Level Up - From Agent to Entrepreneur

When faced with a competitive market, one of the first things many agents do to win more listings is cut their commissions. However, that might not be necessary.   The truth is, when we’re providing a phenomenal service to our clients, they won’t have a problem with our commissions. Thriving in a competitive market doesn’t require us to lower our percentages, it just means we need to up our value....

As we near the end of each year, many agents take time off to recuperate from the past 11 months. However, doing that could leave a considerable dent in our energy levels and our profits.   More momentum and cash flow are lost in December than in any month of the year, and that’s because so many of us go cold turkey after a year of grinding and feeling burnt out. Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t...

With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the perfect time to gain momentum and set ourselves up for a better 2021. However, so many of us have broken our routines that finishing strong seems out of reach.    That being said, falling out of a routine doesn’t automatically spell disaster. We’re not doomed, we just need to reset.   How can we get back into the swing of things and make the mo...

Our level of success goes beyond financial reward and recognition. In our own way, we are leaders and examples in our community. Our goals and motivation don’t just impact our own lives.    Performing at a high-level and making our dreams a reality is non-negotiable because it impacts the lives of the people around us. It’s our responsibility to be the best we can be, and that should add fuel to o...

2020 has been a challenging year, and since many agents are feeling a sense of mental and emotional exhaustion, our productivity levels have taken a hit.  In the final stretch of the year, many of us feel the need to switch off completely. While that may bring us some short-term relief, getting complacent now could have a catastrophic effect on the year that lies ahead.  How can agents muster up t...

In the past, being a top producer was determined by who stayed in the business the longest. Now with the right tools, systems, and resources, people who are just getting into the industry are excelling and even outpacing veterans.   Why are younger generations doing so well at real estate? What is attracting them to our industry? In this episode, we discuss this trend and the opportunities for age...

With so many tech companies moving into the real estate space, a lot of agents feel uncertain about the future. Do we stand a chance against our online competition?  Now, more than ever before, we have to focus on offering customer service that exceeds all expectations. In fact, it’s not enough to provide a service anymore. If we want to secure repeat and referral business, we have to create an ex...

To build booming real estate businesses, we have to tailor our strategies to who we are and where our strengths lie. No two agents are the same, and every market is unique. We have to capitalize on what sets us apart from everyone else.    That being said, there are some tricks of the trade that will always help us grow, whether we’re new to the industry or looking to reach the next level.    Whic...

  With all the challenges we’ve faced in 2020, many agents have begun to feel down on themselves and it has taken a toll on their productivity. It’s more important now than ever to focus on our inner games and make a concerted effort to be more positive.    While we’re facing unprecedented obstacles, it’s important to remember that we have the power to shape our own destinies. By changing the way...

We’re living in scary times, and a lot of agents are worried about what tomorrow holds. However, sometimes what keeps us from reaching our dreams isn’t extenuating circumstances. Sometimes the roadblock is our own mindset, and we’ve become too comfortable with the current situation we’re in.    Whether we’re battling issues beyond our control or our own self-limiting beliefs, it’s important to rem...

In difficult times like these, it can be hard to know what to focus on in order to keep our businesses going and stay motivated. Some people would say we should coat everything with optimism and positivity, while others want reality and truth.    Should we commit to constant optimism if we want to see results, or should we accept the negative?    The answer isn’t as simple as choosing one of two e...

In light of the uncertainty brought on by 2020, consumers are beginning to demand more skill from real estate professionals. So if we want to stay in business, we have to deliver.    Should we be taking risks during this period, or is now the time to play it safe? What do we need to change in our business models?   Luckily for us, the core principles of a successful business haven’t changed much....

Why let uncertainty slow our businesses down? If we can adapt our methods to the world right now, we can grow and thrive.    In this episode we discuss how to take advantage of virtual technology, and keep our virtual meetings informative and professional so they deliver results.     To thrive during times of uncertainty, you have to be versatile and open to communicating through a range of channe...

To see terrific results in our businesses, it’s vital we create an effective and supportive working environment. How can we build a great company culture? What can we do to show every member on our teams we care about them? On this episode, Broker/Owner at RE/MAX Results, Lisa Ritter shares how to instill a great company culture.      To have high energy you need to be surrounded by the right peop...

In the wake of COVID-19 and the economic crisis, it’s hard to deny that most agents are experiencing some kind of fear, but if we stop dwelling on the things we can’t control, we can move forward in spite of that. How can we push forward in a time of such uncertainty? Is there any way to overcome our anxieties? The first step to taking the fear out of our businesses is acknowledging what we’re afr...

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, the real estate industry is going through considerable changes. Many agents are working from home, and leaders have been forced to find new ways to stay in communication with their teams. During this time of uncertainty, real estate professionals should shift their focus away from closing leads, and spend more time nurturing their databases.  How can we stay produ...

Every stage of the real estate transaction has been impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns and changes in the market. The terms of deals are changing rapidly, and the decisions of buyers and sellers are also shifting along with the situation we’re in.  Agents are still presenting and receiving offers and having to negotiate deals, but the process has become more challenging.  It is our responsibility...

When things are not going well in business and in the market in general, the importance of certain activities and measures is amplified.  Right now, more than ever, there’s a huge need for all of us to work together to navigate these tough times and mastermind to come up with solutions and strategies. We also need people who can step up and provide guidance and certainty.  What are some of the way...

In these unprecedented times, the market, the industry and the consumer demands different things and even new things from us. Our habits have to shift accordingly, so we need to create a new routine to match where we are.  What habits need to change, and which ones need to stay the same as before this crisis? What are our agents doing to keep taking listings and keep the business going? In this ep...

More of us are working from home than ever before, and this presents a challenge for our households and families. We need to be responsible and have business maturity to maintain our ability to work in a location with more distractions.  It’s important to prepare our families and involve them in our communication around what’s going on. How can we get the household to protect us instead of distrac...

With millions of people stuck indoors in these uncertain times, people are spending a lot more time online than before, especially through their phones. This means we have a huge captive audience of people we can inform and connect with. There’s an opportunity to engage with people and there are many ways we can leverage it.   How do we capture mindshare through information so that we become the p...

When things change in the market and there’s an interruption in the direction we were going, we need to adjust and react quickly. Depending on how we respond to what’s happening, a year from now, we can either look back with regret or gratitude that we took the right actions.  Once we’re in the clear, and the dust has settled, there will be the agent who took market share and the agents who contra...

As leaders, the times that we’re living through are going to require more mental and emotional bandwidth from us. Times of turmoil create more intensity and more things that we have to be concerned with. It can feel like things are breaking down, but the biggest positive changes come from breakdowns.  How do we compensate for the rising intensity level? Why is it so important for us to fight for s...

Coronavirus, the ensuing uncertainty and market volatility requires us to adopt an alternative business plan.  Whatever business plan we created at the beginning of the year isn’t going to cut it right now. We need a plan for what we need to do right now to sustain our businesses.  If we’re rethinking our business plans, what are the non-negotiable activities that need to be a part of them? What d...

Despite all the uncertainties in the market at the moment, people still need to buy and sell houses, and if we conduct ourselves the right way, we could be the agents to help them proceed. How can we continue to make calls in such a sensitive time,  and is there a right way to handle our database’s anxieties? How do we know which contacts we should be nurturing during this period? On this episode,...