What does it take to build a real estate business without sacrificing family life? Brett Storrier shares the reality behind launching a new agency while navigating a changing market.

With 20+ years in real estate, Brett dives into the shift from agent to business owner, the rapid evolution of technology, compliance, and AI, and what’s really driving growth in regional markets like Goulburn. He unpacks buyer migration trends from Canberra and Sydney, the impact of interest rates, and why regional real estate still presents strong opportunities.

You’ll also hear how Brett balances business with family, the mindset required to start from scratch, and lessons from the journey—including a story he’ll never forget. If you're focused on real estate growth, leadership, and building a sustainable business, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

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#RealEstateBusiness, #RealEstateAgents, #BusinessGrowth, #Leadership, #RegionalRealEstate, #PropertyMarket, #entrepreneurlife,

00:00 The Night He Got Lost on a Listing (And What It Taught Him)

00:17 Why This Podcast Matters for Agents Right Now

01:00 Meet the Agent Turned Business Owner

01:44 How a Family Connection Launched His Career

02:28 The Biggest Industry Changes Agents Can’t Ignore

03:22 Why Goulburn Is Attracting More Buyers Than Ever

05:06 The Real Story Behind Price Growth and Migration Trends

08:43 The Challenge of Balancing Business and Family

10:48 The Leap from Agent to Business Owner

13:00 How Running Built Discipline and Mental Strength

15:22 What the Next 6–12 Months Look Like

16:51 Rapid Fire: Quick Insights from Brett

20:05 The Most Embarrassing (and Unforgettable) Moment

22:37 Final Advice for Agents Ready to Grow

Why are so many businesses losing great people, and profits, with them? Steve Owen breaks down the real reason staff turnover is costing you more than you think.

With 30+ years across leadership, HR, and business growth, Steve shares the hard truths most owners ignore. From the difference between public vs private sector leadership to why technical experts often fail as leaders, this episode dives deep into what actually drives retention, performance, and profitability.

You’ll learn the three fastest ways to increase profit (without chasing more revenue), how to build leaders who keep great staff, and why most businesses are unknowingly operating below their true potential. If you’re serious about business growth, leadership development, and building a profitable company, this episode is essential.

Subscribe for more insights on leadership, real estate, and business growth.



00:00 The Hidden Cost of Losing Your Best People

00:21 Why This Conversation Matters Right Now

01:03 Meet the Strategist Behind 30+ Years of Leadership

02:36 What the Public Sector Gets Right (and Wrong) About Leadership

03:27 The Crisis That Forced a Complete Reset at 50

04:27 From Setback to $15M Business Growth

06:02 Why Giving Back Became the Next Mission

06:42 Public vs Private: The Leadership Gap Explained

07:34 The “Peter Principle” That’s Killing Performance

10:53 Why Revenue Is Lying to You About Success

12:01 The 3 Fastest Ways to Increase Profit Today

12:51 How to Create a Market-Dominating Position

15:20 Why Revenue Feeds Ego (But Profit Builds Freedom)

16:28 What’s Next: Scaling Impact and Legacy

18:01 Rapid Fire: Unexpected Insights

20:03 How to Connect and Final Takeaways

What does it really take to scale from 60 to 100 deals in today’s shifting real estate market? In this episode, Mark McCann reveals the systems, mindset, and team structure behind consistent growth.

In this conversation, Mark breaks down how top real estate agents can leverage team roles, sharpen goal setting, and adapt to market volatility. From navigating Canberra’s post-COVID property shifts to building a lean, high-performing business with family, this episode is packed with practical insights for agents and business owners ready to grow.

You’ll learn how to set weekly targets that drive results, avoid burnout while scaling, and why more competition is actually raising the standard across the industry. If you're focused on real estate leadership, business growth, and long-term success—this is one to watch.

