Chapter 12 centers on “The Power of One”—the idea that a single choice, a single action, or a single investment can create ripple effects far beyond what we can see in the moment. Kevin opens with a story from a chilly 4 a.m. convenience store line, where a woman he silently misjudged unexpectedly paid for his items. That small act of kindness—less than $5—became a lasting life lesson: leave people better than you found them. And the ripple effect of that “one” moment multiplied every time the story was retold. From there, the chapter expands the concept into true greatness—not celebrity, not fame, but the quiet heroism of everyday people who show up for others. Kevin shares the moment an eight-year-old girl named her dad as her hero—not because he’s famous, but because he picked her up when she fell, cleaned her knee, and cared. Then the chapter brings it home to business and investing: principle-based capitalism. It argues that real capitalism is rooted in integrity, service, hard work, and giving back—not “profit at all costs.” Kevin explains how DFY’s growth accelerated when the company shifted from obsessing over numbers to obsessing over people—documenting progress, improving individual interactions, and building a principle-driven company designed to outlast its founders. Finally, Kevin ties “the power of one” directly to the Moneyball Real Estate strategy: one property can change your financial life and positively impact dozens of people—lenders, agents, title companies, property managers, tenants, sellers—and still create the greatest benefit for you through cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits, and principal paydown. He reinforces the “one leads to two, two leads to four” compounding effect, shares Eric’s story of buying his first property in 2012 and reaching nine properties by 2019, and closes with a rally cry to start small, stack micro-wins, and take the next step—today.
Core theme: The power of one choice can reverberate through generations.
1) Making Ripples
2) Who are your heroes?
3) Principle-based Capitalism
4) The Power of One Property
5) Proof Through Repetition
6) Micro-Win Challenge to End The Book
Kevin Clayson (00:00.248) Chapter 12 The Power of One How a single property can transform your financial future General Principle The potency of the power of one can reverberate through generations creating a lasting impact. Making Ripples The encounter happened at 4am on an unusually chilly morning. I was lined up at a non-descript convenience store preparing for an early flight to New York. I'd been invited to speak at a prestigious conference later that evening. Despite the anticipation of the upcoming event, I was feeling the effects of the early start. My eyelids felt heavy and a feeling of grogginess was setting in. I was not my usual self. In front of me in the queue was a lady who on any other day I would have not given a second glance. There was something ordinary about her, something that blended with the mundanity of that early morning hour. But for some reason, perhaps out of my own tired irability, I found myself making assumptions about her character, all based on her attire. I'm not proud of it, but it's a truth that needs telling. As I stood in judgment, she turned to face me, breaking through my fog of assumptions. She extended a gentle gesture, asking me to place my items with hers on the counter. It took me a moment to register her intentions. She was offering to pay for my stuff. that's very generous of you ma'am, but there's no need, I responded, taken aback by her unexpected kindness. Her response was a warm smile that seemed to light up the entire store. She simply took the items from my hands, put them on the counter with her own, and proceeded to pay for them. After the transaction, she did something truly remarkable and profoundly life altering. She handed me my stuff. Now, in a neatly packed bag, with a heartfelt, have a good day, and she exited the store. I was left standing there astonished and deeply moved. The woman I had hastily judged had just taught me a priceless lesson. In under five minutes, with less than $5, she showed me the profound impact of a small act of kindness. Her selfless act reminded me to strive to leave people better than I found them. It made me understand the transformative power of a random act of kindness. Kevin Clayson (02:20.866) This encounter has stayed with me and has fueled my commitment to extend the same kindness to others. Her impact did not end in that convenience store. In fact, it was only the beginning. With each retelling of this story, in hundreds of talks and through countless conversations, her kindness has touched and inspired others to do the same. This woman, a stranger on a tired early morning, has transformed thousands of lives through her simple act. She may never know the full extent of her impact, but she embodies the power of one. One person, one act, and the potential for an exponential ripple of goodness across the world. The power of one concept is an essential element of the micro-winds mindset, celebrating the impact of small consistent actions. All your significant life achievements start with that single decision, that solitary act. It's easy to feel insignificant in this expansive world, but remember each choice you make today forms the foundation of your future. Whether it's a question you ask, a conversation you have, or a decision you make, you have the power to initiate change. While this principle may not be entirely new to you, we believe it's important to remind ourselves of our individual power. So let's delve deeper into understanding and unleashing the incredible power of one. Who are your heroes? One of my favorite messages to share as a speaker revolves around achieving true greatness. This concept, true greatness, I borrowed from the late Howard W. Hunter, an esteemed attorney and the 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a