From Trailer Park to CEO: Dawn Cazedessus Inspiring Journey
Everything Life and Real Estate
Release Date: 07/29/2025
John Maxwell’s Six Signs of a Good Leader
Everything Life and Real Estate
Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry dive into John Maxwell’s six signs of a mature and stabilizing leader, reflecting on their own growth, past mistakes, and evolving perspectives along the way. From the importance of humility and service over entitlement, to performing under pressure, embracing failure, and allowing people the time and support to grow, they explore how true leadership develops slowly and intentionally rather than through titles alone. They emphasize that leadership maturity is an ongoing process of self-awareness, emotional stamina, and the courage to invest in...
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Garrett Maroon on Finding Freedom Beyond Hustle Culture
Everything Life and Real Estate
This week, Linda McKissick and Dana Gentry welcome back guest Garrett Maroon to discuss his new book The Balanced Breakthrough: . Garrett shares his personal journey from real estate success to spiritual and family-centered realignment following the loss of his mother and grandmother. Through stories of faith, grief, and growth, he challenges the hustle culture that dominates real estate, urging agents to redefine success beyond sales numbers and instead focus on faith, family, and legacy. Drawing on his own experiences as a husband, father of five, and coach, Garrett outlines his “PDA...
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The Power of Emotional Stamina in Leadership
Everything Life and Real Estate
This week, Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry dive into the dynamics of leadership maturity, particularly how emotional stamina affects performance under pressure. They emphasize the importance of focusing on controllable problems and the interplay between emotion and leadership effectiveness. They also dive into how to act as a leader in high pressure situations, and the importance of self regulation.
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Linda’s Takeaways from All It Takes is a Goal by Jon Acuff
Everything Life and Real Estate
This week, Linda McKissack shares what she learned from She dives into the complexities of goal setting and the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone to achieve personal growth. She emphasizes the need for clarity in goal setting and the dangers of remaining in a comfortable but unproductive state. The PDF she mentions can be found at the end of the
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Keep the Streak Alive: How Tiny Habits Create Lasting Change
Everything Life and Real Estate
This week, Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry dive into a fresh take on habit-building inspired by the book by Jeffrey and Jami Downs. They unpack how simple, consistent daily actions—no matter how small—can create major momentum and life-changing results. Linda explains how she’s building her own “streaking plan,” from red-light therapy and decluttering to daily Bible reading and giving something away every day. Dana shares how her 1,551-day Bible app streak keeps her accountable, her new “no new clothes” challenge, and how streaking can transform both personal and...
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Finding Magic in the Mess: Steven and Erica Gendel’s Real Estate Journey
Everything Life and Real Estate
This week, Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry talk wtih Steven and Erica Gendel about their personal and professional journeys, highlighting the challenges they faced while raising their medically fragile son, Joshua. They discuss how these experiences shaped their approach to real estate, emphasizing the importance of humor, resilience, and effective communication. The Gendels also share innovative strategies for navigating the real estate market, including the use of reverse offers and the significance of building relationships with clients, particularly seniors. They conclude with advice for...
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Catching Up And Discussing Market Shifts
Everything Life and Real Estate
In this lively catch-up episode, co-hosts Linda McKissick and Dana Gentry reconnect after several weeks apart to swap travel stories and talk about the evolving real estate landscape. Linda shares details from her recent French Riviera cruise, complete with jazz performances, entrepreneur guest speakers, and unexpected lessons from astronauts and restaurateurs. She also reflects on her time in Paris, her love for quaint Saint-Tropez, and the differences between Paris and London. Meanwhile, Dana recounts speaking at a women’s leadership retreat at Bolt Farm Treehouses in Tennessee, describing...
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9 Trends Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know
Everything Life and Real Estate
In this episode of Everything Life and Real Estate, Linda McKissick and Dana Gentry share powerful insights from a recent John Maxwell High Capacity Leadership session featuring Brad Lomenick, author of H3 Leadership and host of the H3 Leadership Podcast. Brad revealed 9 key trends shaping today’s entrepreneurs, and Linda and Dana break down each one with practical examples, stories, and their own perspectives from the field.
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What We Are Reading and Learning Lately
Everything Life and Real Estate
In this episode, Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry share some of their recent experiences, books they’re reading, and lessons they’ve been learning. Linda highlights John Acuff’s explaining how focusing on past wins and small, consistent steps can unlock momentum when pursuing goals. Dana talks about her family’s “digital fast,” the health insights she’s gaining from Dr. Josh Axe’s and practical ways to reconnect with healthier daily habits. The conversation wraps with Dana’s session with Rory Vaden, who emphasized that the difference between mainstream entrepreneurs and...
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From Real Estate to Children's Books: Ashley Willis' Journey
Everything Life and Real Estate
In this episode, Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry talk with Ashley Willis, a real estate agent turned children's book author. Ashley shares her journey from a love of homes to writing a children's book about moving, titled '' The discussion explores the importance of following dreams, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the impact of her book on families navigating the moving process. Ashley emphasizes the need for open communication between parents and children during transitions and shares her future plans for a series of books aimed at helping kids feel involved and heard.
info_outlineIn this conversation, Dawn Cazedessus shares her inspiring journey from growing up in a trailer park to becoming a successful CEO and author with Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry. She discusses the importance of grit, purpose, and the lessons learned from failure. Dawn emphasizes the significance of mindset and the influential figures in her life who helped shape her path. The conversation also highlights her new book, 'Trailer Park CEO,' which focuses on leadership cornerstones for women in business, and the importance of community and mentorship.