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DJ Thielen
Growing up poor, it taught me to be, like, very resourceful.
Andy Elliott
A lot of people think they're miles away from a great life. They're inches away.
DJ Thielen
Find someone that's done what you. You're doing. Don't give them excuses. No matter what you think, you. You can't fail.
Andy Elliott
Hey, guys, what's going on? Andy Elliott. I'm here today with my buddy DJ Thielen, and I want to tell you something. What we're going to talk about in this video is how to get rich with no money. Now, I want you understand this. Number one, I'm in front of a guy that has proved, and obviously he's very wealthy, that you can get rich with no money. Not only does he do it, he's made over 4,000 deals, I think is what we were just talking about, right in the real estate space. And he does it. And with cheap homes, he creates wealth. And now listen, I want to tell you something. This may be something where you're like, oh, man, you know, I don't do that. Can I explain this? Just listen to this full podcast. Let's explain how money works. A lot of people, the reason why they never become wealthy is because they never understand money. I think money education is just, you know, it's only taught by people who have created money. It's not taught by professors. It's not taught in school. You know, it's taught by people who have created wealth. So anytime someone is willing to share how they created wealth, especially with no money, like some of you right now, you're like, I don't have any money. But then you're like, I don't want to learn this. Well, that just means that you want to stay broken. So I love you guys. I want you to listen to my brother DJ. He's gonna let it rip. DJ's an amazing guy, amazing dad. He played for the Giants, which is cool. So he's. He's an athlete. But as he's gotten older, I think after. After sports, you said your new sport became real estate.
DJ Thielen
Entrepreneurship.
Andy Elliott
Yeah, entrepreneurship. And so he's gonna. He's gonna share a lot of stuff with you today. Number one, it's gonna change your life. Number two, tactically, he's gonna teach you how you can do this on your own. And number three, he has a crazy freaking story. So some of you, the reason why you might not stick around is because you don't think you're worth it. You don't think something like this would work for you. And those are all lies. Okay? So dj, I'm grateful to have you here.
DJ Thielen
Good to see you, buddy.
Andy Elliott
Man, let it rip. Let us have it. You know, I'd love it for you to tell us a little bit about your background.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
But maybe start with just like what you're doing right now and then let's back into the start and then work our way into like the strategy how people could use this.
DJ Thielen
Oh, yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean, right now I have Empire Real Estate build side. We have, we have different components of the company. Kind of like spokes on a wheel. Right. So I learned that many years ago that, you know, it's, it's great to build off one thing, but then you want to add on and kind of bolt on to things that vertically integrate and align. So I have a company, it's a turnkey real estate investment solution for people that everyday people that are just looking to put their money somewhere. But the, the challenge with people, especially in these cheap home markets. Right. Which we'll get into is doing this from a distance is, is really dangerous. Right. And, and we'll get into my first experience and the craziness on that. But it's. So we do a couple things. So one, we have a turnkey real estate solution for people that say, hey, I just want you to find the, you know, get me the deals, fix them, rent them, manage them, and just handle everything. Right. Deal with, deal with lawn mowing and deal with code. And I don't want to take care of it all. We take care of everything. So that's, so we have our turnkey real estate solution. We've done over 4,000 deals in 20 years now. Exactly. And so that's our, our main company. And then you know what, Andy? I started, I started teaching people how to just do what I did. It was kind of a natural fit. Right. So I started teaching people how to do this and that has grown and exploded. And that's called Cheap Homes University. So really just teaching people how to get rich with cheap homes. That's our motto in our niche. Yeah, yeah. So, so yeah, man, we have the, the turnkey solution.
Andy Elliott
How did you learn this?
DJ Thielen
Oh, man.
Andy Elliott
So that's like obviously over 20 years. You kind of figured it out.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, yeah.
Andy Elliott
And by the way, this is a question because let's say someone's watching this at some point, they're like, I want to do this or I want to learn more. Do you have a coaching program that you help people and teach them? Yes, you do. Okay. Okay. So, or, and, or someone may want to use you as your service. Right.
DJ Thielen
Yes.
Andy Elliott
How does someone reach out to you during this entire time?
DJ Thielen
I mean, easiest way is. Is. I mean, through. Through. Through Instagram.
Andy Elliott
Through Instagram?
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
What is your Instagram?
DJ Thielen
It's at D J Thielen T H I E. Okay, I got it.
Andy Elliott
So, guys, right now I'm gonna put it on the screen. Just make sure you go to his Instagram. You guys can follow him, and you can shoot him a direct dm.
DJ Thielen
Oh, yeah.
Andy Elliott
Any questions? Mentorship. How can I think.
DJ Thielen
It's got a button. If they hit text, it'll text myself, so.
Andy Elliott
Oh, good.
DJ Thielen
Okay, cool.
Andy Elliott
Well, there we go. I just want to make sure. So. All right, so let's let. So let's let it rip.
DJ Thielen
Okay.
Andy Elliott
I was asking how. Like, how to learn.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
Where did you start in your residential real estate?
