Start With A Win

On this episode of Start With A Win, we are joined in our virtual studios by Jeff Berger, President, CEO, and Founder of the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals. The organization formed rather organically, beginning as a digital marketing concept to provide exposure and resources for real estate agents who belong to and/or work with the LGBT community. After the website became the topic of a Chicago Tribune article spotlighting a specific consumer hiring a real estate agent to sell her house solely based on his inclusion on the site, Jeff knew that he had to expand and organize his idea for broader impact.Today, Jeff sees the main purpose of NAGLREP as creating a safe space for real estate professionals and home buyers in the LGBT community that allows them and their needs to be understood and accepted, which doesn’t always occur in the larger real estate world. NAGLREP is very in touch with their 2,800 members, constantly making adjustments based on feedback and compiling member surveys annually to create the LGBT Real Estate Report. This report discusses trends in the gay and lesbian population’s real estate transactions and provides crucial facts and figures to educate real estate professionals about the needs and wants of these individuals and families.For more information, be sure to check out the NAGLREP website to download the LGBT Real Estate Report and go to naglrep.com/remax for a special introductory price on your first year of membership.Connect with Jeff:https://naglrep.com/https://twitter.com/jeffbergerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bergerjeff Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Our guest on this episode of Start With A Win needs no introduction in the real estate world. Jared James came on the podcast to talk about practical ways that real estate and business professionals can set themselves up to have a presence in their marketplaces both right now and once things are back to business-as-usual. The first order of business is Jared’s urging for every real estate agent to start producing video content. Video is an underutilized form of communication because people are afraid to try; they don’t like how they look on camera, they don’t know what to say, they don’t think video makes a difference, etc. When you allow these fears and self-preservation to drive your decision to do or not do something, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to grow personally and professionally.This leads into Jared’s next point about having the right mindset when going into any business scenario. If you are not able to self-regulate or recognize when something isn’t right with you, you will not be successful in your pursuits. However, by focusing on what you can control, you provide yourself with a level of certainty that will lead to confidence and higher performance to help you reach your goal. Jared’s key takeaways for listeners are:Get rid of obscurity – Produce content. Get yourself out there. Be an option.Work on your proximity – Make a list of people you want to network with and work to make that a reality.Prioritize boats over fishing – Focus on your infrastructure before trying to pursue bigger fish. Connect with Jared:https://www.connectwithjared.com/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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On this episode of the Start With A Win podcast, Adam talks with Ashley Twichell, 2020 Olympic qualifier in open water swimming. Ashley has been involved with swimming and athletics as long as she can remember, getting involved with year-round swimming when she was about 7 and committing to swimming being her only extracurricular activity when she was 13. She swam at Duke University and then moved to California to pursue a swimming career after graduation. In the 9 years since then, she has become more and more prolific, competing on the national team, competing in the World Championships and World Cup, appearing in Sports Illustrated, and qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games. Having previously competed in 5k, 10k, and 25k open water races, Ashley is well-versed in the mental and physical endurance that is required for this sport and she finds that these experiences have helped her hone her mindset in facing all of life’s challenges. She has had to learn to expect the unexpected, be aware of her surroundings while remaining focused on her goal, and adapt when things don’t go as planned.For instance, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Olympic Committee to make the decision to postpone the 2020 Olympic Games until 2021, Ashley and the other qualifying athletes were disappointed of course, but they have found ways to remain mentally and physically fit in spite of the circumstances. Without access to a pool to continue their training, Ashley and some of her teammates have taken to virtual crosstraining workouts like Peloton in order to remain connected and strong. Ashley sees this postponement as an opportunity to be flexible and not be conquered by the circumstances that are outside of her control.Connect with Ashley:https://www.teamusa.org/usa-swimming/athletes/Ashley-Twichellhttps://www.instagram.com/atwall616/https://twitter.com/atwich616Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

We are honored to welcome to this episode of the Start with a Win podcast Nada Stirratt, VP Global Business Group for North America at Facebook. Nada has had a prolific and storied career in the technology and marketing industries, and her efforts continue as she leads her team at Facebook to accomplish the mission of building communities and bringing people closer together. Their unwavering commitment to that mission has led them to innovations that have changed the way people connect, which is especially important during times like the current pandemic. Facebook has specifically outlined its four key objectives for helping people navigate this crisis:Build communityProvide accurate informationUse data for goodHelp businesses and the economy recoverIntegral to these efforts is an understanding of the needs, wants, and behaviors of Facebook’s users, which trickles down to the advertisers that Facebooks works with to best serve those populations. This knowledge also informs the marketing efforts of individual businesses and organizations, who are increasingly using video to connect with their consumers. Nada recommends that all businesses look into free resources and course content if they have not yet engaged with their customers through video. In this challenging business environment, many businesses are quickly adjusting their operations and marketing efforts to “meet people where they are,” while others are unsure of how to move forward. Nada emphasizes the importance of being resourceful and in touch with the communities your business serves to know how best to continue to work with them. Connect with Nada:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadastirratthttps://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/FB/company-people/executive-profile/81869227Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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On this episode of Start With A Win, Adam is joined by Lisa Nguyen, RE/MAX Professionals agent, current Greater Denver Chapter President of AREAA, and regionally-acclaimed business leader. