Finding Success after a Massive Lawsuit: Chris Davenport’s Journey of Personal Resilience and Business Planning

Speaker 0

 

I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Chris Davenport of Next Level Leadership Academy. Chris is a business coach, who's had a long history himself of business success as well as faced some significant adversity, specifically with regard to a major lawsuit that he faced as an entrepreneur. And, man, he throws out a lot of just practical advice along the way, how to start a business, how to whether to go with your heart and do what you love or whether to, you know, serve the the market and serve others, you know, and and when to pivot, when to stick with, your your goals, and and just grind it out and finish your objective or when to change course. This one is is chock full of of nuggets and practical wisdom. Chris really brings a kind of a level headed approach. I love his his vibe. He's definitely got a good amount of of real life experience that he now applies in helping entrepreneurs specifically, to either start a business or scale their business and take it to the next level. Chris definitely got vulnerable speaking about how the lawsuit he faced really, placed a lot of pressure and stress on his his internal business team and how it affected his partnership, and how really, there's so much that's at play with the human dynamic. And and I one of the things he mentions at the end is kind of the key, element to building a successful team that really gets overlooked in especially in today's world. So you're gonna have to listen to the end for that one. Chris Davenport was a fantastic guest, and you're gonna love this episode. 

 

Speaker 1

 

Welcome to From Adversity to Abundance, the go to podcast for real estate entrepreneurs seeking not just to thrive, but to conquer with resilience and mental sharpness. Each week, join us as we dive into the compelling world of real estate through the lens of mental fitness, where challenges transform into opportunities. Get ready to transform your mindset and expand your understanding of what it takes to succeed in real estate. Let's explore these stories of triumph and resilience together. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Welcome, everybody, to another episode of the From Adversity to Abundance podcast. I am your host, Jamie Bateman. And today, we have with us Chris Davenport. Chris is a an executive coach. He helps, business leaders, including real estate entrepreneurs across the country with, achieving their goals and overcoming adversity. Chris, how are you doing today? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Great, Jamie. Thanks for having 

 

Speaker 0

 

me here. Absolutely. It's gonna be a fun fun chat. So, Chris, for our listeners who may not be familiar with you, who are you, and what are you up to today? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I am basically a an executive coach. So what that means is I know the coaching term is thrown around a lot, but, It is. The way I I I apply it is, I help executive teams and, also, you know, aspiring entrepreneurs, you know, really figure out a plan for the team or themselves to be successful at whatever they whatever they want to do. I do have some niches. One of them, as you mentioned, is is real estate. And so I help real estate teams, real estate investors really form a business plan. Or if they have one, I I take it and and help them make a a more solid foundation 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And really mentor them and coach them to success. 

 

Speaker 0

 

And would you say you take them to the next level? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yes. I take them to the next level. 

 

Speaker 0

 

I think I failed to mention that Chris's business is called Next Level Leadership Academy. And so we'll get into a little bit later a little bit more detail about, how you serve, entrepreneurs, which will be really good. But, before we get there, we wanna hear a little more about your own personal story, Chris, and how, you know, adversity that you've been able to overcome. I say able, you know, like like it's a something that's exciting that you're looking for, you know, more and more adversity. But the fact is you've been an entrepreneur for a long time, and you've helped many entrepreneurs. So you've no doubt faced personal adversity in your own life, but you've also tangentially seen a lot of other adversity. And so, you know, just for the the listener who may be new, the show is intended to provide practical value, but also inspiration to the entrepreneur out there, who will face adversity, and that will come in many different forms and and sizes, and and helping them to get to abundance. And what does that mean? It is a little nebulous, but, you know, but it's it's guaranteed to happen as far as the adversity goes. But how we respond to it, that's not guaranteed. That's well within our control oftentimes. So enough of me rambling, Chris. Let's jump back into your backstory. Where do you wanna start? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I guess I'll I'll start it, you know, when I was when I was going off to college. My plan really changed, and I didn't I really wasn't prepared for this because, growing up, I thought that I thought that I was gonna be a doctor. I'd planned on being an anesthesiologist, and, you know, I I went off to college. And in that process, I was given a laptop for graduation, from high school. And, gosh, before the classes even started, I just started falling in love with technology. And before my first class, I said, oh, I I have to change my major. And I just found that I had such a knack for problem solving with technology and helping others kind of in the in the the boom of the dot com and, you know, from the the ninety five to two thousand. It was kind of when I was in college. And I just just gravitate gravitated towards it, and I found that I knew things. I was able to find things out about technology that I that other people didn't know, and I kinda took it for granted. Mhmm. But it was a a ton of fun at the same time that I started a small business, and I was actually making some money from it. And, so so there in college, I I started my my first business and started helping businesses with, computer issues that nobody really understood at the time. And somehow this, eighteen to twenty year old kid, you know, figured this stuff out for these, you know, sometimes larger companies in Houston. So it it was a ton of fun. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That's really cool. And before I, I I have one question I wanna ask about becoming a doctor, but quick, you know, commentary about people often talk about what you know, whether you should follow your passion and just do what you love, and and money will show up and all that. And and but then other people say, no. You need to, you know, find a niche that people will pay pay you for. Right? Figure out what how to make money and how to serve others. But it kinda sounds like you were in the the middle of that Venn diagram, if you will, where you really enjoyed tech, you know, but you also sounds like through some trial and error maybe, but figured out that people were willing to pay you, so they had a need that you were solving for them. So it was actually a little bit of both right out of the gate, it sounds like. Is that fair? 

