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Starting over sounds brave until you actually have to do it. Because once you've built a business before, trying again comes with evidence. You know what the work requires. You know what can go wrong. And somewhere in the back of your mind is the question: What happens if I do all of this again and it still doesn't work? But there's another possibility we don't talk about as often. What if it does? In this episode of Seeking the Best, Kathryn and Patrick talk about why experienced real estate agents can become increasingly cautious after setbacks, how half-effort can quietly protect us from getting an answer we may not want, and why the business we once wanted may not be the business we want to rebuild now. Kathryn also shares what it was like dismantling part of her real estate business during one of her strongest sales years, why a plan failing doesn't mean the person failed, and how our own results can change what we believe we're capable of doing next. They explore: • Why starting over gets emotionally harder after you've already succeeded• The difference between a business problem and a personal failure• How “being careful” can become another form of avoidance• Why half-effort protects us from truly testing ourselves• The uncomfortable question behind a big production goal: Do you actually want the life required to create it?• Why resilience sometimes means changing the plan rather than repeating it BEST MOVE: Invite one past client to coffee this week. CONNECT WITH SEEKING THE BEST 🎥 YouTube: @SeekingTheBestPod — Full episodes, Shorts, real estate product reviews, and practical videos for building a real estate business that works in real life. 📱 Instagram: @OnSeekingTheBest — Behind-the-scenes moments, practical tips, and more from Kathryn and Patrick. 🌐 Website: OnSeekingTheBest.com — Episode supplements, Kathryn and Patrick’s blogs, resources, merch, and more from Seeking the Best. 🎙️ Have a question for Kathryn and Patrick? Send us a voice message through https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest and your question could be featured on a future episode of Seeking the Best. Seeking the Best is hosted by Kathryn Stelljes with co-host and producer Patrick Fatica. Real conversations for real estate agents about building a better business and becoming your best along the way.

There are few things more frustrating than having to do a job you thought you had already graduated from. You hired help. You handed something off. Your role changed. Then circumstances change—and suddenly the paperwork, open houses, showings or other responsibilities are back on your plate. Did your business actually go backward? Kathryn and Patrick talk about the strange career ladder of real estate, why temporary regression can feel so personal, and the “messy middle” that comes with building a business instead of simply doing a job. They also get into leverage, hiring, failure, career longevity and a question agents rarely stop long enough to ask: What do you actually want your job to look like 10 or 20 years from now? Plus: this week's Best Move and Small Wins. CONNECT WITH SEEKING THE BEST 🎥 YouTube: @SeekingTheBestPodFull episodes, Shorts, real estate product reviews, and practical videos for building a real estate business that works in real life. 📱 Instagram: @OnSeekingTheBestBehind-the-scenes moments, practical tips, and more from Kathryn and Patrick. 🌐 Website: OnSeekingTheBest.comEpisode supplements, Kathryn and Patrick’s blogs, resources, merch, and more from Seeking the Best. 🎙️ Have a question for Kathryn and Patrick?Send us a voice message through SpeakPipe and your question could be featured on a future episode of Seeking the Best. Seeking the Best is hosted by Kathryn Stelljes with co-host and producer Patrick Fatica. Real conversations for real estate agents about building a better business and becoming your best along the way.

