Real Estate Investor and CEO at MAK Capital | Luxury Storage Developer | 200+ CRE units | Financial Freedom Mentor

I’m Marc Kuhn and in 1994 I started my construction career with my Dad. I started at $1 per hour and got a $1 raise every year as I worked for my dads construction company. 

In 2010, I left my hourly job with $2,500 in my bank account. 

I started my entrepreneurial path and opened MAK Construction, my first business. I’ve grown the construction company to over $25 million a year. We develop commercial projects both 3rd party and investment projects for our investors. 

Since 2018, we have added over 200 units in the Midwest. The benefits of real estate have given me the freedom of time. My goal is to help investors reach financial freedom through real estate. 

Today I own and operate three successful companies that do eight figures a year. 

https://linktr.ee/marckuhn?fbclid=PAAabPuGTp9yBQf1LtvPMccAGv2W9DDPWjJCYvxn3mKnV12VKxsr7s0g8Lc18

2010: MAK Construction: Build and Manage Construction Projects. 
www.makconstructiongf.com

2020: MAK Capital: Let’s passive investors invest in real estate projects beside us! 
Unfollow the herd newsletter: 
www.makcapitalgf.com

2020: CK Agency: Manages Multifamily and Storage properties. 
www.ckagencyllc.com

Marc Kuhn

I dropped out of University of North Dakota with 12 credits left and $2,500 to start MAK Construction.

Now UND is one of our best partners.

Back in 2010, I walked away from a college degree to bet on myself. No diploma. No Plan B. No money.

Just a concrete guy from North Dakota who believed he could build something.

Fast forward 15 years:

→ MAK Construction LLC and MAK Capital are developing projects on the UND campus
→ UND grads are joining our team
→ The same university I left now trusts us to help build its future

And it says a lot about UND.

When most parents think of top schools in the US...North Dakota usually isn't the first place they think.

While many students chases brand-name schools on the coasts, UND just quietly broke its all-time enrollment record: 15,844 students. Up 825 from last year.

President Andy Armacost is expanding programs the state actually needs:

• Top-ranked nursing school in North Dakota
• First university in the U.S. Space Force Partnership Program
• Aviation program with global reputation
• Degrees that lead to jobs—not just debt

And now they’ve earned Carnegie R1 status—putting them in the same research class as Harvard, Stanford, and MIT.

UND isn’t trying to be flashy. They’re just doing the work.

The kind of work that builds a great future workforce with necessity-based jobs that quietly run the country.

We’ve hired UND grads who show up early, solve problems, and outwork the resume chasers. That matters in our business.

We also build for the school, support the football team, and see them as one of our best long-term partners.

Everybody wins when a local institution like UND plays the long game with local businesses.

Sometimes coming full circle isn’t about going back to finish what you started.
It’s about building something strong enough that the place you left wants you back at the table.

We’re proud to help UND expand its campus while it invests in real careers, real programs, and real people.

Go Fighting Hawks!

What schools in your area are doing the unsexy but important work of preparing students for actual jobs?

Marc Kuhn

CEO @ MAK Capital | CRE Developer | Guiding You to Wealth with Passive Investments in Luxury Storage & Multifamily Real Estate

I burned out building a $30M construction company.

But without my wife...I would've stayed stuck at $1M.

In my 20s, I thought grinding 100-hour weeks made me successful.

I hit $250K in income and felt like a failure because I was drowning in a business I didn’t know how to run.

I was good at construction.
Terrible at running a company.

Chelsie brought what I didn’t have:

→ Organization where I had chaos
→ Strategy where I had hustle
→ Structure where I had gut feel
→ Brand clarity where I had zero clue

She runs our EOS meetings. Keeps the team aligned. Takes my messy ideas and turns them into actual systems that scale.

She’s the reason I get to focus on what I do best—growing MAK Construction and MAK Capital.

Here’s what nobody tells you about building a business with your spouse:

It’s not about finding someone who thinks like you.
It’s about finding someone who balances you.

I see the vision. She maps the path.
I chase the deal. She helps the team deliver.
I go fast. She makes sure we go smart.

The best business decision I ever made wasn’t a real estate deal. It was marrying someone who made me better without trying to change me.

We’ve got 3 kids, multiple companies doing $30M+ a year, a 50+ person team, and $60M real estate portfolio.

None of it works without systems. And none of those systems exist without Chelsie Kuhn.

If you’re building solo, you’re capping your growth.

Every entrepreneur I know who scaled past $10M?

They didn’t just grind harder. They found someone—partner, co-founder, spouse—who filled their gaps.

Your job isn’t to do it all. Your job is to do your part and find people who crush the rest.

What’s the best partnership decision you’ve made in your business or career?

Marc Kuhn

We skipped the 529 plan for our 3 kids' college.

Bought an 8-plex they'll own in 10 years instead.

I've written about it before on LinkedIn and Substack, so here's a fun update.

In 2021, we bought a small, low-income 8-unit property in a rural North Dakota town near us. 

Nothing fancy. Nothing shiny.

Just solid cash flow and a lesson in ownership.

• Bought it in 2021 for $450,000.
• Spits off ~20% a year cash flow.
• Kids used birthday money and loan from Mom & Dad.
• Over 10 years, it’ll return $300,000+.

They've owned it for a few years with our help, and have already been paying Mom and Dad back with cash flow.

By the time they need the money, the equity and cash flow will be more than enough for them to:

• Go to college
• Start a business
• Buy a decent car
• Hopefully not blow it on Legos or Sephora

Right now they’re 5, 10, and 11.

