I Survived Real Estate 2023 | Part 1 #850

I SURVIVED REAL ESTATE 2023

The Norris Group’s annual award-winning event, I Survived Real Estate, held last October 27th at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda. Our 16th annual black-tie gala benefits Make-A-Wish and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since 2008, together we’ve raised well over $1,000,000 for charity!

The past two years have been like nothing we have seen in our real estate market history.  There are still so many unanswered questions about how the economy is going to change.  Pricing, The FED and Inflation is a lingering problem for working class America.

In this episode:
We've raised $60,000 this year for two great charities.
Our last Rohny Award recipient is Aaron Norris
A look back to Aaron's life as a Friend, Philanthropist, Investor and Teacher.

Hope you enjoy!

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669.  For more information on hard money lending, go www.thenorrisgroup.com and click the Hard Money tab.


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Transcript

Narrator: 0:00

This is The Norris Group's real estate investor radio show the award-winning show dedicated to thought leaders shaping the real estate industry and local experts revealing their insider tips to succeed in an ever -changing real estate market hosted by author, investor, and hard money lender, Bruce Norris.The Norris Group proudly presents our 16th annual award winning event I Survived Real Estate. Industry experts join Bruce Norris to discuss the evolving industry trends, real estate bubbles, inflation and opportunities are merging for real estate professionals. All proceeds from the event benefit Make-a-Wish and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We want to thank our Platinum Partners. Inland Empire Real Estate Investment Club, San Diego Creative Investors Association, White Feather Investments, Wilson Investment Properties, uDirect Ira Services, MVT Productions, and Realty411 Magazine.

Joey Romero: 1:13

Hi, everybody, welcome. Thank you for another tremendous turnout and helping us raise over $60,000 this year for two great charities. Thank you. One of our tremendous sponsors is White Feather Investments. It is a company who sole mission is to help retired veterans, they teach them how to achieve financial freedom through real estate investment. And I'd like to bring up their CEO Buddy Rushing to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Buddy Rushing: 1:49

Please stand face the flag put your hand in your heart and repeat after me. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Joey Romero: 2:26

All right, we have a packed, packed schedule. So without further ado, we're gonna get right into it. Here to say a couple words, St. Jude is Aaron as leader.

Erin Eslinger: 2:42

Thank you, Joey. Thank you, Bruce Norris and The Norris group. I'm so honored to be here tonight on behalf of St. Jude. So today, one of the most significant indicators of whether a child will survive cancer is where that child lives. nearly 90% of children with cancer live in low and middle income countries. Many of these kids lack access to accurate diagnoses. It's estimated that 400,000 kids annually worldwide will get cancer, but only half of them will be diagnosed. And of those who are diagnosed in these low income countries, many of these kids lack access to consistent care, treatment and medicine. So what that means is that these kids 80% of them will die from their disease. That's a staggering statistic, 80% and it's just not acceptable. CEO, Dr. Downing of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He didn't think that was acceptable either. Something had to be done. And he asked a very simple question. If not St. Jude, then who? So in 2018, St. Jude global was launched. And the mission of St. Jude global is to engage over 250 institutions, over 70 countries worldwide. Yes. And the goal is to increase access to quality care and increased survival rates for childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases worldwide. The Global Initiative for childhood cancer has the goal of increasing survival rates and six common childhood cancers by up to 60% by the year 2030, which is a really ambitious goal. But St. Jude, we're no stranger to ambitious goals. Our founder, he had an ambitious goal. And when Danny Thomas set out to build St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, he was told that it was impossible that it couldn't be done. In fact, he was told that it would break his heart. But he didn't give up. He didn't listen. In 1962, when the hospital opened its doors, a diagnosis for childhood cancer was considered largely incurable, practically a death sentence. But since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall cancer survival rate from 20% to over 80%, and up to 94% for certain types of cancer. Yes, thank you. But like I said, that's here in the United States. So our work isn't done. And we won't stop, we won't stop until no child dies from cancer no matter where they live. If not St. Jude, then who? So it's thanks to fundraisers like these and supporters like you that St. Jude can continue our good work, and our life saving mission, finding cures, saving children, everywhere. So thank you, thank you to The Norris Group for your many years of support, for this incredible event. And for all the money that you've raised for the kids of St. Jude and their families.

Bruce Norris: 6:37

Thank you.

Odette Gutierrez: 6:37

Thank you.

