Podcast Summary

The BetterLife Podcast

Episode 147: The Reality of What it Takes to Be Great in Real Estate & Beyond | Jimmy Rex
Hosts: Brandon Turner & Cam Cathcart
Guest: Jimmy Rex
Date: May 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Brandon and Cam sit down with Jimmy Rex—real estate mogul, coach, and founder of the “We Are The They” men’s group—to unravel what it really takes to achieve greatness in real estate and in life. The discussion covers building authentic relationships, the evolving challenges men face today, practical strategies for wealth building, the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, and the real truths behind consistent success. Jimmy shares personal setbacks and wild successes, raw insights on masculinity, and strategies that transcend real estate, providing value for anyone seeking a “better life.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Modern Masculinity & Men’s Emotional Struggles

Timestamps: 02:52 – 19:19

• Why It's Hard to Be a Man Today:
  Jimmy dives into the lack of “safe spaces” for men. While connectivity is at an all-time high, deep, vulnerable conversations are rare. There’s a societal “mask” men feel pressured to wear, leading to suffering in silence.

  • “Society is not built around a place where men can be comfortable and confident to truly be seen and to be loved in that state.” — Jimmy Rex [06:39]
  • Men are punished for being vulnerable in the wrong settings. The three pillars in his program: vulnerability, authenticity, and integrity.

• Why Are So Many Men Unhappy?
  Key reasons:

  • Lack of fulfillment or higher purpose.
  • Burdensome expectations (self and societal).
  • The silent weight of responsibility.
  • “Most people are so busy trying to just live or even survive, they don’t have time to dig into what’s my purpose.” — Jimmy Rex [08:23]

• On Vulnerability & Support:
  Men withhold vulnerability due to learned mistrust, poor experiences, and fear of being seen as weak.

  • Being present is more important than offering solutions: “I don’t need a coach today. I just need a friend.” — Jimmy Rex [14:21]
  • Shared poignant Bible stories (Job) and personal anecdotes about the power of simply sitting with someone in pain.

• The “Cure” for Men’s Depression:
  Emphasizes acceptance: “The key is not to feel better all the time. The key is to feel more.” — Jimmy Rex [18:45]

2. Jimmy Rex’s Origin Story: Ambition, Resilience, and Action

Timestamps: 21:44 – 27:39

• Childhood Drive:
  Grew up wanting a ‘fun’ life, learned work ethic from family.

  • Sold 157 T-shirts in a high-school fundraiser, outworking peers to impress coaches and create opportunity.

• Love of Taking Action & Failure

  • Multiple ventures: TV show, meat business, early real estate.
  • Gifted mentorship (Ed Mylett): “The most successful people I’ve met have a beautiful, unique way to take action—not needing to know if it’s going to work.” — Ed Mylett (quoted) [24:27]
  • Fell in love with ‘failing forward’—sees failure as a stepping stone.

3. Real Estate Success & Wealth-Building Lessons

Timestamps: 31:28 – 46:49

• Early Real Estate Rollercoaster:

  • Started investing in college, house-hacked his first deal.
  • Aggressive, risky purchases pre-2008 crash; lost big when the market turned and ended up paying off debt on homes he no longer owned.
  • “I ended up upside down about $150,000. …making monthly payments to houses I no longer owned and just got my butt handed to me, man.” — Jimmy Rex [34:34]

• Comeback:
  Flipped houses post-crash, gradually rebuilt, studied intensely, bought and held cash-flowing properties.

• Agent vs. Investor:
  Primarily a high-performing agent (sold 2,500 homes, #1 in Utah), but built a solid portfolio (owns ~55 doors).

• Wild Ride — $30 Million in a Day, Then Nearly All Lost:

  • Early investor in Nikola Motors; at one point, his shares were worth $30M, but due to fraud and sudden market shifts, most of it evaporated.
  • “You haven’t lived until you’ve rode the Nicola motor roller coaster. ...There were days: 2 million, 4 million... in one day.” — Jimmy Rex [39:37]
  • The experience helped him appreciate his existing life and focus on purpose, not just money.

• What He Invests In Now:

  • Mostly index funds, cash-flowing real estate, and 10% in higher-risk ventures.
  • “Put 30% into real estate, put 20% in the stock market, live on 50%... If you just do that over time, you cannot lose.” — Jimmy Rex [43:58]
  • Warns about “private capital” and investing with friends: “Nobody ever honors your money as much as you do.” — [42:13]

4. Team Building & Systems for Success

Timestamps: 47:08 – 53:11

• Millionaire Agent Blueprint:

  • Don’t join teams too early; at 40+ deals/year, then hire.
  • Lead generation (calling, networking) is non-negotiable: “If you’re not prospecting for 2-3 hours a day… you’re doing it wrong.” — [48:09]
  • Hire a top assistant, reward them well, and keep the team lean.
  • Social media: treat it like a dynamic billboard—educate, build trust, and become the clear expert.

