132: Jeff Plous, Behind The Curtain, Hatch Realty

132: Jeff Plous, Behind The Curtain, Hatch Realty

Jeff Plous's story is one of curiosity, craftsmanship, and an unshakable refusal to take "no" for an answer. The broker-owner of Hatch Realty grew up in downtown Chicago — a self-described nerd who carried a briefcase instead of a backpack, rebuilt cars with his dad, and built model homes out of balsa wood because he loved making something out of nothing. From his father, a charismatic entrepreneur who once finagled his way into a Vespa dealership at thirteen, he inherited creativity and fearlessness. From his grandfather and his mother — a teacher who spent decades serving kids in Chicago's inner city — he inherited discipline and a relentless work ethic. A move to CU Boulder gave Jeff both his lifelong friends and his direction, and he graduated into real estate just as the market began to collapse. His first job at Centex Homes was a sales center no one ever visited, but instead of waiting it out, he taught himself Photoshop and marketing and went looking for ways to solve the problem himself. That instinct became his calling card — building a niche selling "the unsellable" across Northwest Denver, most memorably moving four long-stalled townhomes for the late, legendary Paul Stan in just four months, on no marketing budget. That success launched him into development. After staying up all night reading the city's new zoning code and teaching himself design software, he sketched a concept no one believed could work, identified the land, signed over his entire bank account, and bet on himself. Around 40 doors later, Jeff has spent more than a decade among Denver's top agents — building Hatch around a simple premise: not how to sell more homes, but how to serve clients better. In this episode, Jeff opens up about the mentors who shaped him, the integrity that drives him to build things he can be proud of, and the honest struggle to find work-life balance while raising two kids with his wife, Lindsay. He shares the gut-punch of his nine-year-old telling him he's always on his phone, his "every day is Tuesday" philosophy, and his take on where Denver's market needs to go next. Above all, it's a conversation about staying curious, seeing behind the curtain, and never doing anything halfway. And Jeff's story… starts now! www.everettslending.com 720-979-8742 jimmy@everettslending.com IG: @jimmythesaint5280

131: Rachel Gallegos, A City's Fingerprint, The Edit @ Compass

Rachel Gallegos's story is one of grit, vision, and the quiet confidence of someone who has always been willing to bet on herself. The youngest of seven, she grew up in Salt Lake City with a single mother who worked three jobs to keep the family afloat — and a grandmother in Grand Junction who, decades ahead of her time, ran rental properties, storage units, and a beauty salon on her own broker's license. From the age of five, Rachel knew she wanted to build something of her own. She earned everything early. A first paycheck at twelve, and before that a door-to-door operation selling homemade cookies and caramels for spending money. That work ethic carried her to becoming the first in her family to graduate college, then into a corporate banking job where she quickly hit a ceiling she had no intention of living under. On maternity leave with her first daughter, she got her real estate license — and one week after giving birth to her second in 2008, she was already showing foreclosures to investors. Starting her career in a down market became Rachel's greatest advantage. Some of her biggest years came during the crash, and that proved to her she could succeed in any market. She set her sights on new development and on Northwest Denver before the rest of the city caught on, watching a neighborhood she believed in become exactly what she'd envisioned.  In this episode, Rachel opens up about juggling motherhood and a demanding career from day one, the discipline of a 4:30 a.m. morning routine, why she finds joy in helping shape the actual fabric of Denver rather than chasing one transaction at a time, and her honest take on where the city has been and where it's headed. With both daughters now off at college — Isabella at CU and Olivia heading to Oregon — she's asking herself a question she's put off for years: what does SHE want? At her core, Rachel is a lifelong learner and a believer in collaboration — someone who measures success not just in deals closed, but in doing it the right way alongside good people. It's an honest, energizing look at a woman who built a thriving business from the ground up and is just getting started on her next chapter. And Rachel's story… starts now! www.everettslending.com 720-979-8742 jimmy@everettslending.com IG: @jimmythesaint5280