They get the cash flow, see the checks, help "manage" the property, and learn the ownership game early.

I’ll help them learn so hopefully they can financially support themselves and learn to invest and make money by 18.

Not because I’m harsh...because I want them to be capable and prepared for the real world.

I love Kevin O’Leary’s mindset:

“My kids don’t get my money. 
They get my lessons.”

Here's the best part.

When we talked about the latest distribution, they were excited about junk food and toys…

Then my oldest asked “Can we buy more of these?”

That’s the whole game right there.

• Teach 'em young. 
• Let them own something. 
• Show them what it means to earn.

My job isn’t to carry them after 18.

It’s to make sure they’re strong enough to carry themselves.

What are you doing today that your kids will thank you for in 10 years?

--

P.S. I broke down this 8-plex purchase for parents who want to do something similar.

Check out the guide: https://lnkd.in/g-qJ3X-N

$500 dinners that generate an extra $5M revenue.

Luke owns hotels. I build luxury storage.

But the lesson I learned applies to every business owner who wants to build something that lasts…

We were scouting our next luxury storage development, when I met Luke, an entrepreneur who owns and operates luxury hotels in South Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Most people eat at 5-star restaurants for the food.
Luke eats at them to build better businesses.

We went to one of his favorite Scottsdale restaurants, The Italiano.

✅ Valet is complimentary.
✅ The server knew his name and favorite wine.
✅ My cocktail came branded with the restaurant’s name on the orange peel.

The place was buzzing. 
Packed. Polished. Precise.

I asked Luke why he does this.

“If I want to deliver a 5-star experience in my hotels, I need to study it everywhere I go. What can I borrow, adapt, or improve?”

Hard to beat an entrepreneur who's a student of his craft and thinks like Luke.

Most people are looking for shortcuts.
The best entrepreneurs obsess over details.

That mindset is why his guests come back — and why his brand will still be thriving 20 years from now.

Great businesses don’t guess what excellence looks like. They study it, steal it, and systematize it.

Whether you’re building hotels, storage facilities, or any other business…

The fastest way to stand out is to raise the standard when everyone else is lowering the price.

Do you know an entrepreneur like Luke?

If I were 18 today graduating in today's economy...

I’m not sure I’d go to college.

Not because I hate learning. But because I hate debt that doesn’t cash flow.

Let’s say I take the traditional route:

→ 4 years of school
→ $150,000 in loans
→ Maybe a $60K job if I’m lucky
→ No assets, no equity, no ownership

You're telling me this is still the “safe” path?

Now compare it to an alternative path to success that is totally doable for an 18 year old in 2025:

→ Buy pressure washing equipment: ~$2,000
→ Knock on 1,000 doors in 3 zip codes
→ Sell driveway cleans at $250 a pop
→ Land 10 jobs a week = $2,500
→ Work 40 weeks = $100,000/year

No debt.
No resume.
No waiting.

You can have a 6-figure pressure washing business before most of your peers take their freshman finals.

And here's what you learn while doing it:

• How to sell and handle rejection
• How to schedule, invoice, and manage time
• How to scale from a solo hustle into hiring a team
• How to build skills transferrable to any business

You learn ownership—the one thing school rarely teaches.

I know this because I did something similar.

Dropped out 12 credits short of a degree, probably should've done it earlier for my situation.

Started pouring concrete and taking odd jobs around town with the skills I learned as a kid working in my Dad's construction business.

Taught myself the basics of business, sales, client relationships, and leading a team one job at a time.

The skills I learned became the foundation that I'd use to grow my companies to $30M/year revenue and CRE portfolio to $60M+.

Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone. 
College isn't either.

If I could go back, I’d tell 18-year-old Marc:

→ Forget status.
→ Get cash flow.
→ Learn high-value skills.
→ And pick a path that puts you in control.

For some it's a 4-year degree. For others, it's starting your first "boring" business and learning on the job.

What path would you choose in today's economy:

Would you spend $150,000 and four years in college?

Or start a boring, cash-flowing business?

In my 20s, I traded time for money.

In my 30s, I’m trading money for health.

Running multiple companies and having a family taught me something important in 2024:

My most important investment isn’t in real estate.
It’s in my body, health, and energy.

When I’m healthy, I make better decisions. I lead better. I show up better.

I have more energy—for my team, my investors, and my family.

In 2025, I made a commitment:
Invest $10,000–$20,000 per year into my health.

Here’s my plan for how I'll invest:

• Bloodwork: $300
• Genetic testing: $600
• High-quality supplements: $1,500
• Peptides: $5,000–$10,000
• Gym memberships and trainers: $3,000+

Some people think it’s excessive.
But for me, it’s a non-negotiable.

When your body is optimized, your business follows.

If you’re in a leadership role—CEO, investor, operator—this is a category worth over-investing in.

Are you investing in your health and energy in 2025?

I was stuck for 5 years in my business in my 20s.

The change that 10X'd my success?

I was trying to figure everything out alone.

The shift happened when I found operators who’d already solved the problems I was facing:

Guys running $10M+ construction companies who showed me their systems.

Investors doing deals I thought were impossible with my capital.

Entrepreneurs who’d scaled past the bottleneck I was trapped in.

Turns out, the fastest way to build wealth isn’t working harder in isolation. It’s learning from people who are 5 steps ahead of you.

That’s what today’s live Q&A event is about.

