In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with the sister duo behind Lady Mae Boutique, Sharon and Donna, to talk about how they built a retail business in Portland starting from a basement during the pandemic.

Sharon and Donna share their journey from Honolulu to Portland, their backgrounds in nonprofit work and fashion design, and how burnout from corporate roles pushed them to take a leap into entrepreneurship. What started as a small operation selling clothes out of a basement quickly evolved into pop-ups, markets, and eventually a brick-and-mortar boutique on Alberta Street.

They break down the realities of running a retail business—from signing leases and managing inventory to navigating slow seasons, inconsistent income, and the importance of community support. The conversation dives into what actually drives customer loyalty, why in-person retail still matters, and how creating a personalized shopping experience sets them apart in a world dominated by online shopping.

Sharon and Donna also share lessons on marketing, building a brand without paid ads, and why word-of-mouth and relationships have been their biggest drivers of growth. They talk candidly about the risks of entrepreneurship, working with family, and what it really takes to build something sustainable.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business, opening a retail store, or building a brand from scratch, this episode is packed with real-world insight you won’t want to miss.

Steven Tran

📞 Call / Text: (971) 285-2002

📧 Email: steven@diverserg.com

Jordan Lee

📞 Call / Text: +1 (503) 887-3619

📧 Email: jordan@jordanleemortgage.com

#REalizedGainsPodcast #PortlandSmallBusiness #BoutiqueOwner #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RetailBusiness #PortlandOregon

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In this episode of the REalized Gains Podcast, Steven & Jordan sit down with Connor Webb, a mortgage lender in the Portland–Vancouver market who has built a growing YouTube channel centered around baseball, content creation, and long-term brand building.

Connor shares how he got started in the mortgage industry right out of college and how his passion for sports led him to launch a YouTube channel that has grown into a real business asset. What started as baseball content evolved into a platform that generates opportunities, brand partnerships, and even mortgage clients.

We dive into how Connor approaches YouTube strategically, including how he thinks about thumbnails, titles, retention, and monetization. He breaks down the difference between evergreen vs. trending content, why consistency matters more than perfection, and how he repurposes long-form videos into short-form content across platforms.

Connor also shares behind-the-scenes insight into building a channel from scratch, getting media access with professional sports teams, and how he’s leveraged content to close real deals and grow his business.

👉 Check out Connor’s YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/thecouchgm

Whether you’re a real estate agent, lender, or entrepreneur looking to build your brand through content, this episode is packed with actionable insight you can apply immediately.

Steven Tran

📞 Call / Text: (971) 285-2002

📧 Email: steven@diverserg.com

Jordan Lee

📞 Call / Text: +1 (503) 887-3619

📧 Email: jordan@jordanleemortgage.com

#REalizedGainsPodcast #YouTubeForRealEstate #ContentCreation #BaseballYouTube #MortgageLender #PersonalBrand #RealEstateMarketing

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Tony Kelly joins Steven Tran and Jordan Lee for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, real estate, and what it really means to “give back” after building a successful career. Tony’s story spans Detroit → the Air Force Academy → serving as a nuclear launch officer → corporate sales/ops leadership with heavy travel → and eventually taking the leap into real estate with a business plan, a SWOT analysis, and a relentless commitment to execution.

We dig into the fundamentals that helped him win early in real estate—branding before Zillow, nonstop open houses, postcards/mailers, and even advertising other agents’ listings to build perceived credibility. Tony shares how those systems-thinking habits (checklists, process discipline, time blocking) translated from the military and corporate life into a repeatable client experience and long-term business growth. That path ultimately led him to Keller Williams ownership, where he helped start KW Portland Premiere and has remained deeply invested in building people and platforms.

From there, the conversation shifts to governance and advocacy: why Oregon REALTORS® leadership matters, how policy and legislation quietly shape our industry, and why protecting pillars like the 30-year mortgage and mortgage interest deduction is a constant fight—often invisible to producers focused only on transactions. Tony also explains how he got pulled into leadership at PMAR (Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors), then into statewide roles, including serving as Oregon REALTORS® President (2025 and 2026) and participating in a major governance restructure—the biggest at the state level since the early 1980s.

We also go personal: his doctorate journey (and why it’s one of the hardest grinds you can take on), becoming an adjunct professor, and his dissertation research on the “secret sauce” behind African-American women who make partner at top corporate law firms. Plus—burnout, balance, hobbies, and how a 20-year daily running streak and trail races keep him centered while he travels, leads, and still serves clients.

If you’re a Realtor, team leader, broker-owner, or aspiring association leader, this episode is a masterclass in long-game thinking: build systems, invest in people, protect the industry, and find a mission bigger than production.

#OregonRealtors #PMAR #RealEstateLeadership #RealEstateAdvocacy #MortgageRates #HousingPolicy #GenerationalWealth #KellerWilliams #PortlandRealEstate #OregonRealEstate #RealtorLife #RealEstateBusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #TimeBlocking #SystemsThinking #RealEstatePodcast #DiversityInRealEstate #NAR #30YearMortgage

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.