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Lisa was taught early on the value of hard work and determination in setting and reaching goals. She first got her real estate license in 2005, and after weathering the recession in the industry, she spent 5 years in the corporate world before returning to real estate in 2016 and she has never looked back. Lisa has committed her career to reaching out to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders who want to understand the real estate industry and own homes of their own. Through her involvement with Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) and her participation in a metro-area real estate task force focusing on serving minority populations well, Lisa has had the opportunity to educate and guide agents and organizations in fair housing practices. Many people are unaware that they are violating fair housing regulations regarding protected classes, but by providing these resources Lisa and her colleagues are working together for the greater good among this rapidly growing minority population. Her humble demeanor is a direct result of her daily mindset of gratitude and her commitment to continually learning from those around her and through reading topical books that keep her focus sharp and her motivation on point. Links:“Think and Grow Rich” book: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331 Connect with Lisa:https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/lisa-nguyen-lakewood-co/100698453https://areaa.org/greaterdenver/leadership-board/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-nguyen-remax/https://www.facebook.com/lisanguyenremax Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Beginning his adult life as an elementary school teacher, Sekou Andrews got into acting for a while before finding his niche as a spoken word artist focusing on poetic voice and sharing his gift with leaders across industries. He describes his speaking style as “TED Talk meets Hamilton” in the seamless integration of inspirational speaking and spoken word poetry. It is no wonder why his audiences are so captivated by his message.Sekou emphasizes the importance of both what you say and how you say it, stating that there is power to engage your audience through your words as well as the delivery. He coaches people from stage fright to stage might by having them learn from performance artists and apply the concepts they observe to whatever stage they have. His 3 key concepts for this are: (1) humanize yourself and your content, (2) connect with your audience through storytelling, and (3) storytelling really begins with story-listening.When asked how he taps into the passion within himself, he says that it is important for him to see himself as a storyteller before focusing on his technique, being grounded in his purpose and how he can serve the listener. A big part of this is loving what he does and setting his mindset at the beginning of every day on the purpose he is trying to embody.Connect with Sekou:http://sekouandrews.com/http://www.twitter.com/sekouandrewshttp://www.facebook.com/sekouandrewshttp://www.linkedin.com/in/sekouhttps://www.instagram.com/sekouworld/https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/sekou-tha-misfit/id410616272http://www.youtube.com/user/sekouworld Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Question 1: The first question on this episode of Start With A Win came from Ryan Anderson of RE/MAX Horizon Realty in Douglas, Wyoming. She asked Adam to give his top five books to read, especially during this time of social distancing and quarantine.Answer 1:“The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy“Atomic Habits” by James Clear“Influence, the Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie“Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Lief BabinQuestion 2: Next, Gary Kelly of RE/MAX Executive Realty in Massachusetts asked Adam to talk about the tension between those people in real estate and business who believe that their work is “essential” and that they should continue to be out and about (while taking the right precautions) and those who believe that we should be working in complete isolation.Answer 2: Adam says that the answer is not binary because it is not as simple as “essential” and “non-essential.” The ultimate goal of all of our business dealings right now should be safety first, so that might look different to different people or in different geographic areas. Avoid any situations where you might put yourself or others in danger of getting sick and make judgment calls along the way that align with that methodology. Question 3: Our last question on this episode is from Sue Deighton of RE/MAX Performance Realty in Winnipeg. She wants to know who has shaped Adam’s positive personal and professional growth.Answer 3: There are 4 sources of personal and professional growth:Mentors – These are usually relationships you have built that are pouring into you for free, asking you the hard questions and calling you out when you need it.Coaches – Coaches typically help you in one area of your life or business in exchange for pay.Masterminds – These are groups that you can join with likeminded individuals who are all on the same journey as you and will hold you accountable along the way.Self-Education – During times like these, many people are taking courses online to learn new skills or attain new certifications. The second half of this self-education is the actual application of this new knowledge.Links:Rodecaster Pro: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-RODECaster-Podcast-Production-Studio/dp/B07M5LQ1YZ “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy: https://www.amazon.com/Compound-Effect-Darren-Hardy/dp/159315724X “Atomic Habits” by James Clear: https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 “Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini: https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Psychology-Persuasion-Robert-Cialdini/dp/006124189X “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034 “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Lief Babin: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057 “Trillion Dollar Coach” by Alan Eagle, Eric Schmidt, and Jonathan Rosenberg: https://www.amazon.com/Trillion-Dollar-Coach-Leadership-Playbook/dp/0062839268 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Seeing the size and effectiveness of Buffini and Company now, you would never believe that Brian Buffini stumbled into real estate after a motorcycle accident when he was 19. He tells Adam on this episode of the Start With A Win podcast about that experience and how he built a business around speaking and coaching organically, solely based on the demand for his knowledge and speaking abilities at industry conferences and panels. He was already “on board” with real estate before that point, believing that it is the purest and fairest form of business, but from his first experience connecting with likeminded people at real estate conferences, he knew that this was where he was meant to be.Brian and his team build their business around a few key beliefs, among them: build relationships for life, be a good person, treat people well, and prioritize personal growth. While the way business is done has changed temporarily because of this pandemic, the foundations remain the same. In fact, Brian says that these abrupt changes are serving as a magnifying glass in our lives, pointing out issues at home, in your business, with your finances, with your health, etc. He says that now is the time to address the changes that need to be made and commit the time and energy to work on those issues while you have the time in front of you.When it comes to mindset during this time, Brian emphasizes the importance of keeping the right perspective of “this too shall pass” and being flexible. This is the time to reach out to your friends and business associates to check on them and maintain the relationships. This is the time to prepare through training and working on your systems to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running when we get the green light to begin business as usual. In terms of business adjustments, Brian says that those with strong foundations in the fundamentals will win this round and that it is important to utilize technology to enhance the connections with your clients. Don’t sit back and assume that you should be in “maintenance mode” until the pandemic is over. Take advantage of this time to prepare yourself and your business.Links:https://www.buffiniandcompany.com/resources/bc/https://www.nar.realtor/coronavirushttps://news.remax.com/Connect with Brian:https://www.buffiniandcompany.com/https://www.brianbuffini.com/https://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Our guest on this episode of Start With A Win needs almost no introduction. Steve Young is considered to be one of the NFL’s greatest left-handed quarterbacks, but he would not consider his athletic success to be among his greatest achievements. Steve says that football is like a laboratory that teaches you about the hard work, adversity, accountability, and constraints that you will face throughout life and many of life’s lessons have started to work themselves out for him on the field.When Steve was a freshman in college at BYU in 1983, an organization called Children’s Miracle Network was in its early days and Steve was asked to partner with them to bring awareness to the need for fundraising for children’s hospitals. At