figure I deeply admired and respected. In my talks, I often pose a question to my audience, who are your heroes? The immediate response invariably includes a list of famous names, celebrities, the world adores. But these figures, the media personalities, social media influencers, and professional athletes haven't directly influenced these individuals lives or had a personal impact. So I take it a step further and I rephrase my question. Who was someone present in your actual life? Someone you know and love who has had a profound impact on you and shifted the course of your life. Kevin Clayson (04:37.708) I recall a particular event where a young eight-year-old girl who'd come along with her parent eagerly raised her hand to answer this question. My dad, she declared with a proud smile. I was intrigued. That's fantastic, I exclaimed. And may I ask why is your dad your hero? She responded with the innocent simplicity of a child. One time, I was riding my bike in our driveway and I fell and scraped my knee and I was crying because it hurt so much. My dad ran out and picked me up and carried me inside to clean my owie and put a bandaid on it. At that moment, I was overcome with emotion. The power of one, the potential of making someone's life better through a simple act was displayed in all its unpretentious glory. This man merely fulfilling his role as a father, had unknowingly elevated himself to a hero in his daughter's eyes. Now I ask you, who are the heroes in your life? What makes them your heroes? Your influence can be significant, even without the glamour and recognition that social media often leads us to believe are necessary. These heroes, through their individual choices and actions, have managed to instill lasting, positive changes in those around them. This is the power of one, the capacity to shape generations, one act at a time. The power of one in principle-based capitalism. This book largely deals with utilizing the microwinds mindset to build a prosperous real estate investment portfolio. We are unabashed capitalists and stand by the merits of a capitalist system. However, we argue that the essence of capitalism is rooted in virtues such as honesty, integrity, hard work, frugality and the commitment to give back. The critique that capitalism revolves around a profit first no matter the cost mentality in our perspective is a misrepresentation of true capitalism. Have you pondered how you could leverage your own capabilities to assist others in your life? We'll be candid. Kevin Clayson (06:48.076) When we launched Done For You Real Estate, our primary focus was on attaining financial success as a company rather than ensuring success in every other business transaction. Despite this, we were successful because we believed in the work we were doing and our system was simply effective. Yet we noticed a substantial upturn in our company's potential when we shifted our focus toward individual decisions impacting our clients, employees, and transactions. We transitioned from merely reporting numerical figures to documenting the progress of the individuals we were working with. We prioritized creating an exceptional experience in our individual interactions, aiming to leave our clients and prospective clients better off than before they met us, even if they decided not to invest with us. Moreover, our strategy has always been to acquire one property at a time, harnessing the remarkable potential that each individual purchase holds. Currently, We strive to be a principal driven company and all that we undertake, anticipating DFY to endure beyond our lifespan and continually provide outstanding value and service to our clients. These individual decisions have propelled us and our clients beyond our most ambitious expectations. We firmly believe in voluntarily doing what's right without the coercion of laws as the most beneficial action a business owner can take for their business and everyone involved in its transactions. An organization solely focused on profit for its top tier will crumble once that individual is gone. In contrast, a principal based company that benefits people at all levels can outlast its original founders and serve others for generations to come. This is the true manifestation of the power of one. Real estate application of principal. One property can change your financial life and have a massive ripple effect on the financial lives of more people than you can count. the power of one in real estate. The concluding line of each episode of our podcast, Replace Your Income is income replacement for you and your family may only be one property away. This is where we delve into the mechanics of the Moneyball real estate formula. Here, the emphasis lies on one. The strategy isn't just about hitting conservative investment property singles. It's also about the profound power of one, the ripple effect that makes every individual choice significantly meaningful. Kevin Clayson (09:07.658) Each day you make numerous decisions. Some may seem small and insignificant and some aren't even made consciously. These decisions span across various aspects of your life, how you serve and treat others, the nature of your conversations, your financial maneuvers, and so much more. Every single action you take creates a ripple effect on you and those around you. Your decision to invest in real estate is no different. Have you considered the impact of purchasing a single investment property using the Moneyball real estate strategy? By making the decision to buy that property, you set off a ripple effect influencing the lives of a myriad of people. The mortgage company and its team are earning from the mortgage. Real estate agents for both buyers and sellers earn a commission. Title companies profiting from their work. Property managers who earn their living by taking care of the property. The tenant who finds a home they love in a neighborhood they