 

Speaker 2

 

It is definitely fair. And it just that overlap was there, and it happened without me even realizing what was occurring at the time. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Now you can say it was all strategic on your part. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. Wait. Oh, I planned it out. You know? I sat I I stayed up night after night writing this out, and it just worked out perfectly. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. That's what entrepreneurship is. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. That's it. 

 

Speaker 0

 

No. No. That's really good. But and but back back to just quickly, why did you want to become a doctor initially? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. I I was always interested in in science and and medicine. Mhmm. And I think it was because I I had a friend that in school, and it and his father was an anesthesiologist. And I just took interest in how calm he was and how sure of himself he was 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. And 

 

Speaker 2

 

how how confident, and he seemed like a very happy individual. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Okay. 

 

Speaker 2

 

That was, you know, helping others. Sure. Providing service, getting compensated fairly. I mean, that's all we all could ask for. Right? And Sure. Okay. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That makes sense. I 

 

Speaker 2

 

took that as a model and 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, ran with it from an early age. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. And the truth is too. I mean, you know, most people, not everyone, but most people in college at that age, you don't really know what you wanna do. I mean No. No. Many of us change direction. So, before we move on with your story, how would you, you know, talk talk to the listener out there who's trying to figure out, okay. I I'm there's some signs that's what I'm working the the direction I'm headed right now is not going well. Do I just put my head down and grind it out and and complete my goal, and I said I was gonna be a doctor, for example? Yep. Or or do how do I know whether it's time to to pivot and maybe try something else? What what would you say about that? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I've got a couple of thoughts on that. I would start with the with the first one. You know? I think you would know to pivot. It it's first first of all, before that, you should always try and follow through with what you tell yourself you're going to do. Otherwise, you're I've done a lot of studies and gone through, cognitive behavioral therapy Mhmm. You know, kind of re rewiring your brain, so to speak. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

If you tell yourself, hey. I'm gonna do this, and then you don't Mhmm. Then you establish a pattern. So Yeah. Try your best to complete what you've set out to do. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That's really cool. 

 

Speaker 2

 

However, if something comes along, like in my case, the laptop, I just I blame the laptop. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

That's what it's Yeah. That was the catalyst. Fault. You know? And, and Windows ninety five, you know, was there, and it just all kind of, you know, culminated. If there's a catalyst so loud, you know, speaking to you 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And it's prolific in every way, Don't ignore it. You know? You have you have to trust your gut. Mhmm. And, you know, because I'm ADD and, ADHD, whatever they call it. Yeah. So I do have a tendency to jump around different things, 

 

Speaker 0

 

so 

 

Speaker 2

 

I have 

 

Speaker 0

 

to remind myself do that. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. I think it's it's a necessary evil of being an entrepreneur to be you're just you're mentally ADD or something. Squirrel. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yes. Exactly. So I think that you have to you have to trust your gut, but don't jump around just for the sake of jumping around to start something else. Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. And there's no there's no it's a tough question. Right? There's no clear cut answer, but, you know, I I would say as soon as you face initial adversity, that doesn't mean it's time to change course because that's you're going to face hardship in anything that you do. So Yep. But that's that that what you said is is is really good. So, and, also, I think it's comforting to know that whatever you change course to doesn't mean you've necessarily committed to that for life either. So you could learn a few things for the next three, four, or five years and then pivot again. Right? So, but yeah. So in let's get back to your story. So you you start serving people in college. It sounds like maybe your your peers and others. And how did that business go, from from starting it, say, through the next few years if it if it went that long? 

