The Hotel Investor Playbook
Welcome to The Hotel Investor Playbook, hosted by real estate investor and hospitality operator Michael Russell. Michael is the co-founder of Malama Capital and Howzit Hostels, and has built a personal real estate portfolio exceeding $20 million.
With an operator-first mindset, Michael brings a practical perspective to hotel investing. On the show, he breaks down what it actually takes to scale from short-term rentals into boutique hotels, covering deal sourcing, operations, capital strategy, and risk.
Each week, Michael shares real lessons from the field as he builds toward a $400 million real estate business, giving listeners an honest look at the decisions, challenges, and strategies behind the growth. Subscribe and follow along as he documents the journey in real time.
The Hotel Investor Playbook
Stop Deferring Your Joy: How High-Performing Leaders Stay Sharp Without Burning Out | Mike Messeroff E81
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You hit your targets. You built the business. So why does it still feel like something's missing?
In this episode, you'll discover why deferring your happiness until the next deal, the next promotion, or the next milestone is quietly destroying your leadership, your team culture, and your returns.
A personal freedom coach who has spent 30 years in hospitality and now works exclusively with CEOs and top executives joins the show to share the self-leadership framework that changes how high-achievers show up at work and at home. His approach isn't about slowing down. It's about not losing your life chasing a goal you never actually defined.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why money amplifies who you already are, and why that's a problem if you're running on empty
- The 2-3 minute morning practice that measurably reduces reactivity and improves decision-making
- Why "work-life balance" is a myth, and the reframe that actually works for ambitious operators
- How a present, grounded leader produces better team performance, higher morale, and fewer fires to put out
- The gratitude practice that rewires how your brain responds to setbacks
- Why deferring joy is a skill you've been accidentally training for decades
If you're serious about building something that lasts without sacrificing the life you're building it for, this episode will give you a practical starting point. Don't skip it just because it doesn't have a cap rate in the title.
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Connect with Mike Messeroff
Website: https://www.mikemesseroff.com
Website: https://www.thecircleoffreethinkers.com/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemesseroff/
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Email Us at info@hotelinvestorplaybook.com
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