How a Cruise Ship Worker Built a $100M Real Estate Business with Lancelot Lenard
Welcome to the Dwanderful Universe
Hey everyone, welcome to The Most Dwanderful Real Estate Podcast Ever! I’m your host, Dwan Bent-Twyford—America’s most sought-after real estate investor. I’m beyond excited to celebrate one million podcast downloads. Thank you for being part of the Dwanderful universe, where our motto is always people before profits.
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce a special guest: Lancelot Lenard, a realtor, broker, licensed contractor, mortgage broker, and the powerhouse behind more than $100 million in real estate sales.
Meet Lancelot Lenard
Lancelot Sebastian Lenard wears many hats in the real estate world. As a broker associate, contractor, and mortgage broker, he’s completed over 200 deals in Florida’s Port Orange and Daytona Beach areas.
You can find him online at sirlancelotgroup.com or on social media under Sir Lancelot the Realtor. He also hosts his own podcast, The Real Estate Roundtable.
Branding with a Legendary Name
With a name like Lancelot, branding came naturally. His grandfather was named Arthur, and his mom chose Lancelot as a nod to the legendary Knight of the Round Table. Adding “Sir” turned into a brilliant marketing move—one that now defines both his real estate and construction businesses: The Sir Lancelot Group and Sir Lancelot Construction Group.
Even better? His son carries the name forward—Lancelot Maximilian—continuing the legacy.
Building a Real Estate Empire
So how did he do it? Lancelot’s journey started with traditional real estate transactions, helping individual buyers and sellers. Over time, he expanded into investment properties, syndications, and even large multifamily deals.
His portfolio includes:
- Over 200 closed transactions
- Deals ranging from single-family homes to 42-unit complexes
- Personal investment properties
- Experience working with fix-and-flip investors and buy-and-hold strategies
From Cruise Ships to Real Estate Success
Lancelot’s success story has humble beginnings. He arrived in the U.S. with just $300 in his pocket and began working on a Carnival Cruise Line ship. That chapter of his life introduced him to travel, hard work, and perseverance—traits that later fueled his real estate career.
Family First, Always
Beyond business, Lancelot is deeply committed to family. When his daughter was born, he and his wife made the decision to leave Miami for a lifestyle that allowed her to be a stay-at-home mom.
“I’d rather have my wife raise our children than pay someone else to do it,” he shares. That mindset reflects his belief in prioritizing family time, generational wealth, and building a life by design.
Lessons from His Father
Much of Lancelot’s drive comes from his father’s remarkable story. Born in Hungary in 1941, his father survived a revolution, imprisonment, and years of hardship before rebuilding his life in Sweden as a welder and restaurateur. Watching his father create something from nothing instilled resilience and ambition in Lancelot.
Today, he carries that legacy forward in America—building businesses, wealth, and a future for his family.
Life on the Cruise Ship
Lancelot began his U.S. journey working on a cruise ship—a grueling 24/7, six-months-on schedule that tested his resilience. But it was also where fate stepped in: he met his future wife while working on board. She was a barista; he was a bar waiter.
When his contract ended, Lancelot disembarked in Tampa, took a Greyhound to Fort Lauderdale, and briefly stayed there before moving in with his uncle in Cutler Bay, Miami. His uncle, a successful contractor and realtor, gave him just two weeks of support before sending him out on his own. That tough love lit the fire that pushed Lancelot to build his own path in real estate.
Building a New Life in America
Not long after, his wife joined him on land. They married in 2015—on February 3rd, coincidentally Dwan Bent-Twyford’s birthday, as they discovered during the podcast conversation. From there, the couple began carving out their American dream together.
Lancelot worked bartending jobs while steadily studying real estate. Along the way, he was influenced by courses like Clever Investor and books such as The Secret and Tony Robbins’ Money Master the Game. Visualization, vision boards, and a positive mindset became central to his philosophy.
“I’m a true believer in imagining and picturing what you want. Once everything solidifies in your brain, the universe makes it happen,” Lancelot said.
Transition into Real Estate
By 2016, Lancelot earned his real estate license and began building momentum. His approach wasn’t just about transactions—it was about mastering every aspect of the business:
- Buyer and seller representation
- Investment properties
- Multi-unit deals and syndications
- Contracting and construction
He realized early on that building wealth meant controlling multiple parts of the real estate process. Inspired by his father’s wisdom—“They don’t make more land”—he pursued real estate not only as a career but also as a vehicle for generational wealth.
The Grind: 48 Deals in a Single Year
At his peak, Lancelot personally managed 48 deals in a single year—nearly one per week. Without a large team to delegate tasks, he did it all: showings, inspections, paperwork, negotiations, and client follow-ups.
The workload was immense. He recalls twitching from the constant phone calls and pressure, managing up to 14 transactions under contract simultaneously. While the income was rewarding (over $500,000 in GCI that year), he realized he needed to shift from being an agent who “does it all” to the CEO of a scalable business.
