Do The Work | Mindset Mastery

In this episode of Do The Work | Mindset Mastery… I reflect on a powerful weekend that reminded me what long-term success really requires—discipline, the right habits, and surrounding yourself with people who live by their values. My daughter just returned from studying abroad in Barcelona, and I can't begin to express how proud I am of who she's become. She walked into that challenge on her own—no safety net, no friends, just her courage. And yeah, it got lonely. But she didn't lower her standards to fit in. She stood firm on who she is, and the right people showed up. That's a lesson for all of us. Later that weekend, Carla and I stepped out to a birthday dinner for one of our agents, Madeline. What stood out wasn't just the celebration—it was the depth of the conversation. Madeline asked a question that hit hard: "What would you tell yourself at 28?" And I had a lot to say. Because I've lived through the shame, the financial mess, the marital struggles, the lawsuits—you name it. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's this: it always gets better, if you keep moving forward. But here's the catch—success doesn't last if it's built on the wrong habits. I've been that guy with temporary wins and long-term chaos. That's why I constantly tell my team—and myself—to evaluate the habits we're building. If your success is costing you your health, your peace, or your family, it's not sustainable. Something's got to change. At that dinner table, I looked around and saw something rare: people who weren't just talking business, but who were striving to grow in every area of life. These are people who've fought through adversity and came out stronger. That's the type of circle that keeps you sharp. That's the culture we've built at A.Z. & Associates. If you're out there trying to figure this all out alone, let this be a reminder: when you raise your standards, you might lose some people—but you'll gain the right ones. You'll become someone unstoppable. A force to be reckoned with. And yes—it's possible for you too. Five Questions to Reflect On: Are the people around you helping you grow—or holding you back? What habits are you relying on right now, and will they sustain your success long-term? Have you ever lowered your standards to fit in? What did that cost you? What would your 40-year-old self thank you for doing today? When you hit adversity, do you stop—or remind yourself that it always gets better? Five Notable Quotes: "Don't lower your standards just because you're feeling lonely." "It always gets better. I will become better because of this." "Long-term success is built on the appropriate habits." "You shouldn't feel like a burden in a relationship just because you're growing." "My daughter is a force to be reckoned with. This organization is a force to be reckoned with. My life is a force to be reckoned with. And it's possible for you too."

