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In this week’s episode of The Elite Agent Masterclass, we sit down with Rob Graves — veteran estate agent, business owner, and founder of Key Coaching.

With over three decades in the property industry, Rob shares the real story of building (and rebuilding) businesses, navigating market crashes, and developing the skillset to survive in an ever-changing estate agency landscape. From growing multiple offices to mentoring self-employed agents, Rob brings depth, clarity, and wisdom to the conversation.

💡 Key topics covered:

• The difference between being a great agent and a great business owner
 • How to survive when the market turns — and what to focus on
 • Why fees and pricing are the foundation of a sustainable agency model
 • Common mistakes that kill momentum — and how to avoid them
 • Coaching insights for agents ready to scale, stabilise, or reset
 • The power of vision, values, and process in long-term success

Whether you’re a new self-employed agent, a franchise owner, or an experienced business builder, this episode will give you tangible takeaways to raise your standards and future-proof your business.

New episodes drop Mondays at 6PM.

🗣 Hosted by Jack Durkin and Holly Boylan
👤 Guest: Rob Graves

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Most agents take their foot off the gas in Q4 — telling themselves the market’s slowing down, buyers are distracted, and “it’ll all pick up again in January.”

But the truth?
 The agents who win in Q1 are the ones who ramp up when everyone else winds down.

In this episode, James and Jack share the exact mindset, systems, and daily actions that separate average agents from elite ones as the year draws to a close. From smart marketing spend to building your January pipeline now, this is your blueprint for turning the quietest quarter into your biggest opportunity.

🎯 You’ll learn how to:

• Keep your pipeline full through the festive season
• Turn “slow months” into strategic setup time
• Build unstoppable momentum heading into the new year

Whether you’re closing out your first year as a self-employed agent or chasing your best one yet, this episode will light the fire you need to finish strong — and start even stronger.

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This week on The Elite Agent Masterclass, Jack is joined by Dan Cohen, founder of You, Me and Property — an agent redefining what “client care” really means in estate agency today.

With a background spanning Steve Gooch, Paul Carr, and a directorship through a management buyout, Dan shares an incredibly open and powerful conversation about what it takes to go from burnt out and misaligned… to building a values-led, client-first business rooted in relationships.

In this conversation, Dan shares:

🏡 How his earliest estate agency lessons came from sweeping the pavement and selling raffle tickets
 📈 What went wrong in his MBO experience — and the emotional cost of ignoring his gut
 🧠 Why “effort evidence” became the cornerstone of his brand (and results)
 🤝 How he builds freakishly strong relationships with clients who turn into friends
 📊 The balance between marketing for new business vs nurturing old clients
 💥 Why some agents stall after a few months and the mindset gap that separates top performers

This isn’t just another business origin story — it’s a candid look into the real mechanics of what it takes to serve your community, market homes properly, and stand out without shouting the loudest.

Dan also drops practical strategies on:

🛠 What to do when your portal listings aren’t getting traction
 🔁 How to turn your old client list into your future business pipeline
 📲 Blending old-school buyer hot boxes with new-school social media
 📣 Persistent consistency — why doing the work is only half of it
 🧭 Why pricing from fear is the downfall of most agents

Whether you’re new to agency, scaling your self-employed model, or trying to get back to basics in a tougher market — this episode is a practical masterclass in mindset, authenticity and sales process.

You, Me and Property isn’t just a brand — it’s a blueprint for agents who care about people more than just property.

📲 Subscribe now for weekly episodes to help you grow your business, your mindset, and your impact.

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In this week's episode of The Elite Agent Masterclass, Holly sits down with Graham Howell; estate agency veteran, mentor, and now self-employed partner agent at The Avenue Estate Agents. From corporate beginnings at Connells to regional training at Purplebricks and Yopa, Graham has lived and breathed agency for over 20 years. Now, he’s building a business rooted in local community, family values, and relationship-first agency.

They explore the real journey behind self-employment: the freedom, the pressure, the mental game, and the honest realities no one talks about on LinkedIn. Graham shares his experience of launching his self-employed business just weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown, why personal brand and process matter more than ever, and what most agents get wrong when they transition from employed to self-employed.

Topics covered include:
 – The difference between great agents and great business owners
 – Mentoring with meaning and the importance of lived experience
 – How self-employed agents can protect their energy and build relationships that last
 – Building a brand that reflects who you are, not who you think you should be
 – Why more training doesn’t always mean better training
 – What Graham learned from the tough moments and how they shaped his values
 – The truth about support, accountability and what makes a brokerage model work

Graham also reflects on working with the co-founders of The Avenue and the camaraderie and connection that define the network. With heartfelt stories, a touch of humour, and real insight, this episode is a must-watch for anyone in the estate agency space, especially those considering a leap into self-employment.

