From Stuck to Scaling: Masterminds for STR Entrepreneurs

**Kaye Putnam:**Welcome back to another episode of Get Paid For Your Pad. I’m Kaye Putnam, Head of Marketing at Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry. I’m joined today by Eric Moeller, CEO of both companies.

**Eric Moeller:**Hey Kaye. Excited for this one. This topic is deeply personal and so important for short-term rental entrepreneurs right now.

**Kaye:**I remember early on when we met, you’d constantly reference your masterminds, how they helped you get clarity and make better decisions. Can you walk us through how masterminds have shaped your business?

**Eric:**Absolutely. Masterminds have changed my life. I first learned about the concept in Think and Grow Rich, but it took years to find the right groups. The most powerful thing isn’t just the strategy or tools, it’s the people. Peers who are walking a similar path and can offer perspective. It’s easy to get overwhelmed as an entrepreneur. A quick message to my mastermind groups gives me clarity fast. That’s the power of community and shared wisdom.

**Kaye:**Let’s define it for listeners. What exactly is a mastermind?

**Eric:**To me, it’s a group of like-minded individuals with shared goals. The most valuable ones I’ve joined are industry-specific or problem-focused. You want people in the room who are solving the same challenges you are. Smaller in-person groups are ideal, eight to twelve people is the sweet spot. Online masterminds can work too, but you’ve got to be intentional about who you engage with.

**Kaye:**You’ve even lived in a mastermind before, right?

**Eric:**Yes. I helped create one when I couldn’t find one locally. I lived in the Epic Entrepreneur House in San Diego, where six entrepreneurs lived together, shared meals, and ran weekly masterminds. Every Monday night, we’d gather and each person had two prompts:

1. What is the number one challenge you’re facing?

2. What value can you offer the group this week?

   It forced us to show up prepared, contribute, and grow together. That habit of giving before receiving is key.

**Kaye:**There’s real magic when trusted peers help you work through a challenge. And often, just articulating the problem out loud helps you realize the solution is already inside you.

**Eric:**Exactly. The hot seat dynamic works wonders. You see your own blind spots by hearing feedback and offering support. And perspective is everything.

**Kaye:**So what does someone need to get the most out of a mastermind?

**Eric:**It’s about mindset. You need to show up ready to contribute and be present. No Slack notifications. No distractions. Bring your most pressing challenge and one piece of value. When everyone does that, the energy compounds.

**Kaye:**And how do people find the right mastermind?

**Eric:**Networking. Talk to others in your space. I’m always asking around, what rooms are worth joining? Who’s solving real problems, not just selling seats? Avoid groups where it’s all about the “guru.” You want peer-based masterminds led by facilitators who connect the right people.

**Kaye:**Let’s talk about Foundry Mastermind. It’s brand new. What inspired it?

**Eric:**We saw a gap. As Freewyld and Freewyld Foundry grew, we realized the problems we were solving, hiring, profitability, brand building, weren’t being addressed in traditional masterminds. We wanted a space where professional STR operators could get together, cut through the noise, and solve high-level issues. Foundry Mastermind is for people already operating at scale who want to go further. And it’s already one of the most valuable rooms I’m in.

**Kaye:**And these are not beginner conversations. Many in the room manage $1M+ in bookings. But the willingness to share and show up is what makes it powerful.

**Eric:**Exactly. It’s not us preaching. Our role is to connect incredible people and facilitate conversations around the real stuff, team culture, systems, revenue growth, operations, hospitality. These are the challenges our members are facing daily.

**Kaye:**And I know we’ve got some exciting sessions coming up, like the one with Christian and Kevin—our behind-the-scenes talent connectors. Hiring has been a huge challenge in this industry, and they’ve cracked the code.

**Eric:**Yes, that’s going to be huge. We’re also running themed calls every Thursday so our members always have a space to bring their biggest challenges. That weekly rhythm keeps the value flowing.

**Kaye:**For anyone listening who’s curious, head to freewyldfoundry.com to learn more. The doors are open and this could be exactly the group you need to unlock your next level.

**Eric:**There’s a group for every stage. Whether you’re starting out, scaling, or managing serious wealth, you need a room that challenges and supports you. That’s what Foundry Mastermind is designed to be.

**Kaye:**Thanks, Eric. As always, a great conversation. If you’re listening and have episode ideas or want to connect, reach out on LinkedIn. We’d love to hear from you.

**Eric:**Appreciate you, Kaye. And to everyone tuning in, see you next time.