Self-Storage Yards Transforms Empty Land Into Monthly Cash Flow with Chris Long
Key Takeaways
- Solving a common problem that others overlook can create an entirely new business opportunity and long-term wealth.
- Taking decisive action before every answer is known often creates momentum that leads to creative solutions and meaningful growth.
- Lasting financial success comes from consistently creating value, improving assets, and focusing on businesses with enduring demand.
United States Real Estate Investor®
The REI Agent with Chris Long
https://youtu.be/fIJBOYs7_z0United States Real Estate Investor®
Value-rich, The REI Agent podcast takes a holistic approach to life through real estate.
Hosted by Mattias Clymer, an agent and investor, alongside his wife Erica Clymer, a licensed therapist, the show features guests who strive to live bold and fulfilled lives through business and real estate investing.
You are personally invited to witness inspiring conversations with agents and investors who share their journeys, strategies, and wisdom.
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One Simple Idea Can Create an Entirely New Future
When Frustration Becomes the Foundation for Opportunity
Every successful entrepreneur eventually reaches a moment where frustration can either become an excuse or become the spark that changes everything.
In this episode of The REI Agent Podcast, Chris Long shares how a simple problem that affected his own contracting business ultimately led him to create an entirely new investment niche.
His story demonstrates that some of the greatest opportunities are hidden inside problems that everyone else has simply accepted.
Rather than following traditional paths, Chris chose to build something that did not yet exist in the marketplace.
His willingness to embrace uncertainty, solve real problems, and continue moving despite setbacks offers a roadmap for entrepreneurs who want to build lasting wealth instead of chasing short-term success.
Seeing Opportunity Where Everyone Else Saw Empty Land
A Contractor's Problem Became a New Asset Class
Chris began his career as a carpenter and contractor who simply needed a secure place to store trailers, equipment, and materials.
Surprisingly, he discovered that affordable, flexible contractor storage simply did not exist. Large industrial properties were available, but nothing served small and mid-sized contractors who needed secure yards on a month-to-month basis.
Instead of accepting the limitation, he created the solution himself. That solution became Longyards Storage, a business built around secure contractor storage yards that combine the convenience of self-storage with outdoor industrial space.
"It's basically like bringing the self-storage model to dirt."
What began as solving one personal problem evolved into a scalable business serving everyone from local contractors to massive infrastructure companies.
Failure Can Become the Greatest Investment
Starting Over with Nothing but Conviction
Before Longyards became successful, Chris experienced devastating financial setbacks. A failed commercial construction project left him nearly bankrupt, forcing him to rebuild from the ground up.
Instead of abandoning entrepreneurship, he chose to bet everything on the one idea he believed could change his future.
"I just had to kick myself in the butt and get at it."
With limited resources, he personally cleared trees, hauled stone, installed fencing, reused gates, and presold storage yards before construction was fully complete. Every dollar mattered, but every obstacle strengthened his conviction.
Today, that original location generates more than $40,000 each month, proving that persistence often matters more than perfect circumstances.
The Strength Behind Every Entrepreneur
Building a Family Mission Instead of a Business
Chris credits much of his success to the unwavering support of his wife. Rather than encouraging safer investments, she challenged him to pursue the much bigger vision.
Their journey included relocating to the United States with a newborn daughter while facing uncertainty about immigration, financing, and business expansion.
"It wasn't easy, but it was right."
Instead of viewing entrepreneurship as an individual pursuit, they embraced it as a shared family mission. Their alignment transformed uncertainty into confidence and allowed them to continue building even when the future remained unclear.
Action Always Beats Waiting
Confidence Comes from Taking the First Step
One of the most powerful themes throughout the conversation centers on action. Chris believes many aspiring investors spend years waiting for perfect conditions that never arrive.
He explains that successful entrepreneurs rarely possess every answer before beginning. Instead, they develop confidence through solving problems as they appear.
"I don't know C and D, but I'm very confident in A and B, and I'll figure out C and D."
This mindset enabled him to place properties under contract before fully knowing how they would be financed. Rather than relying on certainty, he relied on preparation, value creation, and the confidence that solutions could be found through action.
Value Creates Wealth
The Deal Is Only the Beginning
Throughout the discussion, Chris repeatedly emphasizes that wealth is created by solving problems rather than simply buying assets.
Whether investing in contractor storage yards, residential homes, or commercial properties, the greatest returns come from improving something that already exists.
"Most wealth is created through value."
Instead of searching endlessly for perfect opportunities, investors benefit by learning how to create opportunities themselves through strategic improvements, operational efficiencies, or better business execution.
Learning Faster Creates Better Results
Twenty Focused Hours Can Change Everything
Another practical lesson from Chris centers on learning new skills. He believes many people dramatically overestimate the time required to become competent in a new discipline.
Rather than waiting years to become an expert, focused learning sessions can quickly produce meaningful results that compound over time.
"Sometimes you just need 20 hours to be 80 percent efficient."
Whether mastering marketing, technology, negotiation, or investing, consistent focused practice allows entrepreneurs to build momentum much faster than they often expect.
Build Assets That Will Always Matter
Looking Beyond Today's Trends
The conversation also explores the rapidly changing world created by artificial intelligence. Chris encourages entrepreneurs to think carefully about businesses that will continue creating value regardless of technological disruption.
Physical infrastructure, construction, and industrial services remain essential because society will always require roads, buildings, utilities, and the equipment that supports them.
Rather than chasing temporary trends, he encourages investors to identify businesses that solve problems likely to exist for decades.
The Courage to Move Before You Feel Ready
Progress Always Begins with a Decision
Chris Long's journey reminds listeners that extraordinary businesses often begin with ordinary frustrations. By refusing to accept limitations, embracing uncertainty, and consistently creating value, he transformed a personal inconvenience into an entirely new investment category.
His story reinforces that success rarely belongs to those who wait for perfect timing. Instead, it belongs to those who continue moving, continue learning, and continue solving meaningful problems.
"When your why is greater than your how, you figure out how."
For entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone pursuing a bigger future, Chris demonstrates that the greatest opportunities often begin where everyone else stops looking. By focusing on serving others, creating value, and taking consistent action, seemingly impossible goals become achievable one decision at a time.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories on The REI Agent podcast, your go-to source for insights, inspiration, and strategies from top agents and investors who are living their best lives through real estate.
For more content and episodes, visit reiagent.com.
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Contact Chris Long
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Transcript
All content in the show is not investment advice or mental health therapy. It is intended for entertainment purposes only.
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