In this episode, John Kitchens sits down with seasoned investor Mark Zawaideh and strategic partner Curt Shewell to unpack what every real estate agent must understand about wealth, leverage, and building a portfolio that will lead you to true financial freedom. Mark shares how he scaled from broke agent to owning over 40 properties—and how one key mindset shift turned $600K in equity into $30M in assets. Together, they break down the dangerous myths agents believe about wealth, why owning a team is not a retirement plan, and how to start thinking like an investor starting today.

The Scarcity Trap vs. Investor Mindset

• How Mark’s early money beliefs kept him stuck (and how he broke free).

• The critical difference between “saving” and “scaling” through leverage.

• Why paying off properties early can actually kill your momentum.
  
  

Using Real Estate As a Wealth Vehicle

• Why selling more homes won’t build lasting wealth—and what will.

• How Mark scaled from 1 house to 43 rentals in under 10 years.

• Turning equity into cash flow: the power of 1031 exchanges and strategic refinancing.
  
  

How to Make the Shift from Agent to Owner to Owning $100M Portfolio

• The real risk: owning just 1-2 rental properties and no game plan.

• Why scaling to 30, 50, or 100+ doors creates less risk, not more.

• How to use your real estate business to find deals, not just earn commissions.
  
  

Building Wealth Through Depreciation & Tax Strategy

• Why depreciation alone could be worth six figures in tax savings.

• How Mark paid zero in taxes—and got a refund—while earning 7 figures.

• The difference between earning more… and keeping more.
  
  

Scaling Beyond Single-Family into Commercial & Multifamily

• How Mark turned four homes into a 48-unit apartment complex.

• The mindset shift from “buy and hold” to “scale and grow.”

• Multifamily vs. single-family: pros, cons, and what most agents miss.
  
  

Why Real Estate Teams Are Not an Exit Strategy

• The hard truth about brokerage valuations and “team” exits.

• Why most teams become burdens, not assets, without investment income.

• Using your team to unlock opportunity—not just production.
  
  

The Investor Mastermind & What’s Coming Next

• How Mark and Curt are creating a community for agents ready to build wealth.

• Why most agents don’t lack opportunity—they lack strategy and proximity.

• What to expect from their upcoming course, community, and coaching framework.

• Connect with John Kitchens

• Mark Zawaideh on Instagram: @soldbymarkz

• Book: The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

• Upcoming Investor Mastermind (details coming soon)

• 1031 Exchange Strategy + Tax Depreciation Insights

“You don’t need to sell more homes. You need to buy more real estate.” – Mark Zawaideh

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this insightful episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John sits down with Jack Perry, co-founder of The Perry Group, one of the fastest-growing real estate teams in Utah. Jack shares his journey from pastoring churches to leading a 175-agent team alongside his two sons—and how creating a culture of high standards, accountability, and authentic leadership has driven massive success.

They explore how Jack leverages leadership through vulnerability, how ego almost got in the way of scaling, and why letting go was the key to leveling up. From social media authenticity to systems and structure, this conversation reveals the foundational pieces behind building a lasting real estate empire.

• The importance of letting go of ego to scale leadership

• How to maintain culture and personal connection in a large team

• Why building systems early is essential for sustainable growth

• Creative ways to onboard and integrate agents into your culture

• The role of family dynamics in running a high-performance team

• Tips for balancing authenticity, humor, and brand building on social media

• Navigating market changes by staying adaptable and mission-driven

• Leadership through vulnerability and authenticity: Jack Perry shares how embracing transparency, admitting mistakes, and letting go of ego have been key to creating trust and long-term growth in his real estate organization.

• From pastoring to powerhouse real estate team: Jack reflects on how his 28 years as a pastor laid the foundation for his people-first leadership style, which now fuels The Perry Group’s success.

• The secret to scaling without losing culture: As The Perry Group grew from a few agents to over 175+, Jack reveals how culture was preserved through intentional leadership, clear communication, and simple systems like top-10 recognition and team-wide accountability.

• Letting go to grow: One of Jack’s biggest lessons was learning to release control and empower others, especially his sons, to make decisions and lead independently.

• Creating meaningful team connection: From Slack channel check-ins to in-person tubing events, Jack shares how The Perry Group ensures new agents quickly feel connected and valued.

• Staying hungry in a hot market: Despite Utah’s booming economy, Jack remains focused on pushing agents to improve, leveraging internal competition and big-picture thinking to avoid complacency.

• The power of diverse leadership: With himself and his sons each bringing radically different strengths to the table, Jack explains why embracing those differences has accelerated their collective success.

• Connect with John: johnkitchens.coach

• Learn more about Jack Perry: @jackperryhomes

“People don’t buy coaching—they buy the coach. People don’t join teams—they join the leadership.” — John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