Forward One Podcast

Welcome to the Forward One podcast! Host Paul Mark Morris, along with co-host Josh Spitzen, welcome their incredible guest Joseph Trujillo. Joseph spent 25 years in government service before making a bold leap into the real estate world. He started his career with a unique perspective, having sold his own home and realizing he could do it better than the agents he encountered. In just a few short years, he skyrocketed to success, selling 40 homes in his first year while still working full-time as a special agent. Joseph's story is a testament to the power of determination and the importance of leveraging your network. He emphasizes the significance of visibility and consistency in marketing, especially through social media. Joseph's innovative approach to real estate, including his use of technology and media, has set him apart in a competitive market. If you're looking to break into real estate or elevate your current business, Joseph's journey and strategies will inspire you to take action and achieve your goals. Tune in to learn how you can replicate his success and make your mark in the real estate industry!

Connect with Forward One

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@forwardonepodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonemedia

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@itspaulmarkmorris

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulmarkmorris
https://forwardone.com/

Guest

https://therealjosephtrujillo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealjosephtrujillo
Timestamps

00:00:01 - From Special Agent to Real Estate Entrepreneur

00:02:42 - How Joseph Sold 40 Homes in His First Year

00:11:34 - Adapting Branding and SEO for the AI Era

00:19:32 - Scaling to 100 Deals with a Lean Team

00:23:23 - First Contact, Warm Handoffs, and Communication

00:30:37 - Using Market Data to Maximize Lead Conversion

00:35:13 - Scaling from Government Service to 1,500 Agents

00:42:04 - Returning to Sales to Build a New Model

00:45:36 - Creating New Development Opportunities Through YouTube

00:49:14 - How LA Style Magazine Became a Real Estate Asset

00:57:18 - Fire Round: Faith, Family, and Integrity

Paul Mark Morris opens the Forward One podcast with a “waiting market” thesis as national median home prices hit a record $440,600 while pending home sales fell 5.4% in June across all regions. He reviews key data: existing sales running near 4 million annually, inventory at 1.56 million (4.6 months’ supply), first-time buyers at 33%, and the 30-year fixed rate at 6.58% (second weekly increase), with daily quotes briefly touching 6.85%. He explains how war-related oil spikes and inflation pressures are moving the 10-year Treasury and mortgage rates, and previews a Fed meeting where a hike is a live possibility. He frames the market as a standoff, not a crash, offers rate/payment examples, urges agents to use local MLS metrics, and provides three client conversation frameworks for buyers, sellers, and crash fears, noting low distressed sales and only 2% of mortgaged homes underwater.

*More from Paul*
Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Forward One Media: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonemedia/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forwardonepodcast
*Presented by Forward One Real Estate*
https://www.,forwardone.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonerealestate/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Buyers Are Waiting
00:00:47 This Week’s Market Setup
00:01:51 Key Numbers Dashboard
00:04:55 Mortgage Rates Explained
00:09:33 The Standoff Opportunity
00:14:53 Why Rates Moved
00:18:47 Fed Meeting Watch
00:23:09 Local Metrics That Matter
00:27:41 Client Conversation Frameworks
00:36:32 Crash Talk With Data
00:41:08 Wrap Up And Next Week

In this Forward One podcast, Jeffrey Saad joins hosts Paul and Josh to discuss managing major career pivots—from restaurants to real estate—by prioritizing authenticity, presence, and enjoyment of the day-to-day over fixation on outcomes. Saad describes his upcoming book with Steve Shull, The Reduction, built around doing less to live better, clarifying one’s story, focusing on the circle of control, stopping “storytelling,” and creating a personal constitution to guide decisions. He emphasizes responsibility, gratitude, open-mindedness, sustainable work habits, and boundaries, including reducing time with toxic people. The conversation also covers practical real estate principles—competing on value, telling clients the truth, asking better questions, consistency, and systematic client follow-up—ending with a rapid-fire round on Saad’s values, fears, and purpose.
*Jeffrey Saad*
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjeffreylsaad/
Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/jeffrey-saad/ 

*More from Paul & Josh*
Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh: https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
Forward One Media: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonemedia/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forwardonepodcast 
*Presented by Forward One Real Estate*
https://www.,forwardone.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonerealestate/
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:00:41 Motorcycle Safety Talk
00:02:49 Pivoting Careers Authentically
00:04:43 Process Over Outcomes
00:06:02 Passion Meets Practicality
00:10:59 Finding Your Real Passion
00:12:15 Consistency Through Authenticity
00:17:43 Doing Less Better
00:19:03 Open Mind Learning
00:24:43 Circle of Control
00:27:52 Tools for Moving Forward
00:29:08 Discovering Your True Self
00:32:01 Joy Starts Within
00:32:40 Give First Get More
00:33:41 Value Creation Pays
00:35:10 Own Your Choices
00:37:16 Respond Dont React
00:38:57 Cut Toxic Ties
00:41:44 Reduce to Essence
00:48:28 Flow State Focus
00:49:25 Personal Constitution
00:51:07 Book and Reduction Method
00:57:41 Quiet Time Truth
01:00:21 Speak Truth Kindly
01:02:03 Price Beats Marketing
01:02:13 Hard Truth Listing Reset
01:03:50 Commission Objections
01:04:58 Value Over Price
01:07:28 Local Expert Myth
01:09:56 No Trash Talking
01:13:39 Ask Dont Sell
01:15:39 Walking Away Standards
01:21:09 Closing Gifts Connection
01:23:01 CRM Daily System
01:25:00 Consistency Not Personal
01:27:07 Fire Round Finale

In this Forward One podcast episode, hosts Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen interview real estate broker Rod Watson about how an infomercial course launched his career while he was coaching college basketball, leading him to study real estate terminology and eventually leave coaching and later a six-figure job at Porsche to build a family business. Watson explains starting as an investor, then getting licensed and building expertise during the 2007–2008 short sale/REO era, where he learned patience, negotiation, and title complexity, often waiting 9–12 months to close. He describes generating business through letter writing to a car-sales client base, doing 18–20 annual deals in Texas, and later leading Bank of America’s cooperative short sale work in Southern California. Watson shares his current boutique brokerage, service-first approach, niche in sports/entertainment clients, expansion plans in downtown San Diego, database-focused AI assistant “Ace,” and routines and principles centered on family, health, impact, and playing the long game.

* Rod Watson*
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/rodwatson23/ 
Website: https://www.zillow.com/profile/RodWatson 
*More from Paul & Josh*
Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh: https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
Forward One Media: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonemedia/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forwardonepodcast 
*Presented by Forward One Real Estate*
https://www.,forwardone.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonerealestate/

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:00:41 Infomercial Spark
00:02:57 From Coaching to License
00:03:08 Investing in Texas
00:04:26 Short Sales Crash Era
00:05:10 Lessons from Distress Deals
00:09:02 Lead Generation Playbook
00:15:16 Long Game Client Story
00:17:30 Modern Buyer Expectations
00:20:53 Boutique Brokerage Today
00:22:33 Going the Extra Mile
00:26:57 LA San Diego Strategy
00:29:19 Long Game Leadership
00:30:25 AI Assistant Ace
00:32:21 Automating Database Follow Up
00:33:22 Family Legacy Vision
00:37:07 Daily Routine Discipline
00:39:08 Protecting Your Time
00:42:16 Riches In Niches
00:44:29 Superpower Strategy
00:51:53 Patience And Long Game
00:54:08 Fire Round Finale

In this Forward One podcast episode, realtor Alyssa Barajas shares how she shifted from studying to be a physician’s assistant to real estate seven years ago after her husband encouraged her to get licensed and list his flipped properties. She explains growing into a high-producing solo agent averaging about 25 transactions per year and why hiring an assistant (Danielle) and later adding an agent (Jasmine) helped her create systems, organize her CRM, and restore balance. Barajas discusses leveraging people and processes, using Follow Up Boss, and the importance of consistent follow-up and managing client expectations when delegating tasks. She outlines her social media strategy—posting 2–3 times daily across platforms with educational, sales, and personal content—plus vendor-collaboration videos for learning and referrals, and she emphasizes authenticity, resources, ongoing learning, and a long-term goal of building rental-property income.

*Alyssa Barajas *
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/alyssambarajas/ 
Website: https://teamcirca.com/agent/alyssa-barajas 
*More from Paul & Josh*
Paul: https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh: https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
Forward One Media: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonemedia/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@forwardonepodcast 
*Presented by Forward One Real Estate*
https://www.,forwardone.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forwardonerealestate/

Timestamp:
00:00:00 Meet Alyssa Barajas
00:00:18 From Medicine to Real Estate
00:02:15 Scaling to 25 Deals
00:03:30 Hiring an Assistant
00:06:23 Systems and CRM Setup
00:10:04 Delegation and Standards
00:15:59 Vendor Videos for Referrals
00:20:45 Social Media Content Plan
00:23:42 Posting Cadence and Lead Split
00:25:51 No Prospecting Needed
00:26:41 DIY Media Workflow
00:28:36 Gear Apps and AI Editing
00:29:59 Authenticity Beats Production
00:32:30 Scheduling Posting Strategy
00:35:06 Content vs Lead Gen Debate
00:38:19 Algorithm Shifts and Discovery
00:40:35 Search AI and Local Visibility
00:45:16 Learning Rooms and Mentors
00:47:10 Goals Mentorship Script
00:49:48 Rapid Fire Closing