Lessons from the Most Impressive 26-Year Old I Know with Dane Larsen

In this episode recorded at the Man Overseas Retreat in Costa Rica, I sit down with Dane Larsen—one of the best young men I’ve ever worked with 1-on-1. I’ve long wanted him on the podcast, and he didn’t disappoint.

Dane is the most impressive 26-year old I know—sharp, thoughtful, and already achieving big success as an entrepreneur. He started a property management business in Washington State, and has gone from managing 0 doors to 90 in just a few years. He focuses on single-family homes, and has plans to scale the business without sacrificing quality. His clarity, determination, and work ethic, at such a young age make him unique.

We also discuss our experiences with remote work—what it gives us, what it takes away, what it will never give us. Dane shares why, despite loving the flexibility, nothing beats face-to-face interaction. Connection is a key to success in business.

From his time living on Dr. Chris Martenson’s homestead to his thoughts on dating, masculinity, and what it means to live intentionally, this one is packed with great takeaways.

Loved watching Dane open up and connect with the other stud guys at the retreat. He shared his story, and showed the kind of thoughtfulness and candor that’s becoming more and more rare these days. Not to mention the talk he gave to the group was straight fire, Pookie.

Other topics discussed:

• First impressions of Costa Rica & its natural beauty
• Differences between Costa Rica & the Pacific Northwest
• College sports loyalty & family ties to University of Washington
• Disinterest in professional sports & coaching turnover
• Moving across the country after a retreat in Belize
• Skepticism about the value of a four-year college degree
• Benefits of learning through work experience & online resources
• Meeting Dr. Chris Martenson at a Belize retreat
• Living on Martenson’s homestead & observing his work ethic
• Insight into the creation and mission of Peak Prosperity
• The importance of fact-checking & comprehensive research
• Inter-gender dynamics
• Remote work vs. in-office work environments
• Impact of COVID on social skills & communication
• Importance of intentional conversations & diverse perspectives
• Choosing to delay dating to focus on business growth
• Entrepreneurial journey & current focus on property management
• Business model focused on single-family homes, not multi-units
• Local market trends in Bellingham, Washington
• Solopreneur challenges & goals for scaling a business
• Direct mail as a key marketing strategy
• Working in retail banking during COVID lockdowns
• Using negotiation techniques from Chris Voss’ Never Split the Difference
• Re-reading How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• Value of storytelling in human communication
• Eye contact & smiles in child development & social bonding
• Andrew Tate’s take on using smiles sparingly
• Gender differences in attraction, smiling, and consensus-seeking
• Modern dating dynamics & the loss of appreciating quirks
• Concerns about AI, neural implants, and loss of humanity
• Role of the father in modeling work ethic for children
• Personal growth through intentional living & long-term goals
• Personal values: work ethic, discipline, and authenticity
• Reflections on masculinity, culture, and modern social challenges

Questions asked:

• Is this your first time in Costa Rica?
• Did you grow up sports wise, like a fan of WSU or UW? And did you pull for the Seahawks or the Supersonics?
• Do you feel like a 4-year degree isn’t needed?
• Were you willing to pick up & move after you went to a retreat in Belize?
• Who did you meet & what prompted you to move all the way across the country?
• What makes Dr. Chris Martenson famous?
• Can you tell me about doing “the gritty” in the bar?
• Do you not have enough downtime to maybe long for companionship?
• What made you want to get into that [property management business]?
• How do you plan to scale the business?
• At what point would you no longer be a solopreneur?
• What’s your marketing strategy? Is it more social media focused?
• How did COVID impact you?
• How much money did you make as a bank teller?
• Is there a book that’s been most impactful for you?
• What do you make of this retreat so far?
• Have you been following much on the geopolitical environment over in the Middle East?
• Do you think the value of July 4th is diminished by the hot dog eating contest in the same way that Christmas is sometimes diminished by all the presents?
• What do you think is our biggest geopolitical risk?

Fun questions:

• If you could create a national holiday that celebrates a unique aspect of human nature, what would it be?
• If you could switch lives with somebody on Monday–so that you get to experience what a day in the life of that person is–who would it be? Would you have sex with your wife that night?
• What’s the coolest thing anybody’s ever done for you?
• If you were transported into the future–let’s say 100 years from now–and you could take any two things with you, what would those two things be?
• If Donald Trump invited you to the White House & asked for your best piece of advice, what would you tell him?
• What’s the best quality a girlfriend/wife could have?
• If there was one person that you wish could attend this retreat next year, who would it be?
• What do you hope will be the biggest takeaway from this trip?
• At what age do you hope to get married?
• What’s the best piece of advice your dad has given you through the years?

Books mentioned:

• Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
• A Story is a Deal by Will Storr

Connect with Dane:

• LinkedIn: Dane Larsen
• Business: Patos Property Management