Episode 48: The Feast or Famine Cycle Isn't Bad Luck - Here's Exactly What's Causing It with Gary Harper
Episode 48: The Feast or Famine Cycle Isn't Bad Luck - Here's Exactly What's Causing It with Gary Harper  
Podcast: Strength in Numbers with Marcus Crigler
Published On: Fri Mar 13 2026
Description: The feast-or-famine cycle is one of the most common frustrations for real estate entrepreneurs, but the reality is that these are the opportunities to get better.In this episode of the Strength in Numbers podcast, Marcus Crigler sits down with business coach Gary Harper from Sharper Business Solutions to talk about the feast-or-famine cycle.Listen as Gary explains why the cycle isn’t random or caused by bad luck but a result of missing metrics, poor pipeline management, and a lack of operational discipline. He also shares how strong operators track the right numbers to grow during good markets and stay stable when the market shifts.You’ll Learn How To:Break out of the feast-or-famine cycleIdentify where deals are being lost in your sales processMeasure the ROI of your team members and marketing channelsAdapt your business when the market starts to shiftWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:(01:58) Introducing Gary Harper and Sharper Business Solutions(03:22) The good days and bad days of entrepreneurs(05:54) Early mistakes in real estate and the impact of the 2008 crash(08:44) Returning to real estate through wholesaling and scaling quickly(11:17) The Rise Business Framework and building companies responsibly(13:11) The feast-or-famine reality many operators are facing(14:23) Downturns are the best time to prune a business(15:40) The lesson behind the book Who Moved My Cheese(18:24) Why the businesses embracing change are the ones winning(19:38) The problem with hiring too many executives instead of producers(22:01) Compensation should be tied to business performance(23:12) The importance of hiring the right people and placing them in the right seats(24:21) Most important metrics in a real estate company(26:39) People problems vs process problems(27:45) The “heart, head, hands, feet” framework(30:07) Purpose and profit indicators(32:21) The conversion benchmarks Gary recommends for healthy businesses(35:28) Tracking daily process indicators vs performance indicators(36:43) Understanding the cash conversion cycle(38:45) The role of the “innovator” inside a business(41:16) Fixing people and processes first before the marketing channel(43:11) Getting better, not bigger(44:30) The “become the box” concept for analyzing how deals move through a system(45:36) Connect with Gary Harper.Who This Episode Is For:Real estate investors who deal with inconsistent deal flowWholesalers who try to stabilize their businessEntrepreneurs who want visibility over their numbersBusiness owners who want to improve systems before scalingWhy You Should Listen:If you want more predictable growth and fewer surprises in your business, this episode breaks down the operational mindset that makes it possible.Connect with Gary Harper:Website: https://sharperbusiness.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-harper-37148967 Connect with Marcus Crigler:Website: https://beccfo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-crigler-cpa-977a45b7 Facebook: https://facebook.com/marcus.crigler