In this penultimate episode of the season, the Failing Up podcast welcomes a dynamo from the real estate world - Nick Waldner. With his team in Maryland, Nick has made waves in the industry, selling a whopping 450 homes this year, amounting to a sales volume of around $200 million. Nick delves deep into the ingrained culture of his team, which embraces failure as a stepping stone to success. He introduces us to their unique practice - "Fail Forward Friday". During this session, team members gather to share their weekly setbacks. As Nick points out, not only does this ritual help foster a strong bond within the team, but it also makes way for personal growth and connection. For many new agents, opening up about their missteps is no easy task. However, once they break through that barrier, the results are astounding. Nick emphasizes that transparency, coupled with forging personal connections, becomes the backbone of effective leadership. David chimes in with an insightful observation: vocalizing one’s failures often diminishes the sting associated with them. By talking about what went wrong, one can shift from viewing it as a defeat to a learning opportunity. The trio delves further into leadership tactics and discusses ways to help individuals reframe their perceptions of failure. One of the episode’s highlights is Nick’s candid recollection of a challenging time when some of his top-performing agents decided to leave the team. It prompted a deep introspection: "Who are we as a team?" For Nick, it reaffirmed the essence of their team's identity – a group dedicated to the ethos of failing forward. It wasn't about the agents who left; it was about rallying those who stayed and believed in the shared mission. David underscores the episode's theme, noting that growth in leadership is often a direct outcome of being transparent and open about one's journey, the ups, and the downs. The conversation concludes on a heartwarming note as Nick reveals his next mission – to foster a 'failing forward' culture within his own family, replicating the same trust and understanding he’s cultivated with his professional team. Join us for this enlightening conversation and learn how failures, when viewed through the right lens, can indeed be the stepping stones to success.