 

Speaker 2

 

It just, it it morphed into, taking care of businesses, mainly in the Houston area, Houston, Texas area, and, just through word-of-mouth. So I through through family, There was a client that, had sixty three laptops. They're Salesforce. They all had viruses. They kept taking them to, you know, the companies to try and fix them, and nobody really knew what to do with them. So I I did some I played around with them. I got, you know, I got a couple of them to work. This this family friend took them back to work with him the next day, and I got a call that night. Hey. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Sixty one. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. Boss wants you to come over and fix the rest. So I said, what? The rest? You know? And, and I just did that one for nothing. Just playing around. Just see if I could because nobody could figure it out at the time. Or nobody that looked at it, you know, could figure it out. So, so that's that's where my first major client came from. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Okay. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And then through there, just word-of-mouth. I didn't do any advertising, and I love that. Paying clients pretty quick. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Nice. And the thing you know, how much did your business cost to set up? Zero. Nothing. I love that. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You 

 

Speaker 0

 

know? It's not if it failed, k, you learned some lessons and, you know, it's you spent time. Your time has has value, but you didn't lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, you know, a lot of people, and and I'm guilty of this, will do, like, a a build it and they will come model. And not saying that's always wrong, but if you put years and years into something and, you know, lots and lots of money and then you did zero market testing, and and maybe the market changed since you started, you know, and then, nobody shows up. Man. Yeah. That's a heavy cost to pay. So, and it sounds like I mean, you you I guess, it we'll we'll say you got lucky maybe with the timing of the with the, you know, just where the market can how the market conditions were at that time were definitely in your favor for sure. So let's fast forward, though, you know, from adversity to abundance. You mentioned before we hit record that you've faced some some real business challenges over the years. I don't wanna go skip too far ahead too quickly, but if you can kind of bridge that gap for us from a business standpoint from the sort of flourishing small business with ten clients to the period where you started to hit some some real, business adversity, Sure. That'd be great. 

 

Speaker 2

 

So fast forward, you know, some years to, probably twenty two thousand fourteen, fifteen, somewhere in there. At this point, we formed a I formed a new company and went in as a fifty fifty partner with, with a partner 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And where we, you know, we continue to grow the company together. Through that, we we got to just over almost eleven million in revenue. It was our best year. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Nice. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And good profit margins. You know, things were going seemingly going great. And then our largest client that accounted for forty percent of our revenue, which is another no no they tell you 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Not to have a whale client. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right? Concentration risk. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. Right. It happened, and, here we were. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Well, what are you gonna do? Turn the client down? No. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You you you can't say no. You get you just gotta you gotta keep going and and try and find more of them. You know? So so we, you know, we got a summons or or, you know, notice, papers served that we were they were suing us, and we'd never been sued before. We had a few clients threaten over small things, and we just took care of it and talked to them and came to an agreement and everything. You know what happens. Sure. When you have you know, I think we had about, you know, a thousand clients, the very small to very the big forty percent one. And, you have these things come up. But this is not something that anyone really tells you about. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

So the this client that that, sued us, you know, it was a big deal. And they were much bigger than us, and, this could have taken us out of business. Because come to find out, we, you know, we had an insurance agent, but we didn't have they weren't recommending the right type of insurance to cover us with the e and o. So Mhmm. There there was we were we were naked. You know? Wow. 

 

Speaker 0

 

So and from a mental standpoint, when you when you receive those papers, what what goes through, you know, through your mind? 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, you just it it was it was a ton of stress, you know, because you start to think about, oh, well, this could clean us out. You know, we've got all these employees that we have. We had maybe sixteen employees at that time. Ask you that. Yeah. Sixteen, eighteen, somewhere in there. And we're we're helping them feed their families. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Sure. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know? And A 

 

Speaker 0

 

lot of responsibility. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. And then we've got our own families to to feed and, and really know I've never had a real job like that. Like, what what do I do from here Right. If all this, you know, breaks apart? And how do we handle this, and, how are we gonna get through it? You know? And so, and it it it caused some, you know, infighting between my partner and I, which is unfortunate. But due to the stress, you know, I think we both started drinking more than what you would say is normal Mhmm. Which, you know, I I don't really like alcohol, but, at the time, it 

 

Speaker 0

 

it serves a purpose. Numbing agent. Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yes. Not recommended, by the way. Don't don't do that. But, yeah, it was it was heavy stuff. 

