Benmont Locker: Doubling Deal Flow & Avoiding the Shiny Object Trap

In this episode of the Collective Genius Live podcast, I sit down with the ever-insightful Benmont Locker—COO-turned-educator and leadership force behind Ramp Academy and CG Elevate. Recorded live at our Select and Elevate event in Sarasota, this conversation dives deep into the core disciplines that truly move the needle in real estate investing. If you’re struggling to grow consistently or falling for shiny objects, this one’s for you.

 

Ben shares how building a business based on solid systems, data-driven decision-making, and foundational sales metrics can radically transform deal flow and profitability. We also chat about how Ramp Academy emerged to bridge the critical gaps between marketing and sales, the importance of staying in your lane, and what “scale” should actually mean for serious investors. Whether you’re stuck at a plateau or just launching your full-time investing journey, there’s gold here.

 

Episode Timeline Highlights

 

[0:00] - Ben’s rise from COO at Integrity First Homebuyers to educator and leader

[2:18] - Why data-driven strategy matters more than intuition in operations

[3:15] - How Ben built confidence and leadership through process and analytics

[4:29] - The true meaning of scale and why consistency may be more valuable

[5:06] - The “dolphin” model of revenue and the fix through systems

[7:43] - Inside the Elevate room: the curriculum, structure, and mission

[8:43] - The 6 core metrics every investor should master

[9:40] - Why doubling deal flow changes everything—and how Elevate helps

[10:35] - Avoiding shiny object syndrome: the crypto mistake that cost $200K

[12:37] - The foundational path to success in real estate investing

[13:02] - What inspired the creation of Ramp Academy

[14:55] - Why collaboration between sales and marketing is essential

[17:04] - Building a business intentionally with marketing as the foundation

[18:41] - A proven framework for effective, modern real estate marketing

[21:31] - How legislation and market shifts impact investor strategy

[22:17] - The mistake of forcing deals and the discipline of passing on bad ones

[23:10] - Why Elevate is the right community for growth-minded investors

 

5 Key Takeaways

 

1. Scale Isn’t the Goal—Clarity Is: Understanding what you’re scaling toward is more important than chasing growth for growth’s sake.

2. Master the Metrics: Gross leads, qualified leads, appointments, contracts, and revenue—track these relentlessly for sustainable success.

3. Consistency Beats Complexity: Foundational systems and repeatable processes drive real business longevity.

4. Stay in Your Lane: Chasing the next big trend (like crypto) without mastery of your core business can set you back dramatically.

5. Marketing and Sales Must Sync: Misalignment between marketing and sales creates chaos; collaboration delivers conversions.

 

Links & Resources

 

• Learn more about Ramp Academy: https://rampreia.com

• Connect with Benmont Locker on Instagram or Facebook

• Apply to join the