DJ Thielen
So, yeah. So kind of to go back. So, like, anything in life, you know, growing up poor, single mom, no dad in the mix, and. And my brother was like. My brother Derek, you know who. He and I are super close. And he was the studious kid, and I was the kid that was the super athlete running the streets, you know, so. So, so getting in trouble and so. But I think, you know, growing up, I didn't learn through books like he did. You know, he learned how to do things through books and reading. I learned how to do things through doing it. And so, yeah, so over time, I. I started to understand that about myself. Like, hey, anything I'm gonna do if I just jump in the water and start swimming, like, I'm gonna figure it out, right? Like playing pro ball, I mean, you fail 7 out of 10 times, so failure wasn't. It didn't bother me. You know, I'm going to swing the bat, so. But also, you know, Andy, and I'm going to get to your answer. Growing up poor, it taught me to be, like, very resourceful, you know, because when you don't have money, you have to find ways to get things without using money. Right? So, like, at. At 10 years old. At 10 years old, you know, the old arcade games, they have the coin return, the bottom, they have the door. So I learned how to take a penny and put it in the coin return and flick it up, and it would hit the same thing as the quarter. So basically, I learned how to play video games with pennies. At 10, straws. At 11, I could take a straw and rack up 100 credits in a Donkey Kong game in, like, 30 seconds, right? So I was like the. I was the. The popular kid to Go to the arcade with. You know, I was a hacker, man. Yeah, but. And, you know, those things in our life that. That are a blessing, we think they're a curse. Growing up, like, oh, I'm poor, don't have any money. We don't realize till later, man, that was a real blessing, because if I wasn't, I wouldn't have thought outside the box and come up with these just unbelievable ways to do things. Right. And so. So from an early age, I was really wired that. To look at things almost backwards. When I started doing that, I would look at. I just had a. I didn't realize till I got older that I didn't realize I was. I'm 53 now, till I was almost 50 that I was even a creative. But I just understood that I always looked at things different. So once I got into real estate, I was quickly able to look at things almost backwards again. Right. And find. Find out. Find strategies which we'll get into and ways to do things that nobody else was. No one was teaching it. There was no book on it. There was no, you know, video on it. And so I just more or less, you know, created it and then just brought it to the masses.
Andy Elliott
Amazing.
DJ Thielen
I love that. Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And you've been a creative your whole life. You just.
DJ Thielen
I have.
Andy Elliott
And a lot of people. There's a book that I read. It's called Linchpin, and it talks about the new revolution. How to stand out, how to be different, how to make relationships that others can't, how to become indispensable. Talks about the factory worker. Right. Like in the back in the old days, there were the factory worker and the owner, which means there was the employee, and then there was the employer.
DJ Thielen
Mm.
Andy Elliott
Well, now there's the third kind of person.
DJ Thielen
Okay.
Andy Elliott
It's the linchpin. The linchpin is the artist. It's the inner genius. It's the person that literally everything that they do in life, they just see it a little bit differently, and they do it a little bit differently. And it doesn't mean somebody watching this right now is like. Because a lot of people watch things like this, and they'll be like, oh, I need to be an entrepreneur, and they'll go quit their job. And that's not at all what the linchpin means. It means to go back and do your job differently. To go back and just do it differently than anyone else has ever done in the world. And so you've been a creative since you're young. You figured all these little things out. Because, you know, that's. That's the linchpin. It was like a revolution to you to figure out how to.
DJ Thielen
Wow. I gotta get that book, man.
Andy Elliott
So good, dude.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, you'll.
Andy Elliott
You'll. Number one. It's one of those books that become a highlighted, underlined, markered, scribbled out pictures. Post it on social media. I mean, everything. I tear it up, man. I can't even reread what I read when I'm done. Yeah. Because I start scribbling in the whole book. Circling, drawing arrows. It's like my mind is just, like, running and it's. And it's validation that for anybody that wants a big life right now, that all it is is just a decision away from, like, becoming a different person. You know, Jim Rohn said that, and this is how you change your life. But if you don't, like, you know, your life right now, if you don't like how much money you're making, you don't like your bank account, you don't like your relationships, you don't like the way you look, you don't like your body fat percentage, whatever. Right? Like, what if you don't like it? He's like, you can change it 100. And people are like, how? He's like, it's simple.
DJ Thielen
Make a choice.
Andy Elliott
Well, who you are right now is attracting that.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And he said that's the. That's where people are like, dude, I don't want to own that.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
Like you're telling me I'm the problem. Yeah.
DJ Thielen
I mean, well, they say the. The first step in transformation is. Is. Is. Oh, God. What was it? I'll think of it here, I think. Oh, it's awareness.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. Self assessment is like. Like auditing yourself.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
The greatest gift you could ever give yourself is time working on you.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And if you don't ever take that time, you'll never notice all of the greatness in you and all the little things that you could have tweaked and fixed. A lot of people think they're miles away from a great life, dude. They're inches away.
DJ Thielen
Totally agree.
Andy Elliott
And. And they overplay it. So I just want to say, like, no matter where someone is, as you're given this testimony, this story of, like, how your life changed and also some of the skill that you added and the things that you learned.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. I mean, we all. Anyone can do it, really can. And I'll share some. Some tips and tricks and in hacks and things here, but, you know, we all. We all. I think the Thing, the thing that I come to realize, I've always been a giver. I've always loved helping people. When I start understanding like, you know, we've all been through mess. You know, we've all been through. Be it, you know, abuse or, you know, molestation or, you know, some kids, you know, I mean it's, the list is, goes on and on and so.
Andy Elliott
Any of that stuff and no one. And no one will speak up about it.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
So people live in shame.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And they feel like I didn't, I.
DJ Thielen
Didn'T speak about, you know, I was, you know, abused by babysitter when I was young and first time I brought that up was on, on stage. I think Grant spoke on that stage. But. And it just came out like, it was like, God almost going, you know what? Just, I don't even know where it came from. I got to get rid of this. But, but it was, it was, you know, people in a. Yeah. In social media world where there's so much fugazi and a lot of, you know, people want people that are authentic and they're speaking from the heart and also they're living what they're saying. Right. Gotta be, gotta be in alignment. And so I think, I think that's just what I, I aim to be. And yeah, man, just be myself and wear my leather boots and my, my bapes and you know, rock what I like, man.
Andy Elliott
So, and, and so if I'm going back, like you said, grew up poor, didn't have a lot of money.
DJ Thielen
Yep.