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00:00 The Shift from Income Goals to Weekly Targets That Actually Work

00:26 Why This Podcast Exists (And Who It’s For)

01:09 Meet the Agent Dominating His Market for a Decade

01:47 Why More Competition Is Making Agents Better

03:10 The Lean Team Model That Frees You to Sell More

04:43 Inside Canberra’s Property Market Rollercoaster

06:09 The Reality of Building a Business with Your Partner

08:17 The Strategy Behind Pushing to 100 Deals

09:31 How to Set Goals Without Burning Out

11:38 Rapid Fire: Insights You Didn’t Expect

15:26 If He Ran the Country: Bold Business Opinions

16:41 The Best Advice That Shaped His Career

17:59 Final Takeaways You Can Apply Today

Vasco Horta on Building a Real Estate Career by “Making It Work,” Mentoring Agents & Staying Human in an AI World

James Short introduces the podcast and interviews award-winning agent and Zest Realty co-owner Vasco Horta, who explains he entered real estate by accident after being lured to recruit and train salespeople, only to find the promised role gone and having to start door knocking.

Vasco recounts leaving mismatched offices, choosing a small independent agency so success would be attributable to him, and adopting a “no plan B” mentality shaped by an unprivileged upbringing and years of work from age 15. He describes major industry changes including technology, growing agent egos, and the risk of AI and automation replacing agents who reduce personal contact, citing his move away from DocuSign to keep face-to-face client interaction.

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00:00 Fortune and Grit

00:13 Show Introduction

00:56 Meet Vasco HTA

02:51 Accidental Start in Real Estate

05:41 Choosing the Small Agency Path

06:44 No Plan B Mindset

08:48 Industry Shifts Tech and Ego

09:53 AI Without Losing Connection

12:07 Mentoring Goals and Recruiting Talent

14:32 Rapid Fire 60 Second Quiz

17:56 Advice and Where to Connect

18:53 Closing Thanks

Don Ha: From Baker to $1B+ RE/MAX Leader—Work Ethic, Mindset, Referrals & Exponential Growth

In this episode of Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business, host James Short interviews Don Ha—RE/MAX New Zealand regional owner/director, Forbes Books author, keynote speaker, transformational wealth coach, and founder of Exponential Coaching—about his journey from working 72-hour weeks as a baker to selling 86 properties in his first year in real estate and scaling to record-breaking results, including surpassing $1B in annual sales.

Don shares why his biggest regret is not thinking big enough early on, how relentless productive hours and face-to-face relationship building still beat technology alone, and how referrals and trust drive long-term success. He also unpacks leadership values (loyalty, trust, respect, hard work), delegation to “create another you,” perspectives on younger agents and mindset, and his ambition to sell globally via online presentations.

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00:00 Thinking Bigger Regret

00:22 Show Introduction

01:05 Meet Don Ha

03:39 From Baker to Agent

06:13 Work Ethic Wins

07:50 Tech Versus Face Time

09:42 Scaling to Billions

11:46 Mindset and Ambition

13:51 Leadership and Values

15:44 Future Agents and Referrals

19:05 Self Belief and Resilience

19:49 Rapid Fire Quiz

23:36 Regrets and Big Goals

24:39 Advice and Closing

From Maui Firefighter to Real Estate Freedom: Mike Neubauer on STRs, Mindset, and Building a Life You Don’t Retire From

James Short hosts Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business with guest Mike Neubauer, a former Maui firefighter, master photographer, and real estate investor behind Our Family Invests. Mike shares how he moved from creative work into firefighting for stability, then learned short-term rentals from a mentor, studied relentlessly, and replaced his fire department income within about two and a half years, retiring after 10 years to secure pension benefits.

 He explains his “scale of passivity,” starting with STRs for strong returns and transitioning toward more passive investing to protect family time, emphasizing “solve for Tuesday morning” and overcoming analysis paralysis by focusing on what could go right. He discusses joining mastermind rooms earlier, common success traits of taking action, and upcoming projects including a luxury glamping resort near Zion and building a home in Coeur d’Alene.

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00:00 Solve for Tuesday

00:26 Show Introduction

01:08 Meet Mike Neubauer

03:00 From Art to Firefighting

06:11 Real Estate Spark

08:30 Scale of Passivity

10:23 Mastermind Advantage

12:37 Action Over Analysis

14:53 Lifestyle Projects Ahead

16:01 Rapid Fire Quiz

18:17 Wrap Up and Links

Justin Lund: From Addiction & Rehab to Scaling a Near $100M Business with Systems That Buy Back Your Time

In this episode of Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business, host James Short interviews business systems architect Justin Lund about his journey from high-pressure sales, addiction to pain pills, arrests and rehab to rebuilding his life and learning the power of frameworks.

