Jorge Alvarez is a man of action. Where others may spend days, months, or years planning their next move, Jorge jumps in head first.
From the time he was 16 years old, Jorge considered himself an entrepreneur. Throughout his life he’s started roughly 14 businesses across all kinds of industries—marketing, imports, retail, fitness, real estate, and more. Many of the 14 were very successful while some, he says, not so much. Through it all he has learned valuable lessons from every challenge: that consistency, learning from your mistakes, and surrounding yourself with the right people is what gets you through.
Jorge’s story starts in Mexico City, where he grew up. He met his wife, a San Diego native, in Cancun. When she moved to Mexico City for college, they began dating and eventually married. For seven years Jorge and his wife were successful in Mexico City, running businesses and building a life for themselves. Jorge shares that as their success rose, their safety in Mexico City began to become more of a concern. When it was time to have children, they decided to move back to the United States to settle down and grow a family. In 2014, they put down roots in San Diego.
After nearly a decade of growth in Mexico, this move shook things up for Jorge. Language barriers, cultural differences, and new business meant that he needed to dig deep to find his way through. His learning curve was steep, though, and it wasn’t long before he began to establish himself. After a number of learning experiences, “failed” businesses, and pivots, he entered the world of real estate. This is where his success really started to grow. Within the first 9 months of his real estate career, he became “Rookie of the Year” at his global real estate firm. Today, Jorge continues to thrive as a successful realtor with Compass realty, working with clients both here in California and across the border in Mexico.
Along his journey, Jorge has learned many important lessons. Here’s just a few:
- Family Comes First. Everything Jorge does is for his family. He and his wife have been married 19 years and he has three children: a 10-year-old daughter, 12-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. When asked his definition of success, his answer was quick and unwavering: “Success for me is family. It’s having kids that want to spend time with you. It’s walking into your house and your family is happy to see you. It’s being together.”
- Focus on Your Sphere of Influence. When Jorge first came to San Diego he got into the gym business. In that industry, he wasn’t immediately successful. In fact, the gyms he owned were losing money. What he built during this chapter, though, was a strong network. The people he surrounded himself with—restaurant owners, local business owners, students—helped link him to others that offered support, connections, and valuable insight to help him pivot to his future venture in real estate. The lesson? Pay attention to who is in your sphere of influence and build your network with intention.
- Do your Research. Some of the failed business attempts in Jorge’s story came about because he rushed into something without proper analysis. Understanding the market will help you delineate between what is a lucrative opportunity and what isn’t. Make sure to always run the numbers before diving in. Once you have them, though, don’t wait too long before moving forward.
- Pick the Right People. A significant element to being successful comes from choosing the right partners. Someone may seem wonderful in business, but struggle internally in ways that will impact the people around them. Others may seem like they aren’t a good fit, but over time you learn they have integrity and character. Remember that you can never judge a book by its cover. Pick the people you trust.
- Take Action. Jorge is not one to wait around. Once the initial research is done on a business venture or decision, he doesn’t spend time thinking about it. If the numbers are good, he goes in with his full energy. This, he says, is what makes him stand out from other realtors. Quick decisions, avoiding toxic people, staying away from drama, and fixing situations immediately as they arise keep him moving forward.
- Diversify Your Income Streams. The reality behind the real estate industry is that it isn’t easy. Sometimes income is inconsistent, and it requires high level pipeline building and steady high-effort. While his primary role is as a realtor, Jorge branches out into other areas to ensure stability for his family. Whether it’s development, flipping homes, or multi-family investments, finding ways to hedge risks means his success is more stable long term.
Amidst being a highly successful entrepreneur, business owner, and realtor, What’s most important to Jorge isn’t the measure of his properties, deals, or money. “That’s not what’s important to me. It’s the people around me that are important.” For him, it’s about the life he’s building beyond his businesses. One that is defined by courageous action, intention, learning from his challenges, and investing in the people who matter most.