How He Went From Resident to CEO with John Carlson, Ep. 727

John Carlson is the CEO of Mark-Taylor Residential and a multifamily veteran with over 20 years of experience in real estate operations and leadership. He began his journey as a resident in one of the company’s properties and rose through the ranks with a deep commitment to service, people-first culture, and long-term investment strategy. Today, he oversees a $10+ billion portfolio and is known for championing data-driven decision-making and organizational growth through purpose-driven leadership.

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Key Takeaways

• John’s career began with a part-time leasing job at a Mark-Taylor property where he once lived as a resident.

• A strong personal mission and aligning with a company’s purpose have been core to his long-term success.

• Working with institutional investors taught him the discipline of sticking to a defined investment thesis.

• Real estate is a long-term game—those who try to time the market often face avoidable risks.

• Culture, transparency, and uncomfortable growth moments are key to personal and organizational evolution.

Topics

From Resident to CEO

• John started as an unemployed engineer living in a Mark-Taylor apartment.

• After being offered a leasing role, he discovered a passion for multifamily and transitioned his career.

• Over time, he grew within the company while gaining exposure to asset management and institutional clients.

Why Purpose-Driven Culture Matters

• Meets with every new hire to discuss their personal mission and how it can align with the company vision.

• Encourages clarity and long-term thinking rather than reactive career decisions.

• Believes true employee retention starts with shared purpose.

Lessons from Institutional Investors

• Institutional groups adhere rigidly to investment criteria, which protects them from emotional decisions.

• Many individual investors fall into traps by abandoning their buy box just to close a deal.

• Stick to your investment thesis to avoid overextending in high-risk cycles.

Timing the Market vs. Building for the Long Game

• Markets like Phoenix saw huge growth, but rapid supply expansion exposed weaknesses.

• Fix-and-flip mindsets can backfire without flexible exit strategies.

• Disciplined, data-backed investing with a long-term outlook consistently outperforms speculation.

What Makes an Operator Stand Out

• Developers and owners who understand submarket data, upcoming supply, and cost dynamics build better partnerships.

• Transparency, market knowledge, and staying coachable are key to successful collaboration.

Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.

Round of Insights

Failure that set John up for success: Losing 26 employees in a surprise asset management transition in 2006 taught John the importance of growth planning and protecting people. Since then, no employee has lost a position in a similar transaction under his leadership.

Digital or mobile resource: ChatGPT 4.5 – Used daily as a CEO profile to streamline decisions, write, and think through strategy.

Book recommendation:

• The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

• 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

• 7 Powers by Jeffrey Pfeffer

Daily habit: Three daily gratitudes with his wife every morning to start the day with presence and positivity. Reviews personal and professional goals monthly.

#1 insight for growth: Be uncomfortable. Growth only happens when you step into challenge—and sustain it. Delayed gratification leads to stronger long-term success.

Favorite restaurant in Phoenix, AZ: Steak 44 — one of the top steakhouses in the country, known for world-class food and consistently exceptional service.

Next Steps

• Learn more about John’s work and services at www.mark-taylor.com 

• Revisit your personal mission and ensure it aligns with your professional path

• Adopt the mindset of long-term stewardship over short-term gain—whether you’re managing 10 units or 10,000

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