Lawrence Todd Maxwell grew up in Lakeland, Florida, in a town where things didn’t move too fast—just fast enough to teach patience. He studied Accounting and Economics at nearby Florida Southern College, setting the stage for a life grounded in numbers and purpose.
After college, he didn’t leap into real estate with a flashy launch. Instead, he worked behind the scenes, learning from the ground up. In 1993, he took control of MX Properties, Inc., a real estate firm originally formed in 1986. From there, he slowly built a reputation for being consistent, thoughtful, and always thinking ahead.
Todd never bought into the “bigger is better” mindset. He stayed away from hype, ignored trends, and avoided the spotlight. He doesn’t put his photo on company materials and doesn’t even use social media. Instead, he believes in results that speak for themselves.
At home, he enjoys scale model building—a quiet hobby that matches his approach to business: careful, patient, and precise. He also values fitness, saying you can’t lead a business if you’re running on empty.
He believes in building things that last—relationships, trust, and real communities. Through slow and steady work, Todd has become a respected voice in Florida’s real estate world without needing to shout.
Ask him his secret, and he’ll likely shrug. “You just keep showing up and doing the work,” he says. And for him, that’s always been enough.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start early, usually before sunrise. Mornings are quiet, and that’s when I do my best thinking. No phone calls, no emails—just coffee and a legal pad. I use that time to review project timelines, budgets, or just jot down thoughts. After that, I head to the gym. Fitness isn’t about vanity for me. It’s how I clear my head and stay focused.
Once I’m at the office, my time is split between reviewing site updates and meeting with staff or partners. I don’t over-schedule. I leave space to think, observe, and respond. Being productive doesn’t mean being busy. It means being aware of what actually needs your attention.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I break them down—sometimes literally, like a scale model. That’s how I’ve solved design problems before. I’ll build a small version and see what doesn’t work. In business, it’s similar. You take a broad idea, strip it down, and test it slowly. There’s no need to rush something just because you can.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Small-city reinvestment. I think we’re going to see more focus on places like Lakeland again. People are realising that life outside the major metro areas can be more affordable, more stable, and more fulfilling.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Consistency. I stick to routines that give me clarity. Same wake-up time, same note-taking habit, same way of running project reviews. It sounds boring, but it’s the opposite. It frees up mental space.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t try to be the smartest person in the room. Listen more. And trust that slow progress is still progress.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
Not every business needs to scale. Some things are better left small and local. Growth is only good if it doesn’t hollow you out.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Write things down—by hand. Not digital notes, not voice memos. A pen and paper slows your thinking just enough to catch better ideas.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I stop. Completely. I’ll either take a walk or start building a model. Focusing on tiny details helps reset my brain.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Turning down jobs that didn’t fit. That sounds odd, but it helped us stay true to our vision. We’ve had offers that looked great on paper but didn’t match our values or timeline. Saying no was hard—but saying yes would’ve been worse.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
We once took on a joint project where the other party wanted to rush everything—permits, build, marketing. I let it happen. And the result was messy. It didn’t fail financially, but it felt like a failure of judgement. After that, I put a system in place to slow decisions down. Now, no big move happens without a pause.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Community-scale storage units with integrated design that blends into residential zones. There’s a big demand for space, and a big resistance to how it looks. That gap is an opportunity.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use a simple Gantt chart tool. I don’t need a fancy platform—just a visual of how time and tasks line up. It keeps me honest about what we can and can’t handle at any given time.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I still go back to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It’s not a business book, but it teaches you how to value quality, precision, and thoughtfulness.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Slow Horses on Apple TV. It’s gritty, quiet, and full of people who get the job done without needing applause. I relate to that.
Key learnings
- Consistency and routine can be powerful tools for staying focused and clear-headed in business.
- Slowing down decisions—rather than rushing—can lead to stronger, longer-lasting outcomes.
- Turning down projects that don’t align with values can lead to greater long-term growth.
- Creative hobbies like model building can improve focus and problem-solving.
- A handwritten note can help clarify thoughts better than a digital one.