{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Erica Lehmkuhl and Sarah \u201cEli\u201d David: From Military Leadership to Real Estate Success","description":"Erica Lehmkuhl and Sarah \u201cEli\u201d David: From Military Leadership to Real Estate Success In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Erica Lehmkuhl, Owner of Seaside Realty, and Sarah \u201cEli\u201d David, Mortgage Loan Officer at The Broker, for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, and transitioning from military service into real estate and lending. &amp;nbsp; Erica and Eli share their journeys from the military into the civilian world, offering a real look at what it means to lead in high-pressure environments, earn respect in male-dominated spaces, and carry those lessons into business. From paratrooper deployments to leading teams of over 200 personnel, they break down how discipline, accountability, and service shape long-term success. &amp;nbsp; Larry, Erica, and Eli also dive into the realities of Hawaii real estate today, including affordability challenges, market mindset, and why buyers need to focus on long-term strategy instead of trying to time the market. The conversation highlights how transparency, communication, and leadership directly impact both client outcomes and business growth. &amp;nbsp; The episode also explores entrepreneurship, scaling a business, and the importance of building trust-based relationships, not just transactions. Through real stories and experiences, they emphasize why taking care of people always comes first, whether in the military or in real estate. &amp;nbsp; Guest List Erica Lehmkuhl Owner, Seaside Realty LLC Real Estate Broker and Property Management Leader IG: @ericainhawaii &amp;nbsp; Sarah \u201cEli\u201d David Mortgage Loan Officer, The Broker Former U.S. Air Force Officer IG: @elidavid_2074 &amp;nbsp; Timestamp Highlights 00:00 \u2013 Military banter and setting the tone 01:10 \u2013 Introducing Erica Lehmkuhl and Eli David 03:00 \u2013 Women in the military and leadership realities 07:20 \u2013 Double standards and earning respect 12:00 \u2013 Transitioning from military service to real estate 18:30 \u2013 Erica\u2019s journey into real estate 25:00 \u2013 Building a business from zero 32:40 \u2013 Leadership lessons that translate to business 38:20 \u2013 Transparency and communication in transactions 44:00 \u2013 Navigating Hawaii\u2019s real estate market 50:30 \u2013 Mindset, discipline, and long-term success 57:00 \u2013 Life lessons from military experience &amp;nbsp; \ud83c\udf3a Enjoyed this episode? &amp;nbsp; Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone transitioning careers, building a business, or navigating the Hawaii real estate market. &amp;nbsp; \ud83e\udd19 Follow Larry Gonzales and In Search of Excellence: Island Style for more conversations with Hawaii leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. ","author_name":"In Search of Excellence, Island Style","author_url":"https:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/613475","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41176155\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/201619690"}