The Hard Truth About Making It in Commercial Real Estate (Most Fail)

What separates those who dream about success from those who actually build it

In this special episode of Skip the Lines Podcast, Jonathan Mitchell welcomes Carson Trujillo, co-founder of Whitewater Commercial Real Estate. Carson shares his incredible journey from growing up in Kentucky and selling mattresses on Craigslist to becoming a top commercial real estate broker in San Diego. With humor and raw honesty, Carson reveals how the 2008 crash shaped his perspective, what it took to break into the competitive world of real estate, and why he's now focused on building a full-service firm that goes far beyond just brokering deals.

Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the game, Carson’s story will inspire you to take bigger risks and get in the game—now.

Ready to skip the line in your real estate career or investments? Reach out to Carson Trujillo through the links below. Don’t just listen—take action. This episode could be your launching point.

 

Chapters

00:00–06:12 Roots, Real Estate and Resilience

• Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky with a developer father
• Watching his family rise and fall through the 2008 crash

06:13–10:00 The San Diego Leap of Faith

• Moving to California with two friends and no job
• Living out of a car and flipping mattresses to survive

10:01–15:10 Breaking Into Brokerage

• Facing rejection from Marcus & Millichap and fighting back
• Hustling nights at the Catamaran while cold-calling by day

15:11–20:38 Whitewater CRE Vision

•  Leaving Marcus to co-found Whitewater Commercial Real Estate
• Merging brokerage, development, and property management

20:39–31:25 Grit, Mindset and Money Moves

• Applying the mantra: “How you do anything is how you do everything”
• Doubling down on work when others backed off during COVID

31:26–38:38 Lightning Round and Life Hacks

• Choosing to be beachfront property: irreplaceable and timeless
• Embracing travel for energy and deal flow

 

Quotes:

"How you do anything is how you do everything." – Carson Trujillo

"You just gotta get in the game, man." – Carson Trujillo

 

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Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@skipthelinespod

 

📢 Connect with Carson Trujillo!

Website: https://www.thetrujillogroupsandiego.com 

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carson-trujillo-27727562/ 

 

📢 Connect with me!

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088499808533

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-mitch

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