that time in his life, Steve had never been to a hospital and he was shocked to see how many children were suffering. Ever since that day, he has been involved with Children’s Miracle Network and he is continually inspired by the hope and determination displayed by the children he comes in contact with through the organization. We can all learn from the spirit demonstrated by these kids who believe that they will rise above their circumstances and find healing. Steve says that as adults we lose a bit of our innocent belief in ourselves and those around us, thinking that life is a zero-sum game that no one really wins. But in reality, if we embrace the qualities displayed by the Children’s Miracle Network champion kids, we would find that through collaboration and banding together we can all win. So many people are limiting themselves unnecessarily by comparing themselves to others, but comparison is the thief of joy and will never serve you well.Links:https://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Our guest on this episode of the Start With A Win podcast is one of the best in our field at leveraging excellent managerial skills inside her brokerage, as well as building relationships online in order to bolster her business and create a culture of community. Kendall Bonner became an attorney in 2003 and practiced law for several years before she realized that it was not what she wanted to do with her life. Lacking clear direction about what was next, she got her real estate license “just for fun,” and the rest is history.Kendall has found that one of her biggest motivations is just being a part of RE/MAX and having access to some of the best agents and systems around. She focuses on staying humble and grateful regardless of her victories and losses, choosing to face challenges with a confident smile. Since she started her brokerage in 2014, she has found that her greatest assets are the people she surrounds herself with and the structures they use as a framework, namely the Momentum business system developed by RE/MAX. By having the right staff and systems in place, Kendall says it is easier to face challenges and avoid common pitfalls that may have tripped her up otherwise.When it comes to being present online, Kendall cannot emphasize enough the importance of growth and engagement. She believes in being intentional and proactive, genuinely interacting with the people engaging with her posts and building up a following that knows, likes, and trusts her. Kendall strategically replies to every comment and extends the life of her posts while ensuring that she is continually growing and staying relevant. Right now, she is in the middle of a “100 videos in 100 days” challenge with her team as a way to encourage herself and those around her to finetune their craft.Links:“The Social Agent 2.0” book: https://www.amazon.com/social-agent-2-0-update-evolution/dp/1982051833Connect with Kendall:https://www.instagram.com/improveyourhustle/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendallbonner/https://www.facebook.com/KendallEBonnerConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Adam and Mark discuss the recent changes in our world as a result of the coronavirus and talk about ways that listeners can continue to start with a win even when everything seems so different than normal. The response mandated by health officials and governments all over the world is significantly more stringent than the typical response to influenza, and this is likely the only pandemic any of us have ever lived through. Everyone seems to be dealing with these changes and restrictions differently, ranging from crippling fear to careless abandon and anywhere in between.Adam’s advice is to listen to the doctors and government officials and see this as an opportunity to reconnect with your loved ones and be more intentional about spending quality time with them while practicing safe social distancing. He asserts that if you are stuck in a cycle of fear-mongering or doubt, take a step back and evaluate what you can do with what you have, doing everything you can to protect yourself and those around you. For business leaders, the most important thing you can do is be visible and available to your team. Send out daily emails, videos, or texts to encourage and check in on them.In the real estate realm, house showings are still feasible through virtual tours, and if you do meet with clients in person, don’t be afraid to ask them if they are feeling well or if they have been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19. It is in everyone’s best interests if you are honest with yourself and others about how you are feeling and that you demonstrate good hygiene practices to those around you.Take heart that while the markets are rough right now, they will bounce back in time. Do what you can to support local businesses in your community by ordering takeout or patronizing them online when possible. With all of this unexpected free time, be active and create a healthy routine for yourself and your family. Pay attention to those around you and do what you can to reach out while practicing social distancing. We are all in this together.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

In 2016, Mike Schneider and his team set out to build a better marketing platform, but before long they realized that what they had really created was an opportunity to integrate machine learning into real estate customer relationship management. Every listener of Start With A Win already knows that relationships are the key component to being an effective real estate agent. What you might not know is that almost 80% of individuals only talk to one real estate agent when looking to buy or sell a house. If you have the first conversation with those people, you are more likely to get their business, but you could be missing up to 70% of the listings in your existing network.First is able to combine all of your contacts from all platforms into one comprehensive database and seamlessly curate additional demographic data to provide agents with predictions about when someone in their current network is likely to be in the market to buy or sell a house. Think about how much more productive your day could be if you were able to convert one out of every six conversations instead of one out of every 17. The First app gives you a competitive advantage in your market, nudging you to connect with contacts who might be looking to make a move and helping you prioritize your follow-ups.Links:https://www.first.io/“Inspired” by Marty Cagan: https://www.amazon.com/INSPIRED-Create-Tech-Products-Customers-ebook/dp/B077NRB36N“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr: https://www.amazon.com/Measure-What-Matters-Google-Foundation/dp/0525536221 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Settle in for this episode of Start With A Win and get ready to drink from the fire hose of Tom Ferry’s insights on real estate, reaching goals, and overcoming fear. Tom’s leadership experience started when he was six years old and his parents divorced. At that moment, he knew he needed to step up and lead in the best way he could. This mindset continued throughout elementary, middle, and high school where he was continually leading his peers into adventures, mischief, and revelry. When he was about 18, he started to steer his focus in a more productive direction, being mentored by the writings of business leaders and coaches who helped him realize that challenges lead to opportunities that lead to experiences.Instead of going to college, he chose to focus on his personal and professional development, joining his father’s company and delving into the new world of performance measurement and management. They realized that measuring performance and then sharing about that performance exponentially increased the likelihood of success and goal achievement, so they started focusing their efforts on this concept. In conjunction with performance measurement and accountability, Tom talks about the ways to attract more clients, increase your average sales price or commission, expand your business, and bring a new product or service to the market that solves a problem. One practical recommendation that he has for real estate agents today is to over-service your clients. This might look like having three assistants that handle different parts of the transaction with clients so you can focus on relationships and making the experience better for your clients. Links:“The Slight Edge” book: https://www.amazon.com/Slight-Edge-Turning-Disciplines-Happiness/dp/1626340463Connect with Tom:https://www.tomferry.com/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-tom-ferry/id1076436648 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

