In this episode of Rise Above the Grind, host Alissa Bickar welcomes Adam "AAA" Adams, a prolific entrepreneur and real estate investor, for a conversation on what the grind really means, how seasons of hard work lead to freedom, and the lessons of building wealth through real estate and business. Adam grew up in Utah with a stepdad who was a lifelong real estate investor and business owner, and who drilled one rule into him early: save 10%, invest 10%, pay yourself first. A $100 gift of land in college turned into a 12,000%-plus return and the start of Adam's own investing journey, which has included raw land, multifamily, and syndications since 2007. Today he runs a couple of businesses, has two kids, and is serving as the main salesperson for an assisted living community with 25 locations in Colorado. The show opens with the grind question, and Adam's answer sets the tone for the conversation: the grind isn't something to avoid, but it is something to keep temporary. Key Topics Discussed Redefining the Grind: A Season, Not a Life Sentence Adam describes the grind as both positive and negative, and above all seasonal. To him, grinding is buckling down and doing what you need to do for as long as you need to do it to get the outcome you want. For Adam, that outcome is tranquility, freedom, starting something new, and time for mountain biking, surfing, and snowboarding. Don't Avoid the Grind, but Don't Live in It Adam argues that people who avoid the grind entirely are often the ones who end up stuck. At the same time, he hopes people aren't choosing 60, 80, or 90 hour work weeks for their entire lives, because life has more to offer. Alissa highlighted the rhythm in his answer: the grind is part of a cycle, not a destination, and when it defines everything, it depletes you and throws the rest of life out of balance. The $100 Piece of Land In 2005, Adam's stepdad gifted him a piece of land and, on his accountant's advice, asked for $100 in return so the gift wasn't taxed heavily. As a college student working as a bartender, even $100 took a while to come up with. Two years later, a random call from a buyer offered more than he would have earned in a full year after graduating. The result was a return of more than 12,000 percent on his $100, and the moment he decided his stepdad had been right all along. Lessons from a Real Estate Family Adam's stepdad has invested in raw land, agricultural land, storage units, multifamily, single family, and cabin lots, and often recommended Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad when it came out in 1997. Adam admits he thought the book was ridiculous at the time. He has been investing in raw land since 2005 and in multifamily and syndications since 2007. Working a 40-Plus Hour Week by Choice After years of running his own businesses on far fewer hours, Adam has spent the last nine months working for a friend as the main salesperson for an assisted living community with 25 locations in Colorado. He describes the shift to more than 40 hours a week as crazy, but says he loves it and plans to stay for another year. Panelist Introductions Jess Jorgensen: Tech nerd providing internet services and adventure gear for people who want to live outside the norm, joining from Texas. Jason McNamara: Founder of the No More 9 to 5 Club and Mind Trainer Pro. A poor kid from South Florida who retired early after a career that included military service, a record-setting run with an employment agency for veterans, sales, and real estate. Nat Mailhot: Speaking coach based on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, who created Teen Talks to help teens speak up and speak out. Talmar Anderson: Founder of Boss HQ, helping exhausted business owners become effective CEOs with the right second in command and a strong team behind them. Notable Quotes "To me, grinding is buckling down and doing what you need to do for as long as you need to do it in order to get the outcome that you're really looking for." — Adam Adams "I think it's seasonal." — Adam Adams "I don't think people should avoid the grind at all, because I think that's why there's a lot of people that are really, really stuck." — Adam Adams "Life has more to offer than that." — Adam Adams About Rise Above the Grind Rise Above the Grind broadcasts live every Thursday at 12:30 PM Eastern, hosted by Alissa Bickar (The Consultress) in partnership with The No More 9 to 5 Club. Each episode is a mastermind-style conversation designed to help entrepreneurs think differently, build authentic brands, and grow beyond the grind.
