Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Robert Mcconaghy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Robert thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Early in your career, how did you think through the decision of whether to start your own firm or join an established firm?

I began my professional career in 2003 where I quickly discovered my passion for finance, real estate and business. With a natural affinity for numbers and a people-oriented personality, I excelled in the banking sector, rapidly advancing into commercial finance. My first role as a commercial loan officer was at a regional community bank where I honed my expertise in analyzing complex financial portfolios, building client relationships, as well as structuring and underwriting large portfolio credit facilities, particularly in commercial real estate which included both owner occupied and investment properties.

Over the years, I became a recognized authority in the local commercial finance sector, holding high level positions such as real estate credit manager, commercial underwriter lead, commercial real estate specialist and large-scale construction development finance management specialist. I played a pivotal role in launching bank branches and managing large-scale complex commercial real estate transactions, helping banks grow in profitability and successfully transition to larger institutions through acquisitions. My extensive education in accounting, finance, executive management, and training in legal asset UCC law, combined with advanced certifications, fortified my reputation as a leader in the finance sector.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I managed complex troubled commercial real estate portfolios and assisted in acquisition portfolio review for a large financial institution across multiple states, helping clients and banks resolve distressed assets. During this time, I started personally exploring the commercial real estate investment world, ultimately connecting with Cardone Capital, led by business mogul Grant Cardone, which ignited my passion for multifamily and commercial real estate investment. Inspired by Grant Cardone’s marketing and real estate strategies, as well as his passion for teaching business and professional development, I quickly realized my untapped potential to make an impact in the industry as an entrepreneur.

My entrepreneurial journey gained momentum through direct mentorship from Lisa Copeland, a real estate and automotive sales legend, as well as direct collaborations with Tarek El Moussa of HGTV’s Flip or Flop. Lisa Copeland and I were introduced to each other by Tarek El Moussa and instantly knew that our complimenting and diverse skills would prove to be a winning combination. Drawing from my experience in multifaceted involvement of over $600 million in real estate transactions as well as my personal real estate investment portfolio experience, I seamlessly transitioned into the entrepreneurship world and quickly excelled, closing just under $20 million in transactions within a twelve-month period and nearly tripling my previous executive six figure salary. My success exemplified how a career corporate employee can pivot to entrepreneurship and achieve financial success in the real estate space.

In addition to my background in finance, accounting, and real estate, I fully embraced the power of media to educate, inspire, and sell. Most recently, I was named as a host of The American Dream, a nationally syndicated show where I showcased the business, lifestyle, culture, and real estate of California’s Central Coast. One of my recent episodes was featured on the Travel Channel and through social media outlets alone, I earned over 5.5 million views. This media platform allowed me to connect with a broad audience, promoting not just real estate but the stories behind our communities.

Robert, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My goal has always been to fully define what it means to be a “real estate professional”. I strive to go move beyond the standard role of a “real estate agent”, leveraging over 20 years of experience in buying, selling, flipping, financing and investing, both residential and commercial, to educate and empower my clients. My information-based approach ensures that clients are equipped with the knowledge to use real estate as a tool for achieving financial success. My dedication also extends to mentoring other real estate agents, helping them differentiate themselves in the industry and elevate their careers. In pursuit of greater opportunity to scale, my family and I recently relocated from California’s Central Coast, the famous Paso Robles wine country, to Central Texas, where I partnered with Lisa Copeland to co-found Copeland Real Estate Group with the goal of massively growing our client base and real estate team as well as offering industry leading real estate agent training and support. Our mission is to educate our real estate agents and clients towards building long term sustainable wealth through real estate. Combining Lisa’s sales and business mastery with my two decades of executive and finance expertise, we are personally driven to build the largest real estate organization in the United States. Supported by industry giants like Grant and Elena Cardone, Hoss Pratt, and Tarek El Moussa, we are committed to educating and empowering agents by pushing them to achieve greatness. We aim to inspire and educate other real estate agents, helping them not only succeed in real estate sales but also educating them on how to create generational wealth through smart real estate investment strategies. Together, we are on a mission to help American families achieve financial strength and security, one real estate transaction at a time.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Making the pivot from 20 years in the corporate and business executive space to the life as an entrepreneur was one of the biggest decisions of my life. It was such a mindset shift, but to be honest, we as humans create more fear and anxiety than really exists. The successful shift demands courage and confidence. I also want to stress the importance of having a strong relationship with your spouse. My wife was there by my side, she believed in me as much as I did, sometimes I think even more than I believed in myself. She is strong and courageous and is such a hard worker, we are a team; having her belief and confidence in me and my abilities definitely gave me an edge. Weve always been in sync with our goals and dreams both individually and for the family; this is critical due to the massive amount of time that business demands of you, working on a solid relationship with your spouse is necessary. New challenges will arise, the stronger you are together, the easier it will be to successfully tackle the challenges of being a business owner. As noted in the prior section, we moved across three states in pursuit of business growth. I was fourth generation in my community and had been actively involved in my community for over 20 years. With two kids and the dog, we made the move and now operate our business in both California and Texas. I go back to the necessity of a strong relationship, my wife has always been there by my side, there were challenges, but we tackled them together as one strong united force. A special thank you to my wife. You are my everything. I love you and thank you.

I want to serve as an example for those business individuals considering the leap from employee to entrepreneur. I hope that my story can inspire people in business who know that they are capable of more to believe in themselves and trust in their skills, I want to encourage anyone in that situation who knows that they can go bigger and do more to bet on themselves, take the leap and go for big things in their lives. I believe that the business transition is entirely possible, I’m proof that it is, but you must have faith in yourself, as well as in your unique skills and abilities. Don’t be afraid to go big, and believe me when I say, we can always go bigger. While the shift from employee to business owner can be daunting, it can be done and you can be very successful, but you must go all in on yourself and clearly establish why you want to make the change, you must clearly visualize and define the end goal, and then you need to go out, put in the hard work and make it happen. Its critical that you understand the importance of self-confidence, self-promotion, and recognizing the value you bring to the world. Nobody’s going to do the work for you but successfully making the change for the right reasons can produce bigger results than you ever imagined. You must give 125% of yourself to the cause with the end goal of not being good, or great, you must push yourself to be the elite.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I believe that studying business and personal development material is essential for any entrepreneur striving for growth, both personally and professionally. Over the past year, I’ve read 26 books, but I continually revisit works by Grant Cardone and Tim Grover, as their insights deeply influence my entrepreneurial style. Two other phenomenal books are Think and Grow Rich and Outwitting the Devil by Napoleon Hill and Sharon Lechter. However, my go-to resources continue to be The 10X Rule and Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone as well as Winning by Tim Grover; they are simple to read, get to the point and most importantly are honest and clear with their message which I believe is critical to anyone wanting to scale their business as well as personal growth. I also admire books like Integrity by Glenn Stearns, Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, and of course the staple business book The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump. I’m drawn to stories of successful entrepreneurs, diving into their journeys and mindsets, and try to find ways to apply their principles to my own business and life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.robertmcconaghy.com
• Instagram: @therealrobertmcconaghy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realrobertmcconaghy