The Mindset That Built a $300M Real Estate Empire

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Biebuyck — a former rock musician turned powerhouse real estate leader who built a $300 million team grounded in mindset, innovation, and culture. Jeff shares how he uses AI to streamline his business, empower his agents, and create a team culture built on trust, accountability, and growth. We dive into his philosophy on leadership, failure, and the habits that drive long-term success in real estate and beyond.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:00:59 Innovative Marketing Strategies

00:02:29 Navigating Challenges and Failures

00:08:01 The Power of Mindset and Visualization

00:25:21 AI and Team Management

00:30:25 Starting in Real Estate: Challenges and Skills

00:31:11 Full-Time Commitment and Training

00:34:09 AI Tools and Lead Management

00:37:54 Building a Collaborative Culture

01:00:37 The Pursuit of Passive Income

01:01:48 Lessons from the 2008 Market Crash

01:04:49 Building Wealth and Dream Budgets

01:09:56 The Importance of Gratitude and Legacy

01:13:18 Health, Wellness, and Final Thoughts

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Santiago Arana, one of the most successful agents in Beverly Hills, to uncover how he went from waiting tables to selling some of the world’s most luxurious homes. Santiago shares the pivotal mindset shifts, daily disciplines, and relentless drive that took him from humble beginnings in Bolivia to closing over $600 million in sales. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to break through in real estate—or in life—you won’t want to miss the lessons and inspiration in this conversation.

Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and Welcoming Santiago Orana

00:01:12 Life in Santa Barbara

00:06:00 Starting in the Restaurant Industry

00:17:16 Transition to Real Estate

00:19:54 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Real Estate

00:22:36 Mentorship and Learning

00:34:59 Mindset and Personal Growth

00:37:25 Creating Opportunities Through Alignment

00:38:48 Energy and Vibration in Business

00:40:20 Secrets to Success: Discipline and Consistency

00:42:36 Self-Awareness and Authenticity

00:44:21 Manifestation and Action

00:50:47 Real Estate Development Insights

00:59:38 Handling Client Expectations

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. Today we’re joined by identical twin brothers Jonathon and Gabe Dilworth, developers and builders who are changing the way people think about what it means to live in a “healthy home.” Together we dive into how most houses—even multimillion-dollar builds—are still constructed with toxic materials, poor air quality, and hidden risks that impact your health and comfort. The Dilworth brothers break down the three pillars of a healthy home, why air quality is often overlooked, and the simple changes that can make your home safer, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really going on inside your walls—or how to future-proof your home for your health—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Timestamp

00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:02:49 Gabe's Construction Career

00:05:09 Transition to Healthy Homes

00:06:21 Indoor Air Quality and ERV Systems

00:12:43 Retrofitting Homes for Health

00:20:39 Fire Resistance and VOC Concerns

00:49:56 Healthy Home Features: Sealing and Waterproofing

00:52:11 Cost and Benefits of Advanced Waterproofing

00:53:38 Understanding OSB and Moisture-Resistant Materials

00:58:18 Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems

01:12:39 The Importance of Proper Insulation

01:14:49 Finishing Touches: Drywall and Flooring

01:24:03 Fireplaces and HVAC Systems

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Josh Spitzen and Joey Sacavitch of Forward One Real Estate. Today, we sit down with Jose Prats, the entrepreneur behind Character Homes, whose journey from running a bike shop to building a $50M real estate business is nothing short of inspiring. In this conversation, we dig into how Jose turned his passion for architecture into a thriving niche, the lessons he learned flipping homes, and how social media now drives 80% of his business. If you’ve ever wondered how authenticity, hard work, and vision can transform a career, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Connect with the Forward One Team!
Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/

Joey:
https://www.instagram.com/joeysnacks/
Jose:

https://www.instagram.com/thejoseprats/

Timestamps

00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:01:25 Character Homes and Architectural Passion

00:04:10 First Flip Experience and Lessons Learned

00:11:09 Building a Real Estate Career

00:20:12 Social Media Strategy and Impact

00:25:29 Content Creation and Authentic Branding

00:32:56 The Power of Social Media in Real Estate

00:33:48 Content Strategy: Video vs. Carousel

00:34:17 Insights from Meta and Trial Reels

00:36:04 Engagement and Tracking Success

00:39:05 The Future of Character Homes

00:40:55 Marketing Unique and High-Value Properties

00:42:48 Leveraging YouTube for Real Estate

00:56:21 Rapid Fire Round: Personal Insights

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Stirdivant — a powerhouse in the business who went from rock bottom to leading one of the most dynamic brokerages in the country. Kevin opens up about the discipline that fueled his rise, the door-knocking grind that built his foundation, and the mindset shift that pushed him to pursue a billion dollars in listings. We dig into his story of resilience, authenticity, and focus, uncovering lessons that any realtor, entrepreneur, or investor can apply to their own journey.

Connect with the Forward One Team!
Paul:
https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/

Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/

Kevin:
https://www.instagram.com/kevion/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:01:29 Current Market and Achievements
00:03:44 Setting and Achieving Big Goals
00:07:22 Personal Struggles and Turning Points
00:09:13 Building a Successful Real Estate Firm
00:20:18 Daily Routines and Work Ethic
00:22:53 Balancing Authenticity and Success
00:45:54 Setting Ambitious Goals
00:46:26 Adapting to Challenges
00:47:19 Achieving the Impossible
00:48:21 The Power of Mindset
00:51:14 Balancing Work and Family
00:55:04 Commitment and Consistency
01:05:26 Marketing and Branding Strategies
01:12:12 Overcoming Objections and Closing Deals

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with David Kramer, one of the most accomplished luxury real estate brokers in the country, to uncover the strategies and mindset that have powered his rise from early struggles to closing record-breaking deals. We dive into how he built a niche in trust and high-liability sales, why mastering the fundamentals matters more than chasing shortcuts, and what it really takes to earn clients’ trust at the highest level. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how elite agents create lasting success in an ever-changing market, this conversation delivers.

Connect with the Forward One Team on Instagram!
Paul:
https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
David:
https://www.instagram.com/davidkramerre/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:05:09 Early Career and First Big Deal

00:10:25 Learning from Challenges and Setbacks

00:15:33 Understanding Different Aspects of Real Estate

00:20:47 Building Trust and Relationships

00:25:30 Working with Trust Sales

00:30:27 Negotiation Strategies

00:35:59 Dealing with Sophisticated Clients

00:41:27 Managing Emotions in Real Estate

00:46:03 Professional Growth and Development

00:51:00 Creating Value for Clients

00:56:43 Building a Successful Business

01:02:15 Daily Business Practices

01:07:23 Industry Role Models

01:12:43 Final Thoughts and Rapid Fire Questions

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with Merse Kallow to unpack what it really takes to break into one of the toughest markets in the world and build a business around persistence, discipline, and strategy. We explore how off-market opportunities can transform your deal flow, why developer clients can be both the easiest and most challenging to work with, and the overlooked mindset shifts that separate consistent closers from agents who burn out. We’re also joined by realtor Andrew Whaley, a rising star on Merse’s team who has built a reputation as a high performer through relentless cold calling and quality conversations. Together, we break down how Merse’s team built \$50 million in sales volume by staying focused on their lane, creating value in ways other agents overlook, and mastering the art of resilience. If you’ve ever wondered how to build lasting relationships with developers, turn cold calls into meaningful business, or elevate your own consistency in the face of rejection, this episode delivers the blueprint.

Connect with the Forward One Team!
Paul:
https://www.instagram.com/paulmarkmorris/
Josh:
https://www.instagram.com/spitzenjosh/
Merse:
https://www.instagram.com/merse_kollo/
Andrew:
https://www.instagram.com/ajwhaleyy/

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:31 Moving from Hungary to U.S.
00:03:27 Learning English & high school struggles
00:06:06 First real estate job in LA
00:08:39 First deals & 50/50 split
00:12:30 Proving yourself before asking
00:15:19 Mistakes & persistence
00:16:45 Willingness to try new things
00:20:00 Building a small focused team
00:21:50 Working with developers
00:25:18 $50M sales volume & deal flow
00:27:39 Getting developer clients
00:32:18 Loyalty, value, and resale listings
00:36:53 Finding deals & buy box
00:47:45 Example deal breakdown
00:56:19 Team culture & junior agents
01:00:15 Andrew’s background & joining the team
01:06:29 Cold calling mindset & quality conversations
01:08:39 Positive work environment & fit
01:11:32 Andrew’s recent deals
01:16:34 How Andrew cold calls sellers
01:24:13 Roleplay call example
01:24:33 F1RE Round

Welcome back to the Forward One Podcast, hosted by Paul Mark Morris and Josh Spitzen of Forward One Real Estate. In this episode, we sit down with luxury powerhouse Paul Daftarian to unpack what it really takes to dominate in one of the most competitive markets in the country. We talk about the mental discipline required to win listings before walking through the door, how to build a six-star service experience that clients can’t stop talking about, and why your calendar—not your market—determines your income. Paul shares insights that challenge the status quo, from redefining how agents should treat their databases to the strategic reason behind “burning the boats.” If you’re serious about playing at a higher level, this conversation will sharpen your focus and reframe how you approach success in this business.

Connect with the Forward One team on Instagram!
@paulmarkmorris
@spitzenjosh
@pauldaftarian

Timestamps
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:00 Early Mortgage
00:04:00 Missed Exit
00:07:00 Signal vs Noise
00:10:00 Burn the Boats
00:14:00 Confidence Wins
00:18:00 Calendar Wins
00:23:00 Team Building
00:28:00 Six-Star Service
00:33:00 Listing Tactics
00:41:00 Luxury Strategy
00:48:00 Set Boundaries
00:54:00 F1RE Round