 

Speaker 0

 

So What were they if you can I know I'm sure there's things you can't talk about with it, but what were the accusations that that you what were they suing you for? 

 

Speaker 2

 

They were claiming that, we sold them things that they didn't ask for, and they were claiming that we, overcharged them for what we're providing them. Okay. You know? And, you know, we had evidence to show otherwise, but you had to you had to 

 

Speaker 0

 

the burden's on you. Yeah. Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

They always say innocent until proven guilty, but really in a civil in a civil case like this, it's, hey. You're guilty until you prove that you're not. You know? 

 

Speaker 0

 

So Yeah. That I can imagine. So, so, you know, what did you do? I mean, did you just drink for the next three years or no. I'm kidding. But I'm like, 

 

Speaker 2

 

That might have been one approach. But, 

 

Speaker 0

 

I guess, really, how long do you just sit in in in kind of in in shock or wallowing in, you know, fear or whatever you wanna call it, but and then, I guess, maybe not a a recommendation, but for you, how did it work? Did was it two weeks of, you know, just what do we do? This is terrible, or or did you immediately go into action? 

 

Speaker 2

 

So I I immediately went into action, and it's just the way that I am wired. Yeah. You know, others involved just kind of wanted to they didn't know what to do. Mhmm. You know? And I get it. I mean, you don't 

 

Speaker 0

 

know what 

 

Speaker 2

 

to do, but I'm I'm always wanting business to to run-in the fire to you know? So that's what I did. I figured out you know, I I found a lawyer. Mhmm. And I started going after it. I said, okay. What do we need to do next? You know? And I started learning about, you know, the law, and I started learning about, you you know, because they were saying some sort of they were signing an antitrust law that we were gouging them in some way. And, you know, so I've I started building the documentation. You know, mind you, there was probably, I don't know, sixty orders ranging in size. I mean, we're talking about thousands of items and services, and we hired we had to hire staff, you know, to to support this client. We had to buy machinery and, vehicles and, increase our warehouse space. You know? So there was a lot of we were warehousing for them. So there's a lot going on. 

 

Speaker 0

 

And A lot of and and a lot of, regardless of the the lawsuit itself, even if they just pulled out as a client, you're saying Yeah. That's a huge deal without Yes. Having to fight this lawsuit. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So you find an attorney. How long does this whole process take to to fight this? 

 

Speaker 2

 

It takes about two years. Wow. And it was it was an interesting, grueling 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

But educational two years. Well, that's a key point. Intensive. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. Right. Were you able to, at at any point during that two years, acknowledge that, okay. This is educational. I'm gonna be able to learn through this and be a better entrepreneur, better, you know, coach down the road maybe, or was it not until years later that you reflected on it and could see that? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I think at some point midway when I was sitting through my maybe my third deposition, third or fourth. You know? This is a tactic that lawyers use to try and wear you down. Mhmm. So I think it was my fourth deposition. They the other side had four attorneys there. There was, then there was my one attorney. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And I just I I realized how well I was doing handling the pressure that they were putting on me. The more pressure they would put, the more stable I would appear. And and even the more stable in here that I'm like, hey. They they don't have any. They're just fishing. You know? 

 

Speaker 0

 

Grasping. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. And, you know, so I think that at that point, probably midway 

 

Speaker 0

 

Uh-huh. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Is when I realized, hey. I'm learning a ton of 

 

Speaker 0

 

things I 

 

Speaker 2

 

didn't know. Yeah. And I I will will use in the future, and I can vouch for that now. Myself now, if, you know, if there's a lawsuit, I don't freak out. I just go through the motions. 

 

Speaker 0

 

You know? Well and I imagine it helps you in your coaching business as well because yeah. I mean, lawsuits, unfortunately, are are pretty common in the business world. So I imagine you've probably had some level of, you know, dealing with that as a as a coach for your clients as well. Yes. So how did it okay. So the you mentioned internal, you know, stress within the company, coming out of that adversity. Well, first, I mean, how did it how did it turn out for you? 