You’re not just getting my playbook for going from chaos to $30M in revenue.

You’re getting the frameworks, mistakes, and shortcuts I learned from being around the right people.

We go live in 3 hours. Still time to join.

11 AM CST | 12 PM EST

$25 for advice and community from entrepreneurs who've been where you are today.

This is your chance to get unstuck in 2026 instead of grinding and staying in the same place for another 5 years.

Last call to join: 

https://lnkd.in/gKGtHzhD

See you at 11 am CST!

JSESSIONID

li_at

Talks about #investing, #realestate, #construction, #personalfinance, and #apartmentinvesting

10 years ago, I thought this life was impossible.

Let me paint a picture of 27-year-old Marc:

Just had my second kid.
Running a concrete business that was barely holding together.
Working 100-hour weeks because I didn’t know how to delegate.
Drinking a gallon of coffee and 4–5 Monsters a day just to survive.

Then one bad pour almost ended everything.

A $30K concrete project cracked. The client threatened to sue. We didn’t have the cash reserves to fix it and stay afloat.

I remember lying awake at 3am thinking:
“This is it. I’m going to lose everything.”

The business was fragile because I was fragile.
I was the bottleneck.
If I wasn’t on-site, nothing happened.

Fast forward to today at 37:

3 kids who actually see their dad.
A construction company doing $30M+ annually.
A $60M real estate portfolio.
A team of 50 that runs the business without me.

The difference wasn’t working harder.
It was learning the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts that compound wealth instead of burning you out.

I’m hosting a live Q&A this Wednesday to walk you through exactly how I made that shift.

• Wednesday, November 26 at 11 AM CST
• $25 to join for $100,000+ of advice if you act on it

Most people will spend 2026 the same way I spent 2014—grinding harder, not smarter.
A few will figure out how to scale, build equity, and actually enjoy the life they’re working for.

I’ll share the exact frameworks that took me from chaos to $30M in revenue—and how you can apply them to your business or real estate portfolio in 2026.

Your questions.
Real answers.
No BS.

2026 can be your breakthrough year…or another year of “I’ll figure it out later.”

DM me "scale" if you want an invite to tomorrow's live event.

Having a $5,000,000 net worth won’t save you if you have ZERO monthly cash flow.

I've coached a few people from LinkedIn, most of them in their 20s.

They all want the same thing:

• Financial freedom
• Quit their soul-sucking 9-5 job
• Buy back their time with investments

First I ask them "What is financial freedom to you?"

And they're usually focused on the wrong metric.

"I want a $5,000,000 net worth."

That's great. 

But net worth won't:

• Pay your monthly bills
• Replace your 9-5 job salary
• Allow you to use money for Time Freedom

Cash flow is the answer. 

And most of my coaching students are surprised when we break down the math.

You don't need a $5M net worth to be free.

Most people would be happy and comfortable with $10,000-$20,000 in monthly cash flow from assets.

Which takes less time than an 8-figure net worth.

For financial freedom, monthly cash flow is a better metric than net worth 365 days a year.

Agree or disagree?

In 1989, Brian Scudamore spotted a beat-up junk truck while sitting in a McDonald's drive-thru.

That moment sparked his empire.

Here's what Scudamore did next:

→ Took $700 in savings 
→ Bought a used pickup truck 
→ Started "The Rubbish Boys" 
→ Painted the truck himself 
→ Created a simple tagline: "We'll stash your trash in a flash!"

While his surgeon father wasn't thrilled...

Brian dropped out of college to go all-in.

His secret weapon?

Making an "ugly" business look professional:

→ Clean trucks
→ Sharp uniforms
→ On-time service
→ Fanatical customer focus

In 1994, he made the hardest call, firing his entire staff to rebuild with people who shared his vision.

And today?

His company 1-800-GOT-JUNK is estimated to be around $600 million in annual revenue. 

The lesson is simple:

Sometimes the "ugliest" businesses create the biggest opportunities.

You just have to be willing to think differently.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 "𝘂𝗴𝗹𝘆" 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁?


♻️ Repost to share this story with others.
👷 Follow me Marc Kuhn for more.

At 30, I said Yes to every real estate deal I could.

At 36, I say No to 15-20+ deals a month.

Grew MAK Construction to $30M revenue saying Yes.
Grew MAK Capital to a $60M portfolio saying Yes.

Yes to building houses.
Yes to the random real estate deal.
Yes to anything that would pay the bills.

That’s how most people start: Hustle Mode

But what gets you from $0 to $10M won’t get you to $100M.

At some point, saying yes becomes a liability.

You say yes to too many things, and suddenly:

You’re busy, but not growing.
You’re working harder, but not wealthier.
You’re stuck in the weeds, missing the bigger picture.

In 2025, I’m saying No more than ever.

• No to building 10 homes (eats time, doesn’t scale)
• No to chasing small deals and shiny objects
• No to being everywhere, for everyone

Instead, I’m doubling down on:

→ Luxury storage developments in markets we love
→ Large multifamily projects, strategic acquisitions
→ Scaling what’s working—without spreading thin

Saying No to 10 small projects so I can say Yes to the 1- 2 large opportunities that move the needle.

Great things are built by doing less, better.

Are you in the Yes phase of your career? 
Or are you in the "less is more" season?

--
♻️ Repost if you're saying No more in 2025

📌 Join 5,200+ investors getting real estate, business, and wealth-building insights in my weekly Saturday newsletter: marckuhn.substack.com

As a luxury storage developer, my business model is based on Alex Hormozi's advice: "Sell to the rich." 
 