There’s a particular kind of frustration that comes from knowing exactly what you should be doing in your real estate business... and still not doing it. You’ve made the calls before. You know how to follow up. You know what activities create business. Maybe you’ve even built a successful business doing them. So why can starting again feel so difficult? Kathryn and Patrick talk about what happens when experienced agents get stuck, from the shame of feeling like you should be past this to losing faith in activities that used to work, hiding inside new systems, and making your comeback so big that you never actually begin. Kathryn also shares a simple way to diagnose what’s really going on: Do you need more information? Do you need more support? Or do you already know what to do and simply need to start smaller? Because starting over doesn’t mean starting from zero. You already have the experience. The goal is to get moving again. THE BEST MOVE: Do one thing you already know you should be doing before the end of today. 🎥 YouTube: @SeekingTheBestPodFull episodes, Shorts, real estate product reviews, and practical videos for building a real estate business that works in real life. 📱 Instagram: @OnSeekingTheBestBehind-the-scenes moments, practical tips, and more from Kathryn and Patrick. 🌐 Website: OnSeekingTheBest.comEpisode supplements, Kathryn and Patrick’s blogs, resources, merch, and more from Seeking the Best. 🎙️ Have a question for Kathryn and Patrick?Send us a voice message through SpeakPipe and your question could be featured on a future episode of Seeking the Best. Seeking the Best is hosted by Kathryn Stelljes with co-host and producer Patrick Fatica. Real conversations for real estate agents about building a better business and becoming your best along the way. CONNECT WITH SEEKING THE BEST

Starting over in real estate is not always about finding a better lead source, changing your calendar, or setting a new goal. Sometimes the hardest part is admitting that the future you spent years imagining may not happen the way you thought it would. In this episode of Seeking the Best, Kathryn and Patrick talk about the strange grief that can come with changing a real estate business you worked hard to build. Kathryn shares what it has been like to realize that parts of the business she once wanted no longer fit — even while the outside world might still consider that business successful. They explore why agents can move through something remarkably similar to denial, anger, bargaining and acceptance when a team changes, someone leaves, a listing expires, a transaction falls apart, or a long-held career goal stops making sense. But the episode is not really about loss. It is about what becomes possible once you stop trying to force the old future to happen. Kathryn also shares two deceptively simple questions that have helped her think about the next version of her business: What did I enjoy about what I was building?What did I not enjoy? And later, the conversation turns to something experience teaches you that is easy to miss earlier in your career: a role can change without requiring the relationship to end. This episode is part of Seeking the Best, the real estate agent podcast for new and growing agents who want clarity, structure, and real-world coaching—not hype. Hosted by REALTOR® and team owner Kathryn Stelljes, with Patrick Fatica as co-host, each episode offers practical guidance for building a real estate business that works in real life.Episode extras and Kathryn’s Candy Bag blog: ⁠https://www.onseekingthebest.com⁠ Leave a Question From the Web or send us a voice message: ⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest⁠ Watch and subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod

When your real estate business looks successful from the outside—but no longer fits the life you want—it may be time to start over. In this episode of Seeking the Best, Kathryn and Patrick talk about the industry scorecard: units, volume, GCI, team size, awards, and recognition. Those numbers matter, but they do not automatically mean your business is profitable, sustainable, or aligned with what you actually want. Kathryn shares what she learned while building a team: following the model, hiring new agents, handing off buyers, and realizing that growth on paper can still create more work, less profit, and a business that no longer feels right. They talk honestly about why agents stay too long in misalignment, why starting over can feel like failure, and how changing goals require the right people and systems to change with you. This episode is part of Seeking the Best, the real estate agent podcast for new and growing agents who want clarity, structure, and real-world coaching—not hype. Hosted by REALTOR® and team owner Kathryn Stelljes, with Patrick Fatica as co-host, each episode offers practical guidance for building a real estate business that works in real life. Episode extras and Kathryn’s Candy Bag blog:https://www.onseekingthebest.com Leave a Question From the Web or send us a voice message:https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch and subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod

Starting over in real estate can feel like losing progress. But when your business has outgrown its structure—or the foundation is no longer right—you are not going back to zero. You are rebuilding with experience. In this new-season premiere, Kathryn looks back at two turning points in her career: moving from a home-based solo-agent setup into a real business structure, and making the much harder decision to let go of a team member who was not aligned with the culture she was trying to build. Patrick challenges the self-blame, names the fear of the unknown, and explains why starting over can save more time than continuing to repair the wrong thing. Together, they give real estate agents a practical way to ask what is working, what is not, and whether the next move is a small reset or a foundational rebuild. Episode extras, links, and the Candy Bag: https://www.onseekingthebest.com Have a question for the show? Send it here: https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod Seeking the Best is the podcast for growth-minded real estate agents seeking clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life.

