Wendell’s Weekly Wins and Whiffs

👋 Welcome to Wendell’s Weekly Wins & Whiffs! The real, unvarnished breakdown of what it takes to build companies, scale a real estate portfolio, and lead with discipline. ⚒️📈 Each week, I share the operational wins that move the mission forward, the whiffs that force recalibration, and the strategic lessons earned in the trenches. No hype. No fluff. Just execution, feedback loops, and continuous improvement. 🔁If you're committed to building durable wealth through systems, partnerships, and relentless consistency, you’re in the right place. Let’s get better — week after week. 💥

Author

Wendell Butler
January 22, 2026

🏆 Win of the Week: Execution That Cuts Through the Noise

Last week delivered a strong reminder that fundamentals still matter, even in a slower, more selective market.

One of our recently completed flips went under contract in under 24 hours, which is almost unheard of in today’s environment. Properties are sitting longer, buyers are cautious, and pricing sensitivity is real. Seeing that level of immediate demand reinforces several things we focus on relentlessly: buying the right property, executing a high quality renovation, and choosing locations where fundamentals continue to win over headlines.

That result was not luck. It was the outcome of disciplined acquisition, thoughtful design and finishes, and a clear understanding of the end buyer. When all three align, the market responds, even when conditions are challenging.

For those who want to see the finished product, here is the listing: Click Here!

At the same time, we are leaning into growth with intention. I am actively hiring to expand Tide & Timber Ventures, specifically to increase deal flow capacity and materially improve underwriting, offer speed and follow up. In competitive environments, speed and clarity are advantages, and we are building the team to support that at scale.

In parallel, we are investing in Flip Fuel Lending by expanding marketing efforts and bringing on additional loan originators. The goal is straightforward: increase reach, serve more investors well, and continue building a platform that is fast, consistent, and relationship driven.

The real win this week was momentum built on execution. Strong results in the field, paired with deliberate investment in people and infrastructure. This is how durable businesses are built, one disciplined decision at a time.

💨 Whiff of the Week: External Delays and Team Transitions

This week was a reminder that friction in business rarely comes from just one direction.

On the project side, we continue to deal with delays driven by factors outside our control. Heavy rain, extended wait times from the electrical utility, and slow movement on permits at the city and town level have pushed timelines longer than expected. Crews are ready, plans are approved, and materials are on site, yet progress depends on systems that move far slower than business requires. Constant follow up is the only way to keep things from stalling completely.

At the same time, we had a key internal change. My executive assistant moved on to her next chapter, which created an immediate gap in day to day support and is the reason this newsletter skipped a week. She was excellent at what she did, and I genuinely wish her the best going forward.

That transition is part of business, even when it is inconvenient. Teams change, roles evolve, and operators adapt. The focus now is rebuilding that seat thoughtfully while continuing to push projects forward despite external delays.

The miss this week was not the challenges themselves. That is part of the game. The priority is minimizing disruption, staying disciplined through transition, and continuing to execute without losing momentum.

🎯 Tactical Tip of the Week: One Strategic Hire Changes Everything

Most businesses do not stall because of lack of opportunity. They stall because the founder becomes the bottleneck.

If you feel stretched, reactive, or constantly behind, the issue is often not effort or discipline. It is capacity. More specifically, you are likely one strategic hire away from unlocking the next level of growth.

The mistake many operators make is hiring for relief instead of leverage. They look for help with tasks rather than impact. The right hire should not just reduce your workload. They should materially improve speed, quality, or decision making across the business.

Here is how to think about that next hire:
• Identify the activity that directly drives revenue or scale but currently slows you down
• Hire someone who can own that function end to end without constant oversight
• Define success clearly before hiring so expectations are objective and measurable
• Free yourself to focus on vision, relationships, and high level execution

Why this matters:
• Speed compounds faster than effort
• Focus at the top improves decisions everywhere else
• The right hire creates momentum across multiple areas of the business

👉 Action Step
Write down the one role that would create the biggest unlock in your business if handled well. Do not think about cost first. Think about leverage. Then design the role around outcomes, not tasks.

Growth rarely requires doing more yourself. It usually requires putting the right person in the right seat at the right time.

 🔦 From the Field: Finally Breaking Ground

After delay after delay, one of our new build projects has officially started.

This project felt like it turned on its head more times than we can count. Weather setbacks, permitting friction, and coordination issues stretched what should have been a straightforward start into a test of patience and persistence. It is a good reminder that new construction rarely moves in a straight line, especially early on.

That said, seeing equipment on site and grading underway makes it real again. The lot already looks great, and momentum is finally moving in the right direction. There is something satisfying about visible progress after so much time spent pushing paper and following up.

Check out the photo of the grading. This is the part where the hard work starts to show.

We are excited to get this one built, finished, and off the list. Some projects you enjoy from start to finish. Others you are grateful to complete and never think about again. This one is firmly in the second category.

🎤 FINAL WORD

This week was a reminder that progress in business is rarely linear.

Wins and friction often arrive together. Strong execution shows up in deals that move quickly and projects that finally break ground. At the same time, delays, bureaucracy, and unexpected team transitions test systems and leadership. Losing a great team member creates short term disruption, but it also forces clarity around structure, roles, and where the business needs to go next.

What matters most is not avoiding these moments, but how you respond to them. Staying disciplined, following up relentlessly, and continuing to invest in the right people and processes even when things feel messy is what keeps momentum intact.

This is the work behind the work. Unseen, sometimes frustrating, but essential for building something that lasts.

Back to it,