Justin shares how rehab taught him to create “transition plans” and plan for worst days, and how those principles translate into goal setting, quarterly retreats, and building systems over relying on motivation. Justin also shares routines, mindset insights, his aim to reach 50,000 business owners, and how listeners can connect via propelyour.com and social platforms under his name, plus a free Founder Freedom Playbook via Instagram DM using “James Freedom.”

Subscribe to Coach James Short's channel for more insights!

00:00 High-Ticket Sales Chaos: Addiction, Arrests & Hitting Rock Bottom

00:22 Welcome to the Show + Meet Justin Lund (Freedom Flywheel Origin Story)

02:28 Early Life Pressure: Marriage, Baby on the Way & Chasing Stability Through Sales

05:20 Rehab Breakthrough: The Missing Piece—Plan for Your Worst Day

08:31 Goal-Setting That Sticks: The ‘Beast,’ Overcommitting & Quarterly Retreats

13:13 Rebuilding From Nothing: Sleeping on the Floor, Starting Over & Staying True to Yourself

15:55 Scaling Without Burning Out: Mentorship, Delegation Hacks & Explosive Growth

20:38 Scaling Lesson #1: Time Awareness & What Your Hour Is Really Worth

22:25 The Hidden Cost of Long Meetings (and the Ego Trap of “Teaching”)

24:45 Scaling Lesson #2: Inspect the Instructions, Not the Outcome

27:20 Systems Over Goals: Building Simple Habits That Stick

29:28 The “62nd Quiz”: Favorites, Routines, and Personal Reflections

34:47 Looking Ahead to 2026: Reaching 50,000 Founders & High-Leverage Wins

36:35 Where to Find Justin + Final Thanks & Wrap-Up

From Builders to Visionaries | David G Fisher - EP131 by James Short

Surviving Economic Downturns & Real Estate Success with Andrea Gordon | Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business

In this episode of 'Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business,' host James Short welcomes Andrea Gordon, a distinguished real estate professional with extensive experience in the Bay Area market. Andrea shares her journey from theater director to a successful realtor, highlighting the skills and qualities that have helped her thrive, including emotional intelligence, communication, and financial savvy. They discuss her book, 'Realizations,' and explore how theatrical skills can benefit real estate professionals. Andrea also emphasizes the importance of having a strong team, financial planning, and maintaining consistency in business practices.

Tune in to gain valuable insights from Andrea's incredible experiences and lessons in real estate.

Subscribe to Coach James Short's channel for more insights!

00:00 Surviving Economic Downturns as a Realtor

00:22 Introduction to the Show

01:04 Meet Andrea Gordon: A Real Estate Professional

01:49 From Theater to Real Estate: Andrea's Journey

05:37 The Importance of Listening and Emotional Intelligence in Real Estate

09:57 Maintaining Consistency and Building a Strong Team

17:43 Andrea's 60-Second Quiz

20:33 About the Realizations Podcast

22:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Leading & Growing in Real Estate: Insights with Renee Richardson

Welcome to another episode of 'Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business' with Coach James Short, AKA Shorty. In this episode, James interviews Renee Richardson, CEO coach specializing in neuro-informed leadership and feminine business strategy for women founders. Renee discusses her journey, the inspiration behind starting her own business, and her mission to empower women in leadership roles. She shares her 'Real Harmony Framework' and insights into the challenges faced by women in leadership.

Renee also discusses her upcoming projects, including a book launch and a community for new founders. Tune in for valuable insights on leadership, strategy, and personal growth.

Subscribe to Coach James Short's channel for more insights!

00:00 Welcome to Leading and Growing Your Real Estate Business

01:13 Introducing Special Guest: Renee Richardson

01:52 Renee's Journey and Passion for Coaching

05:37 Challenges Faced by Women in Leadership

09:30 Renee's Real Harmony Framework

11:57 Exciting Future Projects and Community Building

15:25 Rapid Fire Questions with Renee

20:44 Closing Remarks and How to Connect with Renee