Purpose Over Profit: Lessons from Jose Berlanga's Rollercoaster Journey as a Serial Entrepreneur

Speaker 0

In this episode, we get to hear from Jose Berlanga. Jose is a, real estate investor and author and a speaker. Really, at heart, he's a a business owner and a business creator. And, he he gets quite vulnerable about a severe childhood incident severely traumatic incident that occurred when he was four years old. There was a catastrophic accident, and he suffered third degree burns over much of his body. And we talk about that recovery process, which lasted ten plus years and really helps define who he is. And we we talk about some of the skills that he, acquired from that that adversity and how he's been able to apply that in his business career. We also focus quite a bit on the multimillion dollar losses that Jose has had several times. He came from Mexico and, and and and just created himself, really. Certainly, he's had help along the way, but Jose has a ton of knowledge based on the success and failures he's been through in many different types of industries. It's really this one is jam packed with just inspiration and practical value. He's got a a book called The Business of Homebuilding, but it's really about building a business and then running a business. And he's got a second book coming out that's focused more on land development called Dirt Rich. So many rabbit holes we could have gone down, and I had to be selective in the the ones we did because he's got such a wealth of knowledge. It's just an incredible story. One of the things I loved about his, his story was the fact that he says now that focusing on making money was a mistake through the years and that, really, you should be focused on purpose and, your mission, and the money will follow. So that's really an interesting topic that we dive into. So enough of me rambling on. You're gonna love this one. 

Speaker 1

Welcome to From Adversity to Abundance, the go to podcast for real estate entrepreneurs seeking not just to thrive, but to conquer with resilience and mental sharpness. Each week, join us as we dive into the compelling world of real estate through the lens of mental fitness, where challenges transform into opportunities. Get ready to transform your mindset and expand your understanding of what it takes to succeed in real estate. Let's explore these stories of triumph and resilience together. 

Speaker 0

Welcome, everybody, to another episode of the From Adversity to Abundance podcast. I am your host, Jamie Bateman. And today, we have with us Jose Berlanga. Jose is a real estate investor, author, and speaker, land developer, and has has founded many companies and and been through a lot of adversity that we're gonna get into and also reached a lot of abundance. Jose, how are you doing today? Yeah. I'm excited. This will be fun. There's a it's almost, I feel like this is one where there's you know, we've gotta be careful about going too down too many rabbit holes because I think you've got a there's a lot we could it's gonna be a lot of good content here and a lot of inspiration as well as practical value for the practical value for the for the listener, the active, real estate entrepreneur out there who's going to face more adversity than they already have or some additional adversity as we all will. So we're not excited that you've been through adversity, Jose, but, look, you have. So let's let's talk about it, talk about the lessons you've learned, and and, how and, you know, the listener can take some of that information and hopefully, you know, apply that to their lives. Let's dive right in. Who what first off, who who are you today in a little bit more detail? What are you up to today? 

Speaker 2

Uh-huh. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. That's a great one. Well and I think it's it's, really taxing to, you know, try to control what things you can't control. Right? So and to focus on, you know, what may happen, it's different. You can't you like you said, you can't predict it, but you can get better at managing, adversity and and dealing with how you respond to it and and learn from it and use that in a positive way and use it. So it can be fuel, to help you get to, quote, unquote, abundance or even better, help you inspire others. And, you know, and that's that's really the the point of our show today. So let's let's jump back into your backstory. I know, around age four, you had something catastrophic occur. So if you don't mind, could you pick it up from there? Right. Right. Yeah. And just very briefly, you could take a we've had we've talked about this on other episodes, but the compounding effect, that can go that that can be a massive factor in whether you spiral into a negative, you know, pattern and and overall life circumstances, or or it could go the other way where you can build off of the momentum you you gained, in a positive way and use that compounding effect. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Mhmm. Right. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Sure. 

