Struggling to make ends meet, riding a motorized bicycle, and unsure of his future, Erik took a leap of faith into real estate with Freedom Mentor—and it changed his life forever.

In this inspiring interview, Erik shares:

• How he got started in real estate with zero prior experience
• The challenges he faced in his first deal—and how he overcame them
• Why mentorship was the key to his success
• The mistakes new investors should avoid
• How mindset shifts can unlock opportunities
• How his life has changed and what Erik is working on now

If you’ve ever wondered how to break into real estate, overcome obstacles, or make a life-changing decision, this video is for you!

Finding Freedom: Erik's Journey into Real Estate

Sometimes, the right opportunity can completely change your life—but only if you're willing to take the leap. In this interview, we sit down with Erik, a former small engine repairman who went from struggling to get by to building a thriving real estate business with the help of Freedom Mentor. Erik shares his incredible journey—from riding a motorized bicycle to find his first real estate deal, to making life-changing financial moves and gaining the confidence to navigate the industry. His story is proof that with the right guidance, persistence, and mindset shift, success is possible for anyone. Whether you're considering real estate, looking for motivation, or just love hearing transformational success stories, this interview is packed with valuable insights you won’t want to miss.

Life Before Freedom Mentor

Brian: Eric, first and foremost, thank you so much for taking the time to join us today. We're really excited about what you're going to share with us. Can you get us started? Introduce yourself, take us back, and let us know where you were before joining Freedom Mentor.

Erik: I was running a small engine repair shop out of my apartment. I fixed motorized bicycles, lawn equipment—that type of deal. I didn’t have a car, and I was away from my son. My hands were always dirty, and for some reason, no one respects a guy with dirty hands. But I had a motorized bike—that was my means of transportation, and I rode that thing everywhere. I loved it. Mentally, I was pretty much treading water. I knew the Lord was going to come and do something, but I didn’t know when or how long it was going to take. So yeah, I was just treading water, waiting for help to come.

A Turning Point in Real Estate

Brian: And so, help came. Take us into where you arrived in real estate and why you decided to apply to join Freedom Mentor.

Erik: So, my friend had gone through the program. I saw the transformation in his life, and I needed some of that. He told me he thought I’d be a shoo-in, and after looking at everything, I thought, “You know what? I’m going to be fine. This is a good idea.” I realized that this was the way the Lord was going to help me. The thing was, my friends were all telling me to get a car, saying I needed one and shouldn’t spend my money on a real estate program that might be a scam. But I didn’t want to put the cart before the horse. So, I took all my money and purchased a pearl of great price—my membership in the Freedom Mentor Program.

Making a Life-Changing Decision

Phil: You had to make the decision of decisions. Again, you were just scraping by, treading water. Was the choice to buy a vehicle? Was it to rent a nicer place? Or did you invest in a career opportunity? Take us back to that decision—where did the money go, and how did you make that choice?

Erik: It was pretty obvious that this was what I was supposed to spend my money on. Seeing my friend’s success with the program made it a no-brainer. I had several people—who didn’t even know each other—telling me I should get a car. I had my motorized bicycle, so I could get around. But I didn’t see anybody buying or selling a house to someone who didn’t have a car. So I got rides to my appointments.

At first, I would get dropped off at meetings, but it wasn’t working. Standing outside after an appointment, waiting for a ride—it was no good. Finally, my mom loaned me her vehicle, and I went to my first deal. And it was great. I made a hefty profit on that deal and was finally able to buy my own car. It was an incredible moment—I didn’t have to rely on anybody else anymore. The program provided the car that I needed.

Brian: Was there something about real estate? Did you have any experience with it? Or was this more of a goal—just a way to make money?

Erik: It really never even crossed my mind, because I thought you had to be a licensed agent, which I wasn’t interested in, or you had to be a millionaire.

Memorable Deals and Challenges

Overcoming the Odds and a Dream Deal

Brian: Give us some of the highlights from your favorite deals.

Erik: My favorite deal was my first deal. It was a dumpy mobile home in the middle of the dusty desert—straight out of Hoarders. The rooms were stacked to the ceiling. There were bloated bags of meat on the kitchen countertop, and the place smelled like something had died in there. I didn’t have the money for a roll-off dumpster or a cleanup crew, and I still didn’t have a car. So I rode my motorized bike way out into the county to work on this wreck of a property.

