🎙 Norman Radow on the Mindset That Creates Great Investors & Great Leaders | Part 1

Don’t Follow the Herd: Contrarian Investing, Leadership & Building Through Cycles with Norman Radow, CEO of RADCO _____________________________________________ In this episode, Chris Moreno sits down with Norman Radow, Founder & CEO of RADCO, to explore contrarian investing, distressed real estate opportunities, leadership under pressure, and what it really means to build a company people believe in. They break down: • Why the best investors avoid “following the herd” • The hidden opportunities in distressed and workforce housing • What most people misunderstand about being a founder and CEO • The emotional realities of layoffs, payroll, and leadership responsibility • How to identify talent through passion and self-awareness • Why great coaching transformed Nolan Ryan into a legend • Lessons from navigating multiple real estate cycles • Building culture, loyalty, and long-term employee growth If you care about leadership, entrepreneurship, investing, real estate, or building resilient businesses during uncertain markets, this conversation will give you practical insight into decision-making, people management, and thinking independently when everyone else moves together. _____________________________________________ Connect with Chris Moreno LinkedIn:   / chrismoreno   Instagram:   / chrismorenoatl   Twitter: https://x.com/morenochris Facebook:   / chrismoreno13   Website: https://goinfiniteniches.com/ Connect with Norman Radow Website: https://radco.us/ LinkedIn:   / norman-radow-91403120   _____________________________________________ Referenced in this episode Ref 1 – RADCO Company: https://radco.us/ Ref 2 – Nolan Ryan Company/Organization: https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-fame... Ref 3 – New York Mets Website: https://www.mlb.com/mets Ref 4 – Atlanta Braves Website: https://www.mlb.com/braves _____________________________________________ Chapters 00:00 – Contrarian investing and why following the herd is dangerous 02:00 – Why workforce housing and distressed assets create opportunity 03:05 – The “cheetah” mindset in investing and business 04:20 – Why today’s real estate market resembles 2010–2011 05:45 – Why most deals aren’t trading in today’s market 07:10 – How distressed properties create asymmetric opportunities 08:05 – The hidden emotional burden of being a founder & CEO 09:15 – The Magnolia tree story: leadership beyond spreadsheets 10:20 – Evictions, payroll, and the human side of business 12:05 – Why employees are a company’s greatest asset 13:10 – Hiring for passion, self-awareness, and coachability 14:25 – Building long-term loyalty and promoting from within 15:15 – Why elite performers still need great coaching 16:00 – The Nolan Ryan lesson on development and leadership 17:35 – Final thoughts on investing in people and growth _____________________________________________ Key Ideas • The best investors often succeed by moving against consensus. • Distressed assets can create stronger upside than crowded “safe” investments. • Leadership comes with emotional responsibility most outsiders never see. • Employees should be treated as assets, not expenses. • Self-awareness and coachability matter more than raw intelligence. •.Great organizations invest deeply in developing talent. • Long-term loyalty is built through trust, growth, and accountability. • Market cycles reward patience, discipline, and conviction. • Great leaders balance analytical thinking with emotional intelligence. • Independent thinking is essential during uncertain economic environments. _____________________________________________ Keywords Norman Radow, RADCO, Chris Moreno podcast, real estate investing, multifamily investing, distressed real estate, workforce housing, commercial real estate, CEO leadership, entrepreneurship podcast, founder advice, investing strategy, contrarian investing, private equity real estate, real estate cycles, business leadership, hiring great employees, company culture, self awareness leadership, coachability, Nolan Ryan leadership lesson,real estate market outlook _____________________________________________ Mentions Adrian Mentioned as someone with expertise in teaching engineering and maintenance skills, used as an example of how technical skills can be taught. Nolan Ryan Used as the primary example of how coaching, persistence, and development can transform raw talent into greatness. Tom Seaver Mentioned as Nolan Ryan’s teammate on the Mets during Ryan’s early career. Jerry Grote Referenced as the Mets catcher who reportedly broke his hand catching Nolan Ryan’s fastball. Laura Evans Longtime RADCO employee highlighted as an example of loyalty, growth, and internal development, rising from admin work to heading Treasury over a 22-year career. Norman’s Father Mentioned for sharing an influential lesson that employees should be treated as a company’s greatest asset rather than simply an expense.