Money is abundant (if you know where to look).
 
I've learned this as a contractor, developer, and investor with wealthy mentors. 
 
Capital is abundant and looking for a place to allocate to high ROI deals. 
 
This is why we build "luxury" storage and condos. 
 
Storage is already recession-resistant. 
 
But the luxury model attracts: 
 
• Higher-end buyers 
• Higher-end investors 
• Higher-end monthly rents 
 
Instead of focusing on: 
 
→ Can you pay rent? 
→ Can you afford our units? 
→ Can you stay with us long-term? 
 
We focus on problems the wealthiest tenants care about with our units. 
 
Do you offer a premium product? 
Do you promise the highest quality? 
Do you give the buyer peace of mind? 
 
Our tenants are online store owners, contractors, and wealthy entrepreneurs. 
 
They aren't worried about month to month. 
They are worried about value. 
 
One of the biggest unlocks you will find as a real estate investor: 
 
Building a network of wealthy buyers. 
 
Have you thought about investing in projects that appeal to the wealthiest 1%? 
 
-- 

P.S. We're launching new luxury storage projects to our exclusive investor list.
 
If you're accredited and want to learn about these opportunities, DM me "storage" to connect.

Barry Sternlicht had ZERO hotel experience when he bought his first failing property in 1991.

But he did something most people wouldn’t.

He ignored the “experts” who said hotels had to be either luxury or budget.

Instead, he spotted what everyone else missed: the middle.

At the time, Four Seasons was charging $500 a night for marble bathrooms. Holiday Inn was racing to the bottom at $89 a night.

Barry asked a better question:

“What if people just want a place that doesn’t suck?”

So he built it.

→ Cool design that didn’t feel corporate.
→ Local vibe instead of chain sterile.
→ Quality without the luxury pretension.

That simple idead turned into W Hotels.

W became Starwood.
Starwood grew to 1,200+ locations.
Marriott bought it for $13 billion.

Today, Barry oversees over $100 billion in real estate.

All because he followed a simple playbook:

→ Find the gap everyone else ignores
→ Build what people actually want
→ Systematize it
→ Scale it

That’s the same reason I’m going all-in on luxury storage.

It’s not flashy. 
It’s not trendy. 
It’s not on CNBC.

But it's simple, repeatable, and prints cash flow.

While everyone’s chasing the next crypto, AI, or whatever “next big thing,” I’m focused on boring businesses with demand.

My customers are contractors, e-comm store owners, local blue collar entrepreneurs.

They’re not impressed by Public Storage’s tiny boxes.

They want clean, secure, premium space...and they’ll pay for it.

And guess what?

There’s almost no competition 'cus everyone’s busy chasing shiny objects.

Here’s what most people get wrong about boring businesses:

They think boring means low upside, but they’re wrong.

• Boring means predictable cash flow.
• Boring means less competition.
• Boring means higher margins.
• Boring builds wealth.

The flashy stuff gets the headlines.
The boring stuff builds the balance sheet.

If you’re serious about building something that lasts, stop following the herd.

Start looking for the gaps no one else sees.

That’s where the real money is hiding.

What outdated industry would you redesign if you had the chance?

--

♻️ Repost if stories like Barry's inspire you
🤝 Reach out if I can be a resource Marc Kuhn

What's the difference between making $10,000 in your 9-5 job and $10,000 from real estate?

$10K paycheck:

• Taxed at 40–50%
• Trades hours for dollars
• Stops when you stop working

$10K from a real estate deal:

• Taxed close to zero with depreciation
• Keeps paying you while you sleep
• Grows equity in a real asset

Most people spend 40 years chasing the paycheck.

But freedom is on the otherside of ownership.

I learned this in my early 20s. Started trading my time pouring concrete, building a construction company.

But the smartest thing I ever did was buy my first office building and lease out the unused space.

"Holy sh*t I didn't know you could do this."

The tax benefits in the first year alone were enough to get me hooked and eventually start MAK Capital in 2020, going all in on multifamily and luxury storage.

Since then, we’ve built and acquired $60M in commercial real estate across the Midwest.

And every time we pay out investors from a property we own...

I’m reminded: 
That $10K from a real estate deal is more than money.

It’s time back with my wife and kids.
It’s leverage for creating generational wealth.
It’s doable to go from $0 to millionaire with time.

Don't get caught in the earn a lot, spend a lot game.

Use a paycheck to buy assets and become an owner. 

That's the game.

What was your first “aha” moment that made you realize real estate was the path to real wealth?

--

♻️ Repost if this resonated with you.
📌 Follow me Marc Kuhn for daily content.

Most will spend 2026 overthinking their next move.

A few will actually scale their wealth.

I’m hosting a live Q&A on Wednesday, November 26 at 11 AM CST to help you be in that second group.

What we’ll cover:

→ How I grew my company to $30M in revenue
→ How I built a $60M real estate portfolio
→ The boring strategies that scale wealth
→ Your specific questions answered live

I’ll walk you through the exact strategies, systems, and mindset shifts that took me from pouring concrete at 26 to running an 8-figure business and real estate portfolio.

The mistakes I made so you don’t have to.
The frameworks I wish I had earlier.
The unsexy stuff that actually moves the needle.

It’s $25 to join. 

If you’re serious about scaling your business or real estate portfolio in 2026 without guesswork, this is for you.

