Skip the Lines Podcast, with Jonathan Mitchell

Untold Opportunity in Aviation Finance ~ Eljona Shkreli

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/fan_mail/new] What happens when keeping your word becomes your greatest business advantage? Eljona Shkreli is a capital raiser at Stratus Financial, an immigrant from Albania, a mother, wife, world traveler, and finance professional with deep experience in banking and alternative investments. In this episode, Eljona shares her journey from growing up in the mountains of Albania to rebuilding her career in the United States. She talks about starting over, earning an MBA, working in major banks, and learning that trust, listening, and authenticity are the true foundations of sales. She also explains how Stratus Financial helps fund commercial pilot training, why aviation lending is an overlooked opportunity, and how investors can receive predictable monthly returns while helping future pilots pursue their dreams. Subscribe, share this episode, and connect with Eljona if you want to learn more about alternative investments, aviation finance, and authentic relationship-based business.   Chapters 00:00 From Albania to America and Starting Over 04:16 Building Trust Through Authentic Relationships 08:32 From Wall Street Banking to Alternative Investments 13:10 Inside Stratus Financial and Aviation Lending 18:41 Why Investors Are Paying Attention to Private Credit 23:12 Networking Mindset and Skip the Line Advice   Quotes “I was raised with a lot of structure at home.” “If I give you my word or I promise that something will be done, it will get done.” “I never try to sell something that does not make sense to you and your family.” “Never miss being authentic.”   Enjoyed the show?  Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the “Skip The Lines Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]”   FULL VIDEOS are always uploaded on YouTube. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]   📢 Connect with Eljona Shkreli!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eljona-shkreli-mba-8bb489177/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eljona-shkreli-mba-8bb489177/] https://www.instagram.com/eljona.85/ [https://www.instagram.com/eljona.85/] https://stratus.finance/meet-the-team/ [https://stratus.finance/meet-the-team/]   📢 Connect with me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bked5yNlFRoy58i2w48zNjg%3D%3D] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre]  Twitter (X): https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre] ADU PALS: https://adupals.com [https://adupals.com] Business Inquiries: jonathan@adupals.com [jonathan@adupals.com] #SkipTheLines #EljonaShkreli #SkipTheLines #StratusFinancial #CapitalRaising #AlternativeInvestments #PrivateCredit #AviationFinance #PilotTraining #InvestorRelations #WomenInBusiness #ImmigrantSuccess #FinancePodcast #TrustBasedSelling #Networking #Entrepreneurship #WealthManagement #Mindset #Authenticity #PrivateLending #CommercialPilots Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/support] Enjoying the show? Keep the conversation going!  Skip The Lines Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN]

Building a 30 Million Dollar Construction ~ Brandon Holtzman

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/fan_mail/new] What separates contractors who stay stuck from the ones who build multi million dollar companies? Brandon Holtzman is the founder of Holtzman Construction, a design build company operating in Arizona and Southern California generating over 30 million dollars annually. In this episode, Brandon shares his journey from knocking on doors with zero dollars to building one of the top construction brands in Arizona. He breaks down how systems, branding, marketing, and operational structure became the foundation of his growth. Brandon also dives into the realities of scaling a construction company, the pros and cons of employees versus subcontractors, why most contractors struggle with profitability, and how his proprietary software Free Builder AI helps contractors estimate jobs, manage operations, and avoid costly mistakes. This episode is packed with actionable insights for contractors, investors, and entrepreneurs looking to grow sustainably. Subscribe for more conversations with top entrepreneurs, builders, and investors who are redefining their industries.   Chapters 00:00 Early Hustle and Entrepreneurial Beginnings 06:50 Launching Holtzman Construction During the Recession 12:55 Scaling Operations Through Employees and Subcontractors 18:45 Building Systems and Developing Contractor Software 24:59 Marketing Strategies Branding and Company Culture 31:17 Contractor Growth Advice and Skip the Line Hacks   Quotes “You do not have a business unless you have a system.” “If you are not calling your leads back within five minutes you lost that lead.” “Everybody wants to go from zero to one hundred too quickly and that is where you fail.” “Start small learn your niche and understand the business before trying to scale.”   Enjoyed the show?  Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the “Skip The Lines Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]”   FULL VIDEOS are always uploaded on YouTube. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]   📢 Connect with Brandon Holtzman!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-holtzman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-holtzman/]   📢 Connect with me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bked5yNlFRoy58i2w48zNjg%3D%3D] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre]  Twitter (X): https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre] ADU PALS: https://adupals.com [https://adupals.com] Business Inquiries: jonathan@adupals.com [jonathan@adupals.com]   #SkipTheLines #Construction #GeneralContractor #RealEstate #Entrepreneur #BusinessGrowth #ConstructionBusiness #ContractorLife #HomeRemodel #DesignBuild #ArizonaBuilder #ConstructionManagement #Leadership #Marketing #Sales #BusinessSystems #FreeBuilderAI #HoltzmanConstruction #Investing #Startup #ScalingBusiness Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/support] Enjoying the show? Keep the conversation going!  Skip The Lines Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN]