 

Speaker 2

 

It it turned out, you know, monetarily, the legal fees alone were about were right at a million dollars. So Wow. That's That's the negative. Ripped the Band Aid off. You know, we lost a client. Million bucks gone. The lawyer was very nice and worked out a payment plan because although we were successful, we did not have a million dollars sitting around. And, you know, we we, so we got through that, but, the good is, well, good for us. Mhmm. It through the case, we found out that they the same client was also suing all of their vendors. Oh, wow. So they were suing their landlord, you know, who did their real estate leases for their locations. And we also learned that, you know, some of the owners who did did some unscrupulous things and borrowed money to take draws, things like that. Not illegal, but not advisable. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Maybe not ethical. Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. Not ethical. I'm sure. Mhmm. And they ended up filing bankruptcy right before we could do a response in a response to their summary judgment. So it all went away at that point. 

 

Speaker 0

 

So Wow. Yeah. And then internally, your your team, how did it affect things going forward? 

 

Speaker 2

 

It was it was high stress. You know? Team members, we had them helping us gather invoices and sales receipts and 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Bill of ladings, receipt you know, receive logs. And they knew what was going on. And they were stressed because they were worried about Yeah. Making mistakes. So some of them quit over it. You know? 

 

Speaker 0

 

And and also probably worried about their jobs. Is this is your business gonna make it? Am I gonna have a job after this? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Exactly. And, then, you know, it it did cause as I've mentioned earlier, between my partner and I 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

It caused a considerable amount of stress. Mhmm. And, you know, he did not handle it well. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And, I didn't always handle it well either. You know? Mhmm. So sometimes I would meet his his, anger and frustration 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

With and and, like, kind. Yeah. And, which I I have learned from that experience. And I'm sure he he learned as well because 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Neither of us do that anymore. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Sure. You know? Okay. So this was approximately ten years ago. Is that right? Something like that? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Ten years ago is when it when it all kind of started. Yeah. And, it kinda wrapped up six or seven years ago. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Got it. Okay. So walk us through quickly the last six or seven years of your own business business life. 

 

Speaker 2

 

So after that, you know, we we definitely had a reduction, you know, forty percent reduction in revenue as as expected. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

But so we we had a couple of trying years there where we had to adjust to, you know, the the reduction in revenue, and so we had to reduce staff. But we we regrouped and found something called EOS, which is stands for entrepreneurial operating system. Mhmm. And, it's basically a a system, not not software. A lot of people Yeah. Get confused with the system component. But Sure. It's a simple set of tools that you implement in your business to really get a great foundation and, you know, find repeatable results from from whatever you do. You know? And so we implemented EOS at that point, with an implementer and, just fell in love with it. Kinda like the laptop moment. It's just it it took us from chaos to not always knowing what to do to, hey. There's a place for everything that happens. You know, any problem 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, there's a hundred and thirty seven issues in the history of business. Any of those fit in a component of. And so it really helped us find stability 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Growth, and repeatability Yeah. Which, you know, translates to happy clients, happy employees. And, then I like that so much. I started coaching businesses. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. What size company would you say EOS is is best for? I mean, I it's fairly expensive from what, you know, from what I have seen, but it's all relative. So, you know, solo entrepreneur, probably not. Right? But Yeah. What size business really should, start looking into EOS or or similar system? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I would say a million in revenue up to, 

 

Speaker 0

 

you know, 

 

Speaker 2

 

I think goes to to three hundred million from about five to three hundred employees. The company needs to be entrepreneurial in spirit 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And more afraid of the status quo than than you know, they they're craving change, and they're not afraid 

 

Speaker 0

 

of Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

So that is really 

 

Speaker 0

 

Isn't the attraction Yes. Do you know Whitman's one book one of his books? Yep. So Yep. Yeah. That was a really good one. It's Go ahead. 