130: Carlos Escobar, A Son's Why, Keller Williams Downtown Denver

Carlos Escobar's story is one of sacrifice, grit, and a son's gratitude that runs all the way down to the bone. Born in El Salvador and brought to Colorado at the age of five, Carlos was raised by a single mother who crossed three borders — fleeing a civil war — so her boy could have a shot at something more. The things he saw as a child were heavy, and the woman who shielded him from them became the foundation for everything he's built. Carlos grew up quickly. By five he was translating for his mom; by thirteen he was working full-time at the family Mexican restaurant where she spent 35 years. At eighteen, instead of spending a small settlement, he used it to help her buy her first home — and discovered a love for the real estate process that would set the course for his career. The path wasn't a straight line: a short run at Metro, six years in mortgages, then a front-row seat to the 2008 collapse before he went all in on real estate and built a business one relationship at a time. He frames his life in chapters — the early grind, marriage and three children through IVF, and now a third chapter of rebuilding after two divorces that tested him. In this episode, Carlos opens up about learning to be a father with no blueprint, what his oldest daughter saw from the backseat of his car during the hardest years, and his mission to teach the Hispanic community to move beyond that first home and build real wealth through real estate. At his core, Carlos is defined by his why: his mother and his children. He'll tell you his work ethic is his superpower, but the thread running through his whole story is simpler — so many people helped him get here, and now he just wants to help others. It's an honest, eye-opening look at where we come from and what we owe the people who carried us. And Carlos's story… starts now! www.everettslending.com 720-979-8742 jimmy@everettslending.com IG: @jimmythesaint5280

129: Kristy Lee, Life Could Be A Dream, The Ceretto Group @ Coldwell Banker

On this week’s episode of Mindset Matters, I sat down with my friend Kristy Lee of the Ceretto Group at Coldwell Banker — a proud Colorado native whose story is equal parts courage, curiosity, and reinvention. Kristy grew up in Arvada - a rollerblading, bike‑riding tomboy who didn’t care much for dolls but loved the freedom of being outside. She went from dreaming of being a pizza maker at age ten to traveling through Europe after college, then finding her footing as a floral designer, and eventually spending 15 years in property management - helping people find homes while quietly losing joy in the increasing weight of that work. By the time she married her husband, James, and welcomed their son, Parker, the career that once felt secure had become heavy. So she did something few people have the courage to do in their mid‑thirties - she walked away from stability to start over. With a one‑year‑old at home, no health insurance, and money pulled from their house to fund year one, Kristy jumped headfirst into real estate with nothing but her determination and a deep belief that failure was not an option. Those early days were pure hustle - door knocking with Parker in a stroller, creating videos with him in the frame, and grinding through the uncertainty that comes with a business built from scratch. Today, Kristy is thriving — helping families find home across Colorado, traveling the world with James and Parker (including every Disney park she can reach), and yes — about to finally get her pink Bronco. In this conversation, we talk about the mindset behind that leap: the difference between “needing it to work” and making it work, the power of loving a state and community so much that you build your life and business around it, and the freedom that comes with designing a career on your own terms. Kristy’s story is the reminder so many of us need: that starting over isn’t failure, it’s faith — and sometimes the best plan is the one without a backup. www.everettslending.com 720-979-8742 jimmy@everettslending.com IG: @jimmythesaint5280

128: Patrick Laurienti, The Nonstop Mind, The LHT Group

On this week's episode of Mindset Matters, I was joined by my friend Patrick Laurienti, one of the most intentional people I know and the  founder and team lead of The LHT Group here in Denver. Patrick’s story starts in Watkins, Colorado - a small country town where he spent his early years running through open fields, chasing wild horses, and testing every boundary within sight. Rambunctious, curious, and full of energy, he was the kind of kid who couldn’t sit still for long.  By high school, Patrick already knew he wasn’t headed to college. He wanted to build something by either working his way up through a company or creating his own. That mindset was rare among his peers, and especially powerful considering his roots. Raised by a single mom after his parents’ divorce, he watched her navigate financial instability and tough seasons that left a mark on him. As Patrick puts it, “Life shouldn’t have a price tag.” That belief drives everything he does: if someone else can do it, so can he. At just 19, he got his real estate license, but it took eight long months to sell his first house. At one point, he told his girlfriend (now wife) he was quitting to try network marketing, and she challenged him to at least sell one house before walking away. He did — and never looked back. Over the next decade, Patrick built a thriving business from scratch. He weathered the hard years, learned the art of consistency, and turned optimism into action. Along the way, he married his high school sweetheart, became a father to three beautiful kids (now 3, 5, and 7), and learned that growth doesn’t mean sacrificing what matters most. We talk about that evolution - what it means to build a seven-figure business while being intentional about family, fatherhood, and faith. Patrick shares how ambition can be both a blessing and a burden, how his constant drive once led to burnout, and how he’s learned the real power of saying no. Today, Patrick runs The LHT Group, coaches other agents, and leads with the same belief that’s guided him since he was a kid chasing wild horses: anything is possible. His current goals include building a seven-figure real estate business, hiring his first full-time support to scale sustainably, and laying the foundation for a long-term vision - a “fantasy factory”–style property where he can host team retreats, coaching events, and create a place that inspires others to dream as big as he does. At the heart of it all, Patrick’s story is about clarity — cutting distractions, leading with curiosity, and being fully present for the people who matter most. Patrick, thank you for sharing your mindset, your lessons, and your light with all of us. www.everettslending.com 720-979-8742 jimmy@everettslending.com IG: @jimmythesaint5280