Guests: Doug & Joan Johnston — The Sold Man Team (Boise, ID); 40 years married; 30 years in real estate together; parents of 2, grandparents of 3; relationship-based agents known for hospitality, community events, and a thriving marriage + business partnership.

Episode Summary

Doug and Joan Johnston embody what so many couples hope is possible: a marriage that flourishes and a real estate business that thrives. With 40 years of marriage and 30 years as business partners, they share the real story behind building a life of unity, purpose, and longevity.

From raising toddlers while hosting open houses, to embracing changing roles when illness required a shift, to turning their home into a hub of hospitality and client connection, Doug and Joan prove that you don’t have to choose between marriage, business, or family—you can live them in harmony.

This episode is a masterclass in partnership, resilience, and building a “relationship-rich” life that outlasts markets, seasons, and challenges. Their wisdom is honest, heartfelt, and deeply encouraging for couples navigating entrepreneurship.

Key Themes & Takeaways

• Respect & Kindness: The two values they say have anchored every season of marriage and business.
• No Ego in the Marriage or Business: Ego destroys partnership—humility builds it. Their teamwork works because they stay focused on we, not me.
• Early Years & Shared Roles: Balancing diapers, open houses, and growing a business from a desk in their bedroom.
• Flexibility & Mutual Support: Joan stepping into the field during Doug’s illness—discovering strengths she didn’t know she had.
• Faith & Mentorship: How a spiritually grounded mentor and church community shaped their marriage and personal growth.
• Relationship-Rich Business: Why hospitality, backyard gatherings, and showing genuine care create better clients, deeper friendships, and long-term impact.
• Surviving the 2008 Crash: Retooling, short sales, rebuilding, and leaning into community during one of the hardest seasons in Boise real estate.
• “Low & Slow”: Doug’s BBQ metaphor for life and relationships—patience, presence, and intentionality win every time.
• Legacy: Honesty, fairness, open doors, good meals, and helping people win—what they want their clients, friends, and family to remember.

Resources & Mentions

• SoldMan.com – Doug & Joan’s real estate website
• Instagram: @thesoldmanteam – Real estate updates and client connection
• Instagram: @boisebarbecueguy – Doug’s BBQ, cooking tips, and behind-the-scenes fun
• Their 150-person backyard parties, tri-tip cookouts, and hospitality-driven client events
• “No rich like relationship rich” — a theme woven throughout their story

Share this with a married couple in business, a new real estate partnership, or anyone who needs hope that life, marriage, and work can thrive together.

About Doug & Joan

Doug and Joan Johnston have been married for 40 years and have spent 30 of those years building a successful real estate business side-by-side in Boise, Idaho. Parents of two daughters and proud grandparents of three, they’ve built a “relationship-rich” life where faith, family, and hospitality shape everything they do. Known for their backyard events, generosity, mentorship, and deep client care, they’ve grown The Sold Man Team into one of Boise’s most respected relationship-driven real estate practices.

Connect with Doug & Joan

• Website: https://soldman.com
• Instagram (Real Estate): @thesoldmanteam
• Instagram (BBQ): @boisebarbecueguy

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