Speaker 2

Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. So for the for the for the listener, let's if you don't mind, what what exactly what happened? Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Wow. Wow. Wow. That's huge. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Right. Right. Just fit in. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Sure. Mhmm. Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Sure. Yeah. I mean, that's such a formative period. It's it's I mean, it not to say it wouldn't be challenging as an adult, but, you know, maybe if that happens when you're forty forty years old, you've kind of established your identity, and it might be a little bit easier. But, I mean, yeah, you don't have the the tools to even know how to navigate that. And like you said, the you mentioned switching schools constantly and then also being in and out of school to be in the hospital. You're not likely establishing long term friendships and, it's just from a social standpoint, just super challenging. Yeah. Mhmm. Okay. How did how did you do that? How how was that, what'd you do? Okay. Mhmm. Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. Sure. Right. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Gotcha. Yeah. Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 0

Gotcha. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Well, mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Got it. Well and I know, you know, you've reached multimillionaire status in several different industries, and so we're gonna get there, but that's somehow, you you were able to turn things around and, you know, and just reach, quote, unquote, abundance. And I always like to to throw in the caveat that, Jose, you're gonna have more adversity in your life. I'm gonna have more adversity in my life. You know, just because you you have financial and maybe health abundance now doesn't mean that you're never gonna face more adversity. So there's all kinds of ups and downs like we talked about already, but the fact is it you somehow, from a mental standpoint, must have used this adversity to to grow beyond just your, you know, being funny and and communication. Clearly, you've been able to pull yourself out of this. And like you said, it was a series of things, and it took time. How long did you kind of I imagine that initially four years old. I mean, you you probably probably did have that sort of victim mentality for quite a while, I would guess. I mean, how long would you say you were kind of in that victim mentality? And then and then was it a switch, or was it just a gradual change to become more empowered? Oh, wow. Okay. 

Speaker 2

Wow. 

Speaker 0

Wow. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Mhmm. Wow. Mhmm. Mhmm. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Wow. Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Wow. Yeah. Really? Love that. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Sure. Got it. Well and and we've had many amazing guests on the show with all with different different stories and different versions of adversity. And, typically, the focus, you know, shifting from self to others is a huge part of that that, I guess, I'll say healing process or growth process or switching from, you know, problem to opportunity or adversity to abundance or victim to, you know, powerful person. And but, usually, that's a a process. So that's a I don't know. I think this is yeah. Yeah. Got it. Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Gotcha. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Right. Right. Mhmm. Mhmm. Because you were you were in the hospital. Is that why? Yeah. Gotcha. Wow. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I I still for my own you know, this is you know, you're not supposed to compare, I guess, but just I I switched middle schools in the end of sixth grade. This is not a not a major thing in in the grand scheme of things, but it had a major it was very stressful at that time because middle school kids can be really challenging. And, again, I this is just a normal parents move, not a not a huge thing. But the fact that you had to switch schools so many times and start over at such a vulnerable age different ages. But, yeah, it's that's that's massive. Just that social impact. So fast forward to, say, let's maybe age eighteen or twenty, somewhere in there. What does your life look like? How did, how did things change or improve for you, since you know, from from four to twenty? 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Oh, interesting. 

Speaker 2

Sure. 

Speaker 0

Right. Right. Interesting. Yeah. Right. Mhmm. Okay. Okay. Okay. 

Speaker 1

Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Okay. Talk about that. Yeah. So so I don't wanna is as specific as you wanna get, you you know, feel free. But are you you're saying you went from, like, maybe multimillionaire status to almost nothing? Or Wow. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. And, what what age was that when that fell apart? Okay. Wow. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

In the yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. 

Speaker 0

It's right. Right. So what did you do? How did you how did you rebound after that that initial business failure in your early twenties? What do did you look around at, you know, who's in my network? Or what what were some of the lessons you took from that and were able to apply to rebound? Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Right. No. That's a key point. Yeah. So you mentioned I mean, you've mentioned that a couple times really now. So you were too focused on the money, making money, which, you know, making money is is great, and it but it sounds like you're saying making money should be treated more as a as an effect, you know, as an outcome or some as a consequence. Right? Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Okay. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Right. Right. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Right. So there's a lack of lack of security and a lack of identity. 

Speaker 2

Speaker 0

Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Billing rapport. Yep. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Okay. Well, it's and I and tell me if this is too big of a leap, but it sounds like, you know, that those were skills that you had gained from, recovering from your accident as a child. You mentioned becoming focusing on your humor and your communication skills. And so it sounds like that's what you were able to employ in your early twenties when you hit rock bottom for the first time financially. And so to rebound, you were able to start building rapport with people, expanding your network, and and focus on selling. So speak to the finding your purpose, though. I mean, was it simply you used your skill set? You identified what you were good at and and kind of took it step by step, or was there some very, you know, intense search for your purpose that you found, or what was that process like? 

Speaker 2

Gotcha. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Mhmm. Okay. Well yeah. 

Speaker 2

Right. Right. That's huge. Right. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's really big. I mean, I I just listened to a podcast last night. It was on the the Lewis Howes, School of Greatness. And the guy who works with him on his personal brand was talking about really how you need to you don't need a million followers, to build your personal brand. Personal brand is not it's more about serving others. And he was saying you find your own, you know, uniqueness and use it in the service of others. But, really, what his big point was was that what you're saying, which is right now in around you, in your immediate surroundings, you have people that you deal with every day. And that's really what gets to your reputation is how you show up every day with integrity. Like you said, doing what you say you're gonna do, following through. So you didn't know that you're you were building your reputation and, you know, before that that you would need that, that that would come in handy once you hit rock bottom. But that's that's doing the right thing in day in and day out, you know, because that right. Yeah. Yeah. So you're building trust is what you're building. Mhmm. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Sure. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Right. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. K. Mhmm. Right. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Got 

Speaker 2

1. Right. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Yeah. And you've done go ahead. Uh-huh. Sure. Okay. So what what specifically did he need help with, like marketing or or, invoicing? Yeah. How to run a business. 

Speaker 2

Got it. Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 0

Right. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Yeah. Nice. Nice. Oh, yeah. Wow. Wow. Okay. Okay. K. 

Speaker 2

Right. Right. 

Speaker 0

I see. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Okay. So what's an example of a business that you've created and run that's more purpose driven? 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Yeah. Got it. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Challenges. Sure. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Got it. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. You need to and you need to cash flow and profit, you know, monthly. Right? Or it's not gonna last. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. 

Speaker 2

Right. Right. Sure. 

Speaker 0

Right. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Right. 

Speaker 0

Sure. But I mean yeah. And I I I would guess that a lot of the reason that you were have been successful in these diff different competitive industries has to do with the trust you built with people and your personality and your your vision versus, you know, the skill that you have with regard to maybe your brother's craftsmanship. I'm not putting your brother's skill set down at all, but it's really hard to stand out as the best craftsman if there are a thousand, you know, craftsmen out there. I'm just using that as an example. But a hundred home builder builders in your town, it's hard to be the best. But if you've built trust and relationships with people, that can really drive revenue and and help your business be successful. Would you agree with that? 

Speaker 2

Gotcha. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Yeah. Right. That's true. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yep. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Vice versa. Right? You need you need both. Yeah. You know you know how to sell or anything. Right. 

Speaker 2

Right. Sure. Got it. Sure. Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Yeah. So you did home building. What else have you done specifically in real estate? 

Speaker 2

Wow. Right. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Mhmm. Got it. 

Speaker 0

Right. Right. Sure. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Right. Right. Yeah. It's like I mean, we we get, like, a, you know, broker price opinion on a particular property, and, that that's all fine and dandy, but, you know, the market will tell you what it's actually worth. Right? Yeah. Mhmm. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Right. 

Speaker 0

Okay. So you rebuilt the home building business. Gotcha. Wow. 

Speaker 2

Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Entrepreneurship is a entrepreneurship is is a hot, sexy buzzword these days, and and it can have a lot of benefits and give you freedom and and and success and all that, but it man, it's not for the faint of heart, and it comes with a lot of stress. Big roller coaster. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. You you're not gonna get to them. Sure. Right. Right. So 

Speaker 2

right. Yeah. Wow. 

Speaker 0

Right. Right. Okay. Mhmm. Okay. Right. Sounds good. Right? Right. And which, market are we talking about? 

Speaker 2

Gotcha. Uh-huh. Got it. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Got it. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Yeah. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Right. Capital sources. Yeah. Sure. And so, I've got a a few questions here to to knock out before we, before we wrap up. So before we get there, though, what what do things look like for you today? I know you have, the one book that has been out for a bit, the business of home building, and then you have another book that's coming out shortly. You wanna talk about that book and and what else you have going on? Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Okay. 

Speaker 0

Okay. 

Speaker 2

Right. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Okay. Like, build to rent. Yeah. Sure. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Right. Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Okay. Sure. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Mhmm. It's it's the yeah. It's the business. Right? Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Sure. Right. A lot of principles that you can apply transfer and apply to other industries. Does that make sense? Yeah. Do you have a name for the the second book that's coming out or not? Dirt Rich. 

Speaker 2

Gotcha. Okay. Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. That's really you've you've piqued my interest with that one. That's interesting. Before I get to, these questions, one more. With regard to, you know, now you're more diversified, but what advice would you give to a more, novice entrepreneur, someone starting out? You know, people love to talk about multiple streams of income, but what are your thoughts on whether someone without capital, without wealth, whether they should try to diversify out of the gate or focus on one thing? Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yep. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Right. 

Speaker 0

Right. Got it. 

Speaker 2

Yeah. Right. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Sure. Got it. 

Speaker 0

Diversify. Yep. Makes sense. Alright. These are gonna be some rapid fire questions. We're gonna we're we're almost out of time. Are you ready, Jose? If you could go back and give your eighteen year old self some advice, what would that be? Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Love that. 

Speaker 0

If you could have coffee with any historical figure, whom would you choose? That's 

Speaker 2

Speaker 0

There you go. Alright. Alright. That that's a good one. Yeah. If you were given ten million dollars tomorrow, not for not for your business necessarily, but just ten million dollars, do whatever you want, what would you do with it? 

Speaker 2

Okay. Got it. 

Speaker 0

Got it. Yeah. No. That's a good good answer. Had a few guests who've said that it really wouldn't change change anything, but not not too many. 

Speaker 2

Right. Right. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Makes sense. How about a book or two that you could recommend for my listener? Okay. Okay. Okay. Sure. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Sure. Got it. Yeah. No. I gotcha. And I I do hear some people saying it's healthy to not finish a book that is not capturing your attention. It it's hard for me to do to to not finish it, but I've gotten better at saying, you know what? This isn't the timing isn't right for this book. I'm gonna quit halfway through. Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. Couple more. In your opinion, what's what is the role of luck versus skill in real estate success or business success? Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 1

Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

That's a good that's a great way to put it. 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Sure. Sure. Yeah. Right. Mhmm. 

Speaker 0

Success. Yeah. Love that. That's a great way to put it. Looking forward in in real estate or business in general, what are some emerging challenges that you see entrepreneurs facing? 

Speaker 2

Mhmm. Sure. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. 

Speaker 2

Right. Yeah. 

Speaker 0

Right. Right. Yeah. Right. For sure. Social media, yeah, promotes that. 

Speaker 2

Right. 

Speaker 0

Yeah. But now the margins are so tight. Mhmm. Mhmm. 

Speaker 2

Got it. 

Speaker 0

Mhmm. Got it. Jose, what is one question that you wish I'd asked that I haven't? Right. Yeah. For sure. 

Speaker 2

Okay. Well, 

Speaker 0

well, you have so much wealth of knowledge that it it's, you know, it I don't wanna cut you off because it's just such good quality, you know, content coming out. So it, the next time when I have you on, I'll try to make you cry for the first time in decades. No. I'm kidding. I'm I'm kidding. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Kids will kids will do that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No. I I I can identify with that. It's I I get that. So, Jose Berlanga, where can our listeners find you online? K. Nice. Sounds great. I can see why that would, people wanna hear you because it's this has been really good. And, Jose, thank you so much for your time and, yeah, and for being vulnerable about the the the incredibly horrific accident that occurred at age four and the, you know, following the subsequent decades, really, of of trauma and recovery that went, along with that, and then also the being vulnerable about the ups and downs of losing losing everything multiple times in business, you know, and just keeping it real. That's something that I I just love to promote on the show that that entrepreneurship is great for some people and and and, absolutely, you know, we don't steer people away from it necessarily, but it's it's no joke, and it comes with a lot of it's a roller coaster. And I know you've had many ups and downs in many different industries, and you and so this has been chock full of very good information, both inspirational content as well as practical advice. So, Jose, thank you so much for joining us. And to the listener, thank you for spending your most valuable resources with us, and that those are your time and attention. Thanks, everyone. Take care. 

Speaker 1

Thank you for joining us on From Adversity to Abundance. We hope today's episode has equipped you with valuable insights and practical advice to elevate your real estate journey. For more inspiring stories and resources, visit us at w w w dot adversity to abundance dot com. If this episode has inspired you, please share it with a friend who could also benefit from our conversation. Together, let's turn adversity into abundance. Until next time, keep building your mental fitness and your real estate empire.