I’ve spoken to 6 employed agents aged 45-55 over the last 8 weeks.

Here’s what I’ve learnt….

Most feel too old to have a bash at running their own agency.

Not true says I…

Ray Croc was 52 when he bought McDonald’s.

Colonel Sanders was 62 when he franchised his KFC secret recipe.

Morgan Freeman didn’t really make it until he was 50.

With age comes experience & whatever skills you lack (e.g social media) can be learnt, outsourced or even a combo of both. (Just like me).

Nobody is suggesting an employed agent becoming self employed must create a global business.

Just 2-4 instructions a month is often all it takes to say ‘I should have done this years ago.’

These numbers aren’t so scary & from experience, it’s really not that difficult.

Small instruction numbers can be more profitable than being employed & 100 times more rewarding.

Times ticking but there's still plenty of time left for these 6 agents.

It can be exciting coming to the realisation that you want to walk away from your employed estate agency job and go it alone.

Exciting but also a little scary too.  

Here's an essential checklist every agent considering self employment should tick off before they even consider handing in their notice.

Am I worried I've sold all my stock?  

Hell no.  After all, shouldn't this happen to every agent that's capable of getting the job done?  

Will I be all guns blazing in December to refill the shelves?  Have a listen to find out...

An agent working with a 'branded' agency model called me yesterday seeking some guidance. 

It turns out the brand he was working with was effectively bleeding him dry and in fact preventing him from building and investing in his business.

Be warned.  There's some great models out there and many less so.

Isn't it sad that so many great agents fail to pursue their dreams.  

Fail to take the plunge, start their own business or perhaps even leave the industry once and for all.

Fear can be a real positive - it can keep us alive but it can also hold us back. 

As for having a lack of cash to go it alone, set up in business and follow ones dreams.  'I don't buy it' or should I say 'don't get it'.  I say this as starting a business can be done cheaper and easier than ever before.

There's nothing revolutionary in this episode, just 'old fashioned' estate agency 'hacks' to pinch instructions from agents asleep at the wheel.

There's so much low hanging fruit out there and there's even tech software to help you do it.  

This episode will perhaps resonate with those that have ever worked for the company.  Plenty of highs, plenty of lows and my goodness, I've personally never worked so hard in my life.

But all good things come to an end...  

Why are estate agents paid so little?  Why have salaries stood stagnant?  Ever worked out your hourly rate?

It wasn't done by magic but involved a very old fashioned estate agency tactic.