EP45: Why I Left a Profitable Wholesaling Business to Go All-In on Storage with Joe Dellefave

In this very special crossover episode, I sat down with my good friend Joe Dellefave on the Creative Finance Playbook podcast to share the real story of why I walked away from a highly profitable wholesaling business at the peak of COVID to go all-in on self-storage. Everyone thought I was crazy—until they saw what storage could do. We dive into how I run nearly 900 units across multiple states with no employees, why wholesaling left me feeling stuck and overworked, and how storage helped me reclaim my time and build scalable, predictable wealth. I also break down the first deals I did—none of which used my own money—and share how creative finance, focus, and a powerful "why" made it all possible. If you're grinding in single-family and wondering if there's a better way, this episode is your roadmap out. You'll Learn How To: Transition from single-family to storage investing with confidence Break through limiting beliefs and start building wealth now Use SBA loans, seller financing, and private capital to fund your deals Find clarity on your "buy box" and attract the right opportunities Operate remote storage businesses efficiently—even with a small team What You'll Learn in This Episode: [0:00] From wholesaling grind to freedom—my story in a nutshell [2:10] Real talk: building a business I wanted to escape from [5:17] The cashflow myth of rentals and why storage made more sense [7:39] The mastermind moment that sparked my big pivot [11:07] The limiting beliefs that almost kept me out of storage [14:15] My first $0-down deal and how it came from absolute clarity [17:19] How to build trust, communicate like a pro, and close confidently [19:18] Running 900 units remotely with no on-site staff [22:49] The power of recession-resistant income and small market strategy [25:02] Why finding the right tribe is the fastest path to success Who This Episode Is For: Wholesalers, flippers, and landlords tired of being on the hamster wheel Investors looking for more scalable, predictable cash flow Anyone craving a business model that gives you your life back Action takers ready to make 2026 the year of their first storage facility Why You Should Listen: Leaving a profitable business wasn't easy—but it was necessary. I knew there had to be a better way to create real freedom, and storage became the answer. In this episode, I share the full behind-the-scenes of how I made the leap, what it took, and why I'll never look back. If you've ever wondered, "Is there more than this?"—the answer is yes. And this is your permission to go after it. Follow Alex Pardo here: Alex Pardo Website: https://alexpardo.com/ Alex Pardo Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexpardo15 Alex Pardo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexpardo25 Alex Pardo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlexPardo Storage Wins Website: https://storagewins.com/ Follow Joe here: Joe's Podcast: https://creativefinanceplaybook.com/podcast Joe's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@creativefinanceplaybook Have conversations with at least three to give storage owners, brokers, private lenders, and equity partners through the Storage Wins Facebook group. Join for free by visiting this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/322064908446514/