This week, we tackled one of the most overused and under-explained phrases in real estate: “build relationships.” If you’ve ever felt frustrated hearing this advice without any real guidance on what it actually means or how to do it authentically, this conversation is for you.

We dug into the distinction between the performative and the genuine in relationship-based business models. Here’s the truth: not everyone is wired to run a relationship business, and that’s okay. The problem is that most offices keep pushing a one-size-fits-all approach without helping agents figure out what actually works for their personalities and strengths.

We talked about the danger of throwaway phrases like “articulate your value” and “focus on your relationships” when there’s no foundational conversation first: Who are you wired to serve? How do you market that? How do you operationalize and optimize for sustainability?

If you’re a broker or manager using these phrases, ask yourself: Are you really helping your agents understand what this means for them specifically? Or are you happy to outsource these kinds of conversations? Answering that (truthfully) will help you retain and grow agents.

If you’re an agent feeling stuck or misguided, know this: You have options. You're still responsible for taking action, but if the needle isn’t moving on your fulfillment, income, or business growth, you might be in the wrong model. And that’s a signal worth paying attention to.

Listen in for a real conversation about authenticity, self-awareness, and building a business that actually fits who you are. Enjoy!

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