Stay Paid Podcast

Most "teams" aren't teams—they're loose collections of agents. Tom Toole, leader of the #1 RE/MAX team in PA/DE and #12 nationwide, breaks down the org design, systems, and leadership choices that turn headcount into a true business. He also shares why he's stayed in production on purpose, how his team outperforms the market, and the 90-day plan agents can actually hit. In this episode: The moment Tom knew he needed a team (80 deals with one ops partner) and how he structured his org Why 5–6 people doing 30 deals is a collection of agents—not a business When to start a team (and when not to): thresholds, temperament, and timing Money and time truths: vacations are a systems issue; teams require upfront capital Staying in production for profit and credibility—and when to taper The 3–7 year build timeline, key phases, and navigating the messy middle Staff that drives per-agent productivity: ISAs, ops, marketing, sales management, TC, listing management, talent scout Outperforming the market: 13–14 deals per agent; up 6–7% YOY in a down market Tom's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomtoole3rd/ Tom's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomtoole3rd/ Tom Toole Sales Group website: https://www.tomtoole.com/ 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

A handpicked, 11-agent team closing 300+ homes a year with no paid leads? That's exactly what Shannon Gillette has built—on brand, video, and a culture with zero tolerance for drama. In this candid conversation, Shannon breaks down the systems, standards, and selection process behind Arizona's Gillette Group and how she keeps inbound leads flowing organically. In this episode The structure behind 300+ annual transactions with only 11 agents Why a video-first brand eliminates the need to buy leads The "all-agents" interview gauntlet and protecting culture at all costs KPIs that keep standards high (and why they matter to top performers) Where she spends ~$100K/month—and almost none of it on lead gen Staying in listings while scaling leadership, coaching, and ops Monthly client events, community focus, and building lifetime loyalty Shannon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannon_gillette/ Shannon on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@shannon_gillette The Gillette Group website: https://gillettegroupaz.com Gillette Group agent opportunities: https://gillettegroupaz.com/about Selling Arizona with the Gillette Group: https://gillettegroupaz.com/get-your-home-on-tv 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

The Silver Dollar is back—and we're flipping the script. Luke previews his upcoming book for teams, distills insights from 50+ leader interviews, and unveils a high-impact mastermind designed for team leaders and operators who want real answers, not theory. In this episode: Why a team-focused book now—and who it's for What 50+ team-leader interviews revealed about profits, structure, and scale The "five phases" of a real estate team and where most leaders get stuck The messy middle explained—and how to avoid burning time and money What to expect at our intimate Scottsdale Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23) How to get early access to the book and remaining event tickets Luke's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukeacree/ Luke's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukeacree/ 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

High performers are told to chase work–life balance—but real life rarely sits still. Rebl Dad coauthor and Asset-Map CEO Adam Holt reveals how top-producing dads trade performative success for true participation at home while still growing their businesses. In this episode: The origin of Rebl Dads and the Necker Island mastermind with Richard Branson Why "balance" is a myth—and how to pursue intentional harmony Boundaries that make presence possible (and how to stick to them) Building a family culture: values, rituals, and modeling leadership Sobering data on father absence and why presence matters Practical ways client-facing pros can set expectations and protect time REBL Dads Community & App: https://www.rebldads.com REBL Dad book (Derek Notman, H. Adam Holt, foreword by Sir Richard Branson) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/REBL-Responsible-Entrepreneur-Balanced-Leader/dp/B0H2Q8TPG8 Adam Holt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadamholt/ Asset-Map: https://www.asset-map.com Rethink Financial Advice Podcast (Adam Holt & Derek Notman): https://www.youtube.com/@rethinkfinancialadvice

Most teams are built with a one-size-fits-all playbook. Coach Dave Richards explains why that breaks around 20 agents—and what it takes to evolve from a rainmaker team into a true enterprise you can sell. With 20 years leading multi-state mortgage sales and now coaching mega teams through his Elite Edge operating system, Dave brings a corporate-grade framework to real estate, mortgage, and insurance teams. In this episode: Dave's path from mortgage exec to coaching top real estate mega teams Rainmaker vs. empire models—and why your "why" must drive the structure The messy middle: where many teams stall around ~20 agents and why Protecting client experience as you scale beyond the founder Leadership shifts: from leading by example to leading through others Team design, role segmentation, and the danger of mismatched frameworks Building enterprise value: how to create a sellable, diversified asset Elite Performance Associates: https://eliteperformanceassociates.com Dave Richards Email: dave@eliteperformanceassociates.com Dave Richards Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdaverichards 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