 

Speaker 2

 

It's based on that. And I would say to the individuals that maybe, you know, can't can't afford it or not there, traction's a great read. And there's a lot of that stuff that can be pulled out and used for an individual to become foundationally successful. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Love it. So sounds like you pivoted. How long ago was this that you really got into coaching? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I started about three years ago. And as EOS brought me more time back, I got time back from, you know, spending eighty hours a week, sometimes late nights, depositions as we talked about. Yeah. You know? And and I got the time back and got really good at that. So I used that time to start helping other businesses and ended up selling the IT business last year. Just we were getting offers. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And we got an offer we couldn't say no to. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That's great. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And, you know, I I was enjoying the coaching, and I was really coaching for that business Mhmm. Anyways. That's what I was doing on the day to day. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. Right. So it wasn't a huge, you know, one eighty or even a ninety degree pivot. It was kind of just a natural transition into what you're doing now. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yes. Yep. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. I mean, this this you mentioned early on that the word coaching gets thrown around. Just curious in from your perspective, you know, what's the difference between between coaching, mentoring, consulting, you know, therapy? No. I mean, there's 

 

Speaker 2

 

It's a 

 

Speaker 0

 

What is coaching in in relation to the rest of those? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I think that it's all of that that you're saying. Mhmm. You know, sometimes and what we say is, you know, in the in the session room, we're we're teachers, we're facilitators. So teachers, we we help you know, we teach you things 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Tools to help you, facilitators. So during the, you know, team meetings, sometimes there's one team member that's boisterous and takes up a lot of air. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

So we have to make sure that there's fair airtime for the introverts in the room because they also have things that they need to get out. Yeah. And then and then a coach, someone to to rally them on to their goals. And, you know, sometimes therapists, you know, things you know, we're all people Right. At the end of the day. Yeah. And, I think that the term coaching gets thrown around in these other scenarios where people are selling these courses 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. Sure. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Which can be good. Okay? That that it'd be great. Yeah. But you hear there's there's a negative connotation with coaching because there's courses for sale out there 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

That aren't really great. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. Right. For sure. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Put together with AI or what have you and Yeah. But people humans that are coaching other people 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

It's an invaluable tool to get you there faster. 

 

Speaker 0

 

No. We we do a little bit of, we call it mentorship. It's coaching. I mean, it's and at least from my perspective, it's essentially the same thing. One on one mentorship for our mortgage note investing, specifically. And, you know, we talk about the fact that there are a lot of good courses out there, and those and the mentorship that we offer can really complement, you know, those courses. You may have taken a course, but the truth is it's almost never it's not one size fits all. So we're there to kind of help you really throw some gasoline on your, you know, on the fire, if you will, and and really, advance your progress through mentorship and coaching. And there are also, you know, group memberships that are can be really good masterminds. And so these aren't all in competition necessarily. They can work really well synergistically, but you're absolutely right. The coaching world gets a bad rap and and rightfully so in some for good reason, unfortunately. But, but that doesn't mean all coaches are bad or all, you know, all programs are bad. 

 

Speaker 2

 

No. And I'm sure y'all have helped, you know, people breakthrough in that space, which is awesome. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. You 

 

Speaker 2

 

know? It's 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. For sure. No. And it's really fun too. I mean, it's I mean, I I enjoy it. Just seeing people, you know, it it's it's their it's them doing it. It's I'm just there to support them. And and, you know, to see the growth in many people, it doesn't really stick, and it's largely timing or their own factors or whatever. And it you know? But stick meaning they they may try note investing for a bit, and then, this isn't really for me. That's okay too. They learn something. Yeah. But but yeah. So, now I've got some, some questions for you. But but before that we get there, what what what does your business look like today? Is it just you, your coaching business? Just you? Do you have a team, or what does it look like? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I I it's me. I have an assistant that helps Mhmm. With things, and then I have someone that helps with the with the sales coaching component that helps specifically with sales and marketing. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Gotcha. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Okay. So it's just small team right now. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. Are you more a little bit more operations focused, I guess? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I'm I'm more in this in the session room or in the Zoom meetings with the with the teams and helping them, you know, build out their tools that they need, coming up coming up with goals and a plan for a path forward in the next ninety days, one year, three years. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Got it. Alright. Are you ready for a few rapid fire questions? Sure. What is a we mentioned traction, but what's another book or two that you'd recommend? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I would recommend, let's see. Oh, it just went blank. I'm trying to to think one. I think one of them is The Richest Man in Babylon. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Oh, yeah. It's a good book. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And, it's a good read. It's it's a fable, but it's it's I recommend that to younger people to read so they get a get a handle on their money early. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. Speaking of that, financial abundance, how has that made your your your life better personally? 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, it's just it's funny. I've never really focused on primarily on money, and it just comes when you find what you're good at and you do it well. Mhmm. I look at the time I get, is my pay. I get the time back, and I've I've been successful. So it's given me time Yeah. To spend with my kids, to go on vacation, and I love that. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That's awesome. What do you think is one of the biggest psychological barriers that, say, real estate entrepreneurs? It could be all entrepreneurs, but small business owners, just psychological barriers that, entrepreneurs face today. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, I think and specifically experience with with a couple of my real estate clients. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

They focus a lot on their competition. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And they they're thinking, oh, well, that so and so is doing better than I am. Mhmm. I guess so the so the the comparing, it's a thief of joy. Right? 

