In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Chad Elledge sits down with Sherry Ruyle of Meyer & Company Real Estate and Auctions for a powerful and honest conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable and fulfilling career in real estate. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Sherry shares her unique journey from corporate America to real estate leadership, including her early years supporting agents behind the scenes, her transition into sales, and ultimately building a successful team focused on coaching and growth. 

Throughout the conversation, Sherry breaks down the importance of systems, strategic planning, and working on your business—not just in it, especially during shifting real estate markets. She shares how agents can weather market changes by focusing on consistency, evaluating what’s working, and collaborating with others instead of operating in isolation. The discussion dives into real estate agent mindset, business growth strategies, leadership development, coaching, and the power of relationships, emphasizing that long-term success in real estate comes from being intentional, relational, and committed to continuous personal growth. Sherry also highlights simple but impactful habits—like sending handwritten notes—that help agents stand out in a digital-first world and build deeper client connections. 

If you are a real estate agent feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to grow your business in today’s market, this episode will give you both practical strategy and the mindset shift needed to move forward. Follow Waking Up to Win for more real estate coaching, leadership insights, and business growth strategies, and share this episode with another agent who is ready to stop surviving and start building a business that actually works.

Connect with Sherry Ruyle:

731-225-4918

https://www.facebook.com/sherry.ruyle

https://www.instagram.com/sherryruylerealestate/

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie and Chad dive into real estate mindset, industry insights, and the kind of behind-the-scenes conversations every agent needs to hear. From a powerful quote by Eleanor Roosevelt on dreaming big to a deep discussion on insurance, homeownership, and real estate policy, this episode blends motivation with real-world strategy for Realtors and entrepreneurs alike.

You’ll hear eye-opening insights from a recent insurance lunch-and-learn, including how your insurance score impacts your rates, why filing small claims can cost you long-term, and how claims follow both you and the property. Annie and Chad also break down a proposed housing bill that could force institutional investors to sell rental homes, sparking a real debate on government regulation, housing supply, and the future of homeownership.

Plus, in this week’s “What the Floop” segment, they unpack a surprising stat about for-sale-by-owner listings and what it really means for Realtors looking to grow their business. This episode is packed with actionable takeaways on mindset, client conversations, and navigating today’s evolving real estate market.

If you’re a real estate agent, entrepreneur, or anyone looking to level up your business, this conversation will challenge your thinking and give you tools to move from stuck to top producer.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your real estate bestie. And if you’ve got a wild real estate story, send it in—you might hear it on a future episode.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Chad Elledge sits down with St. Louis loan officer Drew Quinones for an honest, unscripted conversation about what really drives success in the real estate and mortgage industry. Drew shares the leadership mindset that has helped him quickly rise as a top-producing loan officer, including the belief that great leaders are simply ordinary people with extraordinary determination. Throughout the episode, Chad and Drew discuss the importance of reputation, character, and what people say about you when you’re not in the room, along with how those values shape long-term success in business.

The conversation dives deep into the relationship between real estate agents and loan officers, explaining why the best real estate transactions happen when lenders are treated as true partners instead of vendors. Drew explains how communication, trust, and shared expectations between agents and lenders can dramatically improve the home buying experience for clients. They also explore the psychology of sales in real estate, including how asking better questions can lead to more honest conversations with buyers and help agents better understand a client’s real timeline for purchasing a home.

Chad and Drew also break down recent mortgage headlines about interest rates dropping below 6%, explaining why those headlines can be misleading for many buyers and how credit score, loan amount, and down payment actually influence mortgage rates. The discussion provides real insight for real estate agents, loan officers, and home buyers who want to better understand how lending works behind the scenes and how strong partnerships inside a transaction can create better outcomes for everyone involved.

If you’re a real estate professional looking to improve your mindset, strengthen your lender relationships, and better understand how mortgage lending impacts your deals, this conversation offers practical insights and real-world experience from professionals working in the industry every day. Be sure to subscribe to Waking Up to Win, follow the podcast for more conversations about real estate success, and share this episode with a real estate agent or loan officer who wants to grow their business and win in today’s market.

