Level Up - From Agent to Entrepreneur

Latest Episodes:

Become The #1 Agent In Your Resort Town and Stand Out To Luxury And High-End Consumers w/Beau Blankenship Nov 11, 2021

Show notes

Real estate comes with it’s fair share of challenges no matter what market we’re in, but there’s a big difference between primary and resort markets. However, that’s not to say agents can’t make the transition from one to the other.

What do agents need to know before making the jump from a primary location to a vacation destination? What are consumer expectations in resort towns and how do they differ from their primary counterparts?

In this episode, lead advisor for the Blankenship Group, Beau Blankenship shares how to stand out in a resort market.

"I don't think anyone can understand the pulse of a market unless you're IN it." -Brendon

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

1 thing to know about resort towns in the Covid-era
As more people are able to work remotely full-time, what does that mean for the future of resort towns?

How to make a name for ourselves in feeder markets
How can we become synonymous with our markets, so when consumers in larger, feeder towns think of making an investment, we’re the very first name that springs to mind?

The importance of being active on the ground
How can we expect to position ourselves as local experts if we don’t know what’s happening in our communities?

Guest Bio-

Beau Blankenship is a successful business owner, luxury real estate investor, lead advisor for the Blankenship Group and License Partner for Engel & Völkers 30A Beaches. From a young age, Beau has consistently had a strong desire for success and possessed the drive to go above and beyond to make his goals a reality. From the beginning of his journey, he struggled to find a foothold in the ultra-competitive fields of real estate and property management. As a result, Beau learned what it took to lead a company. After years of dedication to sharpening his sales and team building skills, Beau finally opened his first brokerage in 2018 at the age of 27, and has since cleared nearly a billion dollars in personal sales volume since the start of his career. His brokerage, which grew from 4 advisors in 2018 to more than 70 in 2021, has cleared more than $608 million year-to-date. With grit, determination, and a shrewd sense for business and real estate investing; Beau grew his brokerage sales from $235 million in 2019 and to approaching a billion in sales in 2021. Beau was able to do this within the span of 3 years. Beau continues to lead the markets at #1 in GCI and volume for Engel & Voelkers, #1 in the 30a market for personal sales, #1 of year growth in the Engel & Voelkers network, and Real Trends The Thousand 2020 #36th in the country and #71 in 2019.

From his football career with the Jaguars to his powerhouse success with his Engel & Volkers brokerage, Beau has managed to defy the odds and proven time after time again that anything is possible. Beau’s unique ability to adapt to an ever-changing market and streamline the buying and selling process make him a force to be reckoned with in the 30A area.

To find out more and to connect with Beau, go to:

https://beaublankenship.evrealestate.com/

https://m.facebook.com/beau.blankenship.9

https://www.instagram.com/beaublank/?hl=en

beau.blankenship@evusa.com

How to Achieve Financial Freedom, So Your Choices Never Have to be Dictated by Income Ever Again w/Josh Barker Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

The prospect of attaining financial freedom is what got most of us into this business, but very few real estate pros have been able to turn that dream into reality.

Unfortunately, many of us are going about the business the wrong way, and as a result, we’re keeping ourselves on the hamster wheel indefinitely.

How can we start taking steps that bring us closer to our goals and root out the things stopping us from real freedom? Is financial freedom really possible for anyone to achieve?

In this episode, President of The Josh Barker Real Estate Team, Josh Barker explains the steps he took to attain his dream life.

"You have to pick a spot where you’re going to stop increasing your lifestyle, or you will work forever and have nothing to show for it." -Brendon Payne

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

The importance of proximity
How can we expect to reach our biggest, most ambitious goals if we’re surrounded by agents who are content with doing 15 to 20 deals a year?

The #1 thing that can make or break our results
It’s not enough to ‘want’ to achieve financial freedom. What’s really motivating us to make that dream a reality?

Why preparation is a non-negotiable for success
How many amazing opportunities have we lost out on because of a lack of vision and preparation for the future?

Guest Bio-

Josh Barker is the Broker and President of The Josh Barker Real Estate Group in Redding, California. A local expert in his market, Josh is passionate about building companies, and since returning from sailing in the Bahamas with his family last year, he is excited to get back into the business and navigate the changes the industry has and will continue to experience.

To find out more, go to:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-barker-61900a29/

https://www.reddinghomes.com/

Success Has Nothing to Do With Results: The Truth About Becoming Extraordinary in Real Estate Will Surprise You Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

In a metrics-obsessed industry, it’s super easy to attach our idea of success to grand numbers and achievements. Unfortunately, this approach can do more harm than good.

In our book, the numbers are insignificant. The process is what we should be obsessively fixated on.

When our vision of success is tied to what we do every single day, the extraordinary results we seek take care of themselves.

