Mind Your REAL ESTATE Business: Coaching to Close

What if the most important person in your real estate business isn’t the agent, but the admin behind the scenes?  Chris Cook sits down with his long-time admin and operations powerhouse, Olga, to uncover the real engine driving a high-performing real estate business.  What starts as a conversation about hiring quickly evolves into a masterclass on systems, ownership, and operational excellence. Ol...

Dave Bailis spent 22 years in Toronto's pre-construction condo market — and then walked away.  Chris Cook sits down with Dave as he makes the pivot to full-service resale at RE/MAX Hallmark, unpacking what it actually means to rebuild a real estate business from the ground up when the market you knew no longer exists.  From the collapse of the investor-driven pre-con model to the surprising p...

What if the best real estate deals never even hit the market?  Chris Cook welcomes business partner and long-time collaborator David Ferris to dive deep into the world of off-market real estate deals.  They explore the real advantages these hidden gems offer buyers, the surprising motivations behind sellers who choose to stay off MLS, and how agents can use this strategy to prospect more effective...

You might be working hard, but are you working smart? Chris Cook dives deep into the common traps real estate agents fall into when setting their goals and power plans for the new year.  He shares real insights from reviewing agent submissions in the PATH program, showing how vague strategies and “busy work” often replace meaningful, measurable action.  From dissecting the importance of being defi...

AI won’t replace great realtors, but realtors who use AI well might replace those who don’t.  In this episode of Mind Your Real Estate Business , Chris sits down with Johnder Perez to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate today: artificial intelligence.  Rather than hype or fear-mongering, this conversation cuts to what actually matters, how AI can support a realtor’s business...

Can one daily action really change the trajectory of your real estate career?  Chris Cook sits down with coach and educator Kory Gorgani to unveil the Power Plan—a simple, one-page system that's reshaping how agents approach productivity and growth.  Ditching dusty 30-page business plans, Kory explains how intentional, measurable, and repeatable daily actions, paired with weekly accountabilit...

Is online lead generation just a dopamine hit for desperate agents?  Chris Cook sits down with Josh Decaire, founder of Waypoint Media Solutions, to unpack the real truth behind building a sustainable real estate brand versus chasing cold leads.  From the flaws of short-term lead gen tactics to the emotional toll of endless follow-ups, they explore how agents can shift their mindset and energy tow...

Think you're a solo agent? Think again—your success depends on the team you build around you. Chris Cook draws a brilliant parallel between real estate and professional baseball to drive home one powerful point: even the greatest players can't win alone.  From broker managers and accountability coaches to CRM specialists and mastermind groups, he outlines the roles that elevate agents fr...

“Think real estate is easy money? Think again.” Most agents don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they were never taught how to actually succeed. Chris sits down with Micah Munro, a real estate coach and former team leader, to dive deep into why most new agents fail, and how a brand-new, high-accountability launch program is flipping that script.  From hands-on shadowing to daily habi...

Ever wonder why some agents crush listing appointments while others crash and burn?  In this episode, Chris Cook sits down with 38-year real estate veteran Shawn Whelan for a no-nonsense conversation about mastering the fundamentals of sales, specially the oft-misunderstood power of scripts.  They unpack why most agents fail to use scripts effectively, how internalizing your dialogues changes ever...

Sometimes it’s easier to give new birth than drag around the dead”—that’s just one of the many memorable one-liners Dan Railey drops in this episode. Chris Cook sits down with his longtime mentor to discuss sales discipline, hiring the right people, overcoming objections, and keeping your energy high.  Dan shares his proven “sales matrix,” why athletes make the best salespeople, and how relationsh...

"Want to wow your clients without even trying?"  Chris Cook dives into the secret sauce behind consistent, scalable, and client-pleasing real estate operations: standard operating procedures (SOPs).  From a last-minute scramble caused by not having proper systems in place to a passionate breakdown of how SOPs transform a chaotic business into a flourishing one. He shares how he segments...

Is the “old school” real estate grind actually the new competitive edge?  Chris Cook sits down with his business partner David Ferris to unpack the practical, high-converting strategies that helped David build a thriving real estate business—from nearly zero to authority status.  Ditching expensive online leads and embracing traditional, budget-friendly methods like open houses, circle prospecting...

What if the reason your marketing isn’t working… is because you skipped the plan?  Chris Cook sits down with marketing strategist Jen Aprile Cunningham to unpack the marketing missteps real estate agents make—and how to fix them.  With over 15 years of experience, Jen brings clarity to a chaotic topic, revealing why strategy must come before tactics, how consistency trumps frequency, and why speci...

What if the key to success isn’t hustle, but clarity, care, and the courage to let go?  Chris Cook sits down with real estate powerhouse Ken McLachlan, CEO of RE/MAX Hallmark—the largest RE/MAX brokerage in the world.  With over 40 years of experience, Ken shares a refreshing take on leadership, growth, and how showing up with intention beats chasing numbers.  From overcoming burnout to mastering...

Is your real estate business running you — or are you running it?  Chris Cook sits down with Niketa Bissessar, the powerhouse operations leader behind the high-performing Michelle Fraser Team.  They dive deep into how the right systems — and more importantly, the right people — can turn chaos into clarity and scale your business without breaking it.  From ditching paper checklists for digital plat...

What if you could legally redirect your tax dollars to your family or your favorite charity—without breaking the bank or bending the rules?  Chris Cook sits down with financial strategist Peter Lount to break down the essentials of tax-smart wealth protection for real estate professionals.  From transitioning corporate wealth into personal assets to leveraging life insurance as a tax-exempt pipeli...

Is your business running you, instead of the other way around?  In this revealing and relatable episode of Mind Your Real Estate Business, Chris Cook sits down with Simmi Minhas to unpack what happens when success in real estate starts to consume every aspect of your life.  From burnout and constant reactiveness to the hard truths about setting boundaries, Simmi opens up about her intense journey...

What’s the secret to thriving in tough markets while others struggle to survive?  Chris Cook sits down with realtor Patrick Gillis to explore the power of goal setting, consistency, and genuine relationships in building a thriving real estate career — even in difficult markets.  Patrick candidly shares his journey from early success, through the crushing recession of the '90s, to creating his...

Ready to unlock the secret sauce of high performance in business and sport? Chris Cook connects with longtime friend and former sports psychologist Dr. Colin Guthrie for an incredibly insightful conversation about what it really takes to perform under pressure — in Olympic sailing and real estate alike.  They dive into how mastering mental performance, embracing self-awareness, and letting go of c...