In this powerful episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Wendy Coles, whose story is a raw, inspiring example of resilience, resourcefulness, and redemption. From a troubled relationship with her mother and running into legal trouble at 18, to raising four kids, rebuilding her life, and eventually finding freedom through real estate and service, Wendy’s journey shows what it means to keep moving forward—no matter the storm.

We dive deep into her early struggles with identity, her time on the run while pregnant, and how she turned setbacks into stepping stones for growth. Wendy also shares how she discovered her true heritage later in life, how real estate investing gave her the stability she always sought, and how giving back through Chair the Love (a charity that delivers wheelchairs worldwide) has reshaped her purpose.

This conversation is about more than real estate—it’s about storms, strength, and the courage to step into who you’re meant to be.

Key Talking Points of the Episode

00:00 Introduction

01:27 JJ’s Joke of the Week

02:32 Wendy’s background: strained relationship with her mom, identity struggles, and introversion

05:33 Meeting Eddie, stolen cars, jail time, and learning she was pregnant at 18

08:20 Running away to Canada while pregnant, fear vs. fearlessness, and life on the run

13:08 Homelessness, shelters in Buffalo, and the decision to turn herself in

17:17 Jail, probation, teen motherhood, and the burden of a felony record

19:25 DNA test reveals her true identity—meeting her Filipino father and half-siblings

25:28 Raising Jocelyn, honesty about her father, and building family bonds

29:27 Balancing kids, divorce, and survival as a single mom with sales jobs

35:10 Marriage, entrepreneurship, running a sports training facility, and parental validation

40:28 Closing the facility, husband’s health issues, and pivoting into real estate

42:35 From flipping to buy-and-hold: building long-term wealth and getting licensed despite felonies

45:16 Managing rentals, short-term rentals, and self-managing tenants successfully

49:09 Discovering Chair the Love: providing wheelchairs, mission trips, and real estate mastermind connections

59:03 Health, habits, and staying youthful at 54—honesty about struggles with food and workouts

01:03:11 Storms as opportunities: why challenges clear the path for something better

Quotables

“Storms destroy what isn’t solid and reveal what is.”

“Most kids won’t remember the money you made, but they’ll remember the time you spent.”

“Getting uncomfortable is where the best results in life come from.”

Links

Chair the Love

https://www.facebook.com/CTLFlorida/

Wendy Coles

https://www.facebook.com/wendy.r.coles

608B Capital

https://www.608bcapital.com