Buying a Facebook, Instagram, or Google ad can feel like a relatively inexpensive way to generate real estate business. But what is an agent actually purchasing? It is not a client. It may not even be a lead. The immediate purchase is exposure—the opportunity for someone to see a message, click, visit a landing page, or submit a form. Turning that activity into a closing requires an advertising strategy, a sustainable budget, a working funnel, long-term follow-up, and someone capable of converting strangers into clients. In the season finale of Seeking the Best, Kathryn examines her own experience with internet advertising and explains why it is often added too early. Patrick challenges the familiar belief that one closing will justify the expense. Together, they discuss why online advertising can help scale an established real estate business but should not be used to avoid prospecting.

Most real estate agents know they need to show up online. The problem starts when posting gets counted as lead generation. In this episode of *Seeking the Best*, Kathryn and Patrick take an honest look at whether social media is really a dependable lead source for most real estate agents. They break down why posting feels productive, how likes and views provide immediate feedback, and why social media can become the comfortable activity agents choose when they want to avoid rejection. Kathryn explains the difference between passive marketing and proactive lead generation, why visibility is not the same thing as having a real estate conversation, and how social media often works best as a sphere amplifier. It can help people remember you, validate that you are active in the business, and give them an easier way to connect - but that does not automatically make the platform the true source of the lead. In this episode: - Why posting on social media is not automatically lead generation - The difference between measuring views and measuring business results - Why likes and comments can make an activity feel more productive than it is - How social media helps agents avoid the discomfort of direct outreach and rejection - Why social media often functions as a sphere amplifier - How to trace a lead back to the source that first created the opportunity - What a real social media lead-generation plan needs beyond a posting schedule - Why agents need a defined audience, call to action, follow-up process, and database path - How a specific interest or niche can give strangers a reason to follow an agent - Why posting listings and open houses shows activity but does not guarantee leads **Your Best Move:** Make your post, then start 10 genuine conversations with people in your social media world. The first message does not need to be a sales pitch, but the activity needs to move beyond posting and waiting. Episode extras, links, and the Candy Bag: https://www.onseekingthebest.com Have a question for the show? Send it here: https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod Seeking the Best is the podcast for growth-minded real estate agents seeking clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life.

A real estate database is not the same thing as a sphere, and having thousands of contacts does not mean an agent has thousands of relationships. Kathryn and Patrick break down what actually belongs in a database, why open-house leads and old website inquiries become “ghosts” over time, and how inconsistent follow-up turns years of lead generation into lost opportunity. Kathryn shares the re-engagement approach she is using in her own business, why the first goal is simply to get a response, and what an ongoing 8x8 and 12x12 follow-up rhythm can accomplish. The Best Move this week is intentionally small: choose 25 people from your database and send a simple, personal check-in. Seeking the Best is the podcast for growth-minded real estate agents seeking clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Listen, read the Candy Bag, and find episode extras: https://www.onseekingthebest.com Start with the real estate agent podcast guide: https://www.onseekingthebest.com/real-estate-agent-podcast Follow on Instagram: @onseekingthebest #realestateagent #realestateleadgeneration #realestatefollowup #realestatecrm #realestatedatabase #realestatepodcast #realtortips

Expired listings can be one of the most direct paths to potential seller business, so why do so many real estate agents quit after only a few days or weeks? In this episode of *Seeking the Best*, Kathryn and Patrick talk honestly about what it feels like to call homeowners whose listings did not sell: the hang-ups, the frustration, the competition, and the question every agent has to answer - "What are you going to do differently?" Kathryn explains why agents need to stop measuring effort by time spent or calls attempted and start tracking actual conversations, leads, appointments, and follow-up. She also shares why curiosity, empathy, dialogue practice, and a clear reason to meet matter more than researching every property before picking up the phone. If you have tried expired listings and decided they do not work, this episode will help you determine whether the lead source is wrong for you or whether you simply have not given it a fair, measurable test. Seeking the Best is the real estate agent podcast for new and growing agents seeking clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Watch the Podcast Watch *Seeking the Best* on video: - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3DkFp53kArqz85g5WP0Udk Start here: https://www.onseekingthebest.com/real-estate-agent-podcast Episode extras and questions: https://www.onseekingthebest.com

