer City, Louisiana, watching the wealthiest man in town build his fortune through real estate. What started as curiosity on a school bus ride grew into a lifelong dream. But here’s the twist: Scott didn’t take the straight path to success. He tried other courses, faced setbacks, and nearly gave up on his dream. What finally unlocked his breakthrough? Find out, as Scott shares his journey from shy kid to confident real estate investor, highlighting the lessons, challenges, and triumphs that shaped his path to financial freedom.

Meet Scott

Scott: The other day I was wondering when my dream of becoming a real estate investor really began. Well, I grew up as a kid in Boer City, Louisiana and the richest guy in town was a real estate investor—he owned entire neighborhoods, commercial buildings, and more. When I was 10 years old, I remember sitting on the school bus, waiting to go to school. Occasionally, this kid's dad would drop him off in a Lamborghini. I thought to myself, what does that guy do? Soon I learned from other kids that he owned this building, that building, and even whole neighborhoods.

Counting Properties Instead of Sheep

By the time I was 14 or 15, I was hooked. I used to watch Carlton Sheets late at night, and instead of counting sheep before bed, I would count motel rooms. I’d imagine how many I would need, how much income they would generate, and even factor in paying people to clean them. That became my nightly routine—dreaming of income properties.

A lot of this drive came from my upbringing. My dad worked in heavy civil construction—building bridges, locks, and dams. Every three or four years, we had to move for his work. As a shy kid, that was tough, constantly reestablishing myself and making new friends. That motivated me to think; I don’t want to go down this same path. But despite taking several small courses, I never really learned the ins and outs of real estate. Eventually, I ended up doing the same kind of work my dad did.

Losing Sight of the Goal

The last thing I remember from Carlton Sheets was the phrase: Cash is king. At the time, I thought, I don’t have enough information to get started. I guess I need to save up enough money to buy a good deal with cash. Years later, I lost sight of my goals. About seven or eight years ago, I thought to myself, I don’t want to be on my deathbed knowing I never went for this.

Searching for Real Guidance

I searched on YouTube and even took one of Robert Kiyosaki’s courses, but it was another high-level program that left me in the dark. Then I found your videos Phil. I knew immediately—this guy is the real deal. It wasn’t just mumbo jumbo or someone trying to sell a course. I watched every single video, one after another, and finally applied for the program. My only concern with that was I hoped I could get in.

The Value of Mentorship in Real Estate

Phil: With your background in construction and the initiative you’ve shown, did you try to do any of this on your own?

Scott: About seven years ago, I decided I had to go for it. I was ready to attempt it myself, but I wanted someone to learn from—and that’s when I found you. I can say that I’ve purchased two properties. I’ve always kept my eyes on the market, noticing how when the market starts going south, shortly after, that’s the best time to buy as values begin to rise again. I bought my personal house, and earlier I lived in Florida where I purchased my first home in Riverview back in 2005. I bought at a very good time and was able to realize equity fairly quickly because of when I purchased.

Why a Mentor Matters More Than a Course

Brian: Scott, I’m curious. With your background in construction through your dad, and the fact that you’d been studying houses on and off, what made you think a mentor was what you needed to succeed—rather than just a book or a course?

Scott: Because I had already taken several courses, and I realized you’ve got to have someone you can talk to. Every course I took was so high-level, without any real information on how to get started, how to do marketing or handle deals.

Phil said it best: you need someone there to talk to. And Brian, you were my main guy—just about daily—walking me through deals. There were situations I never could have handled alone. Without that guidance, I would have crashed and burned a long time ago. Honestly, I probably would’ve gone bankrupt a couple of times.

Learning by Doing, Not Just Reading

Phil: Exactly. It was crystal clear—you need somebody who can show you what to do on a deal-by-deal basis with specifics.

Scott: Absolutely. There’s no question about it. Like Brian said, you don’t learn to ride a bike by reading a book. That’s exactly what this is. You’ve got to have someone there to help you out and show you the way.

Finding the Right Path in Real Estate

Brian: With your background in construction, did you come in thinking you’d focus primarily on rehabs—or were you the opposite, wanting to avoid them and just flip deals as-is?

Scott: I don’t know. I think I was probably leaning toward rehabs a little bit. I feel like one advantage I have is knowing how to deal with contractors. I’ve worked with those types of people for so long that I know what buttons to push, when to push them, and how to get things done.

My end goal has always been to build a portfolio of rental properties or rent-to-own properties. Phil mentioned commercial real estate, and that’s part of my vision too. But early on, I leaned toward rehabs—not because I had experience with house flips (my construction background was different), but because I understood the people involved. I knew how they thought, how they worked, and how to get the most out of them.

Inside the Program Experience

Phil: What was it like being in our program?

Scott: It was a lot of work, and I knew it would be. Brian sometimes says the program attracts a “get rich quick” crowd, but that’s not what this is. It’s real—it’s a lot of work and a lot of learning. The hardest part is getting started. But once you begin, it gets a little easier, and then easier again as time goes by. Still, you’ve got to have someone you can talk to on a deal-by-deal basis. I don’t see any other way to do it.

The Power of the E-Partner Platform

Phil: What did you think about the E-Partner platform and how it helped with interacting with us?

