Ever had a client who just couldn't pull the trigger—despite every comp and logical reason pointing toward "yes"? Jessie Hrivnak, a Compass agent with The Coley Group in Raleigh-Durham, has developed a framework to address exactly that.
In this episode, we explore the Wise Mind Method, Jessie's approach rooted in neuroscience and emotional intelligence that helps agents guide clients through decision-making paralysis. We also dig into her smart marketing strategies for relocation clients, including three lead magnets that build trust while segmenting her database.
Marketing to Relocation Clients
Jessie's marketing centers on answering questions relocators haven't even thought to ask yet. She's developed three standout resources that double as lead magnets:
The Explore Raleigh Guide is her curated list of favorite restaurants, parks, gyms, and shops—giving relocators a glimpse of daily life in her market.
The School Guide helps families navigate Wake County's overwhelming school system: magnets, charters, public, private, and multiple calendar options.
The Neighborhood Match Guide is a 10-minute questionnaire that identifies which neighborhoods align with a client's lifestyle and priorities.
Each guide captures email addresses while revealing client interests. Someone downloads the school guide? They've got kids and education matters. That's actionable intel for personalized follow-up.
Her advice to relocators: "Visit like you live here." Skip tourist attractions. Try a workout class, walk the greenway, eat at neighborhood spots.
The Wise Mind Method
Jessie developed this framework after noticing a pattern: clients facing emotional, high-stakes decisions often freeze. They ghost after great consultations. They reject clear pricing data. They can't move forward.
The reason is neuroscience. When stress kicks in, our prefrontal cortex—responsible for decision-making and logic—goes offline. Our nervous system equates safety with predictability, and home is predictable. Change triggers alarm signals.
Agents typically respond with more data. But clients can't process information when their brain's decision-making center has shut down. The Wise Mind Method teaches agents to recognize dysregulation and bring clients back to a grounded state.
Jessei's intake process gathers information across three buckets: functional needs (bedrooms, budget), lifestyle needs (what life looks like), and emotional needs (the why behind the lifestyle). That emotional anchor—"I want more time with my daughter"—becomes the through-line that keeps clients connected to their goals throughout the transaction.
She also teaches agents to recognize micro-expressions, those subtle facial movements that reveal emotion before clients say a word. Noticing surprise creates an opportunity: "What part of this information were you not expecting?"
As Jessie put it: "People just want to feel seen."
Connect with Jessie
Jessie is building the Wise Mind Method as an online course with modules, scripts, and live collaboration opportunities. Join the waitlist on Instagram at @thewisemindmethod or follow her personally at @jeshriv.
If you've ever wondered why qualified clients won't move forward, this framework might be the missing piece.