Why are process-focused people more successful than results-focused people? How do we lead our agents towards the activities that lead to success?

In this episode, we talk about the foundation of excellence, and why it doesn’t have to be based on the numbers.

"The people that follow a process and improve their skills end up doing extraordinarily well." -Greg Harrelson

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

What drives excellence on real estate teams
As real estate leaders, what’s more important, an agent’s discipline or high numbers and unbelievable metrics?

Metrics vs. process
If we can’t always control the outcome, what can we always guarantee our control over?

Why great leadership starts within
Leadership is about uncovering what holds our people back from following the process they've committed to. How do we raise our level of leadership to do this?

The Market has Already Shifted, But It’s Not an Up-Down Shift Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

When real estate agents hear the term “market shift”, we usually brace for a market crash, but what if it’s more subtle than that?

When huge shifts happen, there are always leading signs and indicators. Over the last few months, there’s been a noticeable change in the conversations buyers and sellers are having, and agents should pay attention and adjust their approach.

What are buyers and sellers thinking about now that they weren’t considering last year? How do we respond to this change? In this episode, we talk about the market shift that has already happened, and what it tells us.

"When the conversation among buyers and sellers starts to shift, that’s a very early indicator that something else may follow." -Greg Harrelson

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

How buyer behavior has shifted
Two months ago, buyers were trying to win the multiple offer scenarios, why are they more hesitant today?

Why we have to pay attention to leading indicators
Some of the biggest trends and indicators of a shift aren’t even showing up in closings yet. What are the agents who are paying attention noticing right now?

The only approach to take when the client’s dialogue changes
When the buyer or seller shifts the conversation, the agent’s tendency is to try and get them to shift back. Why is this a mistake?

Want to Create Extraordinary Results in Your Business? Commit to the Ordinary Activities That Lead to Success Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Unbelievable success in business is a byproduct of discipline, focus, skill, consistency, work ethic and habit, but the result isn’t what’s extraordinary or commendable.

What we should celebrate is the ability to follow a simple process consistently, even in the face of boredom and the lure of shiny, new things.

How do we relentlessly get better at the ordinary activities that lead to success, and stick to the core fundamentals when boredom sets in?

In today’s episode, we share insights on what it takes to achieve an uncommon level of success, and the biggest challenge you’ll face on this journey.

"Going all in on the new opportunity is letting go of your core, that’s called a replacement. If you keep your core and you explore the new opportunity, that’s an enhancement." -Greg Harrelson

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

Why success isn’t as glamorous as you think
Extraordinary results come from the repetition of ordinary activities. What are “listing machine” agents doing every single day to perform at a high level?

How to stay consistent when repetition and consistency gets boring
Human beings seek out and crave change, which flies in the face of the consistency and repetition needed to achieve anything extraordinary. How do we keep our need for variety away from our business fundamentals?

The difference between an enhancement and a replacement
An enhancement adds to our core fundamentals, a replacement eliminates the fundamentals. Why is the latter a risky move?

How Dom Santaniello Left Corporate & Built a Downturn-Proof, Cash Flowing Real Estate Business in 18 Months Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

Building on the right model and focusing on the right metrics is the key to getting the early wins, and setting yourself up for a profitable future. Success isn’t just about a return on investment, it’s about a return on your time. In a volatile market, net cash flow and a steady ship is more important than appreciation and big numbers.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by a real estate entrepreneur who left corporate, and started a brokerage and investing operation that weathered the financial storm of 2020.

How did he reverse engineer a successful transition from corporate to entrepreneurship? Why is he more focused on cash flow than net worth in this market?

In this episode, real estate broker, investor, entrepreneur, active landlord and co-owner of Naples Home Buyers & Naples Realty Group, Dom Santaniello shares how to build a solid real estate operation from the ground up and bring it to stability in 18 months.

"Our portfolio value is going to go down, based on where we are in the market. We’re focused on building the cash flow that’s going to power us through the downturn." -Dom Santaniello

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

How to leave corporate and have a soft landing in real estate
Could you be losing money and valuable time holding onto your fixed salary, and how can you cover your living expenses with your first rental property?

Why net cash flow is the most important metric with rentals
As markets shift, the value of your portfolio is going to fluctuate. How do we make sure our “salary” stays the same even if our “stock price” goes down?

The power of combining real estate sales and investing
Being an investor makes you a better agent, and being an agent makes you a better investor. How does Dom Santaniello use both to create the ultimate service for clients?

Guest Bio-

Dom Santaniello is a real estate broker, investor, entrepreneur, active landlord and co-owner of Naples Home Buyers & Naples Realty Group. Prior to working as a Real Estate Broker, Investor and Entrepreneur, he worked as a Natural Gas Pipeline Engineer for Kinder Morgan, the third largest energy company in North America. Dom earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The University of Hartford where he graduated in the top 10% of his class. Dom has also earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from American International College.