📍Watch now on YouTube or listen via Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
 📲 Subscribe to the podcast to never miss an episode.

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Welcome to the final part of our special In Conversation trilogy with the UK’s leading psychological performance coach, Stephen-James Copp.

In Episode 1, we explored how the brain is wired and why the stories we tell ourselves matter.
In Episode 2, we uncovered the origins of those stories, from parents and peers to experiences that leave lasting imprints.
And now in Episode 3, we dive into the solutions: how to break free from limiting patterns, how to implement practical tools into your life, and how to turn pain into purpose.

Stephen also shares his deeply personal journey into psychology — from growing up with low self-esteem to navigating the devastating loss of his son, and ultimately dedicating his life to understanding the human mind and helping others transform.

👉 In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why belief is the foundation of lasting change

Practical solutions you can start applying immediately

How to create new data sets and rewrite your narrative

Why success stories (Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Adam Lambert) are built on persistence, not luck

How to distinguish “overnight success” myths from the years of work behind them

Why famous performers are just normal people who developed exceptional skills

The real meaning behind the Law of Attraction (without the woo-woo)

Why you can become whatever you want to be (with self-awareness of limits)

The truth: you make your own luck, and lucky people are often those who work hardest

The urgent need for belief, inspiration, and positive role models in today’s world

Stephen’s message is both scientific and inspiring: you don’t need to wait for a break, you can create one. By applying consistent effort, reframing setbacks, and building strong daily habits, you can step into the version of yourself you were meant to become.

This episode concludes a journey that took us from awareness → origins → solutions. If you’ve watched the whole trilogy, you now have the clarity, inspiration, and tools to move forward.

📌 Revisit Episodes 1 & 2 for the full context.
📺 Subscribe to the Elite Agent Masterclass channel for more conversations that blend psychology, performance, and mindset growth.

🎧 Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

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Welcome back to In Conversation — the Elite Agent Masterclass series with James Humphries-Stone and leading psychological performance coach Stephen-James Copp.

In Part 1, we explored how the brain can be rewired and how stories shape our beliefs. In Part 2, we go deeper: where do these thought patterns actually come from, and how can we begin to change them today?

Stephen shares powerful insights into how subtle experiences in childhood, the words of our parents, or even the dynamics we observe between others can leave lasting imprints. These narratives often grow into the most common limiting belief: “I’m not good enough.”

👉 In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why even loving parents unintentionally plant limiting beliefs

The hidden power of words — “words are spells” that shape identity

How mirror neurons mean children copy what they see, not just what they’re told

Why peers and teachers play a pivotal role in rewriting early stories

How trauma or dysfunction can either drag you down… or drive you to succeed

The difference between compliance and rebellion — and how it shapes adult outcomes

Why journaling, micro-habits, and daily rituals are powerful tools for change

How to use anchors (smell, colour, memory) to lock in positive beliefs

Why no-one is coming to save you — and how to take accountability today

Stephen’s examples range from simple childhood misunderstandings, to sibling rivalries, to how one supportive teacher or coach can flip a lifelong story of self-doubt. His message is clear: awareness, reframing, and small daily wins are the pathway to lasting confidence and performance.

Whether you’re a parent, a leader, or someone looking to break free of unhelpful stories, this episode gives you practical tools you can use immediately.

📌 This is Part 2 of 3 with Stephen-James Copp.
Subscribe now to catch Part 3, where we dive into actionable solutions and the outcomes you can expect by making these mindset shifts.

🎧 Available on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (search: The Elite Agent Masterclass)
📺 Subscribe here on YouTube for the full series

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In this first part of our three-part series, In conversation with Stephen James Copp: mastering the mind for high performance, James sits down with the UK’s leading psychological performance coach to explore the power of the mind and how our stories shape who we are.

Stephen unpacks why the belief that “a leopard never changes its spots” is one of psychology’s biggest myths — and how, with awareness and the right tools, anyone can reframe their thinking and create lasting change.

From the science behind neuroplasticity to the role of perception in shaping our reality, Stephen shares practical insights that business owners, agents, and high performers can apply immediately. Expect real-life examples, thought-provoking analogies (including rollercoasters and Father Christmas!), and a reminder that the stories we tell ourselves aren’t fixed — they can be rewritten.