Joey Romero: 6:51

Please welcome. Make-A-Wish OC & IE CEO, my friend Gloria Crockett.

Gloria Crockett: 7:03

Thank you so much Joey. Thank you, Bruce. Wow. Wishes provide what they provide hope. And I want you guys to know that each and every one of you are providing hope by being here this evening. And I would like to give you guys all a round of applause, so thank you. Are those not some amazing wishes? Did you guys see those? Those are amazing. So what people often don't know that those kids that were received wishes are between the ages of two and a half and 18 years of age. 73%, let me say this 73% of our kids grow up and have a wonderful, happy adult lives. So guess what we're doing? We're being there to lift them up, to provide them hope, to provide them inspiration when their families and them need it most. Just last Saturday, we had our gala and we granted our 8,000th wish for Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino County. It takes a community to come together to say what can we do to help others to help give back to help provide that hope. And what we do every single day is providing that wish kids parents say to us over 92% of them say their child having a wish help their family grow stronger and quote "grow closer together." Also physicians 94% of them say that a wish helps kids become more compliant with their treatment. So wishes are important. They're just not a need to have their a have to have right. So we're here today to say thank you all so very much to The Norris Group to I Survived Real Estate. And I've got a couple of really interesting things. So we were this gold star because that gold star provides hope. I know Joey, you got yours on Bruce, I've got yours here. So I'm going to pass this over it, Joey and give that to you button. I started with Make-A-Wish that as the CEO four years ago, just before the pandemic took place. And so there was a wish that was adopted by The Norris group at the surf I survived real estate event and that was Elijah's wish. His wish to was to meet Jeff Bezos. And I just want you guys to know that Elijah has written a book. And it's amazing. It's an inspiring story of a 17 year old with a very tough disease and his mission to cure it. So when he wrote this book, I asked him to sign one for Bruce and one for Joey. It says Bruce, thank you for supporting Make-A-Wish and I hope you enjoy my book. I would love to meet you again. So I've got these two for you guys.

Bruce Norris: 9:57

Thank you.

Gloria Crockett: 10:00

When my mission delivery director brought that book, one of the books and I said, Oh my gosh, you have to get them signed. So one of the things that we do each year as well at I Survived Real Estate is we adopt a wish. So what is it when you adopt a wish, you help pay it forward, you actually grant that wish for that child, and then you help that next one be granted. So this is I'm a wish kid. This is Abigail. She's five with leukemia and she wanted to go to Disney World. So I want to say on behalf of Make-A-Wish, we want to say thank you for helping grant Abigail's wish.

Bruce Norris: 10:37

Thank you.

Gloria Crockett: 10:44

Again, each and every one of you are helping make wishes come true. I want to say thank you for providing hope and inspiration and have a lovely evening and learn a lot. I learned a lot at this event every single year. So thank you, Joey. Thank you, Bruce. Have a wonderful evening.

Bruce Norris: 10:58

Thank you.