Grab your spot:
https://lnkd.in/gKGtHzhD

Wednesday, November 26
11 AM CST | 12 PM EST

Will I see you there?

Most people think investing is complicated.

So they do nothing.

Here's what that looks like:

•Park money in a savings account earning 0.5%
•Watch inflation eat 3-4% of your wealth every year
•Wait for the "perfect moment" that never comes
•Let fear keep you on the sidelines for decades
•Retire with less purchasing power than you started with

Meanwhile, the wealthy do the opposite.

They put their money to work.

They understand:
•Compound interest is the 8th wonder of the world
•Time in the market beats timing the market
•Diversification protects, concentration builds wealth
•Passive income > trading hours for dollars

Here's the truth nobody tells you:

You don't need to be rich to start investing.
You need to start investing to become rich.

The difference between someone who invests $500/month starting at 25 vs. 35?

Over $500,000 by retirement.

That's the cost of waiting.

I'm not saying quit your job tomorrow or bet everything on one asset.

I'm saying:

Start small. Stay consistent. Think long term.
Pick your vehicle. Build your portfolio. Create your freedom.

If you're interested in learning more about luxury storage, DM me "luxury" to join our investor list.

The best time to start was 10 years ago.

The second best time is today.

Agree or disagree?

Multifamily real estate put money in my pocket.

Luxury storage bought my time back.

I’ve built apartments. I still do, and have a ground up development project under construction now.

But when I compare the two, one asset class consistently delivers better margins, less management, and fewer headaches...and it’s not multifamily.

When I first got into development, I followed the crowd into apartments. 

• The numbers penciled. 
• Demand was there. 
• Everyone understood the model.

But I also learned the reality:

• High turnover
• More maintenance calls
• Bigger staff to manage
• Tenant laws that can change overnight

Multifamily development is still a solid business. But it’s a grind.

Then came the Grand Forks project.

The lot didn’t work for apartments, so I tried something different: heated vs. unheated storage units. 

The heated units leased faster, stayed full, and rented for $100 more per month…with only $20 in extra utility cost.

That test turned into my first “luxury storage” facility.

Since then, here’s what I’ve seen:

Operational Advantages of Luxury Storage

→ No toilets, no appliances, no carpet to replace
→ Few people can oversee hundreds of units
→ Longer term tenants—often years, not months
→ B2B customers who want premium units

Investor Outcomes

→ Recession resilience
→ Stable NOI with fewer expense swings
→ Premium rent for premium product
→ Strong risk-adjusted returns

Multifamily has built some of my wealth.

But the "boring" asset class of luxury storage will compound my net worth and buy back my time.

In 2025, we’re developing over 500,000 sq ft of it. And as long as the numbers and demand hold, I’ll keep building more.

What asset class are you betting on that others are sleeping on over the next 5 years?

--

DM me "luxury storage" if you want to learn more about this asset class and connect with the MAK Capital team.

Marc Kuhn

We raised $1.9M for our Fargo Luxury Storage.

Now we're raising $2.5M for the next one...

Many investors are on the sidelines right now.

Afraid to make moves because of:

• Interest rates
• Slowing deal flow
• Uncertainty around an election

Meanwhile, our development team at MAK is looking to do even more storage deals in 2025.
 
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁: 
 
• Our tenants love 
• Our LP investors love 
• Our development company loves 
 
Self-storage is known for being a recession-friendly, cash-flowing asset. 
 
But these aren't your average self-storage. 
 
We've got boats and RVs. 
We've got luxury car owners. 
We've got contractor shop owners. 
We've got Amazon, Shopify biz owners. 
 
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵: 
 
• Two lights, one outlet 
• Garage door and opener 
• Heated and AC controlled 
• 20 by 50 self-storage units 
 
We've tested this in North Dakota and decided to expand across the U.S. 
 
What's our expertise at MAK? 
 
We find the land.
We secure the financing.
We build the storage facilities. 
We find renters and operate them.

Fully vertically integrated.
 
Our LP investors love that.
 
If you want to learn more about this asset class, DM me "Luxury Storage" 
 
I'll share our upcoming projects. 
 
𝙄𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 2025 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧?

You don’t need a ton of clients to achieve your dreams.

You just need to:

-> 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿𝘀. 

If you focus on transactional clients…
You’re just spinning your wheels.

But if you focus on long-term relationships…
You harness the value of compound interest.

The longer you work with someone, the greater the opportunities to grow together are.

If you genuinely place more emphasis on helping your clients achieve their dreams than you do on getting as much money from them as possible…

You’ll end up with more money than you know what to do with.

I could write a book of “Things I Wish I Knew When I Started” 14 years ago.

But this would be the first chapter.

Help others achieve their dreams.

And watch as you achieve yours. 

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭 𝗼𝗳 "𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗜 𝗞𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱"?

--

P.S. If you want to passively invest in real estate (and build a long-term relationship)
 
DM me "storage" to invest with me.

If you’re in real estate, you know Sam Zell.

Before he passed away in 2023... 

Zell was one of the most successful real estate investors of all time. 

His specialty was acquiring distressed assets. 

It earned Zel the nickname, “The Grave Dancer.”

And The Grave Dancer had a few legendary quotes for investors:

1. “All the opportunity in the world means nothing if you don’t actually pull the trigger.”

2. “Reputation is your most important asset. Everything you do, everything you say, is a part of the permanent record.”

3. “Where there is scarcity, price is no object. This basic tenet of supply and demand would later become a governing principle of my investment philosophy.”