She sold 110 homes in a single year—and still lost $500,000. In this candid conversation, broker-owner Lisa Chinatti unpacks the hard lessons and the rebuild that took her teamerage from chaos to one of the most productive organizations in Massachusetts. If you lead a team or plan to, this playbook on recruiting, standards, and structure will save you time, money, and heartache. In this episode: Teamerage structure: ~130–140 agents supported by 25 W-2 staff, including ops, sales managers/trainers, ISAs, and TC Founder-led recruiting vs. recruiter-led: 75% vs. 25% new-agent productivity in the first 90 days—and why it happens Expectation-led recruiting: leading with standards (10 Days of Pain, relationship-first follow-up) instead of perk selling Multi-pillar recruiting: new licensees at the wrong brokerage, agents burned on teams, and lightly seasoned agents who are stuck Treat candidates like listings: FSBO/expired analogies, scripts, objections, and follow-up cadence Sourcing: job boards plus targeted cold-calling using segmented market/roster data The year of 110 deals and a $500K loss—and the operational fixes that stopped the bleed Rebuild outcomes: 330 closed/pending YTD and 50 agents onboarded since Jan 1 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

Your biggest competitor is not the market or your script library. It is the inner propaganda convincing you and your clients to stall, doubt, and delay. Social psychologist Owen Fitzpatrick reveals how to rewrite those beliefs so you close more deals and lead with conviction. In this episode: Why the greatest lies come from the mirror, not the media Beliefs vs thoughts and why logic alone rarely moves people Mood‑congruent cognition and navigating down cycles Action through the dip: habits that outrun a bad mood Coaching loved ones and teammates with empathy, not fixes Turning objections into insights with better questions Order "Inner Propaganda" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Inner-Propaganda-Leading-Through-Turbulent/dp/1646872444 Free masterclass, workbook & launch bonuses: https://innerpropaganda.com/ Owen Fitzpatrick's website: https://owenfitzpatrick.com/ Follow Owen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owenfitzp/ Follow Owen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenf23/

From rebuilding after the REO era to leading 220 agents, George Laughton breaks down how he scaled a Phoenix-based team to $1B in annual volume. Learn the hiring frameworks, decision filters, and timing that turned opportunity into durable market share. In this episode: The reset: from REO team to George, his wife, one agent, and one assistant—then scaling to 220 agents $1B/year, 1,800–2,000 transactions, and gaining share despite a contracting market When to start a team—and when not to (operator vs. visionary vs. top producer) First hires, role clarity, and setting outcomes for 90 days/6 months/1 year Hiring to strategy vs. getting swept up by "magnetic" candidates Moving fast for undeniable talent and when opportunity forces scale (Zillow Offers) Internet lead gen at scale and training that unlocks agent capacity Footprint: five Phoenix offices, Tucson, small NV/Denver presence, Texas on deck; 98% of deals in AZ Links & resources: George's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgelaughton/ Zillow Premier Agent: https://www.zillow.com/premier-agent/ Realtor.com : https://www.realtor.com/ Ojo (OJO Home): https://ojo.com/ Follow Up Boss: https://www.followupboss.com/ Fireflies.ai : https://fireflies.ai/ HouseWhisper: https://www.housewhisper.ai/ The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game The 4 Disciplines of Execution: https://www.franklincovey.com/books/the-4-disciplines-of-execution/ 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

Top performers don't avoid failure—they outlearn it. Former Tom Ferry coach and Navi Title VP Lance Billingsley reveals how the 13% win by focusing hard, iterating fast, and executing with discipline. In this episode, you'll hear how to pick one growth lever, master it, and scale without burning out. Why 87% of agents fail—and what the 13% do differently The FIRE framework (Focus, Initiative, Resiliency, Execution) and the four-burner analogy Shotgun vs. sniper marketing: master one channel, then delegate Teams as "neighborhood groups" and why brokerages struggle to systematize success Real-world playbooks: geo-farming at scale vs. social/video domination The "one deal pays for it" myth and how to think about ROI and runway Using AI to shorten feedback loops and fail faster Lance's book, "The 13%": https://www.amazon.com/13-estate-professionals-fail-dont/dp/B0GYWD1WFT The 13% Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@UC2vOTxldMpFBSE4eXuBqgiA Lance on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-billingsley-883038125 Lance's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lance.billingsley/ 📖 Get updates on the new team‑building book: http://remindermedia.com/teambook ⭐️ Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): http://remindermedia.com/teamevent

A five-agent team. 170 deals. $103M closed—and 100 of those by the leader himself. Andy Griesinger opens the hood on how a lean, elite "Navy SEAL" team operates, recruits, and scales without bloat. In this episode The real definition of a team vs. a mini-brokerage—and why small can win big Recruiting with "friction": the criteria and tests that filter for the right agents The 61‑point daily tracker for new agents' first 90 days How brand and naming choices shape your eventual exit (or not) Leveraging relationships as a core value proposition that keeps deals together The ops backbone: director of operations, per‑deal TC, and boutique‑level service Follow Andy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andyg_realtor/ Read "Simple Numbers": https://www.simplenumberscri.com/books Get started with https://www.Monday.com/ Be the first to get the team book: https://remindermedia.com/teambook $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23, Scottsdale): https://remindermedia.com/teamevent

