In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Brandon Lindsey, founder of The Rehabber’s Playbook, to talk about his journey from baseball dreams to real estate investing and community building.
We cover his first deal inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad, learning construction from scratch, and how he built a thriving national network that helps hundreds of investors succeed in rehabs. Brandon opens up about growing up in adversity, the lessons sports taught him, why mentorship and action beat perfection, and how faith, marriage, and fatherhood shape his drive today.
If you’re an entrepreneur, parent, or investor looking to turn setbacks into purpose, this conversation will inspire you to take action, build community, and stay resilient.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
02:14 JJ’s Joke of the Week
04:47 Brandon’s first deal in college, inspired by Rich Dad, Poor Dad
07:11 Failing a toolbox pop quiz and how organization, diligence, and curiosity helped him master construction
10:00 Building The Rehabs Playbook from a PDF with grammar errors to a thriving national community
12:13 Baseball dreams, career-ending injuries, and finding a new path
15:40 Growing up in turbulence: family struggles, grandparents’ influence, and how adversity shaped his drive
18:08 Harnessing pain as fuel: why some fold under adversity and others rise
24:30 Taking action vs. over-educating: finding the balance between learning and taking action
27:30 The value of mentorship, paying for education, and why investing in yourself forces action
32:39 Shifting your mindset towards investing in your education
34:17 From zero construction knowledge to running a Class A contracting company
36:05 Sink or swim moments: learning from managing dozens of projects at once
39:14 Why “burning the ships” doesn’t mean reckless quitting
43:49 Air traffic control: the real key to profitability and peace in construction
46:11 Goals vs. visions: why short-term goals and long-term visions beat rigid five-year plans
48:39 Sports analogies, leadership lessons, and how team mentality drives The Rehabber’s Playbook
49:53 Who is The Rehabber’s Playbook for?
55:32 Marriage, support systems, and the importance of choosing the right partner
01:00:51 How becoming a father shifted Brandon’s perspective and motivation
01:03:18 Raising kids without the adversity we had: instilling values, perspective, and gratitude
01:10:48 Resilience, patience, and the compounding power of consistent action
Quotables
“I dove into it. And number two, I found the passion for it. I love the people, the work, and seeing houses go from distressed to beautiful.”
“We make our money when we buy, but most deals die in the rehab.”
“If you’re an entrepreneur, your partner’s support is as important as anything else in your business.”
Links
The Rehabber’s Playbook
https://www.therehabbersplaybook.com/
608B Capital
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