Solidify my "why" and long term strategy so I persist in times of uncertainty and challenge.

I began inviting them to online zoom meetings I would hold with brokers, agents and investors... friends I had made along the way, where we would just talk strategy, loan types, current market trends etc.

Any strategies you would use to find a more personable hard money lender that is more local or are they all pretty much the same?  

Cash flow is harder now so your market strategy is right on.

If your a high income earner living below your means then this isn't a horrible strategy. 

This will allow the team to develop and review project processes and management strategies to move forward with more challenging, yet rewarding, properties.I come from a very process-oriented background (Mechanical Engineering), and my goal is to learn and develop each step of the process, from start to finish, to continuously improve the team and ROI of each project. 

How did they perform versus projections?

By tapping into my network and refining my negotiation skills, I opened up a world of possibilities—opportunities to grow my portfolio faster and smarter.Off-market deals have become the backbone of my real estate strategy, allowing me to grow my portfolio faster with less stress.

I call those "full-shielders" (Versus "partial shielders"  which don't).

What strategies or precautions can I take to protect myself and ensure I maximize the value of these deals?