“Everything takes longer, costs more, and is harder than you expect.”
That single sentence captures the raw truth about entrepreneurship—and it sets the tone for one of the most insightful conversations on leadership, team building, and business growth.
In this episode, host Alex Atwood sits down with Leo Perez, a former #1 real estate agent turned tech entrepreneur, to unpack what it really takes to build winning teams in today’s competitive landscape. But beyond the accolades and success, this conversation dives into something deeper: people—what drives them, how to lead them, and why understanding them is the ultimate competitive advantage.
The Reality of Entrepreneurship: Not for Everyone
Entrepreneurship is often glamorized. Freedom, success, financial independence. But behind the scenes, it’s a different story.
Leo breaks it down simply:
- The highs are incredibly high
- The lows are incredibly low
- And the journey is anything but predictable
Not everyone is wired for it—and that’s okay.
One of the most powerful takeaways from this episode is the importance of self-awareness. Before starting a business, you need to ask yourself:
- What truly motivates me?
- Do I thrive in uncertainty or stability?
- Am I willing to endure long periods of struggle?
Because the truth is: entrepreneurship is less about ideas and more about endurance.
Leadership vs. Management: Know the Difference
Many people confuse leadership with management—but they are not the same.
- Management is about processes, tasks, and execution
- Leadership is about people, influence, and vision
Leo emphasizes that while some people may naturally lean toward one, both are skills that can be developed.
The real shift happens when you stop trying to control outcomes and start focusing on understanding people.
The Secret to High-Performing Teams: Understanding What Motivates People
If there’s one theme that stands out in this episode, it’s this:
There is no universal way to motivate a team.
What excites one person may make another uncomfortable.
Examples:
- A salesperson may thrive on commission-based rewards and public recognition
- A detail-oriented team member may prefer stability, privacy, and time off
As a leader, your job is not to treat everyone equally—it’s to treat everyone appropriately.
That means:
- Learning how each individual is wired
- Customizing rewards and recognition
- Avoiding assumptions based on your own preferences
Because when people feel seen, understood, and valued, they perform at a completely different level.
The Power of Listening: Speak Less, Lead More
One of the simplest yet most overlooked leadership skills?
Listening.
Leo suggests a powerful rule:
Speak only 30% of the time in conversations.
Why? Because people naturally feel more connected and valued when they’re heard.
And here’s the irony:
When you listen more, people often walk away thinking you are a great conversationalist.
But more importantly, listening gives you insights into:
- What your team truly wants
- What challenges they’re facing
- What drives their behavior
And those insights are gold for any leader.
Go Beyond the Job: Build Real Human Connections
Great leaders don’t just manage employees—they invest in people’s lives.
One of the most impactful ideas shared in this episode is the importance of understanding goals that exist outside of work.
For example:
- Helping a team member manage debt
- Supporting their goal of taking their child on a dream trip
- Encouraging personal growth like health or education
These gestures may not directly relate to business—but they create loyalty, trust, and emotional connection.
And in return?
People naturally want to give back.
Because at the core of human behavior is a simple truth:
We are wired to reciprocate.
From Real Estate to Tech: Embracing Discomfort
Leo’s journey from real estate to technology wasn’t a sudden leap—it was a series of small, intentional pivots.
But the biggest challenge?
Letting go of control.
In real estate, he could see, touch, and understand every part of the process. In tech, he had to rely on teams with completely different skill sets.
This required:
- Trusting experts
- Accepting uncertainty
- Leading without full visibility
And this is where many entrepreneurs struggle—when they move from being a “doer” to being a true leader.
People First, Profit Follows
A powerful insight from the conversation:
“People are people are people.”
No matter the industry—real estate, tech, healthcare—the foundation of every business is the same:
- The right people
- In the right roles
- Motivated in the right way
Profit is not the starting point. It’s the result.
When you build a team that is:
- Engaged
- Aligned
- Supported
Success becomes scalable.
The Hard Truth About Starting a Business
If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, Leo offers two critical pieces of advice:
1. Find a Mentor and Get Close
Don’t start from scratch alone.
Instead:
- Work for someone you admire
- Learn directly from their experience
- Compress years of learning into a shorter time
This proximity can save you from costly mistakes—and help you decide if entrepreneurship is truly for you.
2. Focus on What Actually Matters
Most entrepreneurs get overwhelmed because they try to do everything.
But here’s the reality:
- You will never finish your to-do list
- Not everything deserves your attention
Instead:
- Identify the 10 most important tasks
- Focus on the big rocks, not the small wins
And most importantly:
If you’re not generating leads, you don’t have a business.
Perfection doesn’t matter. Action does.
Embrace the Chaos: Entrepreneurship Is Messy
One of the most honest moments in the episode is this:
“Half of it might be on fire—and you have to be okay with that.”
That’s the nature of building something from nothing.
- Problems will pile up
- Things will break
- You won’t have time to fix everything
And that’s normal.
The key is knowing:
- What to prioritize
- What to ignore (for now)
- And when to keep moving forward anyway
Leadership That Leaves a Legacy
Beyond business, Leo’s story highlights something even more meaningful: impact.
Through the Pareja Family Foundation, he and his wife are helping individuals—especially women and people of color—break into tech careers and transform their lives.
Their mission reflects a powerful belief:
Real success isn’t just about what you build—it’s about who you lift along the way.
Final Thoughts: The Real Secret to Great Teams
At the end of the day, building high-performing teams isn’t about tactics, systems, or even strategy.
It comes down to this:
- Understand people deeply
- Lead with empathy
- Stay focused on what truly matters
- And never stop learning
Because businesses don’t grow—people do.
And when people grow, everything else follows.
🎧 Listen & Watch the Full Podcast Episode
You can include the full podcast episode here for your audience to dive deeper into Leo Perez’s insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and building meaningful teams.
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@alchemistloungepodcast
