Life & Listings: Balancing Real Estate, Scaling Your Future w/ Jennifer Staats

In this episode of the Life and Listings Podcast, Teddy warmly welcomes Brian, the visionary owner behind Sisu, delving into his profound journey within real estate. Brian unveils the genesis of Sisu, initially intended to resolve reporting gaps but ultimately evolving to address overarching inefficiencies within the industry. Jennifer and Brian dissect the challenges posed by disjointed tools and underscore the criticality of real-time insights via Sisu for informed decision-making. They explore agents' work patterns, emphasizing the necessity of consistent activities in maintaining workflow stability and discuss the adaptability required in navigating challenging market conditions. The episode culminates in highlighting the pivotal role of streamlined systems in mitigating real estate challenges and sustaining consistent productivity, encapsulating Brian's transformative journey and Sisu's impact on reshaping traditional real estate management practices.

Episode Highlights:

• Sisu's Evolutionary Journey: Brian shares the inception of Sisu, initially aimed at resolving reporting issues in real estate. The conversation unfolds to reveal how Sisu expanded its scope, addressing broader system inefficiencies within the industry, reshaping traditional real estate management practices.

• Pitfalls of Traditional Tools: Brian and Jennifer discuss the challenges posed by disjointed tools and redundant data entry in real estate management. They emphasize the pivotal role of real-time insights through Sisu in facilitating informed decision-making for agents and teams.

• Navigating Fluctuating Work Patterns: The discussion delves into agents' fluctuating work patterns, highlighting the significance of consistent activities to ensure a smoother workflow and stability, regardless of market dynamics.

• Adaptability in Challenging Market Conditions: Brian sheds light on the importance of adaptability and streamlined systems in successfully navigating through challenging market conditions, illustrating how Sisu enables efficient maneuvering amid industry fluctuations.

• Key Role of Efficient Systems: The episode concludes by emphasizing how efficient systems, exemplified by Sisu, play a critical role in mitigating challenges and sustaining consistent productivity within the real estate domain, offering a transformative approach to industry practices.

"You have to be consistent in your activities. You have to know your business, so you can build a predictable business. " -Brian

Connect with Brian Charlseworth

Start your 7 Day Free Trial of Sisu

Website: https://sisu.co/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancharlesworth

Social Media Links

https://www.instagram.com/007bc/

https://www.facebook.com/brian.charlesworth

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/

In this episode of Life and Listings, I welcomed Kim Bodell from Prosper Real Estate, sharing her unexpected journey into real estate. Kim's transition from a young homebuyer to a licensed agent within six months was sparked by a fortuitous encounter with a skilled realtor. Her spontaneous decision one night to buy real estate books marked the beginning of a successful career, leaving behind a role managing bars. Thriving under the guidance of her broker, Adam, Kim's early success in securing listings highlighted her natural aptitude for the business. What sets Kim apart is her genuine ability to connect with people, forming authentic relationships and turning Zillow leads into lasting friendships. Her story serves as an inspiration, emphasizing the impact of passion, dedication, and a personal touch in building a successful real estate career.

Episode Highlights:

• Navigating Partnership Dynamics: Delving into the initial apprehension and later success of working closely with a partner in the real estate market, finding a balance between planning and intuitive decision-making.

• Surprising Talents: Recognizing the unexpected strengths in the partner's natural ability to connect with people, making collaboration enjoyable and effective, especially in handling complex projects like long-term buyer engagements.

• Building Independent Networks: Discussing the partner's strategic approach in constructing a network of top realtor partners and establishing a robust database, contributing to a mutually beneficial business ecosystem.

• Challenges of Spousal Collaboration: Reflecting on the challenges and humor in contemplating working closely with a spouse in the real estate industry, considering personal space needs and potential conflicts of interest.

• Balancing Work and Family: Sharing insights into maintaining a balance between career commitments and family responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and understanding in a dual-career household.

• Evolution of Priorities: Exploring the transformation in career priorities over time, acknowledging the shifting focus from an initial drive for success to a more balanced approach that prioritizes family and personal time.

"your brain goes into overdrive mode after that, and was like, Okay, I'm gonna pretend like this didn't happen. " -Kim

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/

Connect with Kim Bodell

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.prospermoves.com

Social Media Links

https://web.facebook.com/TCatBayEquity?_rdc=1&_rdr

https://www.instagram.com/kim_bodell/?hl=en

In this podcast episode of Life and Listings, I welcomed Elena from Kee Technologies, a follow-up boss specialist, to share her unique journey. Elena discussed how real estate agents often underutilize CRMs, leading to lost leads and business. She explained Kee Technologies' approach, offering done-for-you setups in CRMs like follow-up boss, including action plans, automations, and training. Elena's path into real estate and CRM wasn't planned; originally a music student, she stumbled into an administrative role at a real estate team. Her expertise in system building and automations emerged over six years, first through administrative work and later refining CRM systems. Her knack for systems and automations became her superpower, shaped by her creative background in music. She discussed common mistakes agents make, such as notification overload and chasing numerous AI tools, emphasizing the need to focus on effective money-making actions. Elena's insights and expertise revolve around simplifying CRM usage for agents and ensuring realistic, achievable goals, providing a valuable perspective for anyone in the real estate industry.

Episode Highlights

• CRM Utilization Gap: Kee Technologies addresses the underutilization of CRMs in real estate, offering tailored setups in platforms like follow-up boss to help agents capitalize on these tools effectively.

• Comprehensive CRM Solutions: Elena's company specializes in providing complete CRM solutions, including action plans, automations, smart lists, SOPs, and training, ensuring agents optimize their CRM usage.

• Unplanned Career Transition: Elena's unconventional path into real estate and CRM stemmed from a music background, evolving over six years into a CRM specialist adept at crafting efficient systems and automations.

• Superpower in Systemization: Elena excels in system building and task automation, leveraging her creativity from music to develop effective tech solutions and streamline workflows.

• Guiding Agents to Success: Elena emphasizes avoiding common agent pitfalls like notification overload and AI tool distractions, advocating for a focus on revenue-generating actions and practical CRM utilization.

"My overarching theme is having something that's realistic... especially if you go into each quarter and you have these goals that you set for yourself or for your team." - Elena

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/ Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/

Connect with Elena

Website: www.keetechnology.com

Personal Website: www.elenakee.com

Social Media Links

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElenaKee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeeTechnologySolutions/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keetechnology/

In this episode of the "Life and Listings" podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Adriana, a dynamic real estate agent based in Santa Rosa, California. Adriana shared her journey into real estate, stemming from her high school days working part-time in a real estate office, gradually immersing herself in the intricacies of the industry. Her multifaceted roles, from managing properties to investing and selling, highlighted her love for project management, particularly witnessing the transformation of properties, especially in rental rehabs and flips. Adriana candidly discussed the challenges of meeting client expectations within budget constraints, reflecting on her own experience with a personal flip project. Her future aspirations involve acquiring multifamily units to build her rental portfolio while relishing the property transformation process. As a single mom, Adriana emphasized the crucial support network she relies on, acknowledging the flexibility required to manage both work and family life. She shared anecdotes about involving her kids in real estate activities, making it a family-oriented experience. Her advice for budding agents, especially single parents, emphasized the significance of joining a supportive team for guidance, support, and collective strength in navigating the complexities of the real estate profession. Throughout our conversation, Adriana's passion for real estate and dedication to her craft shone through, making her a relatable and inspiring figure in the industry.

Episode highlights

• Early Start: Adriana's real estate journey began in high school, sparking her enduring passion.

• Project Management Passion: She loves overseeing property transformations, especially in rental rehabs and flips.

• Meeting Expectations: Balancing client needs within budget constraints remains a significant challenge in real estate.

• Future Goals: Adriana aims to build her rental portfolio with multifamily units in the next five years.

• Work-Life Balance: Being a single mom, she emphasizes the support network and involving her kids in real estate activities.

"What's really helped is just going all in, in the relationships with the clients. You know, at first, you're new and you don't know a lot and you're nervous and you're scared and you think you have to know everything about the property. But it's really not like that. I think that you just have to show up, do what you say, and stick to that and people will trust and respect you."

Connect with Adriana

Contact: 707 - 235 - 9123

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_adrianabuenrostro/

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/

The Life and Listings Podcast welcomed Jayme Downey as a guest, where she discussed her journey in the real estate business alongside her husband. Their successful partnership, spanning two decades and incorporating both their strengths, highlighted their ability to work harmoniously in their roles. Jayme shared the trials and triumphs of working alongside her husband, Bobby, revealing their unique approach to handling different aspects of their real estate business. Their transition from top-producing agents to establishing their own brokerage, NextHome, was driven by a vision that Bobby had for a larger brokerage full of people, while Jayme was more focused on excelling in their roles and ensuring quality service. Jayme's personal transformation, prompted by a life-changing breast cancer diagnosis, empowered her to embrace vulnerability and honesty, leading her to a coaching role where she helps agents navigate the real estate industry. Her coaching style is direct and honest, setting clear expectations right from the start. The conversation ended with reflections on the funny and memorable experiences encountered in the real estate world, adding a lighthearted touch to the podcast. Jayme emphasized her accessibility, encouraging anyone interested in coaching, referrals, or a simple conversation to reach out to her, ensuring her availability and willingness to connect. Overall, the conversation delved into the intricacies of real estate, personal growth, and the importance of embracing authenticity and vulnerability in both professional and personal spheres.

Episode Highlights

• Effective Partnership: Jayme and her husband thrive in real estate by leveraging their complementary strengths within their roles.

• Brokerage Establishment: Transitioning from agents to owners, they founded NextHome based on Bobby's vision and Jayme's commitment to excellence.

• Personal Growth and Coaching: Jayme's journey, fueled by a breast cancer diagnosis, led to her coaching role, where she offers direct guidance and embraces vulnerability.

• Humorous Real Estate Encounters: The discussion also highlighted amusing and memorable moments in their real estate careers, adding a light touch to the conversation.

• Accessible Guidance: Jayme welcomes connections, offering accessibility for coaching, referrals, or casual conversations to share experiences and insights.

"Real Estate is perfect. So it isn't perfect. It is hard. Real estate is hard right now. Yeah. So I encourage everyone. To be truthful on your journey, people want to come along with their journey with you."

Connect with Jennifer:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/

Connect with Jayme Downey:

Website: NextHomeParamount.com

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jayme.downey

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayme.downey/

Hey there! I'm thrilled to welcome everyone to the Life and Listings podcast. In this episode, I had the pleasure of having my friend Charis join me, hailing all the way from California. We go way back, and having her here today is truly exciting. Charis shared an incredible journey, starting from Southeast Texas, where she kick-started her career in real estate by chance. Her trajectory led her through different positions, each more challenging and rewarding than the last, culminating in her role as Vice President of Sales at NextHome. The story of how she joined NextHome is fascinating—a journey filled with negotiations, skepticism, and a persuasive CEO. What struck me most was her dedication to empowering small and midsize brokers in the real estate industry. Charis's insights on branding, technology, and connecting with clients using unique strategies like the 'orange dog' mascot were enlightening. Her passion for NextHome's culture and how it transcends across the company, even down to the wardrobe choice at conferences, truly stood out. Additionally, she opened up about a period in her life where she felt lost and how a recent hire, Jim Fischetti, brought a remarkable transformation. Jim's presence and quiet command made a significant impact on Charis, helping her find her footing once again. Overall, it was an engaging conversation, touching upon culture, branding, personal struggles, and the power of influential mentors.

Episode Highlights

• Charis shared her journey from Southeast Texas to becoming VP of Sales at NextHome, emphasizing pivotal career moments.

• She highlighted NextHome's unique branding strategy, focusing on the 'orange dog' mascot to stand out in the real estate market.

• Charis discussed Nextel's vibrant culture, fostering unity through unified attire at conferences.

• She spoke openly about a personal struggle and how a recent hire, Jim Fischetti, helped her regain confidence professionally.

• The conversation covered insights on mentors, branding, company culture, and the impact of influential hires on personal and professional growth.

"You know what all of the things that you think about yourself, no one else thinks like that. You know, I always felt like my biggest failure is the fact that I never got a college degree. And that was always something important to me. I could have been, you know, one of the first people, you know, in my family to go to college, you know, but it's like, well, yeah, but you went in the military, like, that's an achievement. Yeah, but I didn't get my degree. I didn't have that piece of paper on the wall that valid."

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/ Connect with Charis Moreno:

FB: facebook.com/charis.nashmoreno

Li: linkedin.com/in/charisn

Nexthome.com

Mandy and I dove into a captivating conversation on the Life and Listings podcast. She recounted her journey from a farm kid with a volleyball scholarship to chasing economic success in Chicago. Her realization that a life on call, despite avoiding medical school, led her to pivot towards real estate investments, a math problem offering a life of choice. We bonded over the concept of doing it all, not all at once, and the importance of seeing others like us thriving in our desired fields before feeling capable ourselves. Mandy shared her initial hesitation at real estate investing groups, acknowledging imposter syndrome and how overcoming it led to her success. Her approach to time management, leveraging "deep work" principles, and involving her kids in the investment process resonated deeply. She emphasized the significance of clarity in investment goals and the big three: population, job, and GDP growth in selecting markets. We discussed the power of knowing precisely what you're looking for and how it accelerates investment decisions. Mandy's passion for guiding others in finding their investment focus shone through, directing those interested to her website or email for further guidance. Overall, the conversation highlighted empowerment, overcoming hurdles, and the joy of helping others along their investment journey.

Episode Highlights

• Clarity in Investment Goals: Being clear about investment goals leads to better investment choices.

• Big Three Criteria for Markets: Choose markets based on population, job, and GDP growth for successful investment alignment.

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Pushing through self-doubt is crucial; taking the first step despite feeling inadequate leads to progress.

• Deep Work and Time Management: Implementing deep work principles and time blocking enhances productivity and focus.

• Guidance for New Investors: Practice clarity in location and property type selection; hone judgment through deal evaluation for confident investment decisions.

"This idea of people think that they can multitask, you're not multitasking, you're task switching. So what you're doing is making your brain go from deep work back up to the surface to figure out how to get concentrated again, and go back up. If you just get into concentrated mode and can focus for even 20, 30, 40 minutes, then you get so much more done than if you were having to come up for air 142 times."

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/

Connect with Mandy McAllister:

www.Mandymcallister.com

[email protected]

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Officialmandymcallister/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialmandymcallister/

TikTok

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandymcallister/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MandyMcAllister

GoBundance Women: https://www.gobundancewomen.com/

GoBundance Women Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobundancewomen/

Links to frequently discussed items:

Time blocking: https://www.mandymcallister.com/post/the-cure-to-overwhelm-time-blocking

Welcome to the Life and Listing Podcast! I'm Jennifer Staats, your host—a mother, wife, and passionate entrepreneur dedicated to helping others achieve their dreams. In this podcast, we explore unconventional scaling methods aligned with your unique visions, whether you're a business owner, a parent, or anyone seeking inspiration. I lead Staats Solutions, managing real estate operations nationwide while working under 30 hours a week and taking Thursdays off. Join me as we chat with business owners and thought leaders sharing heartfelt stories, proving that successful scaling doesn't require burnout. Your support means the world—leave a five-star review, and for questions or topics, DM me on Instagram at @jennifertherealtor or message us @thelifeandlistingspodcast. See you next week for more inspiring conversations!

Connect with Jennifer Staats:

Website: staatssolutions.com

Instagram - Staats Solution: https://www.instagram.com/staatssolutions/

Instagram - Jennifer Staats:https://www.instagram.com/jennifertherealtor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staatssolutions/