Dom’s main role in Naples Home Buyers is Business Development, Lead Generation & Project Acquisitions. Dom has brought a unique perspective to the local real estate market and is fueled by a strong foundation of analytical, financial and sales skills. The Naples team specializes in buying distressed properties, adding value through capital improvements, stabilizing the property with market rents (where applicable) and then either refinancing or selling the property. Since 2020, Dom and his business partner, Luke Giusto, have closed over 50 deals together that range from Single Family fix & flips to Multi-family Buy & Holds and Multi-family BRRR projects. They have quickly built a seven-figure rental property portfolio that consists of over 25 stabilized, turnkey, Class B+ units that produce an average of $500-$650 NET profit per door.

For more information, visit https://www.naples-group.com/ or contact Dom directly dom@naples-group.com.

Stop Letting Your Money Slip Through Your Fingers! Chris Naugle Shares How to Start Thinking Like the Wealthy Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

Real estate agents are great at generating money in hot markets, but when it comes to keeping it in down markets, not so much.

Where are we going so wrong, and how should we be switching up the strategies we’ve used until this point? Is it even possible to stay in a strong financial position in any market?

In this episode, America’s #1 Money Mentor, Chris Naugle shares why if we want to get the same results as the wealthy, we have to start thinking like them.

"Treat your money the same as you treat the bank’s money. If you’re okay giving the bank your money to hang on to, why not put it in a different place, where you have full control over it?" -Chris Naugle

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

Why we’re thinking about money ALL WRONG!
Have we been duped into thinking we’re making smart financial decisions all along, when really, we’re only shooting ourselves in the foot?

How to start behaving like the bank
If banks are using our money to make more, what’s stopping us from mimicking them?

How to earn compound interest WHILE using our money
Is it possible to earn compound interest while retaining complete access to our money?

Guest Bio-

From pro-snowboarder to money mogul, Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America’s #1 Money Mentor. With a core belief that success is built not by the resources you have, but by how resourceful you can be.

His success and national acclaim have come in large part to what he’s learned first-hand from seeking a better way to wealth creation and preservation than he learned growing up.

Chris has built and owned 19 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, House Hunters, and his very own HGTV pilot in 2018. He is currently founder of The Money School™, and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.

His success also includes managing tens of millions of dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and in real estate transactions.

As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works.

Chris is also a nationally recognized speaker, author, and podcast host. He has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans delivering the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom.

To find out more, go to:

https://www.chrisnaugle.com/

https://www.chrisnaugle.com/podcasts/

Being a Leader is No Easy Feat: Are You Ready for the Challenge of a Lifetime? w/Kevin Kauffman Jul 29, 2021

Show notes

Building a successful business isn’t easy, but those who reach the top would agree that it’s all worth it in the end. The only question is, where do we start?

What are the first steps towards building a flourishing organization, and what are the pitfalls we need to navigate? Is there ever a single path to success, or do we need to tweak our approaches, every step of the way?

In this episode, Co-Founder of Group 46:10 Network and Co-Host of The Kevin and Fred Show, Kevin Kauffman shares how he built a burgeoning business with the end in mind.

"When you start your own business you’ve got to be a beginner again and you WILL go backward in income." -Kevin Kauffman

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

1 question to ask ourselves ahead of any big change
What do we need to think about before shifting from solo agent to real estate team, or a small team to a large one?

The hard conversation we need to have as leaders
How can we give ourselves a healthy level of tough love?

How to build a referral-based business that sees results
Everyone wants a referral-based business, but how do we make it a reality?

Guest Bio-

Kevin Kauffman is the co-founder of the Group 46:10 Network, an organization whose mission is to produce extraordinary results, influence people, and impact lives by way of its real estate team. Consistently named as one of the Wall Street Journal and RealTrends Top 1,000 Real Estate Agents in the United States, Kevin, and his team sell over 350 homes annually and rank in the top 1% of all real estate agents in the country. Currently serving clients in 5 states and 7 major metropolitan areas, the Group 46:10 Network is also ranked amongst the top of all Keller Williams International teams. Their primary focus is to identify top real estate talent who are of an entrepreneurial mindset, who are passionate about their mission, and about customizing the home buying process to align with each client’s unique needs and personal goals.

Kevin is the co-host of The Kevin and Fred Show podcast.

To find out more, visit:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-kauffman-033b64119/

https://kevinandfred.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/nextlevelagents/

The Critical Decision That Will Keep Your Brokerage Alive For The Next 10 Years w/Jeff Cohn Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

The smartest real estate team leaders aren’t just thinking about what’s happening now, they are obsessed with positioning themselves for the future.

