Burning The Ships

After nearly three years, over 200 episodes, and a fire that burned hotter than he expected, Jason Seward is putting Burning the Ships on the shelf. This final episode is not a goodbye with fanfare or a highlight reel built for the algorithm. It's a honest, unfiltered look back at where the show started, what it was supposed to be, and why the time has come to step away from it — at least for now.Jason traces it all the way back: the entrepreneurial itch that started at 15 years old with a lawn care business and never really went away, the 17 years at Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance that scratched enough of that itch to keep him comfortable, and the moment in 2022 when he finally burned the actual ships and walked out the door on December 31st. The podcast was born almost immediately after — not out of a business strategy, but out of a very simple need. He'd spent 17 years having real conversations with real people every day, and when that stopped, he felt the absence almost instantly. The podcast was how he got that back.Key Talking Points of the Episode[00:00] Jason opens with the fire metaphor and announces this is the final episode[02:16] The 17-year career at Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance and what it gave him[03:27] The entrepreneurial itch that started at 15 and never stopped[04:17] Crabbing, restaurants, and every business he tried to build before real estate[08:28] Partnering with Bill Phillips and building 608B Capital alongside a corporate career[22:14] Why consistency was the one non-negotiable from day one[25:15] 608B Capital scaling to $25 million under management and what that demands now[28:27] The ADD personality pattern: obsession, energy, and when the fire goes out[32:24] Tim Blodgett and the first year of production built from scratch[33:41] How Josh Culler and Culler Media took over and ran the show[39:45] The episodes and guests that stand out: Aaron Warburton, Wendy Lynn, Aaron Cole[41:42] The final sign-off and the redirect to Dealmaker CatalystQuotables"He said in life you never want to burn the ships and leave it all behind, because if the next thing fails, you've got nothing to retreat back to. And that was the exact opposite of how I want to approach life.""I want to go all in on things — calculated, be responsible about it — but I want to go all in on things that might not make sense to everybody else to leave something behind.""If every episode resonates with just one person and they get action from that episode, that is a positive to their life. I'm done. My job is done and I'm happy with that.""I do not want to carry on something that is not feeding me in the way that it was when I was obsessed or passionate about it.""Consistency is probably the thing I'm most passionate about in everything I do. If I start something and show up on a schedule, I'm going to do it over and over until I don't — and when I don't, it's because I've made a choice, not because I got lazy.""I literally could not tell you if the last month of episodes got a million downloads or one download. I have no idea.""I hate ending anything. I'm quick to end things, but I don't like to do it. I take a lot of pride in sustaining things."Links608B Capital — https://www.608bcapital.comDealmaker Catalyst Podcast — follow on your podcast platform of choiceBurning the Ships back catalog — all episodes remain available wherever you listen

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Chris Lloyd — a young but incredibly sharp real estate investor and broker who built serious momentum in a very short period of time. From selling sunglasses out of his lunchbox in high school to running a high-volume real estate team and leading a Coast-to-Coast brokerage in Virginia, Chris’s story is all about action.We talk about what it really looks like to leave a “safe” W2 job, grind through six months of zero results, reinvest your first commission instead of upgrading your lifestyle, and build a real estate business around investors instead of retail buyers. Chris breaks down why working with investors supercharges an agent’s career, how to build systems instead of burnout, and why most people fail simply because they won’t take consistent action.If you’re an agent, investor, or entrepreneur stuck in analysis paralysis — this episode is your reminder that the only difference between where you are and where you want to be… is action.Key Talking Points of the Episode00:00 Why working with investors supercharges a real estate career01:03 Introducing Chris Lloyd and his background02:00 JJ’s Joke of the Week04:00 Selling sunglasses in high school and building a “mini CRM” in a lunchbox05:50 Learning high-ticket sales at a bicycle shop07:20 Taking the “safe” job at Newport News Shipyard08:11 Realizing performance doesn’t equal promotion in corporate America09:40 Reading Rich Dad Poor Dad and the lightbulb moment11:00 Buying a duplex, house hacking, and living for free13:00 The $6,000 sewer repair as “cost of tuition”15:00 Taking action when others don’t17:59 Why courses don’t matter if you won’t act21:00 Accountability vs. lone wolf entrepreneurship29:22 Getting his license and grinding six months with zero results31:00 Reinvesting his first commission instead of upgrading lifestyle32:00 Quitting his W2 job after proving the math34:00 Time blocking, discipline, and earning his spouse’s support44:00 Burnout from doing everything alone — and building a team47:00 Connecting with David Greene through Instagram Live49:00 Raising your hand when opportunity appears53:00 Why most agents avoid investors (and why that’s a mistake)54:00 Building recurring business through investor clients57:00 Telling clients NOT to buy bad deals58:00 Playing the long game with investor relationshipsQuotables“Information means nothing unless you take action.”“My $6,000 sewer bill was cheaper than my college tuition — and way more valuable.”“I wasn’t happy being restricted by tenure instead of performance.”“You don’t need more clients — you need better ones.”“Choose the work you want to do. Real estate is going to be work either way.”LinksCoast to Coast Brokerage (David Greene)https://coasttocoastbrokerage.com608B Capitalhttps://608bcapital.com