It had a dilapidated above-ground pool in the backyard, and I had to figure out a way to clean it all myself. So I started throwing everything out the back door, the back window, straight into the pool. By the time I was done, the mountain of garbage reached above the eaves. No exaggeration—it was a stinking pile of junk in the middle of the desert heat, with no air conditioning and no power. But when the place finally sold, and we made a hefty profit on it, the long-awaited taste of success was so sweet. That deal gave me the funds to buy my car, and every deal after that was easier. I had money for a cleanup crew, for a roll-off dumpster, for getting services turned on—things just became smoother.

One of my other favorite deals was when a lady called me off my Google Business listing. I didn’t even pay for the lead—she wanted to sell her condo, and she had already deep cleaned it. I sent her a DocuSign contract right after we got off the phone, she signed it, and I went over, took pictures, and listed it the same day. Less than 28 days later, we had made over $30,000 on the deal. That was the easiest deal I ever did—sometimes the fish just jumps right into the boat with you. This was that time. No cleanup, no hassle, just pictures and listing.

Overcoming Obstacles

Phil: What do you say to the person who thinks, I can’t do this because I don’t already have a silver spoon?

Erik: We can always come up with excuses why something can’t be done, but it’s always better to ask, "How can I accomplish this difficult task?" Before I entered the program, I was the guy who looked for reasons why something couldn’t be done. But the program opened my eyes to a new mindset: How can I find a way around this? How can we succeed at this?

Immersing in the Freedom Mentor Community

Adjusting to the Learning Process

Brian: You went through that training—brand new to real estate and everything else. What was that portion like—stepping into the Freedom Mentor community, plugging into the coaching calls, and learning on that end? Did you meld into it easily, or was it a difficult change?

Erik: No, it was new to me. I had sat in with my friend a couple of times on his conference calls, so I had an idea of what I was getting into. But I was eager to learn. I immersed myself in real estate—watching the videos, joining the calls. It was great. Anytime I ran into an obstacle and thought, This is it! The sky is falling, I’d jump on a coaching call. One of the coaches would show me that these issues happen all the time and explain how to handle them. Eventually, my mindset shifted, and I realized there’s a solution for pretty much any issue that comes up.

Valuable Aspects of the Program

Indispensable Tools for Success

Phil: What were your favorite parts of our program? What did you find absolutely indispensable to your journey?

Erik: The coaches, the calls, the videos—being able to hop on a call or email and get the answer I needed made the process so much easier. If I had tried to do it alone, I would’ve never made it through. I wouldn’t have even gotten my first deal because I would’ve seen obstacles as brick walls when they were really just fence posts I could easily go around. Getting insight from the coaches—beyond just the answer I needed—helped me avoid legal pitfalls and unnecessary attorney costs. I learned how to handle situations in a way that kept me out of legal jeopardy altogether.

Crossing the Finish Line

Achieving Success and Personal Milestones

Phil: As you progressed through the program, graduation—the completion of a half-million dollars in net profits—was in reach. How did that feel? What was it like to be in that final lap?

Erik: It felt amazing. As I was graduating, I was also getting married to a beautiful Filipino girl. The last deal I closed was actually finalized while I was on vacation for my honeymoon. I had a deep sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I had never really stuck with anything before—I had dropped out of high school. But completing this journey felt incredible.

Phil: If I had to bet, I would’ve said you were college-educated. You’re so much smarter than the vast majority of college graduates I interact with. I would’ve never guessed you dropped out of high school. Has that had any impact on your real estate investing—when interacting with title companies, mortgage brokers, and real estate agents?

Erik: At first, yeah. Even if I had a college degree, I still would’ve felt intellectually naked when I didn’t know much about real estate. But as I completed more deals and gained more knowledge, that insecurity disappeared. After my first deal, I finally felt confident navigating the industry

The Power of Mentorship

Brian: How important would you say having a mentor was to your success?

Erik: I wouldn't have been able to do it without my mentor. I would've ended up in legal trouble or just spinning my wheels—every deal has some kind of obstacle to overcome, and I wouldn’t have been able to navigate those hurdles on my own. Hindsight is 20/20, and looking back, I see there was no way I could have done it without a mentor. There are two types of people in the world: successful people and those who can’t take good advice. I praise God—glory to God first for my success—and second, the great advice I received through the Freedom Mentor Program.

