In this Paradyme Shift episode, Ryan Garland sits down with Brian Koons, a seasoned ADU developer and investor whose career spans more than 500 accessory dwelling unit (ADU) projects across Southern California. Together, they unpack how legislation, zoning reform, and creative financing have reshaped residential development—and why the next wealth wave is being built in backyards.

The conversation blends strategic investing lessons with raw operator insight, diving into:

• The evolution of the ADU movement and how California’s housing crisis turned regulation into opportunity.
• Lessons from scaling from single-lot flips to multi-unit infill projects—and the painful mistakes that came with growth.
• The power of partnerships, transparency, and setting up protective fund structures to safeguard investors and operators alike.
• Why focus, patience, and legal preparedness define the new generation of developers.
• Real-world stories: from 2.5x exits on value-add properties to the deals nearly lost to divorces and legal battles.

Ryan and Brian peel back the layers of entrepreneurship, showing that success in real estate isn’t about luck or timing—it’s about discipline, due diligence, and building systems that outlast hype. This is an inside look at how Paradyme and its network of visionaries are shaping the next era of intelligent, community-driven development.

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Behind The Mask” brings Ryan Garland and Joe Roman into a candid breakdown of what it takes to operate at pace in private equity. Ryan outlines the operator mindset: answer the phone after five, stay mission-driven, protect the downside, and lead with compassion without compromising accountability. He opens up about divorce, blended family dynamics, and the pressure of capital markets, using hard-won lessons to separate givers from takers in teams. Expect a practical look at hiring (why résumés often mislead), building loyalty, navigating California employment law realities, and keeping culture strong when the world feels like it’s burning—rates, real estate, politics, crypto. Ryan explains why forgiveness is a performance tool, how faith and hope reduce leadership drag, and why selfless love creates peace at home (the fuel that sustains high performance at work). From father-son legacy to “blank canvas” resets after hitting bottom, this episode is a masterclass in turning setbacks into clarity, discipline, and repeatable results. Leaders, investors, and operators will leave with a human playbook for transparency, integrity, and execution—the real differentiators in real estate and private equity.

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Colin’s story is a testament to how a single right-place, right-time moment can change the trajectory of a life. What began as a chance introduction to Paradyme’s founder and chairman, Ryan Garland, at one event opened doors that allowed him to pursue his childhood dreams. That encounter sparked a chain of opportunities that took Colin from modest roots to the center of offshore racing’s elite.

Colin shares his remarkable journey from a Midwestern kid on pontoon boats to crew chief of a championship offshore racing team, revealing how chance encounters and relentless hard work created life-changing opportunities:

• Growing up on Fox River in Chicago with modest pontoon boats while dreaming of speedboats
• Moving to Lake Havasu after selling his house during the pandemic housing boom
• Building a successful boat detailing and concierge business for wealthy clients
• Meeting Ryan Garland, which led to introductions that changed the course of his life
• Connecting with racing team owner JR at an event in Miami through that chance chain of introductions
• Transitioning from occasional helper to full-time crew chief of Motlik Racing (#40)
• Managing the logistics of professional offshore racing with costs exceeding $50,000 per event
• Setting a world record for outboard catamaran speed (later broken) with White Boy Rick's sponsorship
• Working alongside notable figures from boating history including Gus Falcone from Cocaine Cowboys
• Balancing race team responsibilities with maintaining relationships with original clients
• Finding fulfillment in living his childhood dream while continuing to push for excellence

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