In Unfollow the Herd newsletter, I’m breaking down the best wealth-building lessons I’ve absorbed from:

-> Sam Zell
-> Ray Dalio
-> Ryan Pineda
-> Brandon Turner
-> Robert Kiyosaki

Join 4,500 readers who get it for free here: marckuhn.substack.com

--

Follow me Marc Kuhn for daily posts on real estate, entrepreneurship, and financial freedom.

Raised $30 MM in capital for real estate through LinkedIn and Guest Podcasting | Posts about Real Estate, Writing, and Audience Building

CAP X MEDIA

Helping Real Estate Investors Build Their Brand and Raise Capital Through Digital Media.

Founder

Elite Podcast Bookings

*Rebranded to CAP X MEDIA

Revolutionizing real estate investing marketing with guest podcasting and organic lead generation to raise more capital and explode your personal brand online.

Founder 

Boardwalk Wealth

Oversaw and assisted a real estate portfolio of assets valued at $50MM and achieve goals through allocation, monitoring, and risk management.

Asset Management

Leveraged expertise in market research, financial analysis, and risk assessment to drive informed decision-making and optimize returns within the real estate investment portfolio.

Senior Analyst

Managed communications, built relationships with media outlets, and produced engaging content to enhance brand visibility and effectively communicate key messages to real estate investors.

Investor and Media Relations

Rabbit Hole Finance

Conducted insightful interviews with prominent figures in the bitcoin industry, delving into topics of Austrian economics, finance, and global markets to provide valuable insights and perspectives to the audience.

Podcast Host

Real Estate Journeys

114 episodes in syndication, our business podcast has achieved a remarkable feat as a top 400 podcast, offering valuable insights and knowledge to real estate investors.

99% of Real Estate LinkedIn is Chat GPT posts and noise.

There's a better way to stand out online ⤵️

If this sounds like you:

❌ Lack of capital
❌ Feeling tired and burned out
❌ Not growing your presence online

Now, imagine this:

✅ Securing more deals
✅ Successfully raising $5 million in capital
✅ Having a loyal following that knows, likes, and trusts you

If you're a 6-figure real estate entrepreneur who's serious about raising more capital and closing more deals, join my free newsletter, Digital Leverage. 

You'll be in good company with over 300+ entrepreneurs who are making their mark online. 

(See featured section above ⤴️)

Matthew Baltzell 🌴

$7,000 staging job replaced by a $12 AI render. 

Here’s what happens next...


Look at this photo.

Left → AI staging.
 
Right → $3,000/month vacant liability pretending to be a listing.

Buyers make a decision in 8 seconds.

Physical staging?

Trucks. 
Movers. 
Insurance. 
Two days of hassle.
Thousands of dollars. 

AI?

Ten bucks. 
Twelve seconds.
Zero excuses.

Virtual staging isn’t “coming.”
 
It’s already the default mode: cheaper, faster, and built for conversion.

And the investors who pivot first?

They’ll have the lions share of the deal transactions

And the investors who pivot first?

They won’t “win more deals.”
 
They’ll take em  down...while everyone else wonders what just happened.

Agree or disagree?

Matthew Baltzell

$20M+ Raised | LP Pipeline Systems for Real Estate & PE Firms | Build Trust, Fill Deals, Raise Faster

2026 rate forecasts explained in 6 seconds...

if you’re raising capital, read this twice.

most firms can raise their first $5M+ with just 2 channels...


but most founders choose the wrong two because they get seduced by vanity.

the channels that actually produce money:

– guest podcasting (done strategically, not “spray & pray”)
– outbound (cold email + cold DM)
– LP referrals
– partnerships

the channels that drain your time and starve your pipeline:

– organic social
– weekly newsletters
– “personal brand building”

why

because you don’t need “brand.”
 you need investor trust and investor calls.
 
today.
tomorrow.
 
not Q4 next year.

list one makes money.
 
list two burns money until you’re already big.

here’s the founder mistake I see every week:

they build a media company before they build a deal flow engine.
lighting kits.
podcast mics.
LinkedIn posts that get 8 likes.
SEO roadmaps that won’t rank until 2027.
 
zero investor conversations to show for it.

stop confusing activity with progress.

your first $5M–$20M raise is about:

→ manufactured trust
→ borrowed credibility
→ forced distribution
→ controlled conversations

that’s what guest podcasting + outbound gives you.
once you have momentum, then do the cute stuff.

if you skip the “trust engine” stage, you lose years.

CAP X MEDIA exists so you don’t.

Everyone says they want a $1B+ exit...

(Until they see what a 10 figure day looks like)


I was listening to My First Million when Shaan Puri said something that stuck.

People get jealous of the outputs:

The money
The freedom
The “success

But...they never study the inputs.

Shaan shadowed a founder who sold his company for billions.

After watching him grind through non-stop meetings, he realized...
...he didn’t want that life at all.

It made me think:

We worship people’s results without asking if we actually want their routine.

So before chasing someone’s “level,” study their inputs.

Would you trade your day for theirs?

Talks about #creatoreconomy, #entrepreneurship, and #realestateinvesting

I failed the Series 6 exam. Twice.

Turns out, failing was the best thing for me.



I used to think passing the Series 6 was my golden ticket into finance.

- Woke up at 5am
- Studied before work
- Spent weekends at the library
- Highlighters
- Flashcards
- Tests

It was overwhelming. 

First try? Missed by 3 points.

Brutal!

But I chalked it up to pacing. 

