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Nate Hirschberg
The consistency of the discipline that is instilled through the military, it really helps out in the entrepreneurial world. If you're having a bad day in business, know it can be a lot worse. I can control my emotional state and how I handle things. I can't control what's going on in the fricking world. I'm not going to try to because I know that at the end of the day, I'm going to be fine because I'm going to control me.
Narrator/Host Introduction
Nate Hirschberg is a disciplined, mission driven entrepreneur, real estate investor and the founder and CEO of Stag Mountain Properties. Drawing from his experience as a U.S. army Special Operations veteran and business leader, he helps homeowners and investors navigate complex real estate challenges while building opportunities rooted in integrity, accountability, and long term value.
Nate Hirschberg
Well, literally one of our culture points in the company is never problems, only solutions. Trust that no matter what, you've been equipped to deal with adversity. And as long as you lean into it the right way, hire those mentors, be in the right environments and run with the right tribe, you'll be all right. It spans the globe like a super
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
highest cold Internet Elvis Preston. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone. It's not over until I win. The Living youg Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary. The impossible has been. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan, Open Chicago with the lead. You said Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.
Ray Gutierrez
Welcome to another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast, the Operation CEO edition. Joining me today is Nate, and I'm just gonna call him Nate because he has an amazing last name and I'd hate to botch it. Nate, what is your amazing last Name, sir?
Nate Hirschberg
Hirshberg.
Ray Gutierrez
Mr. Hirschberg.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
What brings you to the show, sir?
Nate Hirschberg
Well, I got a random Instagram ad for Operation CEO applied on a whim and here I am.
Ray Gutierrez
So you saw an ad, you clicked on it, and then magically you're transported here.
Nate Hirschberg
Transported here.
Ray Gutierrez
Sorry.
Nate Hirschberg
Later. Yeah, no, it's been awesome, man. Had zero expectations falling into this whole thing, so it was really, really, really fun.
Ray Gutierrez
Cool, man. Yeah, you're. I think you're officially our first. Our second Operation CEO episode.
Nate Hirschberg
Oh, awesome.
Ray Gutierrez
So we're really excited to speak to that. It's just a no brainer like Rudy hires literally from. From folks that have served or. And you know, I run a lot of film crews and I always look for soldiers versus, you know, videographers. Can you talk about the difference? We Talk about this in your episode. The difference between an entrepreneur and an entrepreneur that has served.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, I think it was a good subject that we touched on for sure. Just that discipline and the consistency of the discipline that is instilled through the military, it really helps out in the entrepreneurial world.
Ray Gutierrez
Can I add that your partner is literally reading in the middle of this podcast and I think it's awesome.
Nate Hirschberg
She can read anywhere.
Ray Gutierrez
That's amazing. Good for you, man. Podcast modcast.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah. Totally unfazed. Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
Right on. Yeah. Yeah. Amazing energy, by the way. Killer tattoos.
Nate Hirschberg
Absolutely.
Ray Gutierrez
Nice work.
Nate Hirschberg
Thanks. I thought so too.
Ray Gutierrez
Gosh. What does one do for a living to attract energy like this, sir?
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah. Own a real estate company.
Ray Gutierrez
Of course.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
But it's not. It's. It's.
Nate Hirschberg
It's.
Ray Gutierrez
It's a very specific niche in the real estate.
Nate Hirschberg
It is, yeah. It's truly. You know, we talked about this on the podcast as well. Or on the episode rather.
Ray Gutierrez
The podcast is happening now.
Nate Hirschberg
It's happening now. Delusional. I'm thinking about that jerk chicken downstairs. But no, I mean, I think that it's a sales and marketing company. At the end of the day, all businesses really are a sales and marketing company. It's just real estate. Is that that niche that we're in? And it is, or it is, to your point, a really, you know, specific niche.
Ray Gutierrez
But talk about your, your workflow. You buy houses, you flip them. Do you always flip these homes or do you kind of like invest your time and energy into these homes and maybe air and beam or create a partnership with someone? How does your workflow work?
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, So I think about the structure. It's a really good question to think about the structure is like buckets of revenue. Right. So we might buy a property and just simply clean it out, put it back on the market and that can quick turn quick. Sure. Another one we might do a four or five month renovation on, then list it. Some we build from the ground up like a year. But the importance of that is you have slow, you have fast cash like mid, like mid term cash flow and a long term cash flow. So that way you have sustainable business. Keeps the likes on.
Ray Gutierrez
Sure.