On this episode of the Start With A Win podcast, our guest is Gary Acosta, CEO and Co-Founder of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. NAHREP is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a trade association this year and they are continuing to see growth in their membership numbers, as well as the number of Hispanic homebuyers. Every year, NAHREP conducts a study called The State of Hispanic Homeowners to stay informed about the trends among Hispanic families and gain a better understanding of the statistics.NAHREP aims to educate and empower both their member agents/brokers and their potential clients by advancing sustainable homeownership among Hispanics in the US. Since 70% of Latino homebuyers are first-time homebuyers, it is essential that they find a real estate agent they can trust to walk them through the process and help them make good decisions along the way. More Hispanic families are buying homes than ever before, but some are nervous to take that first step because they are intimidated by the process. Real estate agents must be culturally competent and prioritize helping families over closing deals. Homebuyers should focus on finding an agent they can trust and getting prequalified before looking for a home.Gary is a phenomenal leader because he believes in having a conversation every day with someone who outranks him. He recommends this practice to the members of NAHREP and everyone else he leads in some way.Links:“Zero to One” book: https://www.amazon.com/Zero-One-Notes-Startups-Future/dp/0804139296 Connect with Gary:https://nahrep.org/https://twitter.com/garynahrep Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Our topic on this episode of Start with a Win is delivering value through messaging that will impact your audience. By keeping your framework simple, you allow space for depth in thought for yourself and your potential customers. So, what are these Four E’s of Marketing, you ask?Empathy – Show emotional intelligence towards the recipient of your message, meeting them where they are with exactly what they need. Using empathy in your marketing helps your audience develop a connection with you and activate their hearts. A great example of this is the Google Super Bowl ad from 2020.Education – Your audience wants to learn something and if you are the one to teach it to them, then they will come to view you as trustworthy, reliable, and helpful. Content marketing aimed at helping people be better sets you up in this coveted position.Entertainment – People will be drawn in by stories of overcoming challenges, comedy, and thrill. This is why reality TV and watching the lives of influencers on social media is so popular. You can do the same thing in your space as well, inviting people into your story or the story of someone impacted by your business.Execution – No matter your personality type, everyone loves to check things off of their lists. Pieces of content that include checklists or steps that help your audience reach that next goal or conquer a difficult problem will get them into a pattern of micro-commitments and ultimately make them more productive and successful, and they will have you to thank for it!Finally, Adam answers this week’s caller question about his favorite ways of following up. While text and email are the easiest and fastest, they are often the most overlooked and underappreciated. Try instead to leave voice texts or send videos to your leads, current clients, and previous clients. Think about where they are online and meet them there, whether on Facebook Messenger, social media, or email and text. Just reach out in the most personal way you can and give them specific expectations of when they can expect to hear from you again.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

On this episode of Start with a Win, Bruce Johnson joins us to discuss his family’s story of losing a child and how the commitment to carrying out her legacy has led them on many adventures over the past 20+ years. Before they started their family, Bruce and his wife, Mary, spent 3 years riding their bikes from the Arctic Ocean to Argentina, camping on the side of the road and in people’s yards, and experiencing the best parts of humanity along the way. This planted in Bruce the love of people and a resilient spirit, preparing him and his wife for a future that was still unknown to them. A few years later, Bruce became a RE/MAX agent and the broker of his office told him that he was going to be a Miracle Agent, meaning that a portion of his commissions would be contributed to Children’s Miracle Network. At the time, he had never thought about hospitals where sick kids would go, but all too soon he found himself sitting in the waiting room, pacing the halls, and sleeping on the floor of just such a hospital. Bruce and Mary had a daughter named Alyssa, who was born with a condition that caused some of her organs to be outside of her body. She lived for about 3 weeks, and before he passed away, Bruce promised her that he would remember her always. Bruce started the Alyssa Rae Johnson Fund and Motorcycle for Miracles as a way of raising money for Children’s Miracle Network, the hospitals, and the families taking care of sick kids. Bruce and Mary now have two more daughters. When their daughter, Holly, was in the hospital having surgery, she asked her dad if they could go for a motorcycle trip when she was better. Bruce thought about it for a while and came up with the idea to make their motorcycle ride into a fundraising opportunity. They have faced many perils and obstacles during these rides, but they have also experienced so many kind people along the way. The Johnsons have now raised close to $500,000 for sick and injured children through these rides. Connect with Bruce:NAR video: https://youtu.be/6HMVL--DziA Bear video: https://youtu.be/t4BHbEQBvbo RE/MAX Trip video: https://youtu.be/8OgMQvgASxA Motorcycle for Miracles: http://www.motorcycleformiracles.com/Donation Page: https://www.sickkidsdonations.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?registrationID=3184197&langPref=en-CA#&panel1-2Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam and Mark discuss the misconception that “disruption” is a bad thing. So many people are talking about “market disruptors” in a way that unsettles and instills fear in anyone who doesn’t have a firm understanding of what it means to be a disruptor. It has become a buzzword that doesn’t communicate much besides anxiety. Common examples of market disruptors are Uber, Airbnb, and Netflix — companies who recognized a need in the market and created an innovative solution to the problem customers were facing. You can do the very same thing. Rather than running around and making impulsive decisions out of a desire to not be disrupted, you can look at potential disruptions as opportunities to innovate and provide what customers really need and want. You can be one of those innovative companies who creates a new order of business and creatively solves problems rather than sitting on the sidelines admiring what other people are doing. Have your ear to the ground and truly pay attention to what your customers are saying, then create a plan and move forward with a solution. Deliver value to your customers and they will be loyal to you.Adam also answers a caller’s question about the best way to approach goal-setting and growth by encouraging her to publicly share the numbers associated with her goals in order to remain accountable and to show commitment to reaching those goals.