This is part one of three, so make sure you’re subscribed to catch the full series as we go deeper into mastering performance and mindset.

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"How do I sell without sounding salesy?"

That’s the question Matt Selby has spent years helping business owners answer — and in this episode of The Elite Agent Masterclass, he joins James Humphries-Stone and Jack Durkin for a powerful conversation on selling ethically, effectively, and with emotional intelligence.

If you’ve ever struggled with fee objections, felt awkward about ‘closing’, or wished you could convert more clients without the cringe — this episode will give you practical tools and powerful reframes.

Matt shares his frameworks for coaching-led sales, deep listening, early fee positioning, handling objections through collaboration (not convincing), and building stronger businesses through emotional detachment and authenticity.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

— Why agents fear sales (and how to shift your mindset)
 — How to reframe objections as opportunities
 — How to introduce fees early without feeling pushy
 — How emotional detachment = better outcomes
 — Why curiosity > charisma in great conversations
 — The difference between pushy selling and ethical influence
 — How to win more referrals through self-awareness
 — What the best agents do differently (and why you can too)

Whether you're self-employed or working within a traditional model, this conversation will help you build confidence, reduce anxiety around selling, and close more deals — the right way.

Matt shares stories from the field, lessons from Expert Empires, and decades of coaching experience — all focused on helping you become more effective and more human in your sales process.

If you want to remove the pressure, the pushiness, and the fear from your sales process — this is a must-listen.

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📅 Event Info:
Thursday 4th September
Calderfields Golf Club, Walsall (Just outside Sutton Coldfield)
Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-generate-more-leads-make-more-sales-build-consistent-cashflow-tickets-1498704849549?aff=oddtdtcreator

🎯 How do you generate more leads?
🎯 How do you convert them into secure, successful sales?
🎯 And how do you create consistent cashflow from your pipeline?

In this special episode of The Elite Agent Masterclass, James Humphries-Stone and Jack Durkin sit down to introduce the TEAM Agent Day happening on Thursday 4th September at Calderfields Golf Club.

This isn’t a typical training day. It’s an in-person event built by agents, for agents — with one goal in mind: real-world, actionable strategy.

Across one powerful day, you’ll learn how agents from multiple models and regions are winning instructions, closing sales faster, and building stronger businesses — step by step.

🎯 What's Covered on the Day (and in this Episode):

 — Lead Generation that actually works: letter campaigns, social media, door knocking, networking, and more
 — Marketing & Media Mastery: how premium content attracts more viewings & higher offers
 — Closing Sales in a Tougher Market: step-by-step negotiation and deal packaging strategies
 — Consistent Cashflow: how agents are building a lettings book alongside sales income
 — Collaboration: how to network with agents across the UK and unlock referrals
 — Community: the true power of stepping into a room of like-minded agents who want to share, grow, and win together

This day is for you if you're:
 🧠 Employed and want to level up
 🚀 Self-employed and want to scale
 📈 Ambitious and want better results
 🌍 Keen to meet agents from across the UK who think differently

It’s not just theory

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In this episode of The Elite Agent Masterclass, James Humphries-Stone and Jack Durkin sit down with Sam, the founder of PropServ — the platform that’s changing how estate agents handle property maintenance, client care and cashflow.

What started as an idea inside an agency is now a fully built PropTech solution that’s solving a huge pain point for lettings agents: repairs and maintenance.

Sam shares the behind-the-scenes journey of building PropServ from scratch — and how they’ve combined automation, AI and financial forecasting to make property management easier, more efficient and more profitable.

Inside this episode:

🛠️ The origin story of PropServ — from frustration to solution
📉 How maintenance is hurting client retention & reputation
🤖 The systems behind PropServ’s AI-driven maintenance automation
💸 How agents are generating passive income from the platform
🔁 Why agencies need to think beyond sales and diversify
💡 Lessons on launching a tech platform while running a business
⚙️ How PropServ integrates into the agent and landlord experience
🚀 The future of PropTech — and what agents need to watch for

If you’re running a lettings book, looking for smarter systems, or thinking of launching your own tech-enabled product — this episode is full of real-world lessons on execution, automation and growth.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube
👇 Follow The Elite Agent Masterclass Podcast:

Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/4WOvGUrqYPRKoLMMpxik7l?si=30f3ede8da6548eb

Apple Podcasts 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-elite-agent-masterclass/id1744563786

YouTube 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@theeliteagentmasterclass

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Have questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes? Send us your thoughts and stay engaged with the Elite Agent Masterclass for more expert insights on transforming your career.

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