Joey Romero: 11:18

In 2013, about five years into the I Survived Real Estate event, Bruce Norris decided that it should have an award. This award should be a lifetime achievement and mentorship award, which honors individuals that elevated real estate investing this profession, with their outstanding leadership and willingness to share their knowledge and work with others. With the blessing of the Jim Rohn family estate, the award was named the Rohny Award. The 2023 Rohny Award recipient is Aaron Norris. Thank you it falls on me to tell you all the reasons why Aaron is a great candidate for this prestigious award. So let me tell you about Aaron, the friend, the philanthropist, the investor, and the teacher. First a friend. To a man when, the resonating thought about Aaron was that he made you feel so important that you would characterize him as a friend, a friend who cared more about your success than his own. A friend that could root for you like he had money riding on it. A friend who would roll up the sleeves and get dirty, or fight right alongside with you. A friend that you couldn't wait to see again and spend more time with. Aaron the philanthropist, Aaron was the greatest philanthropist I ever knew. Others may have been more prolific in terms of giving money, but nobody gave more to more worthy causes than Aaron did. Whether it was his time as treasurer or his talent. And if you were lucky, you got all three. Best of all, he would rally many to join him. His magnetic personality would draw you in and the next thing you know you were volunteering for something or writing the check. He was a key figure in the GiveBig Riverside campaign which raised over a million dollars for local nonprofits in one day. Aaron, the investor, now growing up the child of Bruce Norris didn't actually mean that he would gravitate to real estate investing. You know, he wrote, he pulled up his fair share of, you know, roach infested carpets and, you know, took his fair share of wheelbarrows to the dumpster. But his heart was always in the arts. He would leave home for the bright lights in New York to fulfill his childhood dream on Broadway. In a twist of fate, he was injured, trying to tumble into play as he contemplated getting older, and how long he could do this. He was called home as his mom battled cancer. He never regretted coming home. Always thinking of others more than that himself. After, you know, learning in a couple jobs, his dad finally said, Hey, why don't you come work for me? Aaron said okay. And he immediately began making a difference. The reports that Bruce had come to be famous for suddenly were different. Aaron had taken over the design and quality of these reports. And it showed many would come to say that Aaron brought The Norris group into the 21st century and along with it, the real estate investing community. Aaron finally bought his first investment home and he always gave credit to a fellow Rohny award winner John Schaub and his book, Building Wealth One House At A Time. For the next decade, Aaron would work tirelessly to carve a niche of his own. He never wanted to be handed anything for free, or just be called Bruce's kids. Although I know a lot of you guys would like that. No, Aaron would dive into real estate technology and marketing. And as quickly as he learned, he would be on the investor circuit club and best teaching others how to do the same. Which brings me to Aaron the teacher. Aaron's previous career made him a natural in front of the crowd, whether he was talking to a group of 15 real estate agents at a brokerage at a small broker house, or he was presenting in front of 500 people talking about them latest real estate tech, Aaron always brought it, you would never leave. Like you didn't learn at least one thing that you could immediately implement it to your career and to your strategy. Matter of fact, you probably needed a couple of days from information overload. And if you didn't get it, Aaron was always a phone call away. You know, I would sit in on a lot of these investor roadmaps that we did. And, you know, he loved nothing more than to see the light go out, go off, you know, the light bulb go off in somebody's head when they got it. That was him, you know, wanting their success more than his own. His ideas, you know, he would hit them with what he called, I'm gonna beat you up with ideas tailored to your personality and your skill set. As he continued to learn and grow, his ideas would go on to the national stage writing for bigger pockets and Forbes magazine. And if there was a policy change, or law that threatened mom and pop investors, everyone would learn everything you could possibly know. So to help you understand what was coming down the pike from Sacramento, as much as he thought he was an even bigger advocate for the whole real estate community. Let me leave you with the last thought is Aaron's impact. Aaron through his work with his dad impacted so many in the investment world, he made the concepts and charts that Bruce would present truly speak to you so clearly that you could make the best decision for you and your family. He also made a big impact on his own. I think he could probably argue who's more famous Bruce or Aaron. I will leave you with this. The impact that Aaron had on my life. If I can get through it. I spent the better parts of nine years volunteering for the same nonprofits that Aaron was helping out, working to make Riverside a better place for everybody who lived in work there, helping young professionals to connect socially, develop professionally, engaged civically, but my life would change six years ago when he called and said, Hey, me and dad want to make you an offer. What I didn't know is that the trajectory of my life and my family's life would be changed forever. I stand here before you as a testament of what Aaron's belief has done. Aaron and I would go to Starbucks every day. I think it was on these short car rides that Aaron truly opened up to me about everything in our bond was solidified. There wasn't anything that we didn't know about each other. It was there that I learned how insecure he was about not bringing value. He hated being thought of being liked. The thought of other thinking that he didn't deliver would sometimes keep them up at night. He would tell him that he had nothing don't worry about and he would eventually say you're right. They ready. My family understands this impact to, my little girl Chloe's here tonight. She called Aaron and her business partner because during COVID she would tag along with Aaron and I to Starbucks that she would have business meetings with them at 12 years old. My son who graduated high school last year, he was taking senior pictures and I told them hey, if you don't want to you don't have to wear the purple bracelet that we had made when Aaron passed away. He said Dad, I want to wear I know how much he meant to you. And I know how much he did for our family. What I said to him next is what I'll say to all of you, my wish and hope is in your lifetime that you have one, just one friend like Aaron. Thank you.

Derek Harms: 19:38

Aaron was a beacon of light for our entire industry and they just don't make them like that anymore. He always made you feel like a priority. No matter how busy he was.

Kaaren Hall: 19:52

Wanting to wish Aaron Norris congratulations on the Rohny award. Who deserves it more than Aaron Who could possibly deserve more.

Christina Suter: 20:02

Aaron was one of the best people in the real estate community. He was an amazing human being. He was kind, welcoming, authentic and humorous. He was also a geek. And it was also an amazing and using marketing data to highlight upcoming trends in real estate.