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam talks with Tarek El Moussa, star of HGTV’s “Flip or Flop” and real estate industry expert. At the age of 20, Tarek found himself without a degree, without a job, and without a plan for the future. Through the providential placement of an advertisement for real estate school, he enrolled and got his real estate license and within 90 days he had made $120,000. This drastic shift in his lifestyle was the starting point of his career, and when he was faced with the bottoming out of the real estate market in 2007-2008 with everyone else, he decided to stick it out and make it to the other side.In 2010, he pitched the idea of a television show about flipping houses to some production companies and before long, he had received a contract for 13 episodes. The problem was that he knew very little about flipping houses and now he was committed to flipping 13 within 10 months. Like many other things in his life, though, he figured it out and found a way to be very successful doing it. Tarek has flipped over 500 houses in the past 9 years, “Flip or Flop” is about to start its 9th season, and he has a couple of spin-off shows in the works as well.Tarek will be the first to tell you that nothing good comes without hard work, and he has had his fair share of 16-20 hour days trying to meet deadlines. This is exhausting for anyone, and Tarek’s biggest challenge through it all was not quitting when he felt like quitting. He has learned that if you refuse to quit, you never fail, and he lives this out day after day. In recent years, he has shifted his focus to helping other people find their way out of their current circumstances to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them, and he wants to use his platform to impact the world on a larger level. To real estate agents, Tarek’s advice is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and just stick with it until you figure out the process. Everyone struggles, he says, but the work is worthwhile if you commit to it.Links:“The Section 8 Bible: Part I”: https://www.amazon.com/Section-Bible-Vol-Succeed-Industry/dp/0980175909“The Section 8 Bible: Part II”: https://www.amazon.com/Section-8-Bible-Michael-McLean/dp/0980175917 “The Miracle Morning”: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform/dp/0979019710 Connect with Tarek:https://www.instagram.com/therealtarekelmoussa/https://twitter.com/tarekelmoussa?lang=enhttps://www.facebook.com/TheRealTarekElMoussa/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrW8ZauorjZNz7nwmLaZ6wghttps://tarekandassociates.com/https://www.therealtarekelmoussa.com/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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The topic of this episode of Start with a Win is the fear of people’s opinions and how this fear can hold you back from what you are capable of achieving. Everyone lives with some level of this fear, from being self-conscious of your appearance to a fear of public speaking to a hesitancy to be vulnerable. What you might not realize is that this fear of judgment is ingrained in your brain as a survival instinct as old as the earliest humans. When our ancestors assumed their roles in society as hunters and gatherers, they were aware that what they brought back to their communities at the end of each day made the difference between nourishment and starvation.Today, our fear of judgment from others is not a matter of life and death, but the genetic makeup of our brains does not accept this idea outright. In order to break free of this fear that is holding you back, it is important to have a level of self-awareness that releases you from this life and death mentality. Recognizing that stepping up on that stage or publishing that video on your social media profile will not cause you or those around you to starve is crucial to being able to get your message out there. Sure – it is scary to put yourself out there, but the more you practice and the more positive feedback you receive, the more confident you will feel in doing what you need to do. Smile through your presentation, learn from your mistakes, and have faith that people will listen to what you have to say without judging you as a person, and you will be fine.Links:“The Alter Ego Effect”: https://www.amazon.com/Alter-Ego-Effect-Identities-Transform/dp/0062838636 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Dermot Buffini and his five siblings grew up in Dublin in a home environment steeped in entrepreneurship and treating people the right way. Their parents taught them to take pride in their work and have high personal standards, constantly considering whether they would be confident in putting their names on the job they had completed. These values sparked Dermot’s entrepreneurial spirit as a young adult and were the catalyst for his brother, Brian, to start his own real estate coaching company over 20 years ago. After Brian had been running with Buffini and Company for some time, Dermot hopped on board and the rest is history.Dermot has learned many business and coaching lessons first-hand, first from his parents, then as the founder of his own company, and now as the CEO of Buffini and Company. When it comes to finding clients through sales and marketing, he has found that you will attract people who share your values, and if you consistently build trust and act with kindness towards them, you will find your business growing. Providing value to clients and consumers through hospitality and generosity is the best way to build this trust and nurture relationships.Leaders should be self-aware enough to take charge by casting the vision and delegating the workload rather than taking control and diminishing the people they have surrounded themselves with. Dermot says that leaders would be wise to consider what they really want before feeling pressured into taking action that might not serve their broader goals. Like Adam, Dermot is a big proponent of leaders being coachable, saying that it is better to be humble than to be humbled. Admitting that you don’t have all of the answers and building up a network of people who can support you along the way shows true character and will ultimately lead the company in the right direction.Connect with Dermot:https://buffiniandcompany.com/https://www.thebrianbuffinishow.com/https://twitter.com/dermot_buffinihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dermot-buffini-04316431 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Nick Bailey, RE/MAX Chief Customer Officer, joins Adam for this episode of the Start with a Win podcast to discuss how consumers, agents, and brokers should approach the new year. Having spent his career working with RE/MAX and Zillow as an agent, a broker, and an executive, Nick has had a front-row seat for the changes in the market as well as industry trends over the years, and he has been digging in even more over the past 6 months in his role as Chief Customer Officer.In 2020, Nick says that consumers should recognize that they are driving more of what agents are doing than ever before. Because of the impact of the internet, families are often finding houses through their own research and then going to an agent for help navigating the process rather than the more traditional setup. Consumers see their agent as their advocate in the process, guiding them as they make their decisions. While relying on the agent quite heavily in this aspect, consumers should consider making housing decisions sooner rather than later since interest rates are low and the market seems to be turning over rather quickly.Agents should focus on building relationships with their leads and past clients, following up when appropriate, keep in touch with past clients even if they are not currently looking to buy or sell, and be careful not to let another agent take their clients just because they aren’t paying attention. The best lead is a free one, and the best way to get a referral or repeat customer is by being engaged and providing value to them even when they don’t know they need it.Brokers should focus on growth in 2020, looking into providing ancillary services that will help scale the business to relieve some of the pressure felt while trying to increase margins. The advantage that RE/MAX brokers have in this market climate is the brand recognition of the RE/MAX name, providing credibility to the agents before they ever interact with a consumer. Links:https://www.amazon.com/Little-Prince-Antoine-Saint-Exup%C3%A9ry/dp/0156012197Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is a man of many talents: Entrepreneur, television celebrity, and Indy racer Arie Luyendyk Jr. Arie has had his real estate license since 2004, but when the market took a turn in 2007, Arie decided to focus on racing and his television career for a few years before jumping back into real estate in 2016. He is very passionate about helping people buy and sell homes in the Scottsdale area and beyond — and he actually finds it a bit easier to find clients than it was for him to sign sponsors on the racetrack. The key