Change Your Family’s Future Forever with Real Estate ~ Hans Seelinger

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/fan_mail/new] What would you do if everything you built suddenly disappeared overnight? Hans Seelinger is a multifamily syndicator, investor, and educator based in Miami Florida who has built a portfolio of more than 340 units while teaching others how to analyze and acquire profitable real estate deals. In this episode Hans shares his incredible story of surviving economic collapse in Venezuela, rebuilding his life in the United States, and discovering the power of multifamily investing and syndication. Jonathan Mitchell and Hans dive deep into mindset, mentorship, underwriting, capital raising, and the importance of adding value to others. Hans explains how he went from delivering balloons to closing multimillion dollar apartment deals while overcoming fear, limiting beliefs, and adversity. This conversation is packed with practical lessons about investing, resilience, networking, and creating long term wealth. Subscribe to Skip The Lines Podcast and share this episode with someone who wants to level up financially and mentally.   Chapters 00:00 Building a Real Estate Mindset for Wealth and Freedom 05:00 From Economic Collapse to Rebuilding Life in America 12:00 Surviving Kidnapping and Turning Pain Into Purpose 16:30 How Hans Seelinger Broke Into Multifamily Syndication 25:45 The Power of Underwriting Raising Capital and Creating Wealth 39:45 Mentorship Investing and the Keys to Long Term Success   Quotes “You do not need money to make money.” “You are never going to get paid for your time. You get paid for the value you bring to the market.” “Learn how to add value and people will want to work with you.” “Investing is risky but not investing is even riskier.”   Enjoyed the show?  Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the “Skip The Lines Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]”   FULL VIDEOS are always uploaded on YouTube. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]   📢 Connect with Hans Seelinger!  https://www.instagram.com/hansseelinger/ [https://www.instagram.com/hansseelinger/]   📢 Connect with me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bked5yNlFRoy58i2w48zNjg%3D%3D] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre]  Twitter (X): https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre] ADU PALS: https://adupals.com [https://adupals.com] Business Inquiries: jonathan@adupals.com [jonathan@adupals.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/support] Enjoying the show? Keep the conversation going!  Skip The Lines Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN]

The Dirty Truth About Institutional Money That No One Talks About Derek Czarkowski

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/fan_mail/new] Are you investing for hype or building real long-term wealth? Derek Czarkowski serves as Vice President, Investor Relations at Buchanan Street Partners and brings over 20 years of experience in real estate investing. In this episode, he shares his journey from institutional real estate to working with high-net-worth investors and how those experiences reshaped his approach to capital deployment and risk. The conversation dives into the realities of institutional capital, why it can pressure operators into bad decisions, and how smarter investors focus on risk adjusted returns instead of chasing flashy IRRs. Derek also explains open ended funds vs direct deals, current market opportunities, and why today may be one of the best entry points in years. If you want to understand how experienced investors think about money, risk, and real estate this episode is packed with insights you can actually use. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and career background 04:26 Buchanan Street overview 07:58 Institutional vs private capital 12:31 Capital raising and market outlook 18:50 Fund structures explained 23:32 Mindset lessons and life advice   Quotes "It is hard to be a good buyer when you have hundreds of millions to deploy." – Derek Czarkowski "People are always drawn to high return deals even when the risk is much higher." – Derek Czarkowski "If I could do it all over again, I would buy more real estate earlier." – Derek Czarkowski "Real estate gives you equity returns bond like cash flow and tax advantages all in one." – Derek Czarkowski    Enjoyed the show?  Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the “Skip The Lines Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]”   FULL VIDEOS are always uploaded on YouTube. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]   📢 Connect with Derek Czarkowski!  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekczarkowski/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekczarkowski/] Website: https://www.buchananstreet.com/personnel/derek-czarkowski/ [https://www.buchananstreet.com/personnel/derek-czarkowski/]    📢 Connect with me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bked5yNlFRoy58i2w48zNjg%3D%3D] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre]  Twitter (X): https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre] ADU PALS: https://adupals.com [https://adupals.com] Business Inquiries: jonathan@adupals.com [jonathan@adupals.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/support] Enjoying the show? Keep the conversation going!  Skip The Lines Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN]

She Ran 60 Deals a Month Until It Nearly Broke Her ~ Zandra Ulloa

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/fan_mail/new] What are you willing to sacrifice in pursuit of success and is it worth it? Zandra Ulloa is a top real estate professional with over a decade of experience and more than 3 billion in closed sales. She shares her journey from buying her first property at 21 to leading a powerhouse team across California while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Zandra dives deep into the realities behind high performance success including burnout, missed personal moments, and the importance of systems, leadership, and self-awareness. She emphasizes communication, accountability, and leading with love as the foundation of long-term success while also revealing hard lessons from legal battles and business growth. If you are serious about leveling up in business and life take action today apply these lessons and start building your own path to success.   Chapters 00:00 Early Life and Real Estate Beginnings  03:38 Building a Brand and Team  06:01 Zillow Experience and Growth  11:27 Competitive Advantage and Communication  15:00 Mindset Mentorship and Personal Growth  23:00 Failures Lessons and Life Philosophy   Quotes: I missed two and a half years of my children growing up and I will never do that again." – Zandra Ulloa "The money is the bonus the freedom of choice is success." – Zandra Ulloa "It is always a you thing not the other person." – Zandra Ulloa "Do it scared do it broke just do it." – Zandra Ulloa   Enjoyed the show?  Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the “Skip The Lines Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]”   FULL VIDEOS are always uploaded on YouTube. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod [https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod]   📢 Connect with Zandra Ulloa!  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zandra-ulloa-4585ba85_sandiegorealestate-sandiegorealtor-activity-6663239044396396545-SZ3g/ [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/zandra-ulloa-4585ba85_sandiegorealestate-sandiegorealtor-activity-6663239044396396545-SZ3g/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zandra_ulloa/ [https://www.instagram.com/zandra_ulloa/]    📢 Connect with me! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathanmitchellre/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitchell-a1493410b?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3Bked5yNlFRoy58i2w48zNjg%3D%3D] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre]  Twitter (X): https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre [https://www.tiktok.com/@jonathanmitchellre] ADU PALS: https://adupals.com [https://adupals.com] Business Inquiries: jonathan@adupals.com [jonathan@adupals.com] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2347593/support] Enjoying the show? Keep the conversation going!  Skip The Lines Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQlFAYIZJ2w2CUzEtK49jelO9Khn40ZnN]