Craig Evans: 20:15

When I met Aaron, he and Bruce were going through an ordeal with a different builder at the time. And although he was stressed about the situation, I got to see the character of a man that was second to none. I watched to push forward at that time, his clients, you, you all to make sure that the investors that worked with The Norris Group had access to the best product and the best process possible.

Mike Cantu: 20:38

I sold Aaron his first rental property. A hoarder house super smelly, and squatters next door, I was worried he was going to fire me as a friend over that deal. It turned out fantastic. I was really, I valued our friendship.

Buddy Rushing: 20:57

Every single time that I spoke with him, I came away, feeling completely empowered, completely heard full information that can make my life better every time he spoke to our group. Everyone was just buzzing afterwards.

Tony Alvarez: 21:09

If he wasn't running around at some Norris Group event, trying to make sure that we all had a perfect evening, but that we had all the information we needed, or that we had, basically some new piece of information that we didn't know about before. He was out in some political endeavor, some nonprofit organization, always doing something bigger than himself.

Shayna Golbaf: 21:33

Here's just my bestie. We used to have lunch we connected years ago, and I was blessed to be able to spend lots of lunches and dinners with him just laughing and solving all the world's problems. And then one day he voluntold/convinced me to be on a panel. And he just said, Just trust me, you got this. I'm like, I don't even know. So I go to this conference. I'm sitting in the back trying to hide, and I'm sitting by someone never seen him before. And everyone keeps coming up to him. And then Aaron opens the conference and his poise, articulation and everyone just in awe of every hanging on every word they had to say I was like, wow. And then at break, everyone kept coming up to this guy that I was sitting next to and Aaron comes I was like, Who is this guy? He was like, That's my dad. That's Bruce Norris. But at that moment, I realized what a special human Aaron was not just because of his influence and his knowledge, but because of his heart for others. And Bruce, the saint.

Derek Harms: 22:29

And one of my favorite things to watch was the dynamic between Bruce and Aaron both on stage together, Aaron trailblazing the new laws that affect real estate investors and the technology. And Bruce, of course, with the data and analytics. It really was cool to see.

Amanda Han: 22:47

I think about Aaron I think about the word service, always willing to serve. Always thinking about other people. I think one of the first events we ever did together was a breakfast brunch. And we didn't know at the time, but for an eight o'clock breakfast, the Bruce Norris fans would show up at 7am before the restaurants open. And Aaron, of course, rolled up his sleeves and was going around pouring coffee, setting the table, serving people. And that's just one of many examples of Aaron Norris being himself and always thinking about others.

Tony Alvarez: 23:17

You know, most of us get started in real estate for our own interests. But Aaron Norris, from the beginning was about bigger things.

David Granzella: 23:27

With this award does not address the extraordinary manual, the spiritual being beyond reproach and most important, my friend.

Kristi Cirtwill: 23:34

I believe it was Maya Angelou said, people do forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget the way you made them feel.

Larry French: 23:44

So these silly masks, there was about 100 of these with people holding them in front of their face at a Commerce event that Aaron held. He was part of in Downtown Riverside people marching all over the place with these restaurants and businesses. And it was just such a great symbol of how much he was loved and what an influence he was. And this was something that had nothing to do with real estate. This was a business Commerce event. Dude was amazing. He listened nonstop. He cared about our success. He cared about the people around them success so much.

Tim Manke: 24:14

You know, we talked about what Aaron meant to real estate, but real estate's really a business about people. So I would say his biggest impact was just on how he shared his humanity, how we touch people's lives. How he made us as investors, we're going to look at real estate really as a people business. And that's just an amazing legacy.

Craig Evans: 24:37

I'll never forget that moment. While I was so focused on solving the problem. Aaron in only a way that Aaron could reminded me that life itself, and our family and friends are worth more than any amount of money or any investment could ever be worth.

Tony Alvarez: 24:53

The very first time that I met Aaron was very special. Before that, The Norris Group was all about a handshake. pat on the back well done. When I met Aaron, and we never met each other before that,he came up to me with open arms and gave me a big hug. He called me Uncle Tony. I'll never forget that.

David Granzella: 25:17

What some of you may not know is the first one, acting, actually successfully made it all the way to New York and Broadway place.