In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with David Richter—real estate investor, founder of Simple CFO Solutions, and author of Profit First for Real Estate Investing. This conversation goes deep into a problem I see constantly in our industry: people who look wildly successful on the outside but feel stressed, broke, and out of control behind the scenes.David shares his journey from cutting his teeth inside a high-volume real estate operation doing 25 deals a month, to realizing they were spending more than they were making—and that deal count means nothing without financial clarity. We unpack why so many entrepreneurs are incredible at generating revenue but terrible at keeping it, how shame and avoidance keep people stuck, and why most investors are unknowingly playing the wrong game with money.This episode is tactical, psychological, and honest. We break down the Profit First framework in a way that’s approachable for non–numbers people, talk about slowing down to build real foundations, and connect money systems back to what actually matters—family, time, peace of mind, and freedom. If you’re building a business that looks good on paper but doesn’t feel good to live in, this episode is for you.Key Talking Points of the Episode00:00 Why many entrepreneurs are great at making money—but terrible at keeping it01:13 Introducing David Richter and why this episode gets more tactical02:01 JJ’s Joke of the Week02:53 David’s early real estate career and learning every seat in the business04:31 Doing 25 deals a month while spending 26 worth of revenue05:24 The illusion that deal volume equals success06:38 Discovering that numbers tell the real story of a business12:23 The impact of Rich Dad Poor Dad and early money mindset shifts14:17 Why thinking through problems is an entrepreneur’s real superpower16:21 Moving to Richmond and helping an investor clean up chaotic books17:53 The moment clarity changed everything for that investor18:57 The lightbulb moment that led to Simple CFO Solutions26:19 Why more deals don’t equal financial freedom27:56 Shame, fear, and avoidance around finances29:05 The emotional cost of 20 years stuck in the rat race30:48 Using income growth to avoid financial discipline38:26 The envelope system and separating bank accounts39:30 The three most important accounts every investor should have41:13 Starting small—even with 1%—to build healthy habits44:21 Does Profit First slow growth—and why that can be a good thing45:39 The story of doing fewer deals and making more money46:29 Scaling from reserves instead of revenue47:48 Recognizing when growth outpaces infrastructure49:56 Healthy paranoia and disciplined growth51:08 Defining success beyond money52:00 Why time with family is the real currencyQuotables“Deal count doesn’t matter if you don’t know where the money is going.”“Most entrepreneurs are playing defense with money instead of offense.”“You don’t fix money problems by making more money—you fix habits.”“Profit shouldn’t be an event. It should be a habit.”“A business should fund your life, not consume it.”LinksSimple CFO Solutionshttps://simplecfosolutions.comProfit First for Real Estate InvestingAvailable wherever books are sold608B Capitalhttps://608bcapital.com