Scott: That platform’s great. You log in and see the coaching calls listed for the week, with all the times. Brian is always spot-on, right when he’s supposed to be. Phil, you’ve got a jewel in Brian—he’s a huge asset to your team. I remember those coaching calls happening every day except Sunday. Especially in the beginning, I’d hear Brian go from one person to the next, giving tough love when needed. A couple of times, I resisted what he was telling me, but he patiently explained it in a different way. Later, I’d replay the call and think, Why don’t you just do what he says?

One of the biggest reasons I never questioned giving up was listening to other students on those calls. They were closing deals, graduating, and proving the system worked. Even when I made mistakes—like not buying at the right price or missing due diligence—I knew it worked. I just had to correct my mistakes, improve, and move forward.

Lessons Learned from Real Estate Deals

The Importance of the Contract

Brian: You did some deals where you didn’t have to do a lot of work to the property—some were great, some were not. What are some of the highlights that stand out to you?

Scott: The money is made when you get the deal under contract. You have to lock it in at the right price. Going through a rehab and just hoping you’ll make a little something at the end is not fun. There are motivated sellers out there, and if you negotiate properly, you can secure a good deal.

A Turning Point: Gale Court

One deal in particular—on Gale Court last year—really turned the lights on for me. It showed me that people are motivated and will sell for less.  When I review comps, I always think about the worst-case scenario. In a rehab, it’s never going to be better than you thought. You’ll usually find five things that are worse than expected, and maybe one thing that’s better. So I convince myself of the worst situation, then explain that to the seller. I’ll show them comparable sales, explain the current market, and walk them through why I need to buy at a certain price.

Building Relationships with Sellers

I’ve always been shy, but I’ve gotten much better at communicating with sellers. I focus on building relationships and keeping in touch. Because of that, I’ve never had issues with someone trying to go behind my back and sell to another buyer. I think the key is maintaining that good relationship.

Funding Deals and Reaching Financial Freedom

Exploring Different Funding Options

Phil: How have you gotten your deals funded throughout the duration of this program?

Scott: I’ve done pretty much everything. I’ve gotten hard money loans, and I’ve also done deals “subject to,” where I took over the financing. My biggest deal was one I didn’t think I could afford—a half-million-dollar property. I ended up getting that one with seller financing. The seller didn’t want anything upfront, and it worked out.

Creative Financing with Support

Brian: Remind me, Scott, the high-dollar property you mentioned with seller financing—didn’t Phil also fund a portion of that?

Scott: Yes, he did. And honestly, I don’t think there would’ve been any other funding option out there. Phil was able to finance in the first position, while there was also owner financing. Phil essentially acted as that private money partner, and it made the deal possible.

Celebrating a Major Milestone

Brian: And you finally reached this goal—you’ve made half a million dollars in net profits. What does that feel like now, for you in life?

Scott: Amazing. I feel free. Before, I was stuck in a job where I’d get up at dark, come home at dark, and often work 13 days straight with only one day off. Even then, that one day was spent running errands. My dad always encouraged me to start my own thing. He felt stuck himself—he had a family, no mentor, and no one to guide him. He wanted me to break free in ways he couldn’t.

When I finally got that message from Phil saying, “Hey, you graduated,” The first thing I did was call my dad. I told him, “Hey Dad, we made it.” His response was: “We’ve got to celebrate.” And we did.

Advice for New Students

Brian: Since you recognized this was real from the start, if you had to do it over again, what advice would you give someone considering Freedom Mentor?

Scott: Honestly, I wish I had found Phil earlier. If those videos hadn’t randomly shown up on my YouTube feed, I’d probably still be outside working seven days a week. The hardest part is the beginning. But once you get through it, things get easier. You gain more free time, you’re able to do more deals, and you know how to handle situations because the coaches have taught you day in and day out.

It’s real. It works. But you’ve got to put in the work to get it.

Life After Freedom Mentor

Phil: So, what is life like for you right now? What’s your typical schedule?

Scott: I get to schedule my own days. Of course, I have appointments where I meet with sellers or go to closings at the title company, but beyond that, I make my own schedule. I’m my own boss. I don’t have to depend on someone else for work, and I don’t have to move three states over just because the job's ending. If I want to, I can move somewhere else and still do the same thing. I’m free to do what I want now.

Turn Your Dreams into Real Estate Freedom

Scott’s story proves that childhood dreams don’t have to fade. He held onto his vision, found the right mentorship, and turned it into freedom. If you want to create a story like Scott’s, apply to be our next apprentice. With the guidance of Phil, Brian and our entire coaching team, you’ll gain the tools to become a professional real estate investor and build the freedom you’ve always wanted. That’s why we’re called Freedom Mentor—our mission is to mentor you toward financial independence through the power of real estate.

Every Successful Real Estate Investor Has a Mentor

Ready to take the next step? Apply to the Apprentice Program here: Freedom Mentor Apprentice Program.

If you’re not ready to apply just yet, start by grabbing a free copy of How to Be a Real Estate Investor to learn how this business works and how it could fit into your financial future.

Questions for us, text FREEDOM to 305-315-8030 or post a comment below.