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• dothework.com/azaa

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In this episode of Do The Work | Mindset Mastery… I found myself reflecting on the power of standards—not just the ones we set for ourselves, but the ones we pass down. It really hit me after dropping off my youngest daughter at her friend's grandparents' house and realizing the depth of generational success at play. I always thought I understood what it meant to build something for the next generation, but seeing that legacy up close, I saw the habits, the discipline, the mindset that get passed on, and how that compounds over time. Setting the Standard—It Starts Now Growing up, I didn't know much about the right or wrong habits. I didn't understand that you could just decide to raise your standard of living, or even that the standard you set today shapes the reality for your kids tomorrow. When I look around now, I see that the life we're living is a model for what those around us will accept—from how we handle business and our bodies, to how we treat our spouses. What really stuck out to me was realizing that so many successful people I know are first generation. Their parents worked hard and built a foundation—maybe as blue-collar workers or in mid-level careers. But their kids took it to another level. Still, what I saw this weekend was different. This wasn't just first generation; it was generational. Grandparents, parents, and kids—each building on what came before, each reinforcing the right habits and standards. It's Not All Peaks and Valleys For a long time, I lived in peaks and valleys. Great years, followed by tough ones. It was all patterns: nine months up, nine months down, repeat. I was reacting, not leading. My habits weren't in alignment with long-term success. Only when I started surrounding myself with the right people and building consistent habits did things change. Seeing those grandparents, I imagined the decades of discipline, the setbacks, the bounce backs. It's not just about making money or looking successful—it's about sustaining it, and making sure it lasts through generations. Sure, you'll hear about trust fund kids who mess it all up, but that's the exception. Most families with strong habits see their kids magnify the good—and sometimes the bad. What We Pass On—Good or Bad Here's the real truth: everything we do gets magnified by the next generation. If you have good habits, your kids will take them further. If you have dysfunctions, they'll get magnified too. If you eat like crap, your kids probably will too—only sooner and with bigger consequences. If you're disciplined and consistent, they'll take that even further. The same goes for your mindset, your finances, your relationships. A conversation with my daughter's friend made it clear—when you grow up in a household with high standards, those expectations become normal. Respect, discipline, and good habits aren't accidental. They're built and maintained, day after day. Your Responsibility Right Now Maybe you didn't get the best example growing up. Maybe you're first generation, just trying to figure this out. That doesn't mean you can't set a new standard. It just means you have to work harder to identify your own dysfunctions and put in the reps to build something better. Every choice—what you eat, who you listen to, how you bounce back from setbacks—is shaping your kids and grandkids, whether you realize it or not. So if you're tired of peaks and valleys, look at your habits. Look at your discipline. Because the only way to build something that lasts is to do the work, consistently, over time. You set the standard, for yourself and everyone who comes after you. Five Questions to Reflect On What standard are you setting in your life right now—and what might that mean for your family in the future? How have your own habits been shaped by those you observed growing up? Can you identify any peaks and valleys in your own success? What patterns or habits might be causing them? In what areas of your life are you still operating out of old dysfunctions? How can you start changing that today? If your kids or those close to you magnified your current habits, would you be proud of the outcome? Notable Quotes "Just imagine the amount of habits and discipline, the mindset reinforcement, the bounce back that they had to go through to not only sustain it long term, but to pass it on to their offspring." "Whatever life we're living right now, we're setting a standard not only for ourselves, but for our kids, for those around us, of what they will accept from us." "You can be reckless and still make a lot of money, but it doesn't mean you're going to sustain it long term. You'll rise and you'll crash. You'll have the peaks and the valleys." "Everything we do gets magnified by the next generation. If you have good habits, your kids will take them further. If you have dysfunctions, they'll get magnified too." "The only way to build something that lasts is to do the work, consistently, over time. You set the standard, for yourself and everyone who comes after you." If this episode got you thinking, I encourage you to ask yourself those questions and take a close look at the standards you're building today. That's what will shape tomorrow—for you, and for everyone who follows.

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

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For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

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Energy & Focus In this episode of Do The Work | Mindset Mastery… I had to make a decision—and not just any decision, but one that required me to draw a hard line on what I tolerate and where I choose to invest my energy. This wasn't about business plans or growth strategies. It was about something as simple—and as massive—as a hotel room. Now, that might sound petty at first glance, but stay with me. See, over the last few weeks, I've been everywhere—Vegas, Kansas City, Atlanta—chasing goals, supporting my daughter at nationals (she placed second in the nation, by the way), and showing up for the people I lead. But through all this travel, I kept getting hit with the same lesson: energy and focus are your most valuable assets, and you better be damn protective of them. So here I am, walking into a W Hotel in Atlanta, expecting the same elevated experience I had in other cities. Instead, I'm hit with dirty elevators, stained carpets, dingy lighting, mold in the shower—everything that screamed low standards. And while the room was draining me, what hit harder was realizing how many of us allow these energy leaks to continue in our lives every single day. That beat-up car, that slow computer, that "just okay" team member, that friendship you've outgrown—they're all robbing you. Quietly. Consistently. Stealing your ability to create and expand. Just like that hotel room did to me. And for what? Comfort? Familiarity? Let me be real with you. I could've stayed. I could've told myself, "You made the bed, now lie in it." But like Jim Rohn said, "You're not a tree. Change it." So I did. Took the hit, booked another hotel, and within hours, I felt different. More powerful. More clear. More me. And this wasn't just about a hotel. It was a metaphor. A wake-up call. Because the same thing goes for people. There are folks in your life—maybe even good people—that you've outgrown. And by holding on, you're blocking the great people who are ready to enter your life. It's not about being cold or ungrateful. It's about being intentional with your energy. Energy that belongs to your business. Your health. Your family. Your purpose. I'm not here to convince anyone. I don't chase. I don't beg. But I will tell you this—when you start choosing yourself and what serves your purpose, your entire world shifts. Let the distractions go. Let the resentment go. Let the people go who aren't moving with you. Because if you really want to do the work, it starts there—with energy and focus. 5 Reflective Questions What are you tolerating right now that's quietly draining your energy and focus? Is there a relationship in your life that you've outgrown but are holding onto out of comfort or guilt? What physical items (your car, workspace, home) are stealing from your peace and confidence? How do you respond when people bring problems without taking responsibility for their part in the solution? What bold move can you make today to realign yourself with your vision? Notable Quotes "If you don't like how things are, change it. You're not a tree." "This is the power you have when you're around the right people, in the right environments, focusing on the right things." "Energy and focus are your most valuable assets—you better protect them like your life depends on it, because it does." "Good people had to leave so I could finally see the great people that were already in my life." "Just because you made a decision doesn't mean you have to lie in it forever."