tools that Arie uses to find success are having a system for time management and being surrounded by the right team of people. He recognizes that solid relationships are the basis for all aspects of his career and life and he takes every opportunity to network and connect with people. He has a daily routine of expressing gratitude and setting goals for that day and then circling back at night to check in with himself and plan for the next day. His time management recently hit a speed bump with the birth of his daughter, making him want to spend much more time at home with his family than he used to, but he wouldn’t trade that time for the world.Links:https://bestself.co/products/self-journal?variant=18866398068805Connect with Arie:https://global.remax.com/AgentProfile.aspx?AgentID=1006139096https://www.instagram.com/ariejr https://twitter.com/ariejrConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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Welcome to a new year – a new decade – of the Start with a Win podcast! You are already starting 2020 with a win by listening to the show, but hopefully you are also setting your mind to making other positive choices in the new year. There is always a lot of buzz around New Year’s Resolutions, which may be realistic or unrealistic, but Adam wants to challenge the way you think about resolutions and suggest beneficial resolutions to take on.Be all in – Commit to being all in on every activity you undertake every day by being on time, working hard, expressing gratitude, and being emotionally intelligent. This is not an easy thing to do and you will slip up sometimes, but your personal and professional goals and relationships will see drastic improvement once you make this decision.Ask more questions – Be curious and genuinely interested in others, not just waiting for them to stop talking so you can have your turn. You can gain so much knowledge by being hungry and humble through the practice of asking questions without judgement.CICD (continuous integration, continuous delivery) – This is a term that was borrowed from the IT industry which means to make things better and deliver on it. No matter how good you are at something, there is always room for improvement, and resolving to do better can make all the difference.Be a global leader in your field – For RE/MAX, this means striving to be a global real estate technology leader. View this new year as the beginning of a new chapter in your journey, filled with opportunity just waiting for you to seize it, and then put in the work it takes to reach that goal.Start with a win – Resolve to start every day with a win, be kind to everyone and share wins with each other.Adam also responded to an audio question submitted by Mark regarding RE/MAX’s most valuable asset. Adam and the leadership of RE/MAX are very proud to say that the people are the most valuable asset, based on the culture that Dave Liniger created when he founded the company and lived out through the 128,000+ RE/MAX agents around the world who are closing a real estate transaction every 30 seconds as a team.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

When you break down Christmas traditions beyond the events and quirky activities that each family participates in every year, you find that the real purpose behind those traditions is to build community and provide a platform for unconditional sharing. These traditions draw families and friends together like little else can, and Adam suggests that this unique cohesion should become a bigger part of our lives day-in and day-out, from the end of December to the middle of March to the beginning of August.The people in your life are all there for a season, and you never know when your life circumstances are going to change, so why not spend time with the people who matter most to you right now? Reach out a helping hand, send that encouraging text, show up for them when they need a friend, treat them to coffee, and be quick to serve. When you make giving and caring a part of your daily life, you will start anticipating the needs of others and thinking of yourself less and less, but within a true community, your acts of kindness will be returned right when you need them most. Don’t overthink it when someone comes to mind: give them a call, send them a text, or pop by their office over lunch to check in with them and strengthen those bonds. You will never regret giving the gift of happiness.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

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On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, we are joined by Daisy Lopez-Cid, broker-owner of RE/MAX Premiere in Kissimmee, Florida. Daisy took the leap into the real estate industry in August of 2007, and while it was not easy going, she and her agents banded together with the community to weather the storm of the recession and come out stronger on the other side. Daisy has set up a culture in her office of truly caring for her agents, their clients, and the community, and many of her agents have been with her for more than 10 years as a result. She strives to mirror the values and practices of the broader Hispanic culture: giving, welcoming, warmth, and persistence. As one of very few Latinas in the real estate space, she has a unique perspective and also unique opportunities to work with Hispanic families as they navigate the real estate market.She does her best to help her clients in any way that she can and build a relationship with the community, as evidenced by the numbers of past clients that still attend her annual Christmas party and just stop by her office to bring her food or say hi. Many people appreciate Daisy’s straightforward but eloquent way of explaining the way things really are.Daisy has been involved with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) since early on in her real estate career, and in 2018 she served as the organization’s president. She speaks so highly of NAHREP and its members who demonstrate hospitality and persistence day-in and day-out. She brought Adam with her to a NAHREP convention several years ago and he was blown away by how inviting the agents were and their vocal commitment to their communities. She starts each day thinking about what she needs to execute before the day is over and then she gets out there and does it. Her father raised her to be strong, independent, committed, and resourceful, recognizing that there is no success without discomfort, and this is the message that motivates her to start with a win.Connect with Daisy:https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/kissimmee-fl-34741-daisylopez-cid-id13264321.htmlhttps://nahrep.org/https://www.facebook.com/daisy.lopezcid.3https://www.instagram.com/daisylopezcid/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Shane Torres, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Concepts out of Polk City, Iowa. Shane got into real estate in 2009 after beginning his career as a homebuilder and seeing his business dry up during the recession. He and his wife had to make a lot of tough decisions to take care of their family during that period, and while becoming a real estate agent was a long shot at the time, this career shift has proven to be for the best.Having gone from the brink of bankruptcy to $20 million in production within three years, Shane has a lot of insights to share with others in the real estate industry and in business in general. He has written a book on the topic and he also operates a coaching business called “The Road to $20 Million” to help his clients find their paths and avoid some of the mistakes that cost Shane precious time and money. He finds this work extremely fulfilling, being able to help his clients obtain a life balance, understanding the importance of both revenue and having a life that will let you enjoy it. One of his key points is to set upfront expectations and communicate honestly with your clients and loved ones about this balance.The biggest business challenges that Shane has faced and has walked his clients through are mostly related to mindset. If you adjust your mindset to reflect an attitude of abundance by being focused on your “why,” you can set and attain very high goals and set up systems to support you along the way. Shane tells his clients that it is important to work toward their goals one step at a time with consistent effort. Shane starts his days with a win by spending some time listening to podcasts and Bible studies, getting to the gym by 5:00am or 5:30am, answering a few emails, spending time with his family, and then getting his workday started. Shane ended his time with us by dropping a new classic truth bomb: Don’t stoop to stupid. Connect with Shane:https://torresteamia.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXSHANETORRES https://www.instagram.com/shane.torres/https://twitter.com/REMAXTorresTeamhttps://www.amazon.com/Road-20-Million-Bankruptcy-Multi-Million/dp/0578497816https://www.roadto20million.com/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