The Value of Taking Advice

Phil: It’s interesting, Eric. I’m coaching 11- to 14-year-olds in soccer at the YMCA. I don’t know much about soccer, so I brought in someone who does—he’s technically the smart person, and I just learn from him to teach the kids. Last week, before we watched the game film, I shared six scriptures from Proverbs that talk about how if you don’t take advice, you’re an idiot. But if you do take advice, you are counted among the wise and live a fulfilling life. I read each one over—boom, boom, boom—all six of them.

Before going over the game tape, I asked, “Do you all recognize the value of constructive criticism? Are you okay with the fact that it might not feel great when I point out where you were out of position?” Interestingly, after the session, the parents texted me asking for those six scriptures. It resonated even more with them. They realized that not taking advice had been a challenge in their own lives. That’s why your answer is so fascinating, Erik—because I agree. People have so many opportunities to succeed, but if they’re not willing to be humble and listen to great advice, then follow through with it, life gets tough.

What’s Next: Expanding into New Ventures

Phil: Tell us where you’re at in real estate right now and what you’re working on.

Erik: I just got back from my fifth honeymoon in the Philippines, and while I was there, I wrote up a deal—a beautiful 31-acre farm. It has a newly built 2,700-square-foot shop and a home that’s over 3,200 square feet. Looking ahead, I’m getting ready to start a tree removal service. The marketing and business skills I’ve learned through Freedom Mentor have been valuable beyond real estate, making it much easier to launch this new venture.

Advice for Those Considering Real Estate

The Value of Having a Mentor

Phil: What is your advice to someone who is struggling right now, looking at real estate, and considering our program? Should they try to do this on their own, or dive in with the right mentor?

Erik: Working with you guys was great. You made everything cut and dry—saved me a lot of headaches and anxiety. I would say go with you guys. You’ve always been honest, and you’ve always kept your word. I definitely recommend Freedom Mentor. It has been amazing for me, for my friend, and for countless others. I’ve been on the calls and heard success stories firsthand.

Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Investors

Brian: Any words of wisdom for those watching this, trying to make decisions about their future?

Erik: I think it’s a huge mistake to quit your job before you’ve completed at least two or three deals. You could get backed into a financial corner, which might throw wrenches in all the gears and end up being a big mess. When I joined the program, instead of closing up shop, I got a part-time job at Dollar Tree as a cashier. I also worked in a cabinet shop during the day and did small engine repair at night. On weekends, I rode my motorized bicycle all over town, hanging up I Buy Houses signs. I’d stand on the seat of my bicycle to hang them high, carrying a large stack in the milk crate on the front of my bike. It was a good time.

Shifting Mindset and Embracing the Process

But another important piece is that we have all these preconceived ideas about how things work, and sometimes, we have to throw those out and trust the program. Believe what they’re telling you—they have all the answers to any real estate issue you’re going to run into. I had to do that, put aside all the misconceptions I had and reprogram myself with the truth. I believed the lie that you had to have a real estate license or be a millionaire to get into real estate. Neither of those is true. There are so many other misconceptions people believe. Sometimes, you just have to wipe the slate clean and start fresh—so that everything you take in is accurate.

Gratitude and a Life Transformed

I am so grateful for the Freedom Mentor Program. I deeply thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. I’ve got my son back in my life now. I got married. I own my own home. Everything is great. My parents respect me, and I’m able to help them on a regular basis. I just praise the Lord for you guys.

Every Successful Creative Real Estate Investor Has a Mentor

Erik’s story is a testament to what’s possible when determination and faith meet the right opportunity. He started from scratch—no degree, no car, no cash—but he never let those obstacles define his future. Instead of making excuses, he took action, trusted the process, and found the guidance he needed through Freedom Mentor.

Creative real estate allowed Josh to completely transform his life, and his journey proves that success is achievable with the right mentor and strategy. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to scale your business, Freedom Mentor’s Apprentice Program can provide the coaching, mentorship, and support needed to reach financial success: Freedom Mentor Apprentice Program.

If you have questions for us, text FREEDOM to 305-315-8030 or post a comment below.