Andy Elliott
You know, were there were the. You as a renegade as a kid.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
So. So what happened? So when you graduate school.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. Graduated school, went to, went to. Thank God I graduated high school barely. But then I went to junior college. Right. And I wanted to go to California. My mom couldn't afford it. Another one of those things, you look back, connect the dots and go, man, that was a blessing. Right. But you're pissed off initially. So I wanted to go to California with my buddies, man. I'm, you know, 18, whatever. So ended up going to a community college, Mount Hood Community College in Oregon. Long story short, had a great sophomore year, was in the San Francisco Giants took me. I was their 6 pick in 91. Drafted me super high. And so that was. And I was, you know, young. And back then in, in that era, you didn't see a lot of 18 year old, 19 year olds. It wasn't as common as it is now. Right. It was, it was like, oh man, you know, I was the youngest one on my Team always, like every year. So. But I say that, you know, that was the beginning, and then, you know, know, did that for five years. Met a gal, had a kid, unplanned, who, you know, you'll be hanging with here, and Devin and. Yeah, man, life just pulled a different path and so got in. I started my first company. I sold it in 2005 and pocketed a little over a million dollars. And then that was the beginning of me wanting to get into real estate. So I always watch the shows on tv, the Carlton sheets and the. All the, you know, the old school stuff. Right.
Andy Elliott
Dream.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. And it was like I. There was always. Andy is crazy, man. There was always like this pull of interest. Like. Like, it was like. It was crazy. It's like a magnet. But obviously, like, my. My mom never drove a car, never owned a home, so it's like, well, I'm not, you know, who am I going to learn from? Right?
Andy Elliott
Yeah. Like, stuff doesn't happen in our bloodline.
DJ Thielen
No, no, no. So I ended up. Yeah. Going. I. I went to a seminar, island seminar, and Kiyosaki. And that was really. So I came away from that and.
Andy Elliott
Did that change your life?
DJ Thielen
Oh, dude, it. Well, that didn't change my life. That. I think that was the. That was the. Yeah, that was a spark.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. I always tell.
DJ Thielen
That was a spark.
Andy Elliott
A lot of people underestimate the value of, like, what a podcast could do from someone or a speaker or an event or a training program. It's just. They underestimate what can happen. I mean, I watched something in 2019 in November, and I was. I mean, I almost didn't watch that. And if I wouldn't have, I wouldn't be here.
DJ Thielen
Wow.
Andy Elliott
I mean. But, like, so I was asking, you know, because I. When I always ask people, like, so what was that like at that. At that moment? What was the bridge?
DJ Thielen
Yeah, that was a spark. And from that, going back to learning by doing right, people are like, oh, hey, let's, you know, let's get together and let's read these books. I go, dude, I ain't reading any of those books. I'm going online and I'm gonna buy some stuff. Like, that was me, right? I'm gonna. So I jumped into deep end. I bought 10 homes. Crazy story. I bought 10 homes for $50,000 total. Like, 10. So 5,000 a home. And I flew out there and the first home's torn down, right. And I'm freaking out. I call the guy's numbers, disconnected. I'm like, oh, man. Here we go. I knew, right? I was like, oh, here we go. So, so. But that was. That was the start. And it led me there, right? It was like, I think so many times people want to see. Jump the whole staircase or even see the whole staircase. And. And I think what I've learned is you just got to take that next there, and only then will the next stair light up, you know, and so, so I, yeah, I did that. And my brother and I grew up Steeler fans, you know, So I bought some homes in Indiana, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania and Ohio. And I said, well, I'm just gonna focus on one area and, and learn this. And I was living in Seattle. I'm gonna bring it back to Seattle. And so I'll learn on the cheap stuff because if I make mistakes, it's going to cost me less, right? And then I'll bring what I learned back and do it where I live. And that never happened. So life. Life pilled that different path again, you know, like it does for us.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Didn'T quit, man. No.
Andy Elliott
I want to let everybody know that you didn't quit.
DJ Thielen
Oh. Oh, yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I. Like I said, I mean, I think we, you know, we're. We're raised in. In school. I was just telling someone this the other day. We're raised in school that if we fail, we're in trouble.
Andy Elliott
Oh, yeah.
DJ Thielen
You know, we're not only in trouble in school, but our parents gonna, you know, get a butt whooping when we get home. I mean, my mom was Italian. You know, break out the. The metal. I, you know, steel, you know, pasta spoon, right? And so. Oh, dude, she used them like a steel one, so I probably still got marks, but yeah, I mean, at the end of the day, that was, you know, we're taught that failure is. Is such a bad thing, right. If you fail, you're going to get in trouble. So as people get older, they resist doing things they're going to fail at, because subconsciously I believe, I believe this is my belief that a lot of people are. Their. Their subconscious is wired that if I fail, I'm going to get in trouble. So they resist. They don't want to get in trouble, right? Or have pain. And so they just resist going for their dreams and, And. And, you know, taking chances, man.
Andy Elliott
Yeah, so, so true.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
So. So. So what happens?
DJ Thielen
So from that. So basically from that, I picked up 25 doors my first year in 05, you know, obviously, you know, was a. Was a mess. You know, trying to do it from a distance. But again, right. Contractors run off with money. I couldn't find good management. But again, alluding to what you just said. Yeah, you just, you just keep going, man. You just get back up. You just, you keep getting up. You got to have grit, you know, you have to have. In any entrepreneur, you have to have grit. You've got to be resilient. And you just, you really gotta just like in sports, you just gotta believe that. You just have to believe in yourself more than you don't, I think. Right. And, and so, yeah. And just, and just know that, hey, I'm just gonna keep going. So I did in 2006, had a buddy come to me, hey, let me buy a house. I sold him a house for $50,000, fixed up, that rented for like 600 at the time. Now that house will rent for 12 or 1300 and. Yeah, man. And that was, that was the. By not quitting right when it, when the going got tough and just staying in the game and just knowing I was going to get more bats, that that ended up happening. And, and so that, and that was a spark to create our. My turnkey operation, which now we've. Success successfully sold over 4,000 properties to investors. I know it's. Looking back, I'm like, I'm like, oh, hot. Like, it's wild. But now we, you know, we're able to help everyone. There's a lot of people that hear about these cheap homes in Ohio and Michigan and Pennsylvania and Louisiana, all these markets. But. And they, and they either try to do it on their own, and if they try to do it on their own, I can tell them the exact potholes are gonna hit. And so now it's like, yeah, it's like, hey, just work with us, right? We can eliminate all the. You could take you around the mud. Have you missed the potholes? You're not gonna lose money. You're not gonna get punched in the face and knocked out. Because if people try doing it on their own, what happens is they. Or they don't have a mentor or guidance, right? Is they take an L and then they're like, oh, you know, real estate's not for me. Or you know what this buying homes out of state is, it doesn't, it doesn't work, right? And it's like. And so, so if we can help people alleviate that and not have to kind of go down that road with, you know, taking a bunch of punches and having losses and we call it collapsing decades into days. Right? So yeah, that's what. Yeah, so that's really what we do now. Right. And we have a, we have a lot of our own rentals, of course, that we own. So because my team is in the trenches doing it every day. Like you guys are, right? You're able to. We're able to. We're in alignment. We talked about that. So because we're in alignment, we can tell people how to navigate the water facts very quickly and where they would have no idea even what to do. And so, so yeah, so that's been, that's been great. And yeah, man, I'm. I'll share if you want some, some tips and tricks and hacks on, on the no money stuff.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
So every.