When you lead with bold authenticity, you attract the right people and repel the wrong ones—and that's a strategic advantage. Leah Wolfe-Kraemer, branch owner at Realty ONE Group in Goodyear, AZ, breaks down how she recruits by values, turns training into her moat, and uses simple social to grow a raving-fan culture. In this episode: Why authenticity is a profitable business filter—not just a feel-good mantra Values-based recruiting, the takeaway close, and saying no to misaligned top producers The two traits separating agents who survive: competence and consistency Back-to-basics prospecting that still works: open houses, networking, and geo-farming How to make training your brand and lower risk (line-by-line contract mastery) A simple social plan: 70/30 personal-to-business, post once and share smart Leading with radical support and no sugarcoating to create raving fans Follow Leah on socials: https://www.facebook.com/leah.wolfekraemer/ & https://www.instagram.com/leahwolfekraemer/ & https://www.instagram.com/adventureswithleahk

Too many agents are sitting on massive databases that don't convert. In this call-in coaching episode, Luke pinpoints why someone with 3,000 contacts only closed two deals—and lays out a simple, two-hours-a-week plan to turn relationships into revenue. You'll also hear actionable social strategies for real estate, mortgage, and insurance pros who want to become the digital mayor of their market without burning out. In this episode: The real reason 3,000 contacts produced only 2 deals (and how to reverse it) "Document, don't create": a framework to post consistently in 2 hours a week Content pillars and value pillars that build trust fast Where to post for reach: personal profile vs. business page, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts A no-tech workflow: Zoom + AI FAQs + Opus Clip to batch 20+ reels How to merge personal and professional without oversharing The 15-minute-a-day engagement routine that sparks appointments What a Facebook business page is really for (and what it isn't)

She's #1 in South Dakota, #33 in the US, closed 358 units with just 23 agents—and runs a 53% profit margin. In this working session, Amy Stockberger opens her team's real playbook so you can copy what works. In this episode: Why team size follows profit (not ego) and why she'll cap at ~50 agents 70% workflow automation and a VA-led TC model designed to scale to 500 units with 1.5 VAs "Serve–Serve–Sell" + Lifetime Home Support: the engine behind ~90% repeat and referral Onboarding boot camps, release criteria, and 7.5 weeks of training per year Weekly accountability pods and a hard $3M minimum production line Recruiting that works: no part‑timers, hire to core values, and favor competitive team players Turning inside sales from a cost center into a profit center The stack: Trainual, Microsoft Teams, and AI assistants agents actually use Resources and events: Get updates on the new team‑building book: remindermedia.com/teambook Join the $100M Team Mastermind (Sept 22–23 in Scottsdale, AZ): remindermedia.com/teamevent

Feeling the squeeze from regulation, commission changes, and nonstop tech hype? Medicare leader Christian Brindle joins Luke and Josh to deliver the antidote to panic—separating real AI wins from noise, showing you how to adapt your mindset, and proving the sky is definitely not falling. Instead, he maps out the systems you can deploy now to keep booking, closing, and scaling. In this episode: Why so many insurance agents feel "squeezed" (and how to reframe it) AI as "super automation" you can deploy today—not agent replacement Practical AI wins: CRM nudges, social audits, website builds, on-page SEO Replit, Claude, and voice assistants to analyze site performance in plain English What's working—and not—with AI voice callers vs. human callers Building daily outreach systems to actually hit your 25 personal messages Navigating regulatory shifts by focusing on controllables and client value Everything Senior Insurance on YT: www.youtube.com/@EverythingSeniorInsurance Christian's YT Channel: www.youtube.com/@christianbrindle Seven Figure Medicare Agent Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BJ8jQ5dSx/ Everything Senior Insurance: https://eseniorinsurance.com/

In this live call-in episode of Stay Paid, Josh, Luke, and Stephen answer real questions from real estate professionals across the country. Lainie (Texas) leads a 35-agent team doing $85M and wants to know: does the future belong to boutique brokerages or large-scale recruiting operations? Luke and Stephen break down why she may be stuck in the "messy middle" — and what her two options actually are. Lisa is a solo luxury agent doing 30+ transactions and $350K/year entirely on referrals — and she wants to scale strategically without chaos or burnout. Luke and Stephen walk her through how to audit her lead sources, delegate smartly, and fix one thing at a time. Beth has two businesses — real estate and a professional document service — and asks how to cross-market them to the same client base. Luke explains the concept of trigger events in a buyer's journey and how to use them to introduce a second service naturally. Whether you're managing a team, flying solo, or juggling more than one business, this episode has something for you.