 

Speaker 0

 

Sure. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And, so, you know, we're all in different places, and we have to meet we have to meet each other where we're at. Like, when I'm in a room with somebody helping them, I have to meet them where they are. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Sure. 

 

Speaker 2

 

But we don't don't forget. You have to meet yourself where you are. And I think people overlook that, and it's easy to open up Instagram, Facebook, you know, whatever your poison is Yeah. And see that, Laura's out there selling She sold another house. You know? Right. 

 

Speaker 0

 

I need 

 

Speaker 2

 

to catch up. You know? So 

 

Speaker 0

 

Absolutely. 

 

Speaker 2

 

I think that's that's the one of the biggest things I see. 

 

Speaker 0

 

What would you say what what's the role of luck in luck versus skill in success? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I think that I don't I don't wanna say I don't believe in luck, but I believe in if you have the right mindset and you put yourself in the right places and you continuously learn forever, ever never quit learning Mhmm. Luck will come, if you wanna call it that. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Love that. Well, how do you do tactically, maybe on a daily basis, are there is there anything you do, to get yourself into the right mindset? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I would say that I'd I wake up early 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, before there's a lot of noise. Yeah. And so I try and plan my day as much as possible, and put the most important things first. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And so get get some wins early. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That's good. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And, Get some traction. Yeah. Get some get some traction, and that that definitely makes for a positive day instead of waking up in chaos, not sure what to do next. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Reacting. Reaction. Sure. That's really good. What, what's something that you've seen that that's, you know, in your years as an entrepreneur or or a coach that you would consider controversial? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Controversial. I'm trying to think of something. I would say pintos. Yeah. Yeah. I I would just say that, you know, if if you if it sounds too good to be true Mhmm. Then in my experience, it is. Mhmm. You know? It's just Good. So if someone's overpromising 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, say they're a salesperson, they're interviewing at your company, and they promise, oh, I sold a million dollars last year and did this and that. And you look down and their shoes are worn and, you know, they don't their cars broke down, and it just doesn't add up. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Listen to all of those things. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Not Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Not to judge them. But 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. For yourself. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Not to be honest. Yeah. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Right. And then looking forward in in just kind of small business in general across it's a it's a broad spectrum, but what would you say are some emerging challenges, maybe that some of your real estate entrepreneurs are facing? You know, could be AI related or, just kinda looking over the next year or two. What do you see as, an emerging challenge in the real estate entrepreneur space? 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, there's there's two that come to mind. One one challenge that, just dealt with in in a meeting couple of weeks ago was this change to, having to have a a buyer's agent agreement signed or you see a property. So the for the the realtors out there that I've coached, they're struggling with this. 

 

Speaker 0

 

They have 

 

Speaker 2

 

to build entire processes, because there's a fine associated. If they don't do this, there's a fine associated with it, and they you know, it's it's not good. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And so you have these these people that aren't, you know, always entrepreneurial, and they don't have processes nailed down for for the buyer side. They're having to come scramble to come up with something 

 

Speaker 0

 

Sure. 

 

Speaker 2

 

To cover. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. And that is a key point that you just kind of quickly mentioned was is just, you know, like, being a a good salesperson or or a good expert in a certain field is not is not the same thing as being a good business owner. My father has been a real estate agent for decades and did quite well, you know, at times. And, for there were a lot of ups and downs, but, not necessarily the greatest business person. A really good salesperson and a really hard worker and and, good with people and things, but, that's very different than than implementing a system, whether it's EOS or something like that. Yep. If you could have coffee with any historical figure, whom would you choose and why? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Well, let's see. I would have to say Ronald Reagan. Okay. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Like that one. He just 

 

Speaker 2

 

got so many nuggets that I've heard him say over the years that Yeah. I'm like, I wish I could have met that guy. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Absolutely. If you were given ten million dollars tomorrow, Chris, what would you do with it? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I would, in I would definitely invest some into real estate. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And I I would probably invest the rest of it in NVIDIA. Okay. I just like I like that stock right now, and I'm in it. Nice. Pretty heavy. So 

 

Speaker 0

 

Not not financial advice, by the way. But 

 

Speaker 2

 

No. No. That's what Chris would do. Yes. Yes. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Fantastic. What is, one question that you wish I'd asked you, but I I haven't? 

