Meet Ephesian Brown | 5-star Airbnb Host | Six-Figure Stock Market Investor | Educator & Author | Purpose Chaser

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ephesian Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ephesian, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I first started my entrepreneurial journey, work-life balance was more of a concept than a reality. For example, in the initial stages of my Airbnb/Hospitality business, I was in the process of automating my systems. This meant I was hustling around the clock, striving to get my business off the ground and become cash flow positive.

When I began learning how to trade and invest, balance was also non-existent. During college, I would stay up until 3 AM every night studying charts and rereading the same books, searching for that elusive ‘aha’ moment. My dedication to understanding the intricacies of trading was so intense that my doctor warned me about my health and advised me to get more rest.

Even as my businesses have started to gain traction, the concept of balance remains a challenge. However, I’ve developed routines that help me stay grounded. One of the key influences in my approach is ‘The 12 Week Year’ by Brian P. Moran, a book that I live by.

I follow a specific 12-week plan, focusing on my three biggest goals. I track my progress by marking completed tasks and evaluating my performance at the end of each week. If I score higher than 80%, I consider it a pass; if lower, I go back to the drawing board and figure out where I need to improve. This routine helps me stay disciplined, focused, and get a lot done. Consistency is key. Being able to do the same thing every day is the difference between success and mediocrity. After completing my tasks, I try to make time for other hobbies, but my obsession with stocks and investing often takes precedence so I just keep working.

While I still believe that relentless hard work is essential for success, I’ve come to understand the importance of occasional downtime. It allows me to come back to my work with renewed energy and creativity. This evolving perspective has made me more mindful of integrating rest into my schedule, so instead of working 7 days a week, I try to only work 6.

Looking ahead, I plan to sustain my dedication by continuously refining my time management skills and delegating tasks effectively. Building a strong team around me will also be crucial, as it allows me to focus on high-impact activities while ensuring that other aspects of the business run smoothly.

Ultimately, work-life balance is important, but my perspective from studying people who are where I want to be is that there is no perfect balance; sacrifices are necessary. I draw inspiration from my dad, the hardest worker I know, and strive to match his standard. I won’t get burnt out because I’m not just chasing a dollar amount; I’m pursuing the purpose that God has for me—to impact as many lives as possible through investing and business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The name of my company is SDS Investments, which stands for Sacrifice, Discipline, Success Investments. I believe that to be successful, you must make sacrifices and maintain discipline. These principles are foundational to achieving your definition of success. SDS Investments’ mission is to teach investing to the masses and impact as many lives as possible. We have two subsidiaries: SDS Suites, our 5-star Airbnb hospitality business, and SDS Academy, our stock market investing and trading online learning platform.

SDS Suites stands out with a perfect 5-star rating with over 70 reviews. Our units are impeccably decorated by my in-house professional interior design team and managed by me through automated systems for cleaning, communication, check-in, and check-out. This allows us to scale efficiently. One of the biggest challenges was automating the cleaning process, which required going through many cleaners to find someone who met our standards. We overcame this with persistence and a ‘Hire Fast, Fire Faster’ approach. I recently published ‘Airbnb Mastery: Unlocking Success Step by Step,’ an e-book for aspiring and existing hosts. It’s a comprehensive guide that took eight months to write, covering everything from pitching the landlord to a full furnishing guide separated by room. My goal is to add as much value as possible and help others achieve success.

SDS Academy is my platform for teaching stock market investing. I started learning about capital markets in 2019, initially through a forex mentor and later through Ian Dunlap, who taught me the importance of a long-term mindset. Combining the knowledge from both mentors, I created a profitable investing strategy, turning $30,000 into $74,000 in 14 months while still in college. Now, as a six-figure investor, I aim to change lives through education, making investing simple and accessible. The hardest part of my journey was mastering chart reading and executing trades without indicators. There were many nights I cried real tears, but I never gave up. Now, at 25, I have the skills for life and am dedicated to helping others achieve the same.

What sets SDS Investments apart from other investment and education platforms is that I truly put in the work and have the results to prove it. Many people try to teach something they themselves haven’t mastered yet. I have a long-term outlook with everything, prioritizing quality over quick profit. Any product I put out, I overdeliver. Specific lessons I’ve learned over time that have shaped my approach to business and investing are that whoever puts in the most work will get the most results. From great athletes to business moguls, they all have one thing in common if you study them. They put in relentless effort to be great at one thing and did the same thing every day for years before becoming an ‘overnight success.’ My ultimate goal is to be a financial revolutionary, leading a mass movement in the investing space. I draw inspiration from greats like Fred Hampton, MLK, and Malcolm X. I want to create a significant community impact through education and investing, changing the financial trajectories of entire communities. SDS Investments is built on the principles of sacrifice, discipline, and success. With a relentless work ethic and a passion for adding value, we are committed to making a significant impact through investing and education. In both Airbnb and stocks, no one outworks me. I love the grind and believe in integrity; I never instruct others to do something I haven’t done myself. If you want to master stock market investing or Airbnb, come lock in with me. If you put in the work, I promise you’ll see results.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hmmm, visiting the area and I gotta show them a good time? Good question. First off, we pulling up to my parents crib. I need my mom to make cheese grits, sausage, and toast. Side note, I’m definitely putting jelly on my grits too. If they needed somewhere to stay, I’ll check them into one of my 5-star Airbnb units to get settled. For dinner, we definitely have to go to Truluck’s for a 5 star steak. If not Truluck’s, Ruth Chris or Dakotas. The next day we’d hit NorthPark Mall for some high-priced fashion. This is mandatory, when I look good I feel good…….you know the rest. For lunch we’d either get Benihana lunch special or head to Pappadeaux for happy hour. Since I love seafood, if we’re in the mood for a seafood boil, we’d definitely go to Red Claw. Nightlife, it’s plenty of places to catch a vibe, so it would just depend on the day of the week.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I want to thank God. Without Him, I am nothing, and His guidance and blessings have been the foundation of all my successes.

I also want to thank my parents for raising me the right way. They made a lot of sacrifices for me that I could never repay. Their unwavering support, love, and dedication have shaped me into the person I am today.

I am incredibly grateful for the insights from the books ‘The Slight Edge’ by Jeff Olson and ‘Atomic Habits’ by James Clear. These books have significantly influenced my approach to productivity and personal growth. The strategies and principles outlined in these books have been game-changers for me, helping me stay focused and productive, and giving me the blueprint on how to achieve anything.

I want to thank Archie Rice for providing me with everything I needed to really master technical analysis and trading. His guidance was crucial in building a strong foundation in these areas. Additionally, I am thankful to Ian Dunlap for teaching me everything about the stock market fundamentally. By combining the knowledge and strategies from both Archie and Ian, I was able to formulate my own highly profitable strategy.

Finally, I want to thank my friends and family for their constant encouragement and belief in my vision. Their support has been instrumental in keeping me motivated and focused on achieving my goals.

Instagram: ephesian_b

Other: https://ephesianbrown.gumroad.com