What does getting fired from a yogurt shop have to do with $50 billion in luxury real estate video? Everything, if you're Ori Harel. Ori Harel is the founder of Reel-E.AI and Lumara Media, the company behind some of the most iconic luxury property videos ever filmed — for clients like Blackstone, Marriott International, the Altman Brothers, and Jason Oppenheimer. But now, he's building the tool that makes professional listing videos accessible to every agent, not just the top 2%. In this episode, hosts break down: • How Ori went from getting fired at a yogurt shop to filming $50M-$100M homes in Los Angeles • What makes a great listing video (and what makes a terrible one) • How Reel-E.AI turns existing listing photos into cinematic, music-synced videos automatically • Why AI-generated music is immediately royalty-free and how to use it for your listings • A step-by-step DIY guide: Suno or Gemini for music, VO3/Cling for photo-to-video, DaVinci Resolve or Premiere to cut to the beat • Why AI listing videos from today already outperform Ori's own 2017 work — at 50-100x less cost • Whether AI will eventually replace all real estate video production Try Reel-E.AI for free (3 videos, no strings attached): https://www.reel-e.ai/ Contact Ori directly: ori@reel-e.ai

No sales. Buyer objections. Mailers that seem to go nowhere. In this live call-in episode, Luke, Josh, and Stephen tackle three real business challenges and give the exact advice they'd use in their own businesses. From proving product-market fit before advertising to handling climate change objections and maximizing direct mail ROI, this episode is packed with practical strategies that can save you time, money, and frustration. Key Takeaways: Stop spending on ads until you've proven product-market fit. Get direct customer feedback before scaling your marketing. Become the subject matter expert when handling buyer objections. Use AI to practice objection handling and improve your sales conversations. Test direct mail for at least 90 days—and up to 12 months for farming campaigns. Combine branding efforts with direct outreach to generate faster results.

Tim Bushnell is back on Stay Paid — and he's closing deals at a rate most agents only dream about. As the #1 producer on the Acre Brothers team (top 1% Lynchburg MLS, 200+ sides since May 2023), Tim pulls back the curtain on why he stays on a team, what's changed since his last visit, and how any new agent can hit six figures in their first six months. In this episode: · Why Tim joined a team and why he'll never leave · The #1 reason agents leave their team (it's money — but the math might surprise you) · How high team standards create a culture of hungry, high-performing agents · The delegation shift that took Tim from 5 deals/month to 7+ (and 14 active listings) · Tim's biggest ongoing pain point: keeping up with his database · His 6-figures-in-6-months framework: 3 lead pillars, 4 hours of daily prospecting, and sphere coffee meetings · Why 10x goals can actually destroy your productivity Download the Open House Playbook: https://remindermedia.com/openhouse/ Follow Tim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.tim.bushnell/

In this live call-in episode of Stay Paid, Luke Acree, Josh Stike, & Acree Brothers Realty answer your most pressing questions on YouTube strategy, finding sellers, and building a sustainable social media presence. Whether you're brand new to the business or a seasoned veteran looking to modernize your approach, this episode delivers real advice you can act on immediately. Key topics covered: • How to use AI to build content pillars and a posting strategy for YouTube • Why "R&D" (rip off and duplicate) is the fastest path to a working YouTube strategy • The cash offer script that's generating listings at a 75% conversion rate • Why your sphere and geographic farming are still the #1 places to find sellers • How the "document, don't create" approach makes social media sustainable • Why your personal Facebook profile outperforms your business page every time • How to tag and collaborate with local businesses to get reshares and grow faster Have a question for Luke and Josh? Submit it at remindermedia.com/ask or DM us on Instagram @staypaidpodcast Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

"Embrace what it is about you that's unique and create content around that." Christian Walsh started his YouTube channel during COVID with seven subscribers. Today, Wire Associates is nearly 40,000 subscribers strong — and it has quietly become one of the most reliable lead engines in his real estate business, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in commission income. In this episode of $tay Paid, Christian sits down with Luke Acree and Josh Stike to break down exactly how he did it. He shares why long-form YouTube is still the place to be (especially as AI starts citing it), how he carves out 20 hours a week between scripting, shooting, editing, and engagement, and why the most important call to action in any video is getting people to watch the next one. You'll hear his approach to thumbnails and titles (including the "dissonance" trick), his case for niching down hard, the pottery-class lesson on frequency, and the practical tools — Descript, Visme, ChatGPT, Canva, Elgato — that make all of it possible. Wire Associates on YouTube & The Real Estate Disclosure Podcast: youtube.com/@WireAssociates Descript — https://descript.com Visme — https://visme.co Canva — https://canva.com Altos Research — https://altosresearch.com Elgato teleprompter — https://elgato.com