Building a Team and Scaling Up
Today, Lancelot is restructuring his business model. He’s investing in building a team that can handle:
- Lead Generation: Hiring an ISA (Inside Sales Agent) to manage calls and prospecting.
- Transaction Coordination: Delegating paperwork and deal management to a TC.
- Agent Support: Employing showing agents and buyer’s agents to free up his time.
- Leadership Structure: Grooming managers to run day-to-day operations so he can step back and focus on strategy.
“My goal now is to stop being the marketer, the inspector, the paperwork guy, and the negotiator all in one,” Lancelot explained. “I need to manage the manager, not every little detail myself.”
Lessons for New Agents and Investors
For those starting in real estate, Lancelot’s advice is simple yet powerful: use your phone.
“You see this device? Stick to it like glue. Don’t be afraid to make calls. Everyone has thousands of contacts in their phone—those are deals waiting to happen. My best year came because I used my phone relentlessly,” he emphasized.
He also stressed the importance of mindset and patience: avoid chasing “shiny objects” or shortcuts. Success comes from consistent work, networking, and building systems that free you from being chained to every transaction.
Why Delegation Matters in Real Estate
Lancelot shared a powerful lesson that every new agent needs to hear: don’t try to do it all yourself.
At the height of his production—closing deal after deal—his days often stretched from 5 a.m. at the gym to 10 p.m. at night, completely consumed by both revenue-producing activities and administrative tasks.
“I realized I was busy but not productive,” he explained. “When you’re writing contracts, sitting in inspections, or opening doors for buyers, you’re not creating new business—you’re just buried in paperwork. That’s when you need to pay someone else to do it.”
Both he and Dwan emphasized the importance of hiring a Transaction Coordinator (TC) or admin early on, so you can stay focused on the crucial moments that actually require your expertise—like guiding clients through offers, negotiations, and emotional decisions.
Focus on the Critical Moments
For Lancelot, realtors add the most value at pivotal points in a transaction:
- Securing the listing or buyer commitment
- Getting the offer written and accepted
- Keeping clients calm when they panic
- Protecting the deal during negotiations
“That’s where our skills really matter,” he said. “Not in posting on social media or filling out endless forms. There’s always someone better suited for that work—hire them and step in only when your talents are needed most.”
The Power of Outsourcing
From real estate to podcasting, the theme of outsourcing resonated. Both Lancelot and Dwan admitted they once tried to do everything themselves—editing videos, writing show notes, or managing social media—but quickly realized it drained energy and slowed growth.
“Today, I focus on what I’m great at—interviews, marketing ideas, negotiating deals,” Lancelot explained. “Someone else edits, posts, and manages the rest. That’s the only way to scale.”
Beyond Business: Personal Insights
As the conversation shifted, Dwan asked Lancelot some rapid-fire personal questions, giving listeners a peek behind the professional curtain.
- Favorite Band/DJ: Tiësto tops the list, though when it comes to bands, he leans toward early 2000s punk-rock icons like Green Day and Limp Bizkit.
- Music Roots: He grew up surrounded by electronic beats and oldies, thanks to his older brother’s drum-and-bass collection and his parents’ love of classics from the ’60s through the ’80s.
- Festival Life: Though he’s worked big events like Miami’s Ultra Music Festival, he admits he’s no longer a “crowd guy.” These days, you’ll find him in VIP with a tequila, not in the middle of the sweaty chaos.
Lifestyle & Family Balance
When it comes to daily rhythm, Lancelot is all about mornings.
He’s up at 5:30 a.m., in the gym by 6 a.m., and always includes a sauna session and cold shower before heading into the workday. For him, workouts are a form of meditation, helping clear distractions and sharpen focus.
But weekends? Those are sacred. He spends them at home with his wife and kids—watching movies, lounging in bed, and fully unplugging from the grind.
Giving Back and Growing Together
Asked how the Dwanderful family could support him, Lancelot suggested partnerships: referrals, webinars, and investor connections in the Daytona Beach area. He believes collaboration is key in the real estate and podcasting worlds.
You can connect with him across social media as Sir Lancelot the Realtor or through SirLancelotGroup.com. He also runs The Real Estate Roundtable podcast on YouTube.
One Word of Wisdom: Persistence
To wrap up the interview, Dwan asked for one word of wisdom. Lancelot didn’t hesitate: Persistence.
“To me, persistence means never giving up,” he explained. “You can fail a hundred times, but the 101st time might be your breakthrough. You just have to keep going until it happens.”
Dwan agreed, adding her favorite reminder: “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, navigating the world of real estate may feel overwhelming at first, but with the right knowledge, strategies, and mindset, anyone can take meaningful steps toward building wealth and financial freedom. Dwanderful, led by real estate investor and podcast host Dwan Bent-Twyford, offers valuable resources to help guide you along the way. From her free book, Real Estate Lingo, to her in-depth guide Five Pillars of Real Estate Investing, Dwan provides both beginners and seasoned investors with the tools they need to succeed. Plus, you can even take a fun, fast quiz game to discover how you could generate six figures in the next six months—whether it’s your first property or your next. (It only takes a minute!) Contact us now!

