Wealth, Leadership and Blind Spots with Lane Kawaoka

Host: Carrie Tuttle Guest: Lane Kawaoka Not every founder is a natural people leader. Lane Kawaoka, former engineer turned real estate investor and entrepreneur, will be the first to tell you he isn’t. Lane started his career as an engineer and construction supervisor with one of the largest railroads in the US, leading track crews made up of men his grandfather’s age. He bought his first rental property in 2009 while still in that job. He went on to build a real estate investment business with more than 60 projects and over $2 billion in acquisitions, and today runs it much like a private equity firm. He founded and authored The Wealth Elevator. In this episode, Lane and Carrie dig into the self-awareness it takes to acknowledge your own gaps out loud, and why Lane builds his team around partners and shared equity instead of salaries. He believes every leadership team needs a balance between someone who drives the vision and someone who brings people along. Lane is candid about the mistake of expecting his team to want what he wants, and why he pays for coaching and peer groups to support his own blind spots. Lane also challenges whether a leadership promotion is always worth it, and explains the difference between trading time for money and owning a share of the outcome. His financial examples are US based, and nothing in this episode is financial advice. If you’re building a team and wondering how to motivate people who don’t think like you, or whether the traditional leadership path fits your goals, this conversation offers a different angle worth hearing. QUOTE-WORTHY MOMENTS: • “Find a coach. Find a community around you that …will show you your shortcomings and show your blind spots.” • “I honestly don’t think I’m very good at being a CEO or management. It’s not my personal skill set, but it’s something I acknowledge and I’m trying to get better.” • “I’m trying to overlay my own expectations and needs and wants on other people, and it may not be their thing.” EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: • Self-awareness about your weaknesses is the starting point for building the right team. • Strong leadership teams balance a vision driver with someone who brings the team on board. • Team members aren’t always motivated by the same rewards as their leader. • Equity and shared upside can motivate partners in ways salary alone often doesn’t. • Coaches and peer communities help leaders see blind spots they can’t see on their own. • Gut reactions are not always the best guide for leadership decisions. • Transparency and authenticity build trust with clients, investors and team members. • Getting results matters more than the number of hours spent at work. • A leadership promotion is a trade-off worth weighing against your own long-term goals. • Wealth goals and strategies change as net worth crosses key thresholds. LINKS FROM EPISODE: Lane on LinkedIn:   / lanekawaoka   Website: https://thewealthelevator.com/ Instagram:   / thewealthelevator   YouTube:    / @thewealthelevator   Resources Mentioned: Free PDF copy of The Wealth Elevator: https://api.teammojo.ca/preview/Kxhsh... Predictive Index (behavioural assessment) Explore the Lead with Engagement program @ Team Mojo: https://www.teammojo.ca/lead-with-eng... ---------- Like What You Heard? Don’t forget to subscribe or follow us on YouTube or your favorite podcast service, so you never miss an episode! Interested in being a guest on Suits & Sneakers? APPLY HERE: https://shorturl.at/ih4Fj Follow us on socials: LinkedIn:   / teammojo   Facebook:   / teammojo.ca   Instagram:   / teammojo   Website: https://www.teammojo.ca/ #teammojo #leadership #blindspots #wealthbuilding #equitypartnership