In this episode, Russell Westcott sits down with real estate investor and business owner Christine Traynor for one of the most honest conversations of Season 5.
Christine shares the chapter of her journey that rarely makes it onto social media — losing her dream home, navigating financial shame, and starting over with a deeply negative net worth. She walks through the decisions that followed, including walking away, rebuilding her credit and confidence, buying businesses using creative financing, exiting multiple companies for cash, and eventually building a sizable real estate portfolio.
This conversation goes far beyond tactics. It explores the emotional weight of failure, the role of accountability and mentorship, and what becomes possible when you stop avoiding hard truths and start designing life on your terms.
This is not theory.
This is lived experience.
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IN THIS EPISODE
- Christine’s early real estate journey and first investments
- How a renovation and septic disaster triggered financial collapse
- The emotional toll of losing a home and starting over
- Why shame keeps people stuck longer than the numbers ever do
- The decision to walk away — and why it changed everything
- Rebuilding credit, confidence, and momentum from ground zero
- Buying businesses with no money down using creative finance
- Exiting multiple companies for cash
- Scaling a real estate portfolio
- Why mentorship, proximity, and accountability accelerate results
- Turning setbacks into leverage and long-term success
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MEMORABLE QUOTES
“Your mess becomes your message.”
“This can happen — it’s all available.”
“Failure is not permanent. Avoidance is.”
“Rebuilding doesn’t start with hustle. It starts with honesty.”
“Surround yourself with people doing what you want to do.”
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COACHING & MENTORSHIP
If you’re serious about becoming a more confident and capable real estate investor, the biggest challenge usually isn’t effort — it’s clarity.
Most people don’t get stuck because they lack ambition. They get stuck because they’re unsure what to focus on next, which decisions actually matter, and how to move forward without making expensive mistakes. In a market that’s constantly changing, having a clear roadmap and experienced guidance can make all the difference.
Across business, sports, and investing, the gap between average results and exceptional results often comes down to one thing: access to the right coaches and mentors. The kind of guidance that helps you see around corners, avoid common pitfalls, and move forward with confidence.
If you’d like to explore what that kind of support could look like for you, simply send an email to:
hello@russellwestcott.com
We’ll connect and see how we can help you move forward.
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Email: hello@russellwestcott.com
Podcast: https://russellwestcott.podbean.com/
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MUSIC CREDITS
Pax by Soulish – Premium Beats
LICENSE 8177579
YouTube ID: UVZNP3L4S9VNKPC7
The Old Tale by Magdalena – Premium Beats
LICENSE 8177663
YouTube ID: 1RFUK4VWLYRXDX2R
From East to West by Arthur Basov – Premium Beats
LICENSE 8413593
YouTube ID: FPVEHZMG3XNNWD1R
Impromptu in Quarter Comma Meantone by Kevin MacLeod
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Art of Silence V2 by Uniq
Enigmatic by bensound.com
Royalty Free Music
License Code: 0XDXSVCDNZDXQ9H7
Artist: Benjamin Tissot