In this solo episode of Burning the Ships, I’m breaking down one of the most powerful forces behind everything I’ve built in business and life: networking. This conversation was recorded the morning after hosting our very first Deal Maker Hampton Roads event, and it gave me a fresh perspective on just how differently people experience rooms full of strangers.I share why networking has always been my biggest strength, how it’s shaped my career, and why being “resourceful” often just means knowing who to call. But more importantly, I talk about introverts—the anxiety they feel walking into events, the courage it takes just to show up, and a simple question that can completely change the experience. If you’ve ever avoided networking because it feels uncomfortable, intimidating, or draining, this episode is for you.This isn’t about collecting business cards or forcing sales conversations. It’s about creating environments, building real relationships, extracting value, and giving value—no matter your personality type.Key Talking Points of the Episode00:00 Why networking events don’t have to be big or expensive01:15 Why this is a solo episode after hosting our first Deal Maker event02:03 JJ’s Joke of the Week02:54 Why networking has been my biggest professional advantage04:16 How networking both energizes and drains me05:13 Being resourceful by knowing who to call—not how to do everything06:08 Building trust by doing what you say you’ll do07:18 The power of long-term relationship building08:16 Why curating environments brings me the most joy12:08 Hosting events—from backyard cookouts to 60-person meetups13:53 The introvert moment that changed my perspective14:27 Half the room identifying as introverts15:15 Understanding anxiety through someone else’s lens16:41 Vulnerability required just to show up17:11 The simple question that breaks the ice: “Where are you from originally?”23:59 Extracting value without chasing money25:25 Why avoiding networking limits opportunity26:14 Bill Phillips as the introvert example—and why it still works27:26 Joining our first mastermind and jumping into the deep end33:10 How Amanda Holbrook became our financial strategist34:15 Building our brand through relationships, not transactions35:45 How every major piece of our business came from networking36:48 Two mindsets to bring into every event: give value + extract value38:08 The junk removal example—and why showing up matters39:35 Why free local events can change everything40:39 How real conversations actually build trust41:21 The joy of watching connections happen42:47 Why facilitating relationships is the real reward44:12 Why impact matters more than direct profit46:16 Gratitude after seeing it all come together47:04 The (true) mom story and empty brewery joke51:35 Final encouragement to get in the room—even if it’s uncomfortable52:38 Closing thoughts on networking, perspective, and growthQuotables“Networking isn’t about being the smartest person in the room—it’s about knowing who to call.”“Half the room is uncomfortable, even if it doesn’t look that way.”“If you’re an introvert, ask one question and let curiosity do the rest.”“Go to events with the intent to give value and extract value.”“The best opportunities in my life came from rooms I almost didn’t walk into.”Links608B Capitalhttps://608bcapital.com

In this solo episode of Burning the Ships, I talk about something that drives nearly every decision I make: the example I’m setting for my kids. This isn’t about parenting hacks, discipline strategies, or telling your kids how to live—it’s about modeling the life you hope they grow into by how you show up every single day.I walk through how my wife and I think about love, gratitude, kindness, health, work ethic, independence, and emotional safety inside our home—and why actions will always matter more than words. From how we treat strangers, to how we handle adversity, to how we take care of our bodies and pursue non-traditional paths, this episode is a reflection on what kids really absorb when they’re watching us closely.If you’re a parent (or planning to be one), this episode will challenge you to take a hard look at whether your behavior aligns with what you’re asking your kids to become.Key Talking Points of the Episode00:00 Why my kids never see me be rude to anyone01:48 Why this is another solo episode to close out the year02:54 JJ’s Joke of the Week03:22 Introducing my kids: Emma (14) and JJ (9)04:22 The reality of parenting: none of us get it exactly right05:15 Why kids model behavior more than they follow instructions05:59 Making our home the safest place on the planet07:06 Modeling emotional safety, vulnerability, and expression07:59 Why “I love you” is said constantly in our house09:36 The long-term impact of growing up in a loving home11:12 Teaching kids that love should be expressed, not withheld12:00 Gratitude as a daily practice, not a concept13:13 Why gratitude protects against a “woe is me” mindset14:49 Avoiding a culture of complaining inside the home16:36 Turning negative situations into positive reframes17:57 Why modeling behavior doesn’t guarantee outcomes—but it increases the odds18:38 Natural traits vs. behaviors I have to work at19:42 Why health and wellness are non-negotiables for me as a dad25:53 The difference between coaching and leading by example27:13 Why my wife models health through constant movement29:23 Changing my own habits so I could set a better example31:09 Modeling healthy eating through moderation, not restriction33:24 Showing kids there’s more than one path in life34:58 Why I want my kids to see both corporate success and entrepreneurship38:53 Modeling generosity, tipping, and respect for service workers40:11 The danger of preaching what you refuse to practice41:20 Why kids follow examples—not expectations42:32 Closing thoughts on intentional parenting and personal accountabilityQuotables“Your kids won’t become what you tell them to be—they’ll become what you show them.”“I don’t preach kindness. I model it.”“If you want your kids to be healthy, loving, and disciplined, you better be those things first.”“Our house is their safest place—and everything starts there.”“You can’t ask your kids to live a life you refuse to live yourself.”Links608B Capitalhttps://608bcapital.com