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
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For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

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• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

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Your Future Self In this episode of Do The Work | Mindset Mastery… I took a minute to slow things down and reflect—not just on where I'm going, but on who I've become along the way. Life moves fast. Between running the business and being in Vegas last week for my daughter's volleyball tournament, I blinked and realized I'd missed a Mindset Mastery. But that's how it is when you're in motion. And when you're moving fast, the one thing that'll keep you grounded is clarity—clarity about what you want and who you need to be to get there. Over the years, I've learned that real growth doesn't come from new skill sets—it comes from shortening the time I spend in self-pity. I used to blame others every time something didn't go my way. When deals fell apart, when people left the organization, when things just didn't pan out—I'd focus all my energy outward. But I realized that the longer I stayed in that space, the longer I delayed my own progress. The real shift happened when I started asking, What could I have done differently? That question alone has changed my life. I talked about how disappointments used to knock me off course. But I've trained myself not to sit in that pain too long. I feel it. I acknowledge it. But then I go to work. Because staying in that negative headspace only drains your energy and blinds you from the blessings that often come from major shifts. At the core of this episode was a reminder that changed everything for me: Know yourself. Most people think success comes from doing more. But what I've found is that it comes from understanding what you truly want—and being brutally honest about what you're willing to sacrifice to get there. You can't say you want to be a $20 million producer and then act like someone who's okay with average. You can't want big success and still insist on weekends off, early bedtimes, or reacting emotionally to every hiccup in a deal. It doesn't work that way. I called out the patterns I've seen in our industry—people getting thrown off by appraisals, lowball offers, or delayed closings. And the truth is, those aren't real problems. They're just part of the business. But if those things derail you, you're not in alignment with the person you say you want to be. That's the key: Alignment. If you're not acting like the person you want to be right now—if your actions don't match your desires—you're not going to get there. That's the gap. And closing that gap starts with studying yourself. Not just what you do, but how you think, how you respond, and what you focus on when things get hard. I'm proud of what we've built at A.Z. & Associates. But I don't take it for granted. I'm still in the grind. Still growing. Still analyzing my thoughts and adjusting my actions. And I want the same for every person who listens to this podcast. Because once you stop blaming and start owning everything—everything changes. So here's what I want to leave you with: Study yourself. Know yourself. And ask the real question: Am I truly in alignment with what I want? Because if you are, the results will follow. If you're not, it's time to stop pointing fingers and start doing the work. Reader Reflection Questions: What is one area of your life where you're blaming others instead of taking full responsibility? Are your current daily habits aligned with the results you say you want? When challenges arise, do you dwell in the negativity or shift quickly into solution mode? Who has what you want—and what are they doing differently than you? What sacrifices are you truly willing to make to become the version of yourself you've envisioned? Notable Quotes: "When I was wallowing, I wasn't growing." "It's not the skill set that got me here—it's how fast I get out of self-pity." "Know yourself. That's the first step to becoming who you're meant to be." "You can't want to be a $20 million producer and act like someone who doesn't want to work weekends." "Am I acting like the person I want to be—right now?"