Real estate farming works, but it is not a matter of mailing one postcard and waiting for a seller to call. In this episode, Kathryn and Patrick break down what geographic farming actually requires: repeated exposure, a realistic marketing budget, local market research, community involvement, consistent communication, and enough time for people to know, like, and trust you. Kathryn shares how she gradually built one of her original farm areas through a neighborhood newsletter, market updates, postcards, open houses, community events, a neighborhood Facebook page, and years of showing up. It did not begin as a polished campaign, and it did not produce immediate results. It grew because the communication remained consistent and each layer supported the others. They also talk about why newer agents are often attracted to farming. Mailing feels safer than making calls, having conversations, or risking rejection. The problem is that farming costs money and usually takes longer to produce measurable business. It is not the lead source to choose when you need a listing immediately. You will learn how to evaluate a potential farm using turnover rate, average sales price, neighborhood size, existing agent market share, and the realistic cost of staying visible. You will also hear why farming can eventually become a strong, scalable source of listings—but only after you have the revenue and patience to treat it like a long-term investment. Your Best Move this week is to choose one neighborhood you are considering and calculate its turnover rate before you spend anything. Episode extras, links, and the Candy Bag:https://www.OnSeekingTheBest.com Have a question for the show?Send it here:https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod This episode is for newer agents, rebuilding agents, or any agent who is quietly avoiding bigger opportunities because they do not feel ready yet. Seeking the Best is a podcast for growth-minded real estate agents who want clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life.

Calling a For Sale by Owner once and asking for the listing is not a follow-up strategy. It is usually just a fast way to hear no and convince yourself that FSBO prospecting does not work. In this episode, Kathryn and Patrick break down what agents should actually expect from the first FSBO conversation, why rejection starts affecting every call that follows, and how agents talk themselves out of opportunities before the seller has made a final decision. Kathryn explains why the initial goal is not necessarily a listing appointment. It is to begin a real conversation, learn about the property, and earn permission to stay in touch. Most owners who eventually need an agent will not realize it on day one. They may need several weeks of missed showings, low offers, unqualified buyers, and the inconvenience of managing the sale themselves before their position changes. The agent who calls once and disappears will probably not be remembered. The agent who checks in consistently, does what they said they would do, and remains genuinely helpful has a much better chance of being there when the seller is ready. They also cover how to open the conversation without pretending to have a buyer, what kind of value agents can offer without giving away paid services, what to track, and how to build a simple 30-day FSBO follow-up plan before making the first call. This episode is for agents who have tried FSBO prospecting, taken the rejection personally, or decided too quickly that this lead source does not work for them. Episode extras, links, and the Candy Bag: https://www.OnSeekingTheBest.com Have a question for the show? Send it here: https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod This episode is for newer agents, rebuilding agents, or any agent who is quietly avoiding bigger opportunities because they do not feel ready yet. Seeking the Best is a podcast for growth-minded real estate agents who want clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life.