• Building a Team That Lasts:

  • “Ninja team” approach: talented, loyal small crew with compelling incentives.
  • Generosity and clear value for team members (splitting deals for actual value creation).

5. Practical Blueprint: From Rookie to Million-Dollar Real Estate Agent

Timestamps: 53:11 – 56:38

• The “ABC” Database System:
  • A group: Will never transact without you.
  • B group: You’re their first call, but open to others.
  • C group: The general population.
  • Work to upgrade connections: “If you get 100 people in that A group, you’re making a million dollars.” — Jimmy Rex [54:13]
  • Aggressive relationship-building: Monthly/quarterly/annual calls, value creation, hosting events/parties, relentless follow-up.

6. Consistency, Intensity, and “Unreasonable” Success

Timestamps: 56:41 – 61:37

• Is Real Estate Still a Good Career?

  • Only for those who go all-in. Part-timers will lose to focused professionals.
  • It’s “simple, not easy.” Be consistent. Outwork competitors.
  • Consistency is the only constant among the truly successful.

• Frameworks for Inevitable Success:

  • Ask, “What would make success inevitable, even if unreasonable?” — Brandon Turner [58:47]

7. Masculinity & Society: The Red Pill Debate

Timestamps: 64:07 – 70:04

• Andrew Tate & The Manosphere:

  • Men are drawn to “unapologetic” personalities who resist societal shaming.
  • Most of Tate’s message is positive, but the toxic edges (misogyny, exploitation) disqualify him as a holistic role model.
  • “The most attractive state for a man to be in is 100% authentically himself, unapologetically.” — Jimmy Rex [65:20]

• Who Should Men Look Up To?

  • Everyday dads, reliable brothers, steadfast family men—quietly doing the right thing, showing up for their people.
  • “No masculine man that truly is honoring his family and God would put himself on that platform.” — Jimmy Rex [69:23]
  • Emphasis on honoring and storytelling to elevate these everyday heroes.

8. Rapid-Fire Closing: 3-2-1 Pivot, Practical Wisdom, & Legacy

Timestamps: 72:56 – 79:48

• Three Books That Changed Jimmy’s Life:

  • The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida
  • The Masculine in Relationship
  • The Anatomy of Peace by Arbinger Institute

• Two Influential Figures:

  • Mike Ferry (first real estate coach)
  • Ed Mylett (mentor and investor)

• Favorite Quote:

  • “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius [75:34]

• Past, Present, Future:

  • Advice to younger self: Don’t sell real estate—but wouldn’t change much; appreciates the beautiful mess of life.
  • Recent habit: 7am “walks and talks” with a different member of his men’s group, building connection and discipline.
  • Legacy: “That guy lived a full life. Left it all out there.”

• Excited About: Leading adventure trips for his group (e.g., running with the bulls in Spain this year).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Masculinity:
  “Masculinity isn’t toxic or healthy. It’s like a knife. It can be used for good or bad.” — Jimmy Rex [03:56]

• On Happiness:
  “Life is supposed to be a beautiful mess.” — Jimmy Rex [08:49]

• On Taking Action:
  “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” — Winston Churchill (quoted by Brandon) [26:27]

• On Team-Building:
  “I just got talented people and then I made an unreasonable offer they couldn’t deny.” — Jimmy Rex [61:39]

• On Role Models:
  “We need to keep promoting these men who show up every day…raising their families, doing the work.” — Jimmy Rex [69:23]

Useful Timestamps At-a-Glance

• 02:52 – Start of masculinity/men’s group & struggles facing men today.
• 07:58 – Why men are unhappy: fulfillment, expectations, silent burdens.
• 12:10 – Why vulnerability is hard & how to support men in pain.
• 19:30 – Jimmy’s wild real estate run; $32M house and Nikola investment.
• 39:37 – The “one day” $15 million loss, what he learned.
• 43:32 – Wealth strategy: Index funds, real estate, high risk.
• 47:08 – How to make $1M as a real estate agent; team-building tips.
• 53:11 – The “ABC” database system for building a real estate empire.
• 64:45 – Andrew Tate, the manosphere, and what men really need.
• 72:56 – The “3-2-1 Pivot”: books, people, transformative moments.
• 77:23 – Newest habit: Daily walks with men’s group members.

Where to Connect

• Jimmy Rex: Instagram: @MrJimmyRex
• We Are The They: Jimmy’s men’s coaching/brotherhood.
• Charity Mentioned: Make-A-Wish Foundation

Final Takeaways

• Whether you’re in real estate or another field, consistent action and integrity beat raw talent.
• Purpose and fulfillment require community and emotional openness—especially for men, who are taught to isolate.
• Failure is a necessary—and valuable—step. Harness it, don’t hide from it.
• Wealth isn’t an accident: clear frameworks, discipline, and a long-term mindset win.
• Unapologetic authenticity attracts success and loyal allies.
• Legacy is about living fully and lifting those around you.

For more from Jimmy Rex, follow him at @MrJimmyRex. For more BetterLife episodes, subscribe and leave your feedback to support the community!