Life at Ten Tenths

Latest Episodes:

The Secret to Building a Referral-Based Real Estate Business: Quantity Time, Not Quality Time Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

Do you feel like you are doing all the "right" activities, sending cards, popping by, doing all the things? Only to then watch a past client list with a different agent and wonder what happened. The activities aren't the problem. The intention is.

In this conversation, we get into the difference between quality time and quantity time, and why the referral-based business you're trying to build runs on the second one.

Years ago, Garrett's dad passed along a lesson he learned from Stephen Covey that has heavily influenced how he treats the relationships in his world. You will hear recent personal stories, as well as, get a glimpse of how this plays out in the businesses of agents we coach who are closing high volume (70 to 90 sides a year by themselves). Once again, we explore Dunbar's number 150 and how it relates to your success, and we even get into the phone-on-the-table problem killing trust before you even realize it.

Buckle up, this is a wide-ranging conversation with ideas you can implement today that will turn your business around. The best part is we are talking about game changers that cost nothing but some effort on your part. Get honest about your intention before every touch, hone in on the small group of people you want to commit quantity time to, and show up without keeping score. Done right, the database stops feeling like a list to work and starts feeling like the relationships that fuel your business and your life at the same time.

The Post-Closing System That Builds a Referral Business on Autopilot Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

You just spent months building a relationship through one of the most stressful, emotional purchases of someone's life. Then the deal closes, you cash the check, and you move on. Sound familiar?

In this conversation, we get into the post-closing system most agents never build, and why it might be the single biggest leak in your business. The real estate industry trains us to be world-class at finding new buyers and sellers, and almost nothing on what to do with the ones we already have.

We unpack the four-phase post-closing program we built ( free at https://tentenths.co/postclosing ), the Four Seasons Vail check-in moment that Garrett still tells people about years later, the Hall Steakhouse handwritten note and the bite of Wagyu that ruined every steak after it, the day-after-closing call most agents are too afraid to make, the lifestyle check-ins that uncover whether the reason they bought is actually being fulfilled, and the annual market impact report that turns a one-time client into a 20-year relationship.

We also get into what we believe is the fix. The best part: the cost to acquire a referral is a fraction of the cost of a paid lead, and the relationship is already warm. It comes down to compressing your touches in the first 30 days, then settling into a six-month cadence that just keeps the energy going.

Done right, you stop having to find the next deal because the next deal keeps finding you.

Beat Long To-Do Lists and Feeling Stuck with This Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Long to-do lists, busy days, and somehow you still end up feeling stuck. If that sounds like your week, this is the episode.

The word priority means the thing, singular, but somewhere along the way we pluralized it into priorities and ended up with a to-do list that owns us. In this conversation, we get into the one thing principle that can help you find your sanity and move forward.

We unpack Sahil Bloom's index card method, Garrett's morning mission and vision read, Matt's dad's warning about being a realtor all day, and the alignment loop we teach as a daily cadence of ignition, launch, and shutdown.

Done right, it leads to no more long lists, no more overwhelm, no more ending the day wondering what you actually accomplished. Just one thing, every day, that pushes you toward the person you're becoming.

Why Top Agents Always Think They Need 2-3x More Money May 28, 2026

Show notes

Most agents are running the wrong race. They're chasing somebody else's number, comparing themselves to the agent in the next office, and quietly wondering why hitting the goal didn't feel the way it was supposed to.

In this conversation, we get into the trap of borrowed visions. A study by Michael Norton found that millionaires at every income level say they'd need two to three times more money to be happy, and that number never stops moving.

We unpack why that happens, what Sahil Bloom's Five Types of Wealth gets right about the disconnect, why trying to be the next Ryan Serhant or Gary Vee might not be the right aspiration, and how some agents are winning at the only race that matters.

We also get into what we believe is the fix. Added bonus, when you do this work upfront, the business stops feeling like a treadmill and starts fueling the life you actually want. It comes down to building your own vision first, in real detail, before you set a single income goal. Happiness leads, success follows.

Your business should fuel your life, not consume it.

Join us in the 11 Circle for weekly coaching with Matt and Garrett, additional resources, and full access to our online community. Join at https://tentenths.co

Hosted by Matt Bonelli and Garrett Frey, Life at Ten Tenths.

#realestate #realtor #realestateagent #realestatecoaching #realestatebusiness #mindset #vision #realestatesuccess #burnout

Your Clients Are Asking ChatGPT About Your Deals. Here's the Fix. May 25, 2026

Show notes

Your buyers and sellers are asking ChatGPT about your listings, consulting it about offers, and double-checking your advice. It is causing frustration, undermining your efforts, and in some cases blowing up deals.

Matt and Garrett unpack what happens when clients run a transaction past AI mid-deal: a $500,000 spread on the same $1.5M listing from two different prompts, the Ryan Serhant deal that nearly collapsed, and why language models amplify client fear instead of filtering it.

Good news, there is a fix and it will help solidify you as the expert agent positioned to get the job done. This fix is an essential upfront conversation coupled with a one-page AI guide in every buyer and listing packet.

We aren't going to stop them from using AI as a resource. Nor do we want to. What we need to do is guide their use and give them some proper context.