Nate Hirschberg
And then you take. What we do is we take all the overflow and buy long term properties like mobile home parks and commercial assets like that.
Ray Gutierrez
Is this something you're keeping close to the chest because you've invested the time and in not just your life, but in coaching and mentorship and running your business? Is this something you're keeping close to the chest or is it something you're. You're inevitably going to teach others to do?
Nate Hirschberg
I think inevitably will teach. So I had a coaching program two years ago, two and a half years ago, and I did. It was. I did a poor job of setting it up. And so it became chaotic, too chaotic, and I had to kill it. I would love to do it again just on a more appropriate format. And this whole experience is undoubtedly going to help out.
Ray Gutierrez
Oh, absolutely. How do you feel, you know, sitting in front of fancy cameras, you got a giant screen behind you with the American flag, all these lights, and how do you feel like sitting there?
Nate Hirschberg
Surreal.
Ray Gutierrez
Cool.
Nate Hirschberg
I guess, if you will. Still kind of like. I don't know. We were talking about this when we were filming. It's like, I don't know. I never thought. When I started stag, I never did it from the intent of, like, oh, man, I want to, like, be on a podcast or I want to be on a TV show or whatever. So it's surreal all the way around.
Ray Gutierrez
You and I come from a very similar start. We love whiskey. We use whiskey to operate.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
I shot a whole feature film, literally, on makers every day, just. Just, like, stress reliever. Like, no, I don't want to feel anything. I just want to shoot.
Nate Hirschberg
Exactly.
Ray Gutierrez
And boy, did it win me a lot of awards, but a lot of PTSD and a lot of things that I'm still, like, suffering that experience. Yeah. You turned your love for whiskey into a positive, sir. Talk about that transformation still is every.
Nate Hirschberg
I'm still transforming, for sure. I mean, I think that. I mean, it's gotten a lot better.
Ray Gutierrez
Good for you.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, it's gotten a lot better. I'm not drinking a fifth of whiskey. Oh, gosh. But, yeah, it can be a slippery slope because for a lot of people, especially entrepreneurs and I think, unfortunately, combat Vex as well, fit into that is it. You become. You can operate on. High functioning is the word I'm looking for. You can operate on it. And a lot of times people don't even know, which is terrifying in itself. And then, yeah, you start getting some achievements and doing well, but then it's really all bootstrapped together by you having that substance. And it's going to unfold.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah, yeah.
Nate Hirschberg
And you're gonna. If you can make it through that process and not lose everything, great.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Some folks complain, some actors complain that when they film IMAX cameras, the IMAX cameras, too loud. Really, you guys are trained to, like. You're just, like, cool as a muscle.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
Imagine that. Now using that superpower for entrepreneurship, I'm sure it's a breeze dealing with what entrepreneurs deal with, you know, really?
Nate Hirschberg
It's funny you say that because I think you're right. I was talking to somebody else. It's like, if you're having a bad day in business, it just know it can be a lot worse.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah.
Nate Hirschberg
Oh, yeah. You know, so I do think about that sometimes. Kind of. Honestly. Yeah. This sucks right now. It is a big deal. We're going through this problem, but it could be so much worse.
Ray Gutierrez
Talk about mindset. I'm sure with your coaching, your life experience, you kind of realize that all of these phases, all of these negatives that attack our brain waves are essentially just that, negative frequencies that are stopping us from our greatness. Talk about some of your experiences with that philosophy, I think.
Nate Hirschberg
Right. So extremely hard. You have to. Now, like today, I think beyond more aware of that than ever because every time you, every time you open your phone, there's something there. Right. And it's extremely targeted. And unfortunately, a lot of it's extremely negative.
Ray Gutierrez
Oh, yeah.
