Lorenzo Mercado is a pediatric nurse working 24 to 36 hours a week while building toward his long term goal of becoming a hotel owner. Like a lot of people in healthcare, he is not trying to escape overnight. He is playing the long game, using his W2 income to fund his real estate journey while stacking experience along the way.

In this episode, we talk about what that actually looks like. From early mornings in the gym to 12 hour shifts at the hospital, to spending his off days analyzing deals, talking to brokers, and working toward his first hotel acquisition. Lorenzo opens up about losing money on flips, what he learned from those experiences, and why he is more focused than ever on building something real in real estate.

We also get into the mindset behind doing both. Why he is not rushing to leave nursing, how income stability allows him to be patient, and how working in healthcare has shaped the way he thinks about hospitality. If you are juggling a career and trying to build something on the side, this episode will show you what it really takes to stay disciplined, focused, and committed to the long term vision.