S2E39: Why Closing A Deal Should Never Be A Goal (Closing the Right One Is)

In this episode, Alex Pardo and Dan Wentzel sit down for one of the most honest conversations of the entire season. With Season 2 winding down and Dan still working toward his first storage deal, Alex asks the question neither of them planned to face publicly: what does it feel like to put yourself out there for 38 episodes and not yet cross the finish line? Dan's answer — "I feel like a fool" — stops the conversation cold. What follows is a raw, unscripted look at managing progress versus expectations, the ebbs and flows of pursuing a big goal, and what it really means to keep going when the timeline doesn't go the way you planned.   This is not a recap of mistakes. It's a conversation about identity, resilience, and what two years of grinding in public actually builds in a person. Dan reflects on the highs of nearly going under contract multiple times, the halt that came with a new baby, and the mindset shift that changed how he carries the weight of his journey. If you've ever felt behind, embarrassed by your timeline, or afraid to fail in front of people — this episode will meet you exactly where you are.   You'll Learn How To: Separate "I didn't hit my goal" from "I didn't make progress" — and why the difference changes everything Manage the emotional ebbs and flows that come with pursuing a long-term investing goal Drop the weight of missed follow-ups and hit the reset button without losing momentum you've already built Stop worrying what other people think about your timeline and start focusing on the right next step Use the wisdom of the 20s/40s/60s framework to free yourself from caring about other people's opinions Build a strong enough "why" to keep moving forward when results take longer than expected Take massive imperfect action even when you feel like you're too far behind to catch up   What You'll Learn in This Episode   [0:00] Introduction [1:10] What if you do everything right and still don't hit the goal? [1:42] Progress vs. expectations — why these are not the same thing [2:02] Dan's idea: let's talk about the ebbs and flows that nobody else puts on camera [2:26] Has success been linear? Dan's honest answer after 38 episodes [3:20] The highs — nearly under contract multiple times, and what future-casting costs you when a deal falls through [4:31] How a new baby and the holidays brought momentum to a near-complete halt [5:00] What Dan learned about rebuilding: it doesn't matter where you start, just start somewhere [5:33] "Put the weight down" — Alex on why carrying the guilt of missed follow-ups makes it impossible to move [6:25] The hardest question of the episode: knowing what you know now, would you have started anyway? [7:29] Dan's answer — and the conviction behind it [7:58] Why the community made the journey worth it regardless of the timeline [8:26] Why Alex recommended the movie Rudy — and what stories of struggle do for your mindset [10:05] The 20s/40s/60s framework: when you finally realize nobody was thinking about you anyway [11:29] Dan's gut-punch response when Alex said Season 2 was winding down: "I feel like a fool" [12:16] Why public failure hits differently than private failure [13:41] A week later — does Dan still feel that way? [14:07] Why "nobody's thinking about you" is the most freeing thing an entrepreneur can internalize [15:17] Why putting yourself out there and falling short earns more respect than never trying [16:06] The man in the arena — the person people cheer for is the one willing to fight [16:34] The goal was never just to close a deal — it was to close the right one [17:30] How much of "I feel like a fool" was really about what other people think? [18:00] What Dan would tell someone afraid to put themselves out there in case they fail [18:59] What Dan is most proud of after 38 episodes [19:38] Why seeing others in the community close deals inspires rather than discourages him [20:10] Episode 40 is the Season 2 finale — and Dan is coming back when he closes his first deal [21:03] The call to action: take massive imperfect action, have a big why, surround yourself with the right people [21:36] A preview of what Season 3 will look like   Who This Episode Is For: Aspiring storage investors who feel behind on their timeline and are starting to wonder if it's worth it Anyone who has put themselves out there publicly — on a podcast, in a community, or in front of others — and hasn't yet hit the goal Entrepreneurs struggling with the gap between the progress they've made and the expectations they set at the start People who are afraid to fail in front of others and have been using that fear as a reason to stay on the sideline Anyone who needs a reminder that the journey itself builds something that the destination alone never could Investors who have a big why but need help keeping it front of mind when the road gets longer than expected   Why You Should Listen:   Season 2 of Storage Wins was built on a simple premise: follow Dan Wentzel in real time as he pursues his first self-storage deal. The plan was to document the win. What happened instead was something more valuable — a two-year record of what it actually looks like to pursue a hard goal with no guarantees and no shortcuts. This episode is the honest accounting of that journey, and it's one of the most important conversations of the entire season.   What makes it land is Dan's willingness to say out loud what most people only feel privately. "I feel like a fool." That moment is the heart of this episode — and Alex's response, the 20s/40s/60s framework, the man in the arena, the distinction between missing a goal and failing to make progress — gives you the mindset tools to reframe your own journey in a way that actually helps you keep going.   If you've been at this for longer than you expected and you're starting to wonder whether the gap between where you are and where you thought you'd be by now means something has gone wrong — this episode is your answer. Nothing has gone wrong. The timeline is the journey. And the version of yourself you build on the way to the first deal is the asset that makes everything else possible.   Follow Alex Pardo here: Website: https://storagewins.com Schedule a call: https://storagewins.com/call Facebook Group: Storage Wins Community Instagram: @alexpardo25 YouTube: Storage Wins Podcast   If this episode resonated with you, the best next step is simple: book a free 10 to 15 minute discovery call with Alex at https://storagewins.com/call and let's figure out what's been keeping you from taking action. If you're just finding the show, go back to episode one of Season 2 and follow Dan's full journey from the beginning. And make sure you're subscribed — Episode 40, the Season 2 finale, is coming next.