Wendell’s Weekly Wins and Whiffs

🏆 Win of the Week: I Got Engaged

Forget business for a second. This week's win is the most important one I will ever write about. I got engaged to Catelin. The love of my life said yes.

We drove up to the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC and spent the weekend with my business partner Brian and his wife Brielle. Explored Sylva, Bryson City, and Waynesville. Did some hiking, ate way too much good food, and got a real feel for those towns. Catelin and I keep coming back to that area. Mountains, tons of land, farm animals, the whole vision. That may be where we want to plant our roots eventually.

I proposed looking out over the mountains and I think I actually surprised her pretty good. Her first words were not yes. Her first words were "shut the fuck up." Then she said yes. Iconic.

They say the most important decision you make in your life is who you pick as your partner, I believe that with everything I have. Building businesses, raising capital, closing deals, none of that matters if you do not have the right person in your corner. Catelin is mine, always has been.

Also yes, I have a mullet now. Felt like it. No further explanation needed.

💨 Whiff of the Week: Our Smallest Hive Event Yet

We had our monthly Hive CLT event this week and it was probably our smallest turnout to date. I will not lie, that one stung at first. A friend flew down to be part of the panel and I felt bad that more people did not show up to see him.

Part of it was timing. Spring is brutal for entrepreneurs. Everyone is heads down. Part of it was the topic. We tackled mental health for business owners and how to shift your mindset to avoid burnout. People are still uncomfortable with that conversation. They will show up for a deal breakdown or a tactical workshop but the mental side feels too vulnerable to walk into a room about.

Here is the flip though. The people who did show up got into it. The smaller room let us go deeper than we ever could have with a packed house. It was intimate, real, and honest. Folks shared things they probably would not have shared in front of a bigger crowd.

Was it the turnout I wanted? No. Did we leave an impact on the people in the room? Absolutely. That is the whole point of The Hive. Sometimes small and deep beats big and surface every single time.

🎯 Tactical Tip of the Week: Pick the Right Life Partner

This one is fresh on my mind for obvious reasons.

Your life partner is the single most important decision you will ever make. More than your career. More than where you live. More than any business you build. Because that person shapes everything else. Your energy, your peace, your ambition, your recovery, your kids if you have them, the version of you that shows up to the world every single day.

Here is what I have learned about picking right.

They have to be in your corner when the highlight reel goes dark. Anyone can love you when deals are closing and the social media looks clean. The real partner is the one who shows up when you are stressed, tired, second guessing yourself, and not at your best. If they only love the polished version, that is not love. That is admiration.

They have to share the vision. Not the exact same goals. The same direction. Catelin and I both want the mountains, the land, the animals, the quiet. We both want to build something with our hands and our hearts. You do not have to want identical things, but you have to be pointed the same way. Otherwise you spend your life pulling against each other instead of with each other.

They have to make you better, not smaller. The right partner pushes you to grow without trying to dim you down. They challenge you when you need it and back you up when it matters. Anyone who needs to shrink you to feel comfortable is the wrong person.

And honestly, you have to be ready to be the same kind of partner back. This is not a one way street. The reason it works is because both people are showing up. You have to do the work on yourself so you can actually be the person they deserve.

If you are dating, do not settle for almost. Almost is the most expensive thing you can buy. Find the one. When you know, you know.

🔦 From the Field: A 36 Inch Pipe Killed a Deal in 48 Hours

We got another lot under contract this week and on paper everything looked great. Numbers worked, location worked, all the boxes checked.

Then we did what you are supposed to do before you fall in love with a deal. We sent one of our GCs out to walk the topography and make sure the lot was buildable. He went out, walked it, and found a 36 inch drainage pipe running right through the middle of the lot. Exactly where we would be putting the build.

Deal dead. Immediately.

A pipe like that creates massive headaches. You are looking at significantly more lot factor cost, drainage rerouting, easement issues, potential approval delays, and a whole lot of risk that just does not pencil. Not worth it.

Here is why this was a quick yes and a quick no instead of a long expensive lesson. We protected ourselves on the contract. Zero dollars in due diligence and a 21 day due diligence period. We were two days in when we found the pipe and walked away cleanly with no money lost.

The bigger lesson is this. I rarely go walk lots in person anymore. I use Street View, partners, GCs, photos, drone footage, whatever I can pull remotely. That works for most deals. But when it is new construction, somebody has to physically walk the land before you close. Period. Pipes do not show up on Street View. Easements do not show up on Zillow. Sinkholes, drainage issues, weird grade changes, none of it is going to be obvious until boots are on the ground.

Cheap due diligence terms plus a real site visit is the combo that saves you. Use both every single time.

💰 Passive Investor Opportunities

We have a lot of great deals moving through the pipeline at Tide and Timber Ventures right now and these opportunities fill up fast. If you have ever been curious about passive investing alongside our team, now is a great time to have that conversation. Reach out directly and we will make it happen.

🐝 The Hive CLT Entrepreneurs Network

We have an upcoming event at The Hive CLT and you do not want to miss it. This community keeps growing and the conversations in that room are the kind that actually move the needle.

RSVP here: Meetup Event Link or visit jointhehive.co to see all upcoming Charlotte area events.

🎤 Final Word

I got engaged. We had our smallest Hive event and somehow made it one of our best. We almost bought a lot that would have buried us, and walked away cleanly because we did the work upfront.

This week was a reminder that the big stuff in life and business comes down to the same thing. Pick the right people. Do the work. Protect your downside. Show up real.

Catelin, I love you. Let's go build the dream.

Let's get it. 💥

Keep growing or die,