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On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Kristen Long talks with us about her experience generating business using social media and how effectively building her personal brand on social media allowed her to become an independent agent in 2017. After working with a few teams in the Champaign, Illinois, area, Kristen realized that she was generating about 85% of her business herself and she decided to lean into her marketing background to get herself out there.The most effective method she has found is through social media, specifically Instagram. In 2018, 25% of Kristen’s business came from Instagram interactions, and it is likely that many people who like and engage with her content now will reach out to her when they have a real estate agent need down the road. While many people spend a lot of money to boost their posts, advertise, and buy followers, Kristen emphasizes that you can reach thousands of people at no cost to you if you have the right type of content. Another unconventional way that Kristen generates business is by aligning herself with Target. It is her happy place, so it is very common for her to be posting about going to Target or something she bought at Target or someone she saw at Target, so when people who are familiar with her go to Target or pass a Target or think about Target, they automatically think about Kristen. This immediate connection sometimes turns into a referral when people think about Kristen and realize that they have a friend looking to buy or sell a house and recommend that they reach out to her. Overall, Kristen sees the value in being present on multiple social media platforms, but she recommends that people focus on the one or two platforms that they are most comfortable with. When you are comfortable, you can show your authentic self and not come across and pushy or sales-y, but rather just provide value to your followers. Kristen says that the key to generating business on social media is to build relationships by being authentic and responsive. She also urges everyone to run their own social media accounts rather than paying someone else to manage them because you need to be the one interacting with people and listening to what they want and need, and they expect and deserve to hear from the real you. Connect with Kristen:https://www.instagram.com/homes217/https://www.instagram.com/Lkristen/https://www.facebook.com/kristen.long.9803https://www.linkedin.com/in/homes217/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Elisabeth Vezzani, CEO of Sugarwish, joins us on this episode of Start with a Win. Elisabeth and her co-founder noticed a paradigm shift in gift giving when sending e-gifts started to gain traction and the mentality switched from the giver choosing the gift to the receiver having the power to decide what they wanted. They started Sugarwish as a way to provide the receiver the joy and satisfaction of choosing their ideal candy box which has already been paid for by the giver, featuring over 80 different types of candy and over 50 types of popcorn to choose from.The magic of Sugarwish is that there are multiple touch points that feel magical to the receiver and that also serve the purpose of keeping the giver top-of-mind. Elisabeth says that 80% of Sugarwish’s clients are business professionals who are looking for a creative and fun way to send gifts to their own clients for various reasons. Many business professionals wonder if they are striking the right note in their interactions with customers and leads, but by sending them something from Sugarwish which they get to pick out themselves, you can rest assured that your interactions will always end memorably.Elisabeth speaks to building and maintaining a startup, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing your next tasks and steps, and realizing that you can’t do everything. She also talks about the impact of a good culture by investing in your human capital while your financial capital is still getting where you want it to be. Like many other successful people, Elisabeth starts her day with a win by making her bed and setting her mind on the priorities of the day. Connect with Elisabeth:https://sugarwish.com/http://instagram.com/sugarwishgirl#http://www.facebook.com/sendasugarwishhttps://twitter.com/Sugarwishgirlhttp://pinterest.com/sugarwishpins Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam talks with The Millennial Realtor, Ed Stulak. Ed is a RE/MAX agent based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, who is an Instagram and branding expert, and he shares some of his main insights with listeners during this show.While working in the marketing industry, Ed had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best and brightest on Instagram. Along with his own personal experience using the platform and seeing the potential for building community and providing value to followers, Ed was able to translate what he had learned into the real estate space about 3 years ago. Ed believes strongly that authenticity is the key to success on Instagram from a personal and professional branding perspective, so he doesn’t abide by any set of guidelines or rules about what he should be posting, but he rather posts what is most true to himself in the most engaging way.Ed has been using Instagram since 2012 and he has worked hard to amass over 44,000 followers who are interested in his content and engage with his posts. Perhaps one of the big ways that he has built such a community is by taking a step back and considering the most engaging way to present each post. Instead of just posting a picture of a house he is showing, he aims to elicit an emotion by including something like him holding a puppy in front of the house that will make people stop scrolling. He has found that just by providing authentic and valuable content to his community, he is cultivating and converting leads without ever directly asking people for their business. Ed is constantly responding to comments on his posts, reaching out to new followers, and informing people of new deliverables he can send them if they are interested. These deliverables are items of value to the consumer and they are a way that Ed collects email addresses for his CRM. He is a big advocate of not putting all of your eggs in one basket, but having a presence on all social media platforms as well as old school media and methods. Ed approaches each new day with the mantra “Today is a great day to be great”, and it is clear that he wants to help others do the same.Connect with Ed:https://www.instagram.com/edstulak/https://www.facebook.com/Edstulak1181https://www.facebook.com/edstulak.realestate/?ref=br_rs