Andy Elliott
I know this. There's some people watching this could totally change their whole life. And that's the reason why they join every day is to just get some kind of value to figure out like what's next. Like what, what, what else am I missing in my life? Yeah, you know, what, what don't I know?
DJ Thielen
Yeah, no, man. And so I, I think, you know, to share with the audience like some, some, some good stuff here. So you know, you, a lot of people hear like, oh, I can do this with no money. Right? And then you have the opposite end people going, no, you can't do it with no money. You need some money. Right. You got to pay for closing costs. And you have all these different, you know, different opinions and. Right. And so, but here's the reality is the, the number one thing that I would share with people is if you really want to go fast, there's two ways you can hop on some, whether it's us or somebody that has a service like us, get with a turnkey provider that has everything under one roof. And so, and the reason is, is because like with us, we, we get our clients to properties, fix them, rent and manage them. But we have an incentive to make sure that the management side and all that, that they're happy with things because if they're not happy, they're not going to buy more properties and you cut off your, your number one source of business, which is repeat business. Right. So, so, but, yeah, so in, but in regards to, to the no money, there's. There's three main thing, main ways to do it. Number one is to use really master, right. What's called seller financing. So this is where people own the properties free and clear. And, and you just have to, you know, we coach and mentor and teach people exactly how to do this. And I've had, I had a guy last year, the first Guy that ever took under my wing last year and coach specifically on this, in one year, did 31 deals. And he, and he did one deal before I met him in two years. And, oh, he text me, I would say, at least two, three times a month, thanking me, you know, you changed my life. And just. His name's Eric. And then, and then that really sparked me to go, you know, my fiance Kristen said, babe, like, you got a gift. This is, this is what you got to teach people. Right? How to, how to, how to do this. Yeah. So. So number one, Andy, is, you know, what's called seller financing, where you can find people that own the homes free and clear. But that's, that's step one. Right. And people go, well, you know, yeah, I tried that and. But no one wanted me to sell their house on seller finance. Well, how did, what did you say? Well, I asked them if they want to sell their house on seller finance. And I'm like, well, that's why they said no. Right. How are, like, how are they, how are they supposed to say yes to something? How are you framing it? How are they supposed to say yes to something that they don't even know how it works?
Andy Elliott
Yeah, Facts. I say this all the time.
DJ Thielen
They don't know how it works. They don't know how it's going to benefit them. Right. So, so that, so I have a great framework that I've created over the years, done hundreds of deals like this. So if, if you can. So with seller financing, imagine you don't have to go to a bank. You don't need credit, you don't need credentials. And if you just know how to frame this call and you know, there's Pace Morby who's out here. You know Pace?
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
So you know, he's creative finance. Right. This is one of the strategies, Seller financing. Right.
Andy Elliott
Facts. So, and seller financing is not always needing a lot of money down because usually someone will work out some kind of plan with you. That's a custom plan.
DJ Thielen
Oh, yeah.
Andy Elliott
Involved no inquiries in most cases, you know, unless they just pull your credit for a check.
DJ Thielen
No. And most. And usually, yeah, no one's gonna. On a seller finance deal. Yeah, they just. If you can help them, like any cell, if you can help them solve their problems and understand their why and create a heart connection with them, usually that you're going to have a high probability to close a deal. Right. So, I mean, so. So. But yeah, seller financing is great because usually you can. No, it's no money down. And people go, well, but you're going to have closing costs and. Well, I mean, well, but either, either pay the thousand or two or if you really want to do with no money, have get a loan for the 2 or 3,000 in closing costs and say, hey, your money sitting there. Would you guys like to make some extra money? And you use, you know, private money if you want. Right. To actually for the closing costs. So now you truly have no money into the deal.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
And, and it's completely scalable because you can do as. There's no loan on or limit on loans. So you can do this.
Andy Elliott
Where do you find these properties at when you're looking like, like if somebody was, you know, like in any market. Right. Because you're in Florida. Do you only do business?
DJ Thielen
We do. Well, ours is Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Ohio predominantly. But it's really in the, the cheap low cost markets. Right. So, so they, they as an investor.
Andy Elliott
You'Ll move into any market. It doesn't have to be where you live.
DJ Thielen
Oh God, no, no, no.
Andy Elliott
Okay.
DJ Thielen
No good. Live where you want to invest, where it makes sense.
Andy Elliott
That's really good.
DJ Thielen
You know, that's the. Yeah, that's a, that's a saying. We've been saying for a long time you can do it anywhere. Now in the cheap markets.
Andy Elliott
You said a lot.
DJ Thielen
Low cost market, low cost markets. Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, you know, areas like that, Louisiana. But, but ultimately you can take. Use this strategy anywhere. Right. And I think. So number one, where. Where do you find the deals? Well, there, there's so much software now. Right. Like it'll find the deals for you. Oh, it'll. So you can use, you know, propstream and I mean there's so much. Propstream is great. It's 97 bucks a month. It's nothing. Everyone should have that. You can look up anything you want. But ultimately Andy is you can. People could literally. So this is how to actually not use any money, even on your marketing.