Join us in the 11 Circle for weekly coaching with Matt and Garrett, additional resources, and full access to our online community. Join at https://tentenths.co

You Won't Get Left Behind: How to Pick the AI Tools That Actually Fit Your Business May 21, 2026

Show notes

You don't have to chase every new AI tool to stay relevant. The agents winning right now are the ones who picked what actually fits their workflow.

In this Ten Tenths episode, Matt and Garrett cut through the AI overwhelm: ChatGPT vs. Claude, Whispr Flow, Granola, and the Zoom note-takers that show up before you do.

You'll hear why the "you'll be left behind" pressure is mostly noise, how to test a tool against a real pain point in your business instead of stacking subscriptions, and a simple weekly check to decide what stays and what gets deleted.

Real examples, honest tradeoffs, and permission to stop chasing.

→ Join us at https://tentenths.co for coaching, community, and resources.

The 1% Account That Turns Real Estate Problems Into Raving Fans May 18, 2026

Show notes

Speed bumps, problems, and the unexpected challenges are your biggest opportunity to win a client for life. Let's talk about the fund that makes it easy in the moment.

In this Ten Tenths episode, Matt and Garrett unpack the "wow account": roughly 1% off the top of every closing, set aside to fix the unexpected and create moments clients never forget. You'll hear why the last thing that goes wrong becomes the anchor they remember, how to solve a client's pain instead of just absorbing it, and why this small fund pays back far beyond its cost.

Real stories, low-cost ideas, and a system any agent can start this week.

Let's get into it.

Looking to build a real estate business that fuels your life rather than consumes it? → Join us at https://tentenths.co for coaching, community, and resources.

Don’t Let AI Steal Your Voice (Especially in Real Estate) May 14, 2026

Show notes

You might be sick of hearing about Artificial Intelligence, but everywhere you turn in our industry there is a conversation happening about how to use AI in your business.

From listing descriptions… to social media posts… to email campaigns… to AI-generated videos.

But here is what we want you to be asking yourself:

Is AI helping you amplify your voice… or is it slowly replacing it?

In this episode of Life at Ten Tenths, Garrett and Matt unpack the subtle but powerful risk of relying too heavily on AI — especially in a relationship-based business like real estate.

AI is an incredible tool. We use it every day. But when you skip the human friction... the editing, the feedback, the polishing... you risk losing the very thing that makes clients trust you: your voice.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why AI-generated content often feels “off” (even when it sounds polished)

• The difference between using AI as a thinking partner vs. a decision maker

• How friction with real humans makes your content stronger

• The danger of copying trends that don’t match your personality

• Why authenticity builds trust faster than automation ever will

• How to protect your uniqueness in an AI-driven world

Real estate is built on trust. And trust is built on authenticity.

AI can help you move faster — but it cannot replace your lived experience, your energy, your personality, or your relationships.

If you’re using AI (or thinking about it), this episode will help you use it wisely — without losing what makes you you.

🎧 Listen now and make sure the tools are working for you… not replacing you.

The Small Friction Points Quietly Hurting Your Real Estate Business May 11, 2026

Show notes

The little things are often the big things.

The problem is we often focus on the big things while the small things quietly sink the ship.

In this episode of Life at Ten Tenths, Garrett and Matt unpack the small friction points that quietly create stress, slow momentum, and damage the client experience.

They’re not the obvious issues, or the market shifts. They aren't even the big mistakes we obsess over and let ruin our sleep.

They’re the subtle ones:

• The unclear communication

• The inconsistent follow-up

• The confusing onboarding process

• The unexpected inspection surprise

• The undocumented systems that only you understand

Individually, they seem minor. Collectively, they cost you referrals, energy, and growth.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How unnoticed friction points create burnout

• Why client stress often starts with process gaps

• The difference between “that’s just how real estate works” and a broken system

• How to identify friction before it becomes a problem

• Why process clarity makes you more referable

• How eliminating friction fuels your life instead of consuming it

The best businesses aren’t just productive. They run smoothly.

Smooth businesses create confident clients.

If you want fewer headaches, stronger referrals, and a process that feels steady instead of chaotic — this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and start tightening the small gaps that make the biggest difference.

Are You Using “Fair Market Value” Wrong? Let’s Discuss. May 07, 2026

Show notes

In today’s market, one phrase might be creating more confusion, frustration, and disappointment than we realize:

“Fair market value.”

In this episode of Life at Ten Tenths, Matt and Garrett dig into why we need to be careful with how we are using this phrase when talking with sellers and buyers.

The reality is fair market value is not something we simply declare or control. It is something the market determines.

During this discussion, we unpack:

• Why pricing “below fair market value” can create the wrong expectations

• The difference between fair market value and appraised value

• How language can unintentionally anchor sellers to a number

• Why positioning against the competition matters more than chasing a theoretical value

• How buyers actually determine value in the marketplace

• And why motivation matters just as much as price

This is a powerful conversation about pricing strategy, buyer psychology, seller expectations, and communication in a shifting market.

If you’re a real estate agent trying to navigate pricing conversations with more confidence and clarity, we are here for you.

Explore coaching, webinars, accelerators, and 11 Circle at https://tentenths.co

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