So I doubled down...

- New prep books
- Study groups
- More pressure

Second try? 

Missed by 7

Sat in the car afterward and thought, "Maybe I’m not cut out for this."

That license felt like the gatekeeper. 

Like without it, I wasn’t legitimate. 

I was just another guy “trying to break in.”

I never took it again.

Instead, I asked a better question:

What if I stopped chasing credentials and just solved real problems for real people with real money?

That’s when things changed.

Fast forward...

✅ Raised $20M+ for investors
✅ Built a 400+ unit portfolio
✅ Help PE firms turn media appearances into LP trust engines

No licenses...
...No letters behind my name. 

Just results.

Lesson?

No one cares about your resume.

They care if you can get the job done.

You don’t need another certification. 

You need clarity, proof, and a compelling story.

Especially if you're raising capital.

If you're a fund manager stuck behind paperwork, jargon, and silence, skip the next credential.

Start telling the right story in the right rooms.

That’s what LPs actually trust.

Cold investors don’t wire capital.

Here’s how to build trust pre call...


Most capital raisers think the hard part is getting the investor to book the call.

Wrong!

The hard part is keeping their conviction long enough to get them to... 

Show up
Stay engaged
And eventually deploy capital.

That week between booking and the call? 
...That’s where founders fumble the raise.

Here’s what strong sponsor's do differently:

1. Send a credibility asset immediately.

A clean one-pager.
A case study.
A short Loom.

Something that says: “You’re in good hands.”

2. Frame the call so they know what to expect.

Investors avoid chaos.
If the agenda is clear, they show up prepared and serious.

3. Build anticipation with social proof.

Past deals. 
Track record. 
Testimonials.

Investors trust momentum more than promises.

4. Drip reminders that actually add value.

Not “friendly reminders.”

Actual insight.
A quick market note.
A short win from your portfolio.

Something that keeps them warm.

5. Reaffirm why the call matters.

You’re not chasing them.
You’re giving them a shot at something they could miss.

By the time an investor hits your Zoom room, they should already trust you enough to lean in...not sit back.

Cold investors don’t wire capital.

Warm, informed, confident investors do.

Start nurturing the gap.

Watch your raise get easier.

Sara Blakely started SPANX with $5,000…


No investors.
No venture capital.
No big checks.

Today?

SPANX is worth over $1,000,000,000 — and she still owns a huge piece of it.

When asked how she did it, Sara said:

• “Start small, think big, scale slowly.”
• “Focus on one thing and do it better than anyone else.”
• “Clarity attracts. Confusion repels.”

These principles apply directly to raising capital in real estate — and most sponsors miss them.

At CAP X MEDIA, we help fix that.

1) Start small, think big.

Investors don’t fund potential…
 …They fund proof.

Your content, your brand, your messaging — they must show competence long before investors wire money.

We help you build that trust strategically.

2) Focus on one thing and nail it.

Most sponsors try speaking to everyone…
…So they connect with no one.

We help you:

• Clarify your message
• Simplify your story
• Own your niche

Because focused messaging raises capital.
Scattered messaging kills it.

3) Clarity attracts. Confusion repels.

Investors aren’t saying no to your deals.
They’re saying no to unclear communication.

We help you articulate:

• Your model
• Your track record 
• Your investor value

Clearly. Simply. Confidently.

Clarity raises capital.
Confusion raises doubt.

At CAP X MEDIA, our mission is simple:

• Build brand authority
• Craft investor-focused messaging
• Help you raise more capital with less friction

Want to raise capital the modern way?

DM “CAP X” and we’ll schedule an intro call.

I Asked ChatGPT What Would Happen If Every Capital Raiser Started a Podcast (Here’s What It Said)


It said...

Most wouldn’t make it past episode 5.

Because the truth is…

Most capital raisers don’t have a lead problem.
They have a trust problem.

Everyone’s fighting for attention with recycled LinkedIn posts and “our latest deal” emails.

Meanwhile, the ones who win?

They’re the ones who own attention.

A podcast isn’t about going viral.

It’s about getting 100 serious investors to spend hours hearing your voice, your story, your conviction.

By the time they book a call, they already trust you.

They’ve heard you think.
They’ve heard you lead.

That’s leverage.

So no- not everyone should start a podcast.

Only the ones who want to stop begging for capital and start attracting it.

11 years ago, I auditioned for a Jack in the Box commercial…



My role?

A stone r who loved late night tacos.

Spoiler: I didn’t get the part.

But looking back...

Those auditions taught me something about life and business you don’t always get the “role” you thought you wanted.

Sometimes, the rejection just redirects you toward where you were actually supposed to perform.

Fast forward...

I’m not reading side anymore. 

I’m helping founders tell stories that actually land.

The camera changed, but the mission stayed the same: 

Get attention
Be real
Make people feel something

P.S. Still waiting on that chicken cheesy sandwich.

Struggling to get any traction on LinkedIn?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth…


You can have:

• Solid hooks
• Clean formatting
• Clear CTAs

…and still get ignored.

Not because your content is bad.
 
Because the game changed.

Your text posts are fighting uphill against an algorithm that’s bored out of its mind.

Want to fix it?

Short-form video.

It’s getting 3× more engagement than text right now.

More impressions → more attention.
More attention → more leads.
 
Simple math.

But here’s what most people miss:

This window won’t stay open.
 
Every gold rush ends.
 
Once everyone floods LinkedIn with video, reach tanks.

So you can sit around polishing another text post…

Or you can ride the algorithm while it’s basically begging you to win.

If you’re a real estate investor or entrepreneur who wants predictable inbound leads on LinkedIn...

DM me “video” and let’s build something that actually moves the needle.

This One Mistake Is Costing You Millions in Investor Capital...



Most capital raisers are horrible podcast guests.

And nobody wants to say it… so I will.

You’re not going on podcasts to “share your journey.”
You’re going on to raise money and grow your pipeline.
 
Period.

But almost everyone screws up the one moment that actually moves dollars:

The Call to Action.

Here’s a real example of what NOT to do:

Host: “Where can people find you?”
 
Guest:

“Go to Capital Group dot com…”
“Or email me…”
“Or Google me…”
“Or contact Laura on my team…”

Four options! Zero clarity. No urgency.
 
A perfect recipe for watching warm leads evaporate.

IF you haven’t seen the clip 🙄 Stop and go watch it. It’s chaos.

Where it went wrong:

Too many choices. 
(Listeners don’t want a scavenger hunt.)

No clear direction. 
(Confusion kills conversions.)

No urgency. 
(Give them a reason to act right now.)

Podcast listeners are primed.
They already trust you.
They want the next step.

And if you don’t give it to them?

They move on. Fast.

How to Fix It (The Operator Way):

1. Pick ONE destination.
One link. One action. One funnel.

2. Make it stupid-simple.
Short. Memorable. Easy to type.

3. Add scarcity.
Eg:
 “Email me at joe@capital.com...
 ...First 3 listeners get a free 30 minute underwriting breakdown.”

Now you’ve created urgency.
 Now you’ve created action.
  Now you’ve created money.

Most people go on podcasts and waste the shot.
 
You fix your CTA, and your conversions will spike like asset prices in 2020.

Want to double your capital raise in 2026? DM me “easy mode."

3 months into learning guitar and I finally understand why most people quit...


It’s painfully slow.
Your fingers hate you.
Your strumming sounds like a lawnmower hitting a metal pipe (no joke).

And every YouTube teacher with perfect hair makes it look “so easy.”

Meanwhile, I’m over here celebrating that I switched G to C chord cleanly for once.

But here’s the kicker...

I’m actually loving it.
Not because I’m suddenly good.
Because it reminds me what it's like to learn something new.

That dying thirst for the unknown.

The need to reinvent yourself.
Humble yourself.
And enjoy yourself.

You don’t need to monetize everything.

You don’t need to chase followers.
 
You don’t need a KPI for every hobby.

Sometimes it’s healthy to suck at something.

It wakes you up.
 
It slows you down.
 
And it gives you permission to just be a beginner again.

Business is where I perform.
Guitar is where I breathe.

Three months in, I’m not trying to become a rockstar —
 I’m just trying not to scare the neighbors.

And honestly?

That’s enough for now.

In 2011, Netflix pulled a move 99% of companies are too soft to even attempt…



They didn’t “adjust pricing.”
They detonated a 60% increase overnight.

Customers went absolutely loco. 

800,000 vanished in a single quarter.
The stock got obliterated. 
Twitter mobs (back when that meant something) declared Netflix dead.

But here’s the psychology behind the move...

Weak companies optimize for comfort.
Strong companies optimize for control.

Netflix saw the truth...

DVDs were a slow-motion collapse.
Streaming wasn’t printing cash yet.
 
And trying to keep everyone happy would trap them in the worst place possible:

The middle.

So they did what real operators do...

They took the painful swing that created long-term leverage.

And that moment:

• Severed their dependence on physical products
• Forced total commitment to streaming
• Built the foundation of a global content empire

From the outside, it looked reckless...
...From the inside, it was strategic survival.

This is business 101:

Do what’s easy and your business becomes hard.
Do what’s hard and your business becomes unstoppable.
-
Have you ever taken short-term hate to build long-term leverage?

Happy Thanksgiving from The Baltzell’s 🦃🍁🎃

Don’t say: “6–8% pref.”
Do say: “8–6% pref.”
Here’s why…

Most operators talk about returns in a way that kills investor confidence without ever realizing it.

They anchor low.

“Most deals return around 6–8%.”

Great!?

Now the investor’s brain is locked onto six.

Six feels “normal.”
Seven feels “fine.”
Eight feels “maybe… if the stars align.”

Flip it:

“Most deals in this market land in the 8–6% range depending on structure.”

Now eight feels normal.
Seven feels logical.
Six feels like the conservative downside.

Same numbers.
Different order.

Totally different psychology.

But wait… won’t investors now expect the higher return?

No, because anchoring doesn’t create expectation.

Anchoring creates context.

Investors aren’t dumb.

They know the preferred return is a fixed number in the PPM.

You’re not changing the pref.
You’re shaping how they interpret the pref.

When you anchor high:

- Confidence increases

- The middle feels solid

- The low end feels conservative

The actual deal (say a 7% pref) lands stronger, not weaker.

You’re not promising eight…
You’re making seven feel normal, not disappointing.

This is how sophisticated operators communicate.

They don’t manipulate numbers.
They frame them in a way that builds certainty.

High-net-worth investors aren’t buying math.

They’re buying the conviction behind the math.

10 Reasons You Shouldn’t Start a Podcast.

 If you’re thinking about it… watch this first.


If you're a real estate investor and you want 2x your capital raises next year DM me "Capital" and I'll give you more details.

Struggling To Raise More Capital with Podcasting (Try This)

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The Battle

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