Tom Wilson: 25:26

I also want to thank you for inspiring us with your heartfelt and selfless actions, such as leaving your Broadway career to come support your mom, deciding to help out your dad which took The Norris group into a new plateau which has enabled and positively influence so many people. And also for creating this world class amazing I Survived Event. Not only has it made such amazing charitable contributions, but it's made all of us in the real estate investment community proud.

Kristi Cirtwill: 26:04

Thank you, Aaron, for being an awesome person and amazing friend, and congratulations on your award.

Matt MacFarland: 26:10

Definitely no one more deserving and Aaron for the Rohny award.

Amanda Han: 26:12

Congratulations, Aaron.

Tom Wilson: 26:13

Aaron, I want to thank you so much for all of your contributions to our real estate investment community. We've learned so much since you came into our lives.

Janet French: 26:23

This Rohny award is truly deserved, and nobody else could be stronger and are needed.

Buddy Broome: 26:28

Your Dlegacy lives on for all the help and service that you've given to others and to the real estate community of Southern California as a whole.

Christina Suter: 26:35

Congratulations on receiving the Rohny award. You truly deserve it.

Mike Cantu: 26:39

Congratulations on the Roni award. Aaron. Well done.

Derek Harms: 26:43

Congratulations on the Rohny Award Aaron. Very well deserved, buddy.

Buddy Broome: 26:47

Congratulations once again. Aaron.

Kaaren Hall: 26:49

I missed your friend. Congratulations.

Craig Evans: 26:51

So with that said, Aaron. Congrats, my friend on winning the Rohny award.

Tom Wilson: 26:56

Congratulations on winning this award tonight.

Tony Alvarez: 26:59

Congratulations Aaron. You certainly deserve this award. And big hug from your Uncle Tom.

David Granzella: 27:06

Aaron, maybe gone from us physically. But for those of us that knew him, he will absolutely forever live on in our hearts.

Joey Romero: 27:26

To accept the Rohny award is that guy Aaron's Dad.

Bruce Norris: 27:29

I'll just say we're retiring the Rohny award. So this will be the last one that we give. The Rohny award was started because of my respect for for Jim Rohn 1981 or 1980, in October, I attended a seminar. My first note on the top of the page was, This man doesn't need our money. I could tell his motive was pure. And later on, he told a story that changed his life. A Girl Scout came to his door was really good salesperson. Box of cookies for three bucks. He didn't have three bucks. So what did he do? He lied. He said, I already bought 10 boxes of them from from another girl scout. And when she left, he slumped on the floor and cried. And that event changed his life. And when he taught I could tell he was trying to reach inside of each person and say you have one of those stories. You can be something much better than you are. And that's why we created the Rohny award in honor of Jim Rohn. I want to end it with Aaron Norris. One of the things that was delightful as his father is I love to go wherever he had been. When you're raising a kid, your kids always follow where you went. But when he gets older, you get to follow where they go. And one of my joys in life was to go where Aaron had been and they go, oh, you're Aaron Norris's Dad, we love him. There's not a better feeling than that. When Aaron had cancer. He was on a second treatment at UCLA. So I dropped him off in front of the hospital when to park the car came up and I passed by the nursing station. And it was literally a buzz and I so I paid attention. And you know what they said? Aaron Norris is back. Who gets that at the hospital. And every time he went like if they change locations, the nurses at the other location are coming over going this is not where he goes. He was just loved. What are lucky Dad I have been to follow Aaron and see his reaction or people's reaction to him. So thank you, Joey. I love Joey's emotion when it comes to to Aaron and they are great friends. Best friends in life that's so cool to see. So thank you for honoring Aaron tonight appreciate that.

Narrator: 30:28

See ISurvivedRealEstate.com for event details, information on all our generous sponsors and to connect with our speakers. We'd also like to thank our Gold Sponsors, Chase Leland Photography, Fair Trade Real Estate, Inland Valley Association of Realtors, Keystone CPA, Leivas Tax Wealth Management, NorCal REIA, NSDREI, Pasadena FIBI, PropertyRadar, The Outspoken Investor Tony Alvarez, White House Catering, Windermere Tower Realty, Rick and Leanne Rossiter. ISurvivedRealEstate.com for event details, in For more information on hard money, loans and upcoming events with the Norris group, check out the Norris group.com. For more information on hard money, loans and upcoming events with The Norris Group, check out thenorrisgroup.com. For information on passive investing with trust deeds, visit tngtrustdeeds.com.

Aaron Norris: 31:38

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669. For more information on hard money lending, go www.thenorrisgroup.com and click the Hard Money tab.