Nate Hirschberg
So I mean, I think my mindset is, listen, there's little. I can, I know it can control me. I can control my emotional state and how I handle things. I can't control what's going on in the freaking world. I'm not gonna try to because I know that at the end of the day I'm gonna be fine because I'm gonna control me for sure. Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
Good on you for that. I'm 42. I'm still kind of now struggling with that where I'm like, struggle, man.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
Just like I remember when I could just sit down, play video games in peace. Now I gotta have the TV running. I gotta have do this thing. I gotta have a plate running behind. It's like, what, when did I, when did I become a tick tock ad? I know, Literally it's like, no. So let's talk about. You know, I, I hate to say because it almost feels like disrespectful, like seeing action and seeing like. Because I remember hearing your story. You signed up at 17, 18, and you went down the line. You got rejected. You wanted to be a co, a Coast Guard. The Navy rejected you or something. Walk us through that montage and how you landed in the army.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, man. So, yeah, I left. My dad was a naval surgeon, so it kind of inspired me in the military there. And yeah, he had a basic job. And then I went to Coast Guard, two year waiting list for the job that I Wanted. I'm like, well, dude, I'm gonna be in jail in two years. Yeah, Odds are the rate I was going. So then, yeah, went down the line. The AV guy was out for lunch and then just never really. Nothing against the Air Force. Long story short, army is the last one walked in. Gentleman was sitting there. I said, yeah, I'm here. I'm trying to join the military. And guys like, what do you want to do? I said, bro, I don't know. What did you do? And he started showing me pictures of him, like, jumping out of planes, flying in Blackhawks, shooting guns, and it was awesome.
Ray Gutierrez
His recruiter videos?
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, basically. And it was. I was like, well, I want to do that. Yeah. 17.
Ray Gutierrez
Was it cut to like a Limp Bizkit montage?
Nate Hirschberg
No, but it was cool, man. It was like I said, it was. It was one of those moments in. In life where I'm like. It didn't really hit me what I had signed up to do until I was in training and, like, do I jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft right now, like, hold on. But at that point, then just all through. And I loved. I loved it.
Ray Gutierrez
Well, when you were, like, standing out attention. I apologize for being a geek and not knowing how this works, because video games, when you're looking to your left and your right, did you see your fellow comrades, like, in the shit with you? Like, fuck. How did I sign up for this?
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, I mean, I think ye. So the cool thing about my job so was a reconnaissance scout. So we were a smaller group, usually six to eight of us, and I was attached to a special forces unit, so we had all the. We had cooler gear and like that. But everybody at one point looked to our left and our right and were literally said out loud, like, what the are we doing? Hey, what the are we doing? And why in different training, like just a training environments is like, what are we doing here? But it was really cool because the camaraderie. You got to a point where we would train so much, day in, day out, we could clear a building and never, never say a word to one another. We knew where each person was going to go. And, you know, it was. It was muscle memory.
Ray Gutierrez
Muscle memory, I'm sure. Intuition. How long does that take to train and how much of it is just being within the tribe versus training?
Nate Hirschberg
A lot of fundamental training is really what it is. People think, like, they see this image, like, oh, man, I'm going to learn how to clear buildings, like kicking indoors. And really, you're. You're moving Slow and you're moving. Calculated. Yes, sir. Right. Mastering those basics, how to change your mag out really quick, like going to the high. Ready, and just those basics, because that's what keeps you alive, truthfully. You can have the best gear ever, but if you know how to use it and move meticulously calculated and risk adverse in a risky environment, then you're fucked.
Ray Gutierrez
Where. Where have you, like, naturally evolved when you're in that. In that mindset and you're in action or in duty, like, are you two steps ahead? Have you learned how to compress time? Are you moving slower? Are you learning faster? What is your. What have you. How have you trained that has given you the superhuman strength?
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah. Slow is fast, and so is fast. And what is it? Slow, fast, slow, steady? Something like that. Yeah. The end of the day, Like, I think it's being in the environment.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah, for sure.
Nate Hirschberg
Because in those environments, like special operations teams as a whole don't carry dead weight. Dead weight at all. You have to want to be there, not just because you signed up for the job. Like, it's a true, true family.
Ray Gutierrez
Right on. For vets that are listening and they're running their own. Their own business or, you know, they're. They're evolving from, you know, a business owner to an entrepreneur, what tips can you give them for folks that are, you know, skeptical. Skeptical about leaning into their training versus, you know, being a civilian?
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, just trust it.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah, just trust it.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah, I think it's. It's easy to say now, but, yeah, trust it. Like, everyone has a plan. I love this. One of our commanders used to say this, and it's so true. I think Mike Tyson said this first in a different way. But this commander said everyone has a plan to get shot at.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah.
Nate Hirschberg
Like, you can think like you have everything figured out. Mike Tyson said everyone has a plan to get punched in the face.
Ray Gutierrez
Right.
Nate Hirschberg
Which is equally true as well. So just trust that no matter what, you've been equipped to deal with adversity, and as long as you lean into it the right way, hire those mentors, be in the right environments and run with the right tribe, you'll be all right.
Ray Gutierrez
Right on.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
When. When you're hiring and recruiting, do you. Do you kind of just set a stack of, like, all right, these are all the vets. They go first, or do you kind of specifically look for a skill set?
Nate Hirschberg
It's appealing. Yeah, for sure. I mean, other stuff, like, dude, I love athletes.
Ray Gutierrez
Okay.
Nate Hirschberg
I love athletes because they're really competitive and in a sales Marketing space. Like the more competitive, healthy competition breeds. Right, sure. But so, yeah, veterans for sure. Veterans, athletes. Really? Anyone super passionate about what they want to do.
Ray Gutierrez
Gosh, I always have enjoy talking to someone. You know, it's a veteran that's, that's seen action, that served. What, what, what, what is your opinion of the world today? Positive, you know, whatever.
Nate Hirschberg
I think there's a ton of positive.
Ray Gutierrez
Absolutely, I agree.
Nate Hirschberg
And I, you know, it's unfortunate the negative gicks the spotlight, but there's a reason, there's a narrative behind it. Right. But I think there's a ton of positive and ultimately more content like this needs to be produced. And truthfully, that's one of the things that pushed me over the edge. Not only this because, like, the businesses were, we're at now and we need that, that next step, that brand awareness. But if I can just, if someone's listening to this and they're having a shit day, they're surrounded by negativity, maybe they're in a nasty relationship with personal life, whatever, and this could help them, it's worth it.
Ray Gutierrez
I would actually. If they're in a shitty environment, stuck in traffic. I, I, I, I mean it literally. Take a deep breath, pull over.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
Get out of your truck and look at the highway. Look at the truck and change the perspective of the noise that you're in and be like, I feel a little better now that I'm standing on the side of the road. I'm looking at this traffic from a completely different perspective now. I'm kind of seeing where I fall in line in this gear that is called traffic.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah. Well, literally one of our culture points in the companies, never problems, only solutions. So, yeah, like, we deal with a lot of problems. I know if Jake comes to me or somebody on team, they have a problem, but they've already thought about a solution. And if we operate with that, like, yeah, this sucks, like that example, but we're gonna be all right. We'll get through it. And, and sometimes it's, it's easier said than done. Right, cool.
Ray Gutierrez
Well, what do you do with, let's say, asking for a friend? Yeah. You have a Rudy that is always poker face, rock solid, no emotion. Then you have his counterpart, which is Ray, very theatrical. Where is, where is his emotions? On his shoulder or whatever the saying is.
Nate Hirschberg
Yeah.
Ray Gutierrez
How do you manage that, that balance?
Nate Hirschberg
I think, I think that balance is
Ray Gutierrez
awesome, though, because I'm always down for solutions. But I'll give you a bit of the theater to show you how severe the problem is the problem is solved.
Nate Hirschberg
I think it's awesome. As an example, Jake, my director of operations, I mentioned him a couple times. He's awesome. He's very calculated, very analytical, where he's like. I'm like, ah, yeah, let's just do it. Let's go. He's like, hold on, hold on. And you. And it works out well because I'll push him when he doesn't maybe, like, want to be pushed. Sure. But he also will slow me down. And I'll be like, yeah, that was kind of dumb.
Ray Gutierrez
Yeah, yeah, right on that. It's cool that. To have that, you know, fraternal kind of like instinct where you can always come count on your comrades. Exactly. So what's your day to day hustle now, man? What's your mission? Where can people continue to learn more about you?
Nate Hirschberg
My mission is continue to pour into others in whatever capacity that might be. So continue to grow Stag mountain, you know, more employees, helping more folks across the nation, and see where that takes me. I'm sure I'll get into some other business venture outside of that, but, yeah, Instagram, best place at the Reinate, and that's probably the best way.
Ray Gutierrez
Cool, man. Nate, thank you so much for your time and energy. Yeah. Lovely audience. I love the interview. Lovely. Everything with that, buddy. I'm Ray Gutierrez. And who are you getting? One more time.
Nate Hirschberg
Nate Hirschberg, Stagbound Properties.
Ray Gutierrez
And Nate and I are inside. Success.
Podcast Intro/Outro Voice
Sam.
Guest: Nate Hirschberg, CEO of Stag Mountain Properties
Date: June 2, 2026
This episode of Living Your Legacy features a candid conversation with Nate Hirschberg, a U.S. Army Special Operations veteran turned real estate entrepreneur. Nate shares how military discipline and mindset shaped his journey from high-risk missions to building a thriving business and brand. The discussion explores entrepreneurship, overcoming adversity, real estate investing strategies, mental health, and cultivating a legacy.
Connect with Nate:
Instagram: @TheReinate