To be relevant over the next decade, we have to think beyond the traditional role of a real estate company. The successful brokerage of the future has to build a conglomerate of value by focusing on the most pressing needs of the agent.

How can leaders anticipate the needs of agents and locate themselves in a prime position to deliver value? What are the key pillars that have to exist in the real estate business of the future?

In this episode, we’re joined by the owner at kwELITE and host of the Team Building Podcast, Jeff Cohn. We talk about what agents, coaches, and brokerages need to do to remain relevant in a fast-changing real estate industry.

"The future of successful brokerages will be a conglomerate of 4 companies that fall under the same umbrella - coaching, lead generation, marketing, and contract management." - Greg Harrelson

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

Why the world of coaching is evolving
What will the coaching company of the future look like, and how do we create a service that meets the expectations of today’s content consumers?

How to stay in business and thrive in the future
What is the obvious but overlooked conversation brokerage leaders need to have if they want to succeed going forward?

The power of pain in the journey to success
How does stretching ourselves and finding our pain zone outside of our business lead to growth in the business?

Guest Bio-

Jeff Cohn is a nationally renowned speaker, owner at kwELITE, and host of the Team Building Podcast. As founder of Omaha’s Elite Real Estate Group, now kwELITE, he led his team from 70 to 700 transactions in 6 years and was awarded the #1 team in unit sales in the world at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in 2019. Since beginning his real estate career in 2006, Jeff’s team has closed over 5,000 sales, totaling over $1 billion in volume.

Devoted to ongoing learning throughout his career, Jeff has forged strategic relationships with industry leaders across the country, listened to thousands of hours of podcasts, and read hundreds of books, providing him with a vast knowledge base. Jeff is considered a foremost real estate expert due to these efforts, and as founder and CEO of Elite Real Estate Systems, a coaching company, offers the annual Team Building Summit, monthly workshops, and weekly coaching calls. As a credit to his extensive know-how, Jeff speaks frequently at various events throughout the US and Canada.

For more information, visit https://www.kwelite.com/.

Battle of the Business Models: The Future of Teams and Brokerages in the Real Estate Renaissance w/Brett Jennings Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

For the past few decades, brokerages have been the mainstay of the real estate business, but as the industry goes into a renaissance, that’s set to change.

Why are so many agents shifting from brokerages to teams, and from teams to ‘team-erages’? Which organizations are most likely to last in the long term, and what can we do to retain more of our agents, regardless of the model we choose?

In this episode, Founder of Real Estate Experts, Brett Jennings returns to explain how to hold on to agents and continue seeing results in an ever-changing business.

"The brokerage industry may be on its heels, but those willing to provide value that leads to success will always stay relevant." -Brett Jennings

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode

What makes the traditional brokerage model unattractive to agents
Where did brokerages go wrong, and what can they do to get back on track?

The key distinction between teams and brokerages
Why does it seem like so many teams are operating as brokerages with a new name? Is there a major difference?

How to give agents more WITHOUT sacrificing profitability
The key to retention lies in providing a ton of resources, but is it possible to do that without shrinking our profit margins?

Guest Bio-

Brett Jennings is the owner and founder of Real Estate Experts. He is an award-winning luxury home marketing specialist and also holds a certificate in negotiation from Harvard Law. In 2017, the Wall Street Journal recognized Brett and his team as one of the top 250 real estate groups in the United States. With over one million agents in the country, this prestigious award places Brett in the top 1/10th of the top 1% among his peers.

Although these statistics are impressive, Brett’s true passion is helping people make smart real estate decisions that positively transform their lives. His extensive background in real estate, finance, and life coaching enables him to draw from a deep well of life experience as he helps his clients make informed, intelligent decisions. In a fluctuating real estate landscape, the expertise and attention he provides are necessary and rare.

Described by his peers and clients as energetic, focused, determined, and engaged, Brett always goes above and beyond. He provides his buyers access to his curated list of over 250 off-market properties, and his sellers benefit from his market-proven home selling process that has set record-breaking prices in almost every neighborhood he sells in. His best-selling book, The New Rise in Real Estate, serves as a further resource for clients wanting to make the most of the current market.

Brett is a charismatic leader who cares as much about his team as he does about his clients. His commitment to delivering a five-star service experience for every client is carefully crafted by a hand-picked, all-star team that consists of transaction coordinators, renovation, marketing, listing, and buyer specialists, all dedicated to offering the highest standard of care in the industry.

To find out more, go to:

https://www.therealexperts.com/agent/brett-jennings/

https://bearealexpert.com/

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Level Up – From Agent to Entrepreneur

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected