This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss how to handle a referral gone wrong in the real estate industry. They emphasize the importance of following up on referrals and checking in with both the person who referred and the person who received the referral. They also stress the need to have a backup plan in case the initial referral doesn't work out. Remember, not every fit is perfect it's okay if a referral doesn't work out!

QUOTES

• "I know this sounds like a lot of work. It's really not. What it is is you taking care of somebody you care about enough to share a referral with. So just checking in with them to see how it goes is great. And it might stop you from referring that person over and over and over again if you know that it's consistently not a good fit." -Jefi Moultrie [06:02]

• "Everybody complains about the deal they lost or didn't deal, and nobody ever complains about the home they bought or the property they bought, as long as they hold it long enough.” -Ed Billings [02:00]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:31] Lesson about missed opportunities in real estate

[03:12] Importance of checking in on a referral

[04:26] Handling a referral that is not a good fit 

[05:51] Having a backup plan for referrals 

[06:48] Not all referrals will work out

[07:52] Communication between agent and consumer 

[08:11] Encouragement to continue giving referrals

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed share how to find a real estate agent to refer to someone who is looking to buy or sell in an area outside of your expertise. They emphasize the importance of reaching out to your trusted realtor, who will have a network of reliable agents across the country. By asking your trusted realtor for recommendations and providing them with specific details about the client's needs, they can do the research and vet potential agents to ensure a quality experience for the client.

QUOTES

• "Do you want your friend to end up with somebody like that? If you can think about it from a way that you're actually giving a gift to them by helping them find somebody that's the best of the best, that's a really great way to look at it instead of having it as a job." -Jefi Moultrie [05:41]

• "The key point here is that a trusted agent is going to be more than happy to do the research, and they're probably going to ask you very high-level questions.” -Ed Billings [06:57]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:37] Reaching out to your trusted realtor for referrals 

[04:40] Key questions to ask your realtor when seeking a referral

[09:21] Finding the best match for a referral 

[10:26] The Next Layer of work

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss the best way to give a referral. They emphasize the importance of personal endorsements and explain how to approach someone at a party or social gathering to recommend a realtor. They also address common objections and provide strategies for overcoming them. Jefi and Ed stress the value of early involvement and information gathering, as well as the benefits of interviewing potential realtors. Listen as they share great ideas that will allow for seamless communication.

QUOTES

• "If you have a friend or a family member, or Google a realtor, you don't know what you’re going to get. If you have a relationship with a good agent, they're going to be able to help you find one. ” -Ed Billings [03:25]

• "The very best way to give a referral is to actually link all the parties together in a text." -Jefi Moultrie [11:14]

TIMESTAMPS

[04:04] How to give a referral at a party or social gathering

[09:06] Interviewing referred agents for sale by owners

[11:35] The benefits of using text for referrals

[13:02] Action plan for giving referrals

[14:06] Two types of people when it comes to referrals

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

This week on the Messy in the Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed speak with Royce Branning, co-founder of ClearSpace. Royce joins the hosts to discuss the impact of phone addiction and how his app helps users regain control of their digital lives. They explore the role of dopamine in driving addictive behaviors and the need for intentional use of technology. Royce shares his journey of starting the company and the importance of serving others. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by real estate agents in managing their phone usage and the potential benefits of using ClearSpace in the industry.

QUOTES

• "There is a war for your attention and you're bringing a knife to a gunfight and we're kind of arming you with at least equitable defense mechanisms.” -Royce Branning [04:43]

• "I think phone addiction is a really helpful term for us to understand the forces at play in our relationship with the devices." -Royce Branning [20:23]

TIMESTAMPS

03:16 Royce’s Intro

04:06 What is ClearSpace?

15:22 Growing awareness of the negative impact of devices

21:40 Dopamine and scrolling

30:47 Content creators struggle with phone distractions

43:44 The impact of ClearSpace app

RESOURCES

• ClearSpace
• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

This week on the Messy in the Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of seeking feedback and learning from others to improve and grow in your profession. They emphasize the need to have a beginner's mindset and be open to feedback from trusted individuals. By identifying your weaknesses and seeking guidance from those who excel in those areas, you can sharpen your skills and become a better professional.

QUOTES

• "I think sometimes we need to see the change that we need in someone else.” -Jefi Moultrie [04:29]

• "Where am I strong? Where am I weak? And then have those conversations with folks and say I'm struggling in this area. I'm really good in this area over here. How about you?" -Ed Billings [09:40]

TIMESTAMPS

[01:29] Importance of staying relevant and continuously improving

[02:18] Embracing the beginner's mindset 

[03:59] Appreciation for listeners and a request for referrals 

[06:10] Seeking feedback from trusted individuals and coaches 

[08:44] Sharing strengths with others to enhance skills 

[10:13] Conducting an honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses 

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the concept of digital wellness and how to eliminate distractions in order to improve productivity. They emphasize the importance of actively participating in the war for attention and provide strategies for taking control of digital tools. They also discuss the distractions we seek and how to identify and overcome them. The hosts share their personal experiences and offer practical tips for implementing these strategies in daily life.

QUOTES

• "Attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of experience." -Ed Billings [02:51]

• "You can't fight the war for your attention passively. I don't like the word war, but you have to be an active participant in changing these patterns.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:53]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:49] Eliminating distractions for productivity

[03:03] The deliberate design of digital tools to distract us

[06:29] Deleting all notifications

[13:16] Educating clients on response times and setting expectations

[17:36] Controlling distractions and being mindful of time wasted

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

What you measure grows! This week, Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of accountability partners in their real estate businesses. They share their personal experiences with accountability partners and how it has helped them stay focused and achieve their goals. Jefi and Ed also provide tips on how to choose the right accountability partner and how to make the most out of the partnership. Additionally, they talk about the concept of forming a personal board of directors and how it can provide valuable insights and feedback.

QUOTES

• "I am the queen of accountability, and here's what's interesting. I hate it, but I love it. It's like poking a bruise.” -Jefi Moultrie [02:19]

• “Review with your accountability partner and try and synchronize the things that you're doing." -Ed Billings [10:00]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:00] Queen of accountability

[03:00] Jefi's experience with accountability partners 

[06:00] Importance of accountability in stopping drift and setting goals

[08:00] Sharing progress with accountability partners and creating a personal board of directors

[12:00] Encouraging listeners to find accountability partners in different areas

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Our jobs can be a catalyst for fulfilling our purpose and mission in life! Join Jefi and Ed as they continue their discussion on the power of purpose and how it can drive our goals and actions. They share personal stories and examples to illustrate the importance of finding what lights us up and aligning our goals with our purpose. Jefi and Ed also provide a step-by-step process for creating a mission and setting goals, emphasizing the need for coaching, accountability, community, and having skin in the game. 

QUOTES

• "Your job usually is the catalyst to being able to do the things that fill a purpose and a mission in your life.” -Jefi Moultrie [09:02]

• “Purpose is represented by the specific goals we achieve." -Ed Billings [04:18]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:00] Importance of finding what lights you up internally and externally

[07:39] Aligning goals with purpose to create mission 

[12:49] Thinking big and finding passion

[20:06] Setting goals for 2024

[27:30] Four key elements for a goal system

[32:02] Daily reviews of progress and adjustments for improvement

[35:42] Recap: Goal-setting process

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the power of purpose and mission. They explore the concept of power versus force and how aligning with a greater purpose can give momentum to your actions. Ed and Jefi talk about the importance of connecting your passions and values to something greater than yourself. The hosts share their personal experiences and reflections on finding their purpose, how it has shaped their lives, and practical tips on how to discover your purpose.

QUOTES

• "How you live your days is how you live your years. And a lot of times people don't realize that the compounding effect of what you do each day really does affect the years to come.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:11]

• “If you can make that connection of what you're doing being about something greater than yourself, you're going to get far more out of it, and far more out of life." -Ed Billings [08:09]

TIMESTAMPS

04:15 The power of purpose and mission

12:24 Reflecting on internal feelings and what brings joy

23:05 The importance of disconnecting to connect with your inner voice

29:58 It's okay to change course and redefine your purpose

36:27 Focusing on the mission for greater fulfillment

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of tapping into the power of play in your personal and professional life. They emphasize the need to know your passion, spend time in support of that passion, and make it fun. They provide examples of how to incorporate play into client interactions and share how you can embrace rest cycles and use them as an opportunity to recharge and explore your passions.

QUOTES

• “You want to be playful in the experience, like playful learning if you're teaching somebody or bringing them into an experience." -Ed Billings [14:13]

• "When you're in a rest cycle, you can really lean into things you’re passionate about, and you can do things that are filling you up for your next run cycle.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:49]

TIMESTAMPS

01:58 Embracing rest cycles

05:17 Know your passion

08:01 Spend time in support of your passion 

10:19 Bring clients along on your passion journey

16:01 The need for fun and playfulness

19:40 Ideas for creating and playing with your community

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com