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The Real Cost of Scaling a 200+ Deal Business featuring Clint Cooper

The Collective Genius Podcast

Release Date: 01/20/2026

In this episode of the Collective Genius Podcast, I sit down with Clint Cooper out of Atlanta, Georgia, for one of the most honest, transparent conversations we’ve had about growth, risk, and the real cost of scaling fast. Clint’s journey is a perfect example of what happens when ambition, talent, and opportunity collide—and why maturity, systems, and people ultimately decide who survives long term.

 

We unpack Clint’s path from a wildly successful sports betting business to real estate, how he scaled to 200+ deals a year in under five years, and the painful lessons that came with market shifts, bad partnerships, hiring mistakes, and seven-figure swings in profit. This episode isn’t about perfection—it’s about resilience, learning fast, avoiding “game over,” and building a business that can win in any market.

 

 

Timeline Summary

[0:00] – Clint’s market: Atlanta, Georgia and 200+ deals per year

[2:30] – Scaling incredibly fast as a flipper in a short time frame

[4:15] – Early life, discipline, and obsessive focus from athletics

[7:30] – Why obsession is Clint’s superpower—and double-edged sword

[9:00] – Working for his dad and learning sales the hard way

[11:00] – Building and scaling a sports betting business with Facebook ads

[12:45] – From $3K months to $300K–$500K months with no employees

[14:00] – Leaving the family business and preserving the relationship

[15:30] – Why alignment matters in partnerships

[17:10] – Exiting sports betting and choosing real estate

[18:30] – Hiring a coach and doing the first real estate deal

[20:00] – The Opendoor arbitrage era and massive early profits

[22:30] – Netting $1M+ in year one largely solo

[23:00] – Hiring Tyler: the first employee who became CEO and partner

[26:30] – The 2022 market shift and why Clint moved into luxury flips

[27:30] – Three luxury deals gone wrong—and a $600K lesson

[29:00] – Avoiding “game over” and learning risk management

[31:00] – Fail fast, learn fast, and survive long enough to win

[33:30] – Why Clint still feels like he’s “losing” despite massive success

[35:30] – How CG resets the bar for what’s possible

[37:00] – Competing for excellence, not from jealousy—but belief

[39:30] – Atlanta’s hyper-competitive market and why brand still matters

[41:00] – Losing $350K+ in Q4 and rebuilding the foundation

[42:30] – The importance of lead managers and acquisitions

[44:00] – Why cheap hires are the most expensive mistake

[45:30] – Building redundancy in sales teams

[47:30] – 2026 vision: better people, better process, better discipline

[49:30] – Paying it forward and how to connect with Clint

 

 

5 Key Takeaways:

  1. Avoid Game Over at All Costs – You can recover from losses, but not from extinction.
  2. Fast Growth Requires Faster Maturity – Skill gaps get exposed when markets shift.
  3. People Make or Break Scale – Lead managers and acquisitions are the true leverage points.
  4. Don’t Hire Cheap for Critical Roles – The wrong hire can erase months of profit.
  5. Failing Is Tuition – As long as you survive, every loss compounds into wisdom.

 

 

Links & Resources

  • ExploreCG.com – Learn more about the Collective Genius community

 

Clint’s journey is a reminder that success isn’t linear—and that the real winners are the ones who stay in the fight long enough to learn the lessons that matter.

 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, rate, review, and share the Collective Genius Podcast with someone who’s scaling fast and wants to do it the right way.