Ep 287- 5 Years. 180 Properties. 36 People. Aidan Groll on Building a Real STR Management Company
Most STR companies obsess over guest reviews. Blue Gems obsesses over owner profitability. And they grew to 180 properties under management doing it. In this episode, recorded live at the Freedom Factory in Beverly, MA, E sits down with Aidan Groll — co-founder of Blue Gems Management, one of Florida's fastest-growing STR companies. Aidan and his partner JB manage 180+ properties across Orlando and Clearwater Beach with a 36-person team [...]
Ep 286 – Why You Keep Self-Sabotaging Even When You Know Exactly What to Do
Q1 is almost over. E has something to say about it. In this solo episode, co-host Emanuele shares everything he's been working on in 2026 — and gets raw about why most people are still stuck. The problem isn't the tools. It's not the market. It's not the strategy. It's your beliefs. E breaks down Tony Robbins' 3 S's — why State and Story have to come before Systems. He [...]
Ep – 285 The ‘Help First’ Sales Mindset That Grew Them From 12 to 120 Properties with Sean Bakhtiari
What happens when a corporate finance guy from Boston decides he's done working for someone else — and bets on short-term rentals? Sean Bakhtiari grew up in New Hampshire, studied finance at Providence College, and spent 9 years in Boston's financial district working in sales, marketing, and client experience. He loved the work — but always knew he wanted to build something of his own. So he bought his first [...]
Ep – 284 Why Most STR Operators Fail at Hiring (Leadership Masterclass) with Alex Hall
Scaling a short-term rental company isn’t just about getting more properties. It’s about building the team that can support the growth. In this episode, Chris and E sit down with Alex Hall — talent advisor and leadership strategist — to break down the real challenges STR operators face when building teams. From job clarity and org structure to burnout, hiring, and leadership development, Alex shares the frameworks that help operators [...]
Ep – 283 From Bankruptcy to a $100M Real Estate Vision with Jonathan St.Leger
He built a “sexy” real estate portfolio in the early 2000s… Then 2008 hit. Reserves drained. Assets liquidated. Eventually — bankruptcy. Most investors never come back from that. In this episode, Jon St. Leger breaks down: • What the 2008 crash really felt like • Why he keeps his portfolio at 33% LTV • How to prepare for the next recession • What “Equity Manifestation” actually means • How he [...]
Ep – 282 What’s Actually Holding Your STR Business Back
Most entrepreneurs think they need better strategy. They don’t. In this Boardroom recap from the Freedom Factory, we unpack the real reasons businesses stall — and it’s not systems. It’s people, identity, and the state you operate from. Inside this episode: • Why most business bottlenecks are solved by the right “who” • The difference between hiring people and developing talent • W2 vs 1099 mistakes operators make • Why [...]
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