Find Drew Quinones on Instagram at @drewqhomeloans.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie Callaway and Chad Elledge return to the studio with a conversation that blends real estate strategy, market insight, business mindset, and a little unexpected inspiration from the Chinese zodiac Year of the Fire Horse. Annie explains how a late-night research rabbit hole about the Chinese lunar calendar led to a surprising realization about business cycles and the real estate market.

The pair discuss how recent years in the housing industry mirror the phases of vision, strategy, and execution described in the zodiac cycle, suggesting that 2026 may be a “sprint year” for real estate professionals ready to move fast, take action, and capitalize on opportunities in the market. The conversation then shifts into practical advice for real estate agents, including a surprising MLS rule many agents still misunderstand about listing photos and the importance of choosing the right “hero image” for real estate marketing on Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, and MLS platforms.

Chad and Annie also break down current real estate headlines, including rising mortgage delinquencies, housing affordability challenges caused by property taxes and insurance increases, and the impact of AI tools and coaching apps in the real estate industry. They explore how artificial intelligence can make real estate agents more efficient without replacing the human relationship skills that define great service professionals. The episode also touches on legal developments affecting the housing industry, including lawsuits involving mortgage companies and the broader conversation around steering, RESPA regulations, and fair housing compliance.

By the end of the conversation, listeners gain insight into real estate market cycles, business mindset for agents, modern real estate marketing strategies, and how to think strategically about growth during uncertain market conditions.

If you are a real estate agent, team leader, broker, or entrepreneur navigating today’s housing market, this episode offers practical perspective, industry commentary, and motivation to move forward with confidence. Be sure to subscribe to Waking Up to Win, leave a review, and share the episode with another real estate professional who wants to grow their business, stay ahead of industry trends, and win in today’s market.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, host Chad Elledge flips the script and brings someone from behind the camera to the mic. Joining him is Erin Prosperi, the producer of Waking Up to Win -The Podcast and the Executive Coordinator for Realty ONE Group Trifecta.

Erin usually keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes, but in this episode she steps into the spotlight to share what it takes to support a high-performing real estate brokerage and the people inside it. Chad and Erin talk about the often unseen work that keeps a real estate team operating at a high level, from coordinating operations and managing details to maintaining the culture and energy inside a growing brokerage.

Erin shares her perspective on supporting leadership, helping agents succeed, and why strong operational support can make a massive difference in the productivity and experience of real estate professionals. The conversation highlights how behind-the-scenes leadership, organization, and teamwork help create an environment where real estate agents can focus on building their business and serving their clients.

Listeners will gain insight into brokerage culture, real estate team dynamics, and the importance of having the right people supporting the mission of a growing real estate company. If you're a real estate agent, team leader, or brokerage owner looking to grow your business, build a stronger culture, and understand the operations that help agents succeed, this episode offers valuable perspective from someone who helps make it all happen behind the scenes.

Be sure to subscribe to Waking Up to Win for more conversations about real estate success, leadership, agent growth, mindset, and building a thriving real estate career, and share this episode with another agent who wants to level up their business.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie Callaway and Chad Elledge dive into real estate headlines, agent confidence, and the behind-the-scenes realities shaping today’s housing market, while delivering the kind of candid coaching and opinions agents don’t always hear out loud.

From rising agent optimism and what a “healthier” market actually means, to price reductions, negotiation norms, and why nearly two-thirds of buyers are paying under list price, Annie and Chad break down what these trends mean for realtors working with buyers, sellers, and investors right now.

The conversation takes a sharp turn into real estate investing myths, including the outdated one-percent rule, cap rates, corporate buyers, and why mom-and-pop investors are struggling to compete in a market dominated by long-term institutional strategies. They also unpack a powerful business lesson around ownership, control, and value, challenging agents to think of their contacts, CRM, and sphere of influence as the true “gold” of their business, and to ask who really owns that asset.

If you’re a real estate agent looking for market clarity, smarter conversations with clients, stronger business fundamentals, and honest perspective on industry noise, this episode will help you think more strategically and act with intention.