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

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• • shop.dothework.com

Prosperity Begins With The Mind In this episode of Do The Work | Mindset Mastery… I dive into a topic that has come up in countless conversations lately: prosperity begins with the mind. It's not just about skill sets; it's about the mental and emotional strength required to step into the life we truly want. The Truth About Success Everyone can envision a better life, but few actually step into it. The moment we realize that achieving more requires us to become more, we're faced with the truth: it's going to take more time, more energy, more effort, and a whole lot of failures. That's what keeps people from moving forward. Instead of pushing through, many settle. They adjust their lives to their current outcomes and set limitations—like wanting success but refusing to work weekends, answer calls after 8 p.m., or step out of their comfort zones. But building something great isn't about fitting success into the box of what's convenient. It's about breaking past those self-imposed restrictions and going all in. The Sacrifices Required I've had this conversation so many times—people setting parameters around their growth, saying, "I don't answer calls after this time," or "I don't work weekends." And then they wonder why their business isn't where they want it to be. The reality is, in the beginning, there are no boundaries. There are no shortcuts. If you want to reach a level where you have control over your time, you have to put in the work now to build the infrastructure that allows for that later. I didn't build AZ & Associates by setting limitations. There were no vacations, no weekends off. It was an all-in effort. I'm not saying that's how you have to live forever, but there's a season where you have to be willing to do what most won't in order to create what most don't have. Are You Avoiding Growth? This past weekend at my daughter's volleyball tournament, Carla and I had a conversation about where we want to be. We're in our mid-40s and still pushing to become better, still refining our skills, still learning every single day. Meanwhile, I see so many people who have completely stopped growing. Parents live vicariously through their kids, but their own ambition has died. They settle, and it shows in their energy, in their relationships, in their bodies. They tell their kids, "You can be anything," but have they led by example? Are their kids proud of them? The people who achieve great things aren't necessarily smarter or luckier—they're just willing to do more. They ask themselves, What am I willing to sacrifice? What skills do I need to develop? Instead of avoiding challenges, they put themselves in uncomfortable situations that force them to grow. Are You Ready to Take the Next Step? The biggest breakthroughs happen when you stop making excuses and start taking action. The real players in this industry aren't overthinking; they're out there executing. They're putting out 20 pieces of content while others are still debating what video to make. It's not about knowing exactly how everything will unfold. It's about knowing the next step—and taking it. That's the mindset shift that separates those who keep getting the same results year after year from those who continue to elevate. Reader Engagement Questions: What self-imposed limitations have you set that might be holding you back? Are you willing to make short-term sacrifices for long-term success? What skill set do you need to develop to reach the next level? How do you handle being around people who have achieved more than you? What's one action you can take today to move closer to your goals? Notable Quotes: "Prosperity begins with the mind. The results you see today are a reflection of the standards you've set for yourself." "You can't want a $20M business and also say, 'But I don't work weekends.' Those two things don't align." "You don't need to know every step to the top of the mountain—you just need to take the next one." "The people winning aren't necessarily smarter. They're just willing to do what you're not." "Your kids will always be proud of you, but are they inspired by you?" It all comes down to this: If you want more, you have to become more. The choice is yours.

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more:

• • shop.dothework.com

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more:

• • shop.dothework.com

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more:

• shop.dothework.com

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more:

• • shop.dothework.com

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more:

• • shop.dothework.com

Follow A.Z. Araujo on Social Media:

• Instagram: @azaraujo
• Facebook: A.Z. Araujo
• TikTok: A.Z. Araujo
• YouTube: Do The Work Podcast

For Real Estate Agents in AZ:

Learn more about Do The Work Coaching and A.Z. & Associates:

• dothework.com/azaa

Upcoming Events:

If you're a real estate brokerage owner, sign up for one of our upcoming events. Visit:

• dothework.com
• bigmoneybrokerage.com Join my mailing list for updates!

New Do The Work Gear:

Check out the latest DTW and Do The Work Gear! Hats, shirts, journals, and more:

• • shop.dothework.com