Today’s conversation is with Jon Brooks, a former investment banker turned trailblazing real estate leader who’s redefining what it means to run a people-first brokerage.

As the founder of a thriving independent firm in Jacksonville, Florida—now home to 240 agents and over half a billion in annual sales—Jon shares how he broke away from the traditional “big box” brokerage model to build something more empowering, more human, and more impactful.

We explore agent success stories, smart strategies for navigating today’s market, and the leadership principles that drive Jon’s mission to uplift his team and community.

But this episode isn’t just for real estate pros. It’s a masterclass in leadership, innovation, and creating ripple effects of impact—no matter your industry.

0:00 Intro

5:27 Rapid growth of Jon's indie brokerage

9:04 Increasing caps at big box brokerages

14:08 Mentorship model for new agents

19:25 Kaizen Kickstart program for new agents

24:12 Empowering agents to consider buying listings

28:44 Market differences between Florida and elsewhere

Resources Mentioned:

Jon Brooks' Instagram: @iamJonbrooks

Jon Brooks' Substack newsletter

Wyatt Graves' website