 

Speaker 2

 

You know, I I'd say, you know, pick one of the most important things for team success. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And I would my answer would be, to increase team health and team trust. It's something vastly overlooked by people who the the they where they don't elect to implement a system, whether it's EOS or something else, where they don't get in a room together on a regular basis. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. 

 

Speaker 2

 

High trust teams Yeah. Is where success happens when there's low trust, backstabbing, back channeling. It doesn't work. 

 

Speaker 0

 

I think I think it's even more it just I think that's a challenge now, but, I mean, more so than before even maybe where we're so virtual and, you know, I just think, not being in person I love the upside to it. Right? I there's certainly benefits, but, you know, if you're not meeting in person really ever or or somewhat frequently, you just miss out on that that kind of team element of things. And, personally, that's why, you know, I love working with former athletes or former, you know, team members of some sort, if you will, because they've already got that kind of team first mentality. And, you know, it's not just about you. It's about the mission and the team, and, that's that's really good. And and you're right. It's so easy to look past that and and Yeah. Underestimate the value of trust within the team. It is. The human element is really what it comes back to. Right? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yeah. That's right. It does. 

 

Speaker 0

 

So before we we sign off your your coaching services, you do private coaching, workshops, team coaching, keynotes. Anything else you wanna mention? 

 

Speaker 2

 

No. That's that's pretty much everything I do, you know, in individual or team. And, you know, I just my goal is to help people be their best and whether it's in a team or individually 

 

Speaker 0

 

Mhmm. 

 

Speaker 2

 

And twelve admissions. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Any, any really quick, case studies you could give, like success story from a a client or anything? 

 

Speaker 2

 

I I have a, there was an individual that I coached that he he was a trainer in a gym, And now he, you know, just not even seven or eight years later, he I coached him, helped him. He did the work, as you said before. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. Right. 

 

Speaker 2

 

He owns an insurance agency, with twenty five million in premium. They built from nothing. 

 

Speaker 0

 

That's amazing. Awesome. That is so cool. Yeah. Awesome. Well, Chris Davenport, this has been this has been a blast. Where can our listeners find you online? 

 

Speaker 2

 

They can find me at, c h d two dot com on the web. Perfect. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Any other, contact information or just the your website? I I think 

 

Speaker 2

 

I I have an Instagram out there. It's, I am Chris Davenport. 

 

Speaker 0

 

1. Sounds great. Well, Chris, thank you so much. This is very, you've definitely faced adversity that I don't think we've really talked about previously on on the show with the specifically with the lawsuit, and it it was a monster one for sure. Yep. And so to me, if you're gonna hire a coach, it makes sense to hire a coach who's dealt with some adversity. Yeah. You know? Because if either if if they haven't, then they're they haven't really been an entrepreneur probably or not for very long because 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yep. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Nobody's, you know, success story is is straight and and up into the right. Right? 

 

Speaker 2

 

Yep. It's definitely not linear. And, Jamie, I appreciate that. I just hope it helps somebody out there struggling with the the same horror story. Yeah. It all it all works out in the end. 

 

Speaker 0

 

Yeah. Absolutely. You've given a lot of practical tips and inspiration today. So, Chris, thanks for joining us. And to the listener out there, thank you for joining us and spending your most valuable resource with us. That is your time and more specifically, your attention. I'm gonna start saying that instead, but, your time and attention will save those two resources. So thank you all. We appreciate it. Thank you, Chris. Take care, everyone. 

 

Speaker 2

 

Thank 

 

Speaker 1

 

you for joining us on from adversity to abundance. We hope today's episode has equipped you with valuable insights and practical advice to elevate your real estate journey. For more inspiring stories and resources, visit us at w w w dot adversity to abundance dot com. If this episode has inspired you, please share it with a friend who could also benefit from our conversation. Together, let's turn adversity into abundance. Until next time, keep building your mental fitness and your real estate empire.