Real estate agents love to say open houses do not work. But most of the time, the open house was not actually the problem. In this episode of Seeking the Best, Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica continue the lead-generation season with a deep dive into open houses: why agents avoid them, why they feel awkward, why one quiet Sunday can convince you the whole lead source is broken, and what actually has to happen for the math to work. Kathryn breaks down the difference between sitting in an open house and executing an open house plan. That includes getting full contact information, understanding why people really walked in, following up beyond one or two calls, and remembering that most open house leads are not ready to close next week. They also talk through the common excuses agents make after open houses: “They all already have agents.” “It was just neighbors.” “They were just curious.” “They did not want to sign in.” “No one showed up.” Some of those things may happen. None of them prove open houses do not work. This episode is for agents who have tried open houses once or twice, felt awkward, got discouraged, and walked away too soon. It is also for experienced agents who want to add open houses back into their lead-generation plan but need to stop treating them like a one-week experiment. Your best move this week: before your next open house, write your opening question. Know what you are going to say when someone walks through the door. Because the goal is not to sell that exact house. The goal is to meet people with a real estate need, get their contact information, and follow up long enough for the numbers to work. Episode extras, links, and the Candy Bag: https://www.OnSeekingTheBest.com Have a question for the show? Send it here: https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod This episode is for newer agents, rebuilding agents, or any agent who is quietly avoiding bigger opportunities because they do not feel ready yet. Seeking the Best is a podcast for growth-minded real estate agents who want clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life. Listen, watch, and find episode extras at OnSeekingTheBest.com Have a question for the show? Send it here: speakpipe.com/seekingthebest

Most real estate agents know they should be working their sphere. So why do so many agents avoid it? In this episode of Seeking the Best, Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica open the new lead-generation season with the lead source most agents already have in front of them: their sphere of influence. But this is not just a conversation about scripts, databases, or how many calls you should make. It is about the part that makes sphere lead generation feel so uncomfortable: calling people who already know you. Kathryn breaks down the difference between a database and a true sphere, why so many agents underbuild it, and why rejection from people you know can feel more personal than rejection from strangers. She also talks about the mistake agents make when they confuse silence with rejection. Someone not answering your call, text, or email does not always mean they are annoyed with you. Sometimes they are just busy, distracted, or not in a real estate moment right now. This episode also covers why your sphere has to be built, tracked, and touched consistently over time if you want to stay top of mind. In this episode: Why sphere should be one of your strongest lead sourcesThe difference between your database and your actual sphereWhy agents avoid calling people they already knowWhy silence is not always rejectionHow agents accidentally disappear from their sphereWhy “they already know I’m in real estate” is not enoughThe long-game math behind sphere lead generationWhat a 40-plus-touch plan can includeThis week’s Your Best Move Episode extras, links, and the Candy Bag:https://www.OnSeekingTheBest.com Have a question for the show?Send it here:https://www.speakpipe.com/seekingthebest Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@SeekingTheBestPod This episode is for newer agents, rebuilding agents, or any agent who is quietly avoiding bigger opportunities because they do not feel ready yet. Seeking the Best is a podcast for growth-minded real estate agents who want clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life. Listen, watch, and find episode extras at OnSeekingTheBest.com Have a question for the show? Send it here: speakpipe.com/seekingthebest

In this season finale, Kathryn looks back on this season at the biggest lessons she learned the hard way in real estate — the ones that shaped her confidence, communication, systems, leadership, and boundaries. From spending money on Zillow leads without the follow-up plan to match, to disqualifying herself from opportunities before anyone else had the chance, to learning why important conversations cannot live in email or text, this episode is a practical and honest recap for agents who are trying to build a business that actually works in real life. Kathryn and Patrick also talk about why “available 24/7” is not a value proposition, how agents accidentally create resentment by failing to set expectations, and why confidence does not show up before action. It shows up after the reps. If you are a real estate agent who feels scattered, reactive, inconsistent, or burned out, this episode will help you look at the patterns underneath the business and choose one better way forward. This episode is for newer agents, rebuilding agents, or any agent who is quietly avoiding bigger opportunities because they do not feel ready yet. Seeking the Best is a podcast for growth-minded real estate agents who want clarity, focus, and a better way forward. Hosted by Kathryn Stelljes and Patrick Fatica, the show blends real-world business lessons, honest conversations, and practical moves agents can use to build a business that actually works in real life. Listen, watch, and find episode extras at⁠ onseekingthebest.com⁠Have a question for the show? Send it here:⁠ speakpipe.com/seekingthebest⁠