Andy Elliott
Wow.
DJ Thielen
Right. Is go on to Zillow. Right. So if people go into Facebook Group. Facebook group, you can find a deal. If you pound enough sand, which, you know, if someone's a, you know, has that grit, they can do it. But the problem is like on Facebook, there's a lot of wholesalers that say they're owners and they list stuff, but they're not the owner. And so because you can't solicit the truth and you can't get to, you know, you're not, you can't cut a deal with them. Right. Because they're not the owner. So on seller financing, but just going on Zillow, looking at for sale by owner. You just click for so and for sale by owner. Segment it and start. And start contacting them. And the key is do it every single day and be consistent. Create a text list that you're hitting them every week until you hear from them. And then also kind of a hack. Well, a real hack. I was telling Eric and Tony about this and is look at the, look at the houses for rent. There's no one in them.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
And nobody's calling the houses for rent.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Right. So there's nobody in them. Yeah, they're not getting income.
Andy Elliott
They're hoping to get lucky.
DJ Thielen
They're hoping to get. And it's like, hey, Andy, I saw your house for rent and I was just calling to see if maybe you would be interested in selling if the price was right. I know you're looking to rent it, but would you be open to that?
Andy Elliott
Yeah, everybody would.
DJ Thielen
And so yeah, it's, it's. And. But again, so those are, those are a couple really. Those are really good, easy strategies that people can use outside of the software. Now if someone goes deeper, there's cold callers you can hire. Like Eric has a right.
Andy Elliott
The.
DJ Thielen
The call center. Right. Which is run it remote, I think. And so we'll give him a free shout out on here. But yeah, run it remote. And companies like that, that can do the cold calling. That's a great way. Postcards and mailers to specific segmented list. Like tired landlords, out of state owners. High equity people can do these part time, right?
Andy Elliott
I mean. Oh, yeah, yeah.
DJ Thielen
Oh yeah.
Andy Elliott
I was envisioning because people are watching this, are like, oh yeah, I just don't have time to do that. I mean, Eric could do it part time.
DJ Thielen
I mean, Eric that did 31 deals in a year, has two kids, a wife and owned a cell tower company that he worked, you know, have another guy, Rob. He did. He had two businesses working 80 to 90 hours a week and was still clicking, clicking deals. He made his biggest deal that I helped him with was 29,5, but I think 29,500. Let me make that clear. But I think too, Andy, that people need to realize, like is a lot of, A lot of people in this game get stuck and man, dude, Andy, I'm just happy if I can make two grand on a deal, dude, if I can make five grand, yeah, I'm good. The problem with that is you get stuck. You get stuck at that level and then it's harder to go yeah. And I tell people you should, like, like, yes, that's fine, but you should really. I tell the people I mentor, I don't want you even targeting properties. You can't make 20 grand. Like, you should be making 20 to 40 grand every single deal. Because I want them thinking that way. So now they're looking for it. Right. Because they're going to find whatever they look for, not afraid to ask for it. So, you know, that's a big part. And. But yeah, the no money. I mean, really, it's coming up with creative strategies. Also private. Private money lenders. So we have private money lenders. Listen, I mean, how many people do you know that work for your company that have a lot of money in a bank account? Probably that your top sales guys, stuff like that. Probably.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. And a lot would determine, like, what a lot means. I mean, a lot probably have, you know, 50 grand, but, you know, having 50 grand.
DJ Thielen
100 million. Yeah.
Andy Elliott
It's pretty rare.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. So. But. And then you look at what's that earning, 2%, 1%, maybe 4% if you're.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Got an in. So. So then understanding how to approach people in a friendly manner. Hey, would you be interested in partnering on some deals? I'm getting homes at pennies on the dollar. Would you be interested in making some money passively and partnering with me? They put the money up. Now you have private money lenders that you're using none of your money. Right. That's it. That's. Yeah. Private raising. Learning how to raise money and raise capital is. Matt, is huge.
Andy Elliott
It's huge. Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
Nothing really teaches anybody that anymore.
DJ Thielen
There, There are, but I think people think it's harder than it is. Right?
Andy Elliott
Yeah. Because it feels like a cold call.
DJ Thielen
I tell people, dude, get it. Download any texting app. I don't know what you guys use, but download a texting app. Right. I. I have one called Hit them up.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Put all the people in your phone. Phone book in that and then send a text blast to all of them and you'll be. And don't, you know, take out the psychos. Right. But. But. Or the X's. Right. And things like that. But like, you'll be shocked at the, like the people that respond and are like, yeah, I'm interested. I got 100 grand. I got 150. You could, you could. Anyone could probably raise easily 2 to 300 grand if they just did that and sent out a simple message.
Andy Elliott
People are lazy.
DJ Thielen
People are lazy, man. And they. And my fiance, Kristen and I talk about it all the time is I think, I don't want to classify the whole younger generation, but I think the they, you know, we had to like really work. Like didn't have a phone. I didn't have. It's like, dude, I had to go door, knock. I had to use a frickin Thomas guy to drive to my appointments and miss exits and. Right. It was like, most people listen, don't know what a Thomas guy is, but I'm sure, you know. Right. And so, but yeah, man, I think people make things harder than they are. And so, but just getting back to, you know, the ability to keep things simple, come up with a strategy and really find someone that's doing what you want to do and just shut up and do what they say. That's. That's the hack, man. Yeah. Model, model, mimic master. Right. So it just like find someone that's done what you. You're doing. Don't give them excuses and just, no matter what you think, just go out and execute and do what they say. And, and like you, you can't fail.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Like, even, even if you think you're going to fail, if you have a good mentor that's guiding you, you know, they're gonna. A good mentor helps you believe more in yourself than you believe in you facts every time. Right?
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
I mean, you're a phenomenal mentor.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. But it's the truth. I mean, I sometimes when I can't see something, I just, I'm one handshake away, one person away from that mental edge, that mindset that I need, that coach to push me.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
I just perform. I just perform better. And sometimes I get comfortable, you know, and I don't like that.
DJ Thielen
And people need community. Right. You can't, you can't. You're not gonna, you're only gonna go so far trying to figure this out on your own. And I listen, people are gonna pay one of two ways with a ton of time, which is way more valuable than money and maybe a loss of a lot of money. Money. Yeah. Or you just stroke the check now and save yourself a decade of headaches and stress.
Andy Elliott
Yeah, I cut the check for speed.
DJ Thielen
And for speed, man.
Andy Elliott
Yeah, that's it. And all it takes is a little bit of focus and a little bit of tension and some work. Oh, yeah, that's it.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. And, and you know, having, having a good mentor, they'll be able to see the, the roadblocks before you can see them. One, two, when you hit a roadblock, they'll be able to tell I Mean, this happens all the time. Oh, my God. Dj, I ran into this. There's this issue. I'm like, oh, that's an easy fix. What do you mean? I'm like, oh, yeah, you just do this, this and this. And they're like, you can do that, or. You know what I mean? Like, there's, like, you're good at solving. What? Great at solving. Great at solving. Yeah. Like, when my. My son Devin didn't make the flight last night. That's a whole nother story. Love you, kid. Love you, kid. You know, but, you know. Yeah, you just have to, you know, I think with. With challenges and problems, Andy, if people just realize, like, what the. What I tell my team, because I did this, and it helped me. As I. I'm going to tell you what helped me is just realize at some point, this. This challenge you're in, it's going to be. It's going to be gone, it's going to be solved, it's going to be fixed, and it's going to be fine. So why get worked up about it? It's good tomorrow, the next day, a week from now, a year from now, it's going to. It's going to resolve itself.
Andy Elliott
Don't even matter.
DJ Thielen
It won't even matter. And so, yeah, there's a part of.
Andy Elliott
A business where you're mature and stuff like that. Doesn't even matter anymore.
DJ Thielen
No.
Andy Elliott
And once you get that kind of maturity, you're really unlimited to what you can do.
DJ Thielen
Oh, yeah.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
100.
Andy Elliott
So, guys, you're sitting here, you're listening to DJ talking about, you know, he grew up, you know, again, not rich, you know, parents a certain way, loves his family. Grew up a renegade, you know, was no one, was. Not like anyone else, decided to start taking his life serious. Right. I mean, I think you got focus.
DJ Thielen
Got as much as I could with add.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
It's a superpower, man. It is. It is. And, you know, he's sitting there today, 4,000 deals later. Yeah, that's crazy. And he just gave you the blueprint to how to kill it and crush it in life. And they may need to watch this once or twice, so you can kind of understand, you know, because if you haven't ever done it, you know, it's like, I don't really understand. I kind of understand, but I don't. By the way, go to his Instagram and make sure you send him a DM number one. Probably happy to jump on a call with them and help them on how to get involved in Your turnkey real estate. Yeah. Or, or whatever message you people.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. For people that have money and they don't have a lot of time. They're a business owner, they're an entrepreneur. Those people are perfect for us to help because we can go out and build their real estate portfolio and they don't have any time on their, on their behalf. We'll build it for them.
Andy Elliott
So that's huge.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. So that if someone does it for.
Andy Elliott
You, that's a pro at it. I mean it just allows you to be mistake free.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, yeah. And then. Yeah. And then the people that are, the people that are wanting to make the quick money, the wholesaling. Right. All of that. Like. Yeah, we can show them. I mean we show people how to double close, how to flip, how to even flip seller finance deals. So if they get a seller finance deal and they don't want to own it, they can flip it and make 10, 20, 50 grand.
Andy Elliott
So when you train people, you treat them on, on you train them on multiple facets.
DJ Thielen
Oh, yeah, I think, I think you, you have to.
Andy Elliott
They have, yeah. They have multiple roads, multiple ways to make money.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
What would you say? Obviously anybody that has been watching this from, you know, zero to as much money as you want, he told you how to do it, you guys should have a clear play. You don't understand it. DM him, message him on Instagram, we'll put his handle. For anybody that's watching this right now that you know, has never done anything like this. Right. Let's say they're kind of interested or they've done it and it didn't work out, they did it with the wrong person. Yeah, you could do that. What would you say to them? As we're, as we're bringing this debt back, what would you say to them if there's any dragons, anything internally stopping them, they had the means, they had the funds, you know, they could do it. But it just, I don't know, man. It sounds like something I'm not familiar with. I don't understand it.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
You know. Is this hard to understand? You know, I think so.
DJ Thielen
I always tell people, it's. Everyone talks about the area. Well, or they say, hey, if the numbers work right. You probably heard that if the numbers work, then it may. I said, well, it's not about the numbers. It's about the person that you're working with. Facts that the, the driver of the car y is going to either crash and burn you up and, and kill you or they're going to take you to your destination.
Andy Elliott
I see people do this all the time.
DJ Thielen
Yep. So. So stop worrying about. Are the number. Well, if the numbers work and. No, get with the right people and then the. The location and. And all of that. And the numbers. Yeah, they got us to work, but you're. They're focused on the wrong thing. They're focused on the money instead of the. The integrity and the quality of the person that's going to be driving this investment for them. And I think that's the biggest mistake I see. You know, with a lot of people.
Andy Elliott
What is an ideal age to do what you're doing?
DJ Thielen
Oh, man.
Andy Elliott
I mean, is it across the board, is there an ideal age that you've seen do really well?
DJ Thielen
Well, like. Like my son. I helped my son make stack up, I don't know, 20, 30 grand. That's how he started his sneaker store years ago.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
Right. So that's what he wanted to do. And, you know, he didn't want to be in real estate. He had a dream and a vision and, you know, God wanted him to start a Christian sneaker store, and that's what he did. And so.
Andy Elliott
And they're cool.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks, man. And so. But at the end of the day, I mean, any age, I mean, I think, you know, obviously, like, somebody has to be. Have the ability to have a conversation, but I mean, shoot, man. Anyone from 16 to 56, a lot of times, I mean, at 53, I see a lot of people my age that have gotten so beat up and bruised and battered, and they allow that, you know, they think it's too late. Right. Or they think like, well, you know, this isn't for me. Or, you know, man, I tried. You hear this a lot. Yeah, I tried that before. It didn't really work. Well, you know, who. Who do you work with? And it's. It's. There's. There's so many. I mean, we buy properties all the time that people. It's been a mess for years, and in 30, 60 days, that place is turned around, worth way more and rented. So my question is, was it the property? No, it was the people. Right. It always comes down to the people, in my opinion.
Andy Elliott
Always. Every time.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. And the numbers kind of fall into place.
Andy Elliott
And you got to be willing to bet on you. You know, like, you don't see people that bet on them anymore. So when they get an opportunity, like right now to make a change or shift, it's like, no, just, you know, maybe next year.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And then procrastination. Is the devil's greatest tool. Oh, it's a thief of opportunity. I mean, I see it every day.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, you see it. Probably. I just way more than I see.
Andy Elliott
People that we try to convince that they're worth it.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And they just don't feel. They say, oh, yeah, I know, I know. And they just. They just don't think they're worth it.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And you can see it. Their eyes tell it, Their face, their language, their body. It's just. They're just ate up with, like, fear or being paralyzed.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
You know, to move or make a decision, you know, I'm saying.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
Okay, cool. So you have a YouTube channel?
DJ Thielen
I do, but I gotta. After this event, I'm gonna be okay.
Andy Elliott
Sorry. Put some out.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, Putting stuff. More stuff out there.
Andy Elliott
So if someone wants to consume some of your content to understand and learn a little bit about you, that's going to be on Instagram.
DJ Thielen
Yep.
Andy Elliott
And then you're also on Facebook or no.
DJ Thielen
Yep. Oh, yeah.
Andy Elliott
Facebook too.
DJ Thielen
Yep. Facebook, LinkedIn. Yeah. All of it.
Andy Elliott
You're everywhere. Yeah. Guys, if you're watching DJ right now and you're thinking, okay, from zero to, you know, multi millionaire, how does that happen? Well, he said cheap homes, and that's the niche, that's the secret. And a lot of people can get hurt in real estate they don't understand.
DJ Thielen
And know even with cheap homes in Flint, Michigan, for, you know, 500 or the tax sale, we buy a lot of tax sales for 500 bucks. But you don't know that what to do with it. You put 60, 80 grand into it and it's only worth 40. Well, you know, you're upside down, so you need. You need the right. The right strategy.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. Or you're screwed.
DJ Thielen
Yeah. Big time.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. You'll spin your treadmill your whole life.
DJ Thielen
Yep.
Andy Elliott
Make sure right now, guys, go to DJs Instagram, message him directly. Whatever it is, make sure you follow him. Message him. Whether it's about anything that we talked about today, just say, I saw you in Andy's podcast. This is what I need help with. I'm looking to get some more information on investing. How can I join your program? Whatever it is, he's killing it. He's crushing it. It's changed his whole life. He has the freedom to be here when he wants. Because you're not checking, you're not clocking in and clocking out, you know, in this industry.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
You can start out doing it part time, you know.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
Until you make more money than your normal job and Then you can go.
DJ Thielen
Full time, I think. Freedom. A lot of people say they want freedom, Right. We. We classify freedom as doing what you want, when you want, want with who you want. And I think, like, not everyone wants that, but for those that do, you know, you can't keep doing the same thing and get a different result. Right?
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
You got to do something different.
Andy Elliott
You see it everywhere right now. And if you don't change, then nothing changes.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And at the end of the day, I think surrounding yourself with good, positive people, people that are a good influence, you know, make it. Make a decision to make. You know, two risks in 2025. You know, like, who cares how it works out?
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
Take two risks. He said real estate's risk free. I mean, it really is. I mean, even if it's a $5,000 property, it's still going to go up. Something's going to happen.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
And, you know, it's like.
DJ Thielen
And it's insured.
Andy Elliott
Yeah. But there's, like, you never lose. I mean, it's very. People can lose on real estate just being an idiot, but when you're with an expert, you never lose.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
So. Yeah. And one of the things I love about dj, I love his heart. I love, you know, I love what he stands for. I love that he's a comeback kid. You know, you've come back in your life.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
He's an underdog. Yeah. Well. And all those times you could save someone, about 80% of those times, they're going to have to go through it running with you.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
It's just the truth. And also another thing is to finish everybody. The shortcut. Everybody's always wanting the shortcut. How to be successful.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
I think it's a mentor. I think it's finding somebody to help you. And maybe it's just that guy for just one year, you know, so, you know, DJ has a mentorship program that can help you learn how to do these, and so you can do it on your own. And look, I know a lot of guys in wholesale real estate right now. A lot of those guys are, you know, they're making a half a million million a year. I mean, I, I see their, you know, their, their checks. It's just. It's just there's a lot of things that are available to anybody in the world right now who wants to get up, work hard and learn 100.
DJ Thielen
And the real wealth comes from. Well, the real, real wealth comes long term, and it comes from owning real estate.
Andy Elliott
Yes.
DJ Thielen
Right. Offsetting. I mean, one quick thing. You Know, we didn't even talk about the reason that our turnkey operation is so is. Is like anyone that has money, that's a doctor, a lawyer, owns a business, should be doing this is because of the bonus, accelerated depreciation that Trump came out with. So they can buy one or two houses, maybe three investment properties, and if they owe 100, 150 grand now they owe nothing. Right. So, like, like, like anybody that is making a lot of money.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
If they buy enough real estate, they can. And that's a whole nother talk. Cost segregation study. And it. But it's really simple, you know, people just need someone that can guide them on that. Right.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
But even, even if she. It's like you're going to give 150 to. We have a friend that. Yeah. That we're paying about 150 collectively. It's like, well, you can give it to there or you, you can. Maybe, maybe nothing we have to worry about anymore with.
Andy Elliott
Yeah.
DJ Thielen
You know, with the External Revenue Service coming. But ultimately, I think that when it comes to. Yeah. Just say even saving money on taxes, you know, that can, that can help people build their wealth at the same time, not have to pay taxes on. On the money that they're making. So it's kind of a double. A double double whammy, you know?
Andy Elliott
Yeah, guys, this is all money education. You know, whether you're in this field or you're not in this field, if you Googled, you know, what builds more millionaires than anything else in the world, I'm 100% sure it says real estate.
DJ Thielen
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm sure.
Andy Elliott
I mean, just, I know it says it. And so, like, why would you not want to be, you know, educated on that? And, you know, maybe you start out dabbling in it a little bit and then over time, you know, like, DJs done. You know, you're later in life and you look up and you're set because you had a little more confidence, you know, to, you know, dip your toe in a little bit more each time. Some of you out there just. You go all in. I'm an all in GU guy.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
But, you know, like you said, you can learn from someone. You can learn about it, you teach it. And so guys, go hit him up on Instagram and let him know, you know, obviously say, hey, man, I saw you on Andy's podcast. I want to set up a call, you know, and whatever it is, DJ will guide you from there.
DJ Thielen
Yeah.
Andy Elliott
But I appreciate it, man. You're a great dad.
DJ Thielen
Thank you. Brother. I appreciate it.
Andy Elliott
It's gonna be a cool weekend, man. This dude's super fly. He got me these awesome shoes. They're. They're just awesome. And he's. He's. He's. He's. He's awesome, man. It's. It's just fine. And you could tell his heart's really good. So I like people who are really skilled that have really good hearts. I like that. Yeah, those are the kind of people that I want to run with, so. And, you know, it's alignment, you know I'm saying? So, yeah, we appreciate you guys. Love you. Dj, thank you for being here.
DJ Thielen
Thank you, brother.
Andy Elliott
Appreciate you guys go follow him on Instagram right now and then send them a message. And you guys have a blessed day, and we'll see you in the next podcast.
Podcast Summary: Andy Elliott's Elite Mindset Motivation and Sales Training
Episode Title: How To Get RICH In Real Estate The Right Way
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Host: Andy Elliott
Guest: DJ Thielen
Andy Elliott opens the episode by introducing his guest, DJ Thielen, highlighting DJ's impressive track record in real estate. DJ has successfully completed over 4,000 deals in the real estate sector, demonstrating that it's possible to build substantial wealth with minimal initial capital. Andy emphasizes the value of understanding money and the importance of learning from those who have created wealth.
Notable Quote:
DJ shares his personal journey, growing up in a financially challenging environment with a single mother. His resourcefulness from a young age, such as creatively using pennies to play arcade games, laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial spirit. DJ's athletic prowess earned him a spot with the San Francisco Giants, but life took him in a different direction, leading him to real estate after selling his first company in 2005 for over a million dollars.
Notable Quotes:
DJ discusses his initial foray into real estate, purchasing ten homes for a total of $50,000. Despite early setbacks, such as a property being torn down and unresponsive sellers, DJ's perseverance led him to refine his strategies. He underlines the importance of learning by doing, emphasizing that mistakes are part of the journey to success.
Notable Quotes:
The core of the discussion revolves around strategies to build wealth in real estate without significant initial investment. DJ outlines several key methods:
Seller Financing: This involves negotiating directly with property owners to finance the purchase, eliminating the need for traditional bank loans. DJ explains how framing the deal properly and understanding the seller's motivations can lead to successful transactions.
Notable Quotes:
Private Money Lenders: Building relationships with individuals who are willing to invest their capital in real estate deals. DJ highlights the importance of approaching potential lenders with integrity and clear value propositions.
Notable Quotes:
Turnkey Solutions: DJ's company, Empire Real Estate Build Side, offers turnkey services where they handle everything from finding deals to managing properties. This approach allows investors, especially those with limited time, to build a real estate portfolio effortlessly.
Notable Quotes:
Utilizing Technology and Tools: Leveraging platforms like Propstream and Zillow to find potential deals, especially in low-cost markets like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Consistency and daily effort in reaching out to sellers are emphasized as keys to success.
Notable Quotes:
A significant portion of the podcast delves into the psychological aspects of building wealth. Both hosts stress the importance of resilience, grit, and a positive mindset. DJ shares his belief that failure is merely a stepping stone and that having a mentor can greatly enhance one's ability to overcome obstacles.
Notable Quotes:
The conversation highlights common barriers such as fear of failure, procrastination, and the misconception that real estate requires substantial upfront investment. DJ advises listeners to take actionable steps, even small ones, towards their goals and to seek mentorship to navigate challenges effectively.
Notable Quotes:
DJ shares inspiring stories of individuals like Eric, who completed 31 deals in a year under his mentorship, and Rob, who successfully managed multiple businesses while thriving in real estate. These stories underscore the scalability and potential profitability of DJ's strategies.
Notable Quotes:
The hosts provide actionable advice for listeners looking to enter the real estate market:
Notable Quotes:
Andy and DJ wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to take action. They stress the importance of education, mentorship, and leveraging the right strategies to build real estate wealth. Listeners are urged to follow DJ on Instagram for further guidance and to engage with his turnkey solutions if they seek a hands-off investment approach.
Notable Quotes:
This episode of Andy Elliott's Elite Mindset Motivation and Sales Training offers invaluable insights into building real estate wealth without significant initial capital. Through DJ Thielen's personal experiences and proven strategies, listeners gain practical knowledge and motivational guidance to embark on their own real estate investment journeys. The emphasis on education, mentorship, and consistent action provides a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring investors to achieve financial freedom and long-term prosperity.
Connect with DJ Thielen:
This summary encapsulates the key points and insights from the podcast episode, structured to provide a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the full episode.