wish to reside in. The seller likely experiencing a positive financial impact. And of course, you. Your cashflow income future increases and the path to financial independence. Each individual and their family has a personal economy. Your single transaction to purchase a rental property affects all these economies. A single transaction can potentially benefit dozens of people and numerous companies, either directly or indirectly. Here's the intriguing part. You stand to gain more than all of them combined. Remember back to principle eight, when we dove into the numbers. Most D.F.Y. clients, if they retain the property for a certain period, say 5 to 7 years, will enjoy additional benefits such as cash flow, appreciation, tax benefits, and principal pay down. They also get the ability to leverage one purchase into many, leading to greater gains than you ever imagined. Their average gain over a 10-year time frame is over 6 figures. How can we be so confident? It's simple. We've witnessed this happen repeatedly. Numerous clients have replaced their income over time solely through our company. One such client, Eric, graciously shared his story on our podcast. Eric began his journey with us in January of 2012 with his first single family investment property purchase. He added two more properties in March, another one in July of the same year. And by 2019, Eric owned nine properties. He was retired, traveling and living life on his terms while we handled the heavy lifting for him. Kevin Clayson (11:29.612) He was retired, traveling and living life on his terms, all while we handled the heavy lifting for him. A single property purchase can yield immense benefits for the economy, the community, and you. In real estate, the power of one is staggering as one property can lead to two, which can lead to four and so on. Eric's story is a perfect example of this. He achieved economic independence and found himself a real estate millionaire after years of individual seemingly insignificant real estate and personal micro wins. The power of one is undeniable, but it truly flourishes in an environment driven by virtues and principles where all parties act in good faith, honor their obligations, work diligently and practice frugality. That's why we underscore the importance of principle-based capitalism when discussing the success rate of the Moneyball real estate strategy. The power to make all the difference in the world may start with just one. Conclusion. In a 2021 episode of the 49ers talk, NBC Bay area sports podcasts, Debo Samuel, the standout wide receiver shed light on his philosophy of goal setting. He expressed a desire to be the best yet beyond that broad ambition. He explained that he doesn't set discrete goals. Rather he sees his every moment delivering his utmost on the field. This he believes is his path to greatness. This philosophy mirrors the essence of the micro wins mindset. Concentrate on the immediate task, invest your fullest effort and success will follow. This methodical dedicated approach has won Samuel glory on the field, just as it propelled Rudy to victory with a single triumphant tackle. And it can work wonders for you too. Micro win inspiration. As you conclude this book. We hope to ignite in you a new perspective on achieving your dreams. Begin by asking yourself, what do you aspire to? What does financial freedom mean for you? Next, visualize your journey. Trace the path from where you are now to where you long to be. Break this journey into manageable steps so small that the first one feels within your grasp. Kevin Clayson (13:46.76) Even if your goal is not to amass a multitude of objectives, like Debo Samuel, that's perfectly fine. The primary lesson is to get started. We acknowledge that taking the first step is often daunting. To inspire you, here are a few examples of common micro-wins to get you off the bench and onto the playing field. If fitness is your goal, seek out a 10-minute full-body workout online. Focus only on completing those exercises for 10 minutes today. Each day's workout is a separate victory, a micro win to be celebrated. If you aspire to spend more time with your kids or enhance your bond with them, engage in an activity that they enjoy. It could be as simple as reading a comic or playing a video game for just five minutes today. Dedicate these moments solely to them. If your aim is to strengthen your relationship with your significant other, try penning a love letter today. Let your love flow through your words. If you harbor a dream of authoring a book, write a single sentence today. That single sentence is your first micro win. If you seek to enhance your health habits, drink an extra glass of water today. That's eight ounces toward your goal of a healthier lifestyle. If you wish to nurture a more consistent spiritual practice, say a short 30 second prayer today. If your goal is to save more money, Gather loose change around the house and deposit it in your bank. This simple action is a step toward better financial habits. If your desire is to become a better individual, strive to make a positive impact on at least one person today by leaving them better off. The simplicity of these goals is their strength. They're easily achievable, paving the way for celebration and subsequent momentum. By laying this foundation of success, You build a platform from which to reach even higher. 