Listen in, share this episode with an agent who needs the reality check, subscribe to Waking Up to Win, and keep building a business you actually own.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie Callaway and Chad Elledge bring their signature mix of real estate coaching, market commentary, and unfiltered opinions to the headlines agents are actually dealing with right now. From snowmageddon showings and why first impressions still make or break a sale, to agents needing to “do better” when it comes to vacant listings, marketing follow-through, and client experience, this conversation is equal parts practical and opinionated.

Annie and Chad dig into major industry news, including RESPA lawsuits involving Rocket Mortgage and Zillow, referral fee confusion, informed consent, and what agents legally, and ethically, need to understand about settlement providers. They also debate AI integration in real estate, MLS leadership hiring chief AI officers, and where technology should support agents without replacing human judgment.

If you’re a real estate agent who wants clarity on current headlines, better business habits, and straight-talk coaching that challenges you to raise your standards, this episode will sharpen your perspective and your practices. Listen in, share this episode with an agent who needs the reminder, subscribe to Waking Up to Win, and keep building your business with intention, professionalism, and confidence.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie Callaway and Chad Elledge blend real estate coaching, mindset, and unfiltered industry conversation to help agents focus on what actually moves the needle. From task prioritization, efficiency versus effectiveness, and identifying true “must-dos,” to real-world coaching around SOI marketing, paid lead generation, ROI, and budgeting time versus money, this episode delivers practical clarity for agents who feel busy but not productive.

Annie and Chad break down how to choose lead sources wisely, why working your sphere of influence builds the most sustainable business, and how buying leads is really just paying to expand your network when done correctly. The conversation also covers major real estate headlines, including housing reform discussions, corporate home buying, mortgage-backed securities, affordability challenges, new construction shortages, and why first-time homebuyers are being priced out.

Along the way, they keep things real with relatable stories, market debates, and a classic “what the floop” moment that every agent who’s shown homes can laugh at. If you’re a real estate agent looking for motivation, market perspective, smarter lead strategy, and coaching that helps you work on your business instead of spinning your wheels, this episode will give you both insight and encouragement.

Listen in, share this episode with a fellow agent who needs direction, subscribe to Waking Up to Win, and keep building your business with intention, clarity, and confidence.

In this episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie Callaway and Chad Elledge kick off the new year with real estate insight, mindset coaching, and unfiltered industry commentary agents actually need to hear.

From practical education around PMI removal, loan-to-value rules, and mortgage myths, to big-picture conversations about first-time homebuyers, generational wealth transfer, lifestyle renters, and affordability challenges, this episode blends tactical knowledge with honest perspective.

Annie and Chad also break down major real estate headlines, including commission lawsuit updates, Zillow and brokerage liability, buyer agent compensation, and what today’s market means for agents trying to build sustainable businesses.

Along the way, they tackle common agent struggles like waiting for the phone to ring, misunderstanding commissions as paychecks, side hustles versus prospecting, and why working on your business matters more than ever.

If you’re a real estate agent looking for market clarity, motivation, prospecting ideas, and straight-talk coaching that cuts through the noise, this episode will leave you better informed and ready to take action.

Listen in, share this episode with a fellow agent who needs a reality check, subscribe to Waking Up to Win, and keep showing up ready to build momentum, confidence, and a business that actually works.

In this special bonus feature episode of Waking Up to Win, Annie Callaway and Chad Elledge sit down with real estate powerhouse Tammy Mueller for a candid conversation about mentorship, real estate coaching, and what it really takes to succeed as a new agent.

As the leader of the Realty ONE Group mentor program, Tammy shares why mentoring agents is a calling, how mentorship fills the gaps traditional real estate classes leave behind, and what new agents actually struggle with once they’re licensed. From working on your business versus working in it, to business planning, accountability, time management, and setting realistic expectations about freedom, income, and growth, this episode offers real-world insight every agent needs to hear. Tammy breaks down what makes a great mentee, how confidence is built through education and action, and why relationships, consistency, and intentional planning are the foundation of a sustainable real estate career.

If you’re a new agent looking for training and support, an experienced agent considering mentorship, or someone curious about starting a career in real estate, this bonus episode delivers clarity, encouragement, and practical direction.

Listen in, share this episode with an agent who needs guidance, subscribe to Waking Up to Win, and reach out to learn more about the mentorship opportunities available through Realty ONE Group.