Brady McDonald, CEO of Barefoot Land Co., wasn't always a real estate success story. Growing up in small-town Ontario, Canada, his teenage self defined success as earning $50,000 a year. With that goal in mind, at age 18, he trained as an arborist and landed what he thought was his dream job with the provincial power company, Hydro One. At 22, he excelled, becoming a Utility Arborist Instructor and managing the company's Forestry Training Centre, where he oversaw the training of over 1,000 employees for the next 8 years.

But something was missing. He and his wife, Kristy, yearned for more than a steady paycheck. They craved freedom – the freedom to choose their own path, income, and the example they set for their children. After investigating different options such as franchises and network marketing, they met a full-time real estate investor and immediately saw their potential future!

While working full time and pregnant with their first child, they took a leap of faith. They remortgaged their home to fund their first investment property. Brady and Kristy were all in, immersing themselves in the world of real estate. They devoured YouTube videos and books, becoming DIY experts as they renovated their property themselves. Their hard work paid off. They successfully converted the single-family home into a duplex, refinanced the property to recuperate their investment, and rented it out, quickly proving their strategy. BK Real Estate Investing (named after Brady and Kristy) was born.

Balancing full-time jobs and raising a family, Brady and Kristy poured every spare moment into their burgeoning business. They tackled everything from demolition and tile laying to tenant placement and property management. As their portfolio grew, so did their team, allowing them to finally leave their corporate jobs in 2017 and dedicate themselves fully to real estate investing. They went on to acquire and develop hundreds of multi-family properties, achieving remarkable success.

Then, COVID-19 hit, and Canada's lockdowns impacted their young family and freedom. Brady and Kristy took their family to Costa Rica for the winter to work and attend school remotely while still being able to live freely. Upon returning four months later to more lockdowns, they sought greater and more permanent freedom and opportunity. They relocated to Florida and shifted their focus from residential development to self-storage land development. Leveraging their expertise in multi-family development, they began developing Class A self-storage facilities.

Today, Barefoot Land Company employs a team of 18 across the country. Brady and Kristy recognize the impact they have on others and strive to live a life of leadership, particularly for their children. Their weekends are spent at swim meets, participating in triathlons with their daughters, and enjoying the Florida lifestyle. Brady is involved in masterminds that meet across the United States and in international destinations and is very well connected in the business world.

Their focus is squarely on their four pillars: family, fitness, relationships, and business. If something doesn't add value to one of these areas, it simply doesn't happen. This commitment to a balanced and fulfilling life is at the core of their personal and professional philosophy.

As a family, the McDonalds are passionate about endurance sports. Brady has conquered multiple 100-mile ultramarathons, pushing his limits through 26 hours and 40 minutes of non-stop effort, and even completed the infamous Ultraman Arizona triathlon, a grueling three-day test of human endurance. Kristy has also embraced this mindset, conquering 20-mile events and demonstrating what's possible when you step outside your comfort zone and believe in yourself.

Beyond their business success, they are dedicated philanthropists, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for children's charities and operating a Zero to 100 Day Challenge to help people get healthy!