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Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Nolan Mondrow, CEO of RemoteLock based in Denver. Nolan jumped into entrepreneurship right after college, starting a clothing export company in Japan where he learned the importance of being persistent, even if it is only because you don’t understand that your prospect is telling you “no” in their language. He came back to the U.S. and got his MBA because he felt that he needed to learn how to think more inside the box, after which he happened upon starting a business selling safes. This business eventually led to e-commerce and, in 2011, RemoteLock was born. RemoteLock is the only cloud technology for smart locks and their main customers are vacation rental owners and real estate agents. RemoteLock allows people to provide time-based codes to designated people who need to access the house or property for any reason and some clients have found uses for the technology that they can integrate into their CRM systems for more effective follow-up procedures. In the future, Nolan sees opportunities for RemoteLock to expand into the merger between multi-family units and the short-term rental realm. From a leadership perspective, Nolan talks about his strategies for keeping the right perspective when things don’t go as planned and being an example to those around you in handling challenges. Nolan starts his days with a win by making his bed, being present with his kids until they go to school, and then spending some time every day walking around his office to gauge how people are doing and collaborate with his team. Connect with Remote Lock:https://www.remotelock.com/https://twitter.com/remotelock_newshttps://www.facebook.com/RemoteLocks/https://www.linkedin.com/company/lockstate/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt2L5eFkY6OcE50alkrvXFghttps://www.instagram.com/remotelock/ Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is Nate Martinez, co-owner of RE/MAX Professionals in the Phoenix area. Nate wears many hats as an owner, broker, team leader, and agent, and he is fortunate enough to have his wife and two of his children on his team. With over 33 years in the industry, Nate has overcome plenty of challenges and has learned many beneficial lessons that now point him in the direction of success. Even with everything he has going on, he prioritizes his team by setting aside several hours every Wednesday morning to talk through the issues of the week and also provide a collaborative space. Nate’s keys to success are being committed to learning, being coachable, and being a mentor. When it comes to continual learning, Nate doesn’t understand why some people make a conscious decision to just give up and stop improving when there are so many mountains left to climb. By being committed to learning, you are truly living life to the fullest and you are able to enhance the lives of others. Part of this also is the willingness to be coachable, recognizing that you don’t know everything and that a coach could help you improve yourself in all areas of life. Finally, Nate encourages everyone who wants to be successful to take the time to help others as well. This mindset of giving over gaining and abundance over scarcity is rare in a world where so many people are primarily focused on themselves, but this will make all the difference for you and those you are pouring into.Nate’s advice to up-and-coming real estate agents is: (1) find a mentor, (2) find a coach, and (3) invest in yourself. He starts his day with a win by visualizing his day and focusing on the “Miracle Morning” principles.Links:“Trillion Dollar Coach” book: https://www.amazon.com/Trillion-Dollar-Coach-Leadership-Playbook/dp/0062839268 “Miracle Morning” book: https://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Morning-Not-So-Obvious-Guaranteed-Transform/dp/0979019710 Connect with Nate:[email protected]

Communicate and build community through video. Listen to today's Quick WIn to hear more.

This episode marks the one-year anniversary of the Start with a Win podcast! We want to thank all of our loyal listeners and fans for your support and for making the show what it is today! We can’t wait to kick off the next year of the podcast and see what the future holds.During this episode, Adam, producer Mark, and social media manager Kayla walk down memory lane and recall their favorite episodes and the lessons that have stuck with them most over the past year. Episode 1 about building hustle daily truly set the tone for Start with a Win and the idea of what causes success is a recurring theme throughout many episodes. We have also been honored to host many agents, coaches, and celebrities during our first year and we look forward to many more. Ryan Harris of the Super Bowl L champion Denver Broncos was just one of the many achievers Adam has interviewed whose kindness and humility really elevated his message of choosing your mindset and believing “I am. I can. I will” in all of life. Dave Liniger brought so much good content to his interview sessions that we had to split it up into 3 episodes filled with wisdom and knowledge as well as messages of empowerment that were before his time.So many stellar RE/MAX agents have been guests on the show, sharing on topics from social media to video to overcoming challenges to shifting your mindset including Ido and Sable from Booj and Ward from Motto Mortgage. Coaches like John Ceplak, Verl Workman, and Richard Robbins have also shared with our listeners crucial business principles as well as the importance of starting within yourself before trying to influence others. We are so grateful for the contributions of all of our guests so far and we can’t wait to share more truths with you as we begin Year 2!

“Owning a business makes you a leader.” – Just about anyone can own a business, but it takes intentional effort, a willingness to be coachable, and a commitment to giving 100% to your business, customers, and employees to truly be a leader.“My employees want to work for me.” – It is your responsibility as their leader to make the workplace somewhere that your employees want to be and where they are encouraged to be the best version of themselves. Your business should be viewed as a community or family that people want to be a part of.“Since I own this business, it is the best one out there.” – Just because you think your baby is pretty doesn’t mean it really is. Approach your business with humility and frequently reach out to your customers for their feedback in your quest for continuous improvement.“I will succeed just because I showed up.” – You will succeed when you are serving your customer well, which takes time, hard work, and a willingness to listen to the feedback of your customers.“Success is fast.” – When you try to rush success, you will end up being a jack of all trades and master of none. Success requires a series of small wins every day including consistent interactions with your customers, employees, colleagues, and mentors. It has been said that “focus” really means Follow One Course Until Success, and success in business is a long game.Connect with Adam:“Why Customers Leave” by David Avrin - https://www.amazon.com/Why-Customers-Leave-Them-Back/dp/1632651513“Atomic Habits” by James Clear - https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299 https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

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Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is David Avrin, speaker and author of several books, most recently “Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back)”. David says that the answer to why customers leave is a simple one: they leave because they can. There are so many choices out in the market and many channels available to customers, from real estate to retail to services to groceries. Business owners are often trying to operate under the assumption that they can control what their customers will buy, but customers don’t always want to do business that way.Consumer behavior is a complex field of study these days, and while business owners don’t have to be experts in predicting what their customers will want or when they will want it, they should have a basic understanding of their customers and what motivates them to purchase. Businesses do not have the luxury of just waiting for customers to walk in their doors, but rather they need to recognize how to meet their customers where they are and meet their needs there. While the primary focus of businesses in the past has been producing an exemplary product that people will want to buy, they must now combine this aspect of the buying process with the wants and needs of the customers. A good starting point for gaining competitive advantage in this realm is to re-examine the points of contact with the customer and make adjustments based on their observed needs and wants. Since there are so many channels for purchasing very similar products, building a relationship with your customers will likely make all the difference in you receiving the business over your competitors. David believes in leading with authenticity, relevance, and in a way that educates the consumer. This also involves a willingness to continually adjust your approach based on shifting expectations and feedback from your customers. David starts his days with a win by spending intentional and uninterrupted time with his kids, getting his priorities aligned before starting his workday.Links:https://www.amazon.com/Why-Customers-Leave-Them-Back/dp/1632651513 Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos