Episode Overview:

Podcast: Mick Unplugged
Host: Mick Hunt
Episode: Standing on New Shoulders: The Polite’s Path to Financial Freedom
Guests: Crystal and Dedrick Polite
Air Date: November 17, 2025

This episode dives deep into the journey of Crystal and Dedrick Polite—stars of A&E's "5050 Flip" and founders of Be Polite Properties—as they discuss overcoming generational poverty, intentional partnerships, building generational wealth through real estate, the importance of mentorship, and their surprising path to reality TV. The conversation highlights actionable advice for emerging entrepreneurs, the power of investing in yourself, and how leaving a legacy is about the impact made on others.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Power of “Because” – Finding Your Deeper Purpose

• [03:55] Mick introduces the concept of your “Because”—a purpose deeper than your “Why.”
  • Crystal’s Because: “Because I came from generational poverty… we understand what it was like. So we do what we do now to help someone else try to change the trajectory of their family tree.” ([04:32], Crystal)
  • Dedrick’s Because: “Because we’ve been the underdogs… we started from the bottom and we want to serve as an example… of what’s possible.” ([06:05], Dedrick)
• Both Polites reflect on standing on the shoulders of prior generations and taking their turn to offer shoulders to others in their community. “You now are those shoulders that people are standing on.” [06:46], Mick

2. Intentional Beginnings – The Famous First Date

• [08:04] The story of their intentional first date at Joe’s Grill:
  • Crystal approached the date as a business meeting, asking pointed questions about Dedrick’s career, credit score, and life goals.
  • Memorable Moment:
    • Crystal: “What’s your credit score?”
    • Dedrick: “I said, well, damn, we get right to it, huh?” ([10:42], Crystal & Dedrick)
    • “I didn’t ask him his credit score as a factor… I asked so I knew how much work we needed to do.” ([10:57], Crystal)
  • Their early honesty set the tone for a powerful partnership, summarized by Crystal: “Start how you want to finish.” ([13:24], Crystal)

3. Early Challenges: Risk, Adversity, and Opposing Mindsets

• [18:35] No mentors, no guides: They candidly discuss starting and failing multiple businesses without blueprints or safety nets.
  • Crystal was never afraid to fail, while Dedrick, more risk-averse, preferred planning and stability due to his background.
  • Crystal benefited from her mother's advice: “Come back home, live with me… Don’t rush to get out there and put the weight of the world on your shoulders.” ([19:57], Crystal)
  • Quote: “You can’t work on the business if you’re working in it.” ([41:23], Dedrick)

4. The Role of Mentorship and Paid Coaching

• [21:26] The Polites became passionate mentors after having to self-navigate the real estate world.
  • Their breakthrough came after investing $16,000 to get mentorship and join a mastermind group—showing the value of "paying to pay attention."
  • Mick's Take [23:24]: “People need to invest in themselves… The people that invested were more accountable to the results and do the actual work.”
  • Crystal: “We’ve learned just giving information to individuals, it drained us… The people who pay, pay attention.” ([24:46], Crystal)
  • The impact of their coaching and media visibility even reached those in prison, inspiring accountability and hope.

5. Path to TV: From Social Media to A&E's “5050 Flip”

• [28:47] The opportunity for their own TV show came after years sharing their process on social media (at the urging of a mastermind leader).
  • Surprising Turn: Initially, Crystal ignored A&E casting DMs as spam.
  • Once selected, the journey was more demanding than expected: Filming nearly full-time and learning hard lessons about delegation and team-building.
  • “The first season… it broke us. After that last day, we sat in bed and looked at each other and said, we will never come back for season two.” ([38:04], Crystal)
  • Growth: Season two returned only with a larger, properly delegated team.

6. Delegation and Growth

• [40:15] Running a TV show, their flipping business, rental properties, and coaching program forced them to master delegation.
  • “You can’t scale if it’s just me, I can’t scale up. All the major responsibilities can’t just be mine.” ([41:09], Mick)
  • Lesson Shared: Surround yourself with a capable team to grow sustainably.

7. Legacy, Impact, and Community

• [44:35] On their legacy:
  • “With us, it’s about impact. It’s not about how many doors we own… Crystal always says it’s about how many doors we can open for others to walk through.” ([44:35], Dedrick)
  • Crystal’s lifelong motto: “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” ([45:02], Crystal)
  • Their goal is to equip their children and others with resilience and the drive to uplift those around them.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Crystal: “Grow wings on the way down is what I tell him.” ([21:04])
• Dedrick: “We’re equally yolked.” ([13:12], on finding a soulmate/business partner)
• Mick: “Your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.” ([47:39], closing)
• Dedrick: “We still have mentors, because we’re not done… but we do believe in lifting as we rise… people who pay, pay attention.” ([24:46])
• Prison Letter Impact: “Watching your show… has, for the first time, shown a light on myself and said, why could I have not done what you’ve done?” ([26:29], Dedrick reading fan mail)

Rapid Fire “Quick 5” ([42:03]-[46:27])

1. Credit Score Nerves:
   • Dedrick: “No, I wasn’t nervous at all. I had the 8 10. I’m good.”
2. Favorite Comfort Meal:
   • Dedrick: “Soul food. Smothered pork chop, baked mac & cheese, yams.”
   • Crystal: “Whatever my wife cooks… her cooking is amazing.”
3. Best Dish:
   • Crystal: “Baked macaroni and cheese. Four cheeses, has to be baked.”
4. One Word to Describe Partnership:
   • Crystal: “Powerful” | Dedrick: “Intentional”
5. Legacy:
   • “It’s about how many doors we can open for others to walk through.”
   • “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

Key Takeaways

• Don’t just have a “why”—find your “because” for deeply rooted drive.
• Intentionality in relationships and business sets the foundation for long-term success.
• Accept risk as part of the journey, but supplement bold moves with clear communication and teamwork.
• Mentorship—especially paid—creates accountability and accelerates progress.
• No solo act: Sustainable growth requires trust, delegation, and building strong teams.
• True legacy is measured by the doors you open for others, not just personal accumulation.

Where to Find the Polites

• Instagram & YouTube: @bepoliteproperties
• Website: bepoliteproperties.com
• Watch: "5050 Flip" on A&E and Hulu

Final Message

“You are now those shoulders. You are those shoulders that people are standing on… Your ‘because’ is your superpower—go unleash it.”
— Mick Hunt ([47:39])