12 principles to moneyball real estate. Micro wins to millions is not just a guide to real estate investment. It's a fresh perspective on achievement, success, and personal fulfillment. Throughout this book, we've illustrated a dozen key principles that can transform your thinking and elevate your approach to real estate and personal achievement. one, stacking micro wins. You can build your future one win at a time by investing in simple, conservative, single family properties. Kevin Clayson (16:08.428) Number two, celebrating the journey, not the arrival. Every step in your real estate investment journey is a cause for celebration, not just the final goal. Number three, reframing progress. Stop comparing your progress with others and celebrate each individual bit of progress in your personal portfolio journey. Number four, the power of leverage. Utilize leverage in the form of 30-year fixed mortgages to grow your income-producing portfolio and your long-term net worth. Number five, success mapping. Establish what you're working with, determine what you are wanting to accomplish, reverse engineer the path from here to there and take your first step forward. 6. Success is earned, not given. Recognize the invisible moments and the knowledge and expertise that go into locating and investing in purchase-worthy properties. 7. Keeping perspective. Choose the right market for your investments by maintaining a correct perspective. 8. Success is magically formulaic. Through small, consistent actions, create income replacement with the best properties for long-term wealth building. 9. Trust the experts to do expert-level work. Rely on expert real estate teams to provide expert-level real estate services for you. 10. Do it now. The perfect time to invest is always now, so start today. 11. Beyond the Benjamins Achieve your definition of economic independence instead of merely chasing millions. Number 12, the power of one. Understand the potential impact of a single property on your financial future and its ripple effect on others. Each of these principles stands as a pillar in the micro wins to millions philosophy. Each contributing to a strong and stable strategy for building your real estate portfolio and your personal success. Remember, success in real estate is not an overnight sensation. It's a journey. By consistently applying the principles we've outlined, you can take each day as an opportunity to stack your micro wins, building your personal success story, one small victory at a time. However, this book isn't solely intended to persuade you to invest in real estate, even though we think everyone should. Kevin Clayson (18:23.424) It's intended to equip and empower you to map the way to fulfillment and achievement, no matter what that may look like for you. If your path does involve real estate, feel free to explore our website at dfy-realestate.com or reach out to us. We'd be delighted to assist you in navigating your way to property ownership and financial independence through micro-wins. We're here to serve. We understand that done for you real estate isn't for everyone. If we're not the right fit for each other, we'll be upfront about it. Your success is our ultimate goal. Even if we're not the right choice for you, we're happy to share ideas that could help you achieve your real estate ambitions. So channel your inner Debo Samuel, Rudy Rüdiger and Billy Bean and swing for that single. All you desire begins with one, your next micro win. In conclusion, success is within your grasp. It is not about grand gestures or major leaps, but about the stacking of micro wins to create substantial victories. Micro wins to millions aims to guide you on a path towards success that is measured not in dollar signs, but in the fulfillment and independence that comes from smart, strategic real estate investment. As you close this book, remember that your journey is just beginning. Apply the principles, start investing. and celebrate every small victory along the way. After all, as we've seen, the power of one micro win can ripple through generations, creating a lasting impact. You are one decision away from changing your financial future forever. So do it now. Chapter 12 Ideas Summary. Understand that each decision, no matter how small, can create a ripple effect that impacts many lives. Your choices, especially in real estate, can extend their influence not only across various sectors of the economy, but also through generations. Recognize that buying a single property can have a profound effect on various individuals and businesses, including mortgage companies, agents, tenants, and yourself. The decision to invest in one property is a decision that can change your financial life and have far reaching implications. Reflect on the importance of adopting a principle driven mindset. Kevin Clayson (20:39.094) one that prioritizes individual interactions and strives to create lasting value. Such an approach can lead to enduring success and fulfillment. Appreciate that success doesn't always mean grand gestures, but often involves stacking small victories or micro wins. Applying this approach to different aspects of life and finance can guide you toward more fulfilling and independent living through smart real estate investment. As you conclude this book, remember that your path toward financial success and fulfillment is only just beginning. You have the tools and principles to start investing and to celebrate every victory along the way. Your financial future is one decision away. Chapter 12 micro wins. Make a commitment to start your decision to start investing in real estate, even with a single property is a micro win. Recognize that this single act can have profound implications and begin your journey. Adopt a principle driven mindset. Choose to prioritize values and principles in your interactions and decisions. This micro-win encourages you to focus on lasting value extending beyond mere financial gains. Acknowledge and celebrate small victories. Embrace the concept of micro-wins in various aspects of your life, recognizing that each small victory is a step toward greater success. Celebrating these micro-wins reinforces your path to fulfillment. Reflect and apply the 12 principles. Take a moment to reflect on all the principles you've learned throughout the book. Your commitment to applying these principles in your investment journey is a micro win, setting you on a path to financial independence and lasting impact.