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What is Emotional Intelligence? That’s the subject of this week’s episode, and it’s a subject that Bernie is very passionate about. So, what is it, and how does it relate to our business of Real Estate? It’s the ability to perceive, reason, understand, and manage emotions of others in our day to day lives. For agents, being emotionally intelligent can mean the difference between working with clients on a purely transactional basis or understanding what they’re looking for on an emotional level and coming up with those outside the box solutions that working in everyone’s interests.   We are in a people focused industry, and the types of transactions we deal with as real estate agents can be very emotionally charged. When speaking with our clients about what our clients are looking for in a forever home, we can get any kind of response ranging from cold logic to emotional milestones. Being emotionally intelligent means more than identifying with a person’s feelings in the moment, it’s about understanding what’s behind the way a client responds to our questions. There are times to empathize with stories of our own, or solutions to the problems brought up, and then there are times when listening is the best course. Being able to build the trust with your clients that you are working in their best interests and working to find solutions to the problems they may or may not have vocalized can be important to your success as an agent.   “Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand what's happening with your feelings at a given moment in time and not acting in them but leveraging that to really understand what's happening within whoever you're interacting with.” -  Bernie   “When we get into our business right there, that’s where a lot of people come up short. They're not listening to the full conversation because they're too busy trying to regurgitate their next response, rather than taking a pause to give themselves some time to truly respond.” – Steve   “That's how you connect with other humans is to recognize that just below the surface, there could be things that are going on there that may or may not represent what they're sharing with you. It takes time to build a rapport, to get them to share even more and to be empathetic.” – Bernie   “One thing that I've learned is learning to sit back and be patient and listen and let people talk. Too many times in the sales world that we both live in, we're self absorbed, right? So, we tend to ask some questions, they might give a small response and then we go back into what we're going to do for them and try to fit them into that, rather than answering a question with a question and getting them to move in that direction organically.” – Steve   Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!  

Each week, Steve Valentine shares mindset tips and actionable strategies to help build wealth and impact families through your real estate business. Want more of this? Check out the Steve D. Valentine mentoring program: https://stevedvalentine.mykajabi.com/

Each week, Steve Valentine shares mindset tips and actionable strategies to help build wealth and impact families through your real estate business. Want more of this? Check out the Steve D. Valentine mentoring program: https://stevedvalentine.mykajabi.com/

Each week, Steve Valentine shares mindset tips and actionable strategies to help build wealth and impact families through your real estate business. Want more of this? Check out the Steve D. Valentine mentoring program: https://stevedvalentine.mykajabi.com/

One of the things that we like to think keeps people coming back and listening to us week after week is not just our ‘outside the box’ ideas, but our appeal as people in the business. We feel very strongly that the greatest strength of a successful real estate agent is the ability to network and be personalities people love to listen to and do business with. Building community by helping people get into communities is key to making it in this business, and that’s what our guest Frankie Gerola is great at. He’s not only a great agent and entrepreneur, he’s also a great person who’s motivated to do what’s best for his clients and community.   Frankie G is one of those agents that it’s easy to just drop right into a warm and meaningful conversation with about what it means to be in the business and how he’s been able to find success in his own way. It all comes back to doing our best to build community and be ready to try new things to find that success and build legacy for ourselves and our clients. Frankie is a masterclass in listening to his clients and doing his best to find solutions that match what his clients are trying to tell him. The hardest part of our conversation was limiting it to a reasonable time!   “It’s a partnership, you know, your success depends on his success and vice versa. That’s what I think is a true partnership. One of the questions I’ve always asked, and I will always continue to ask is: what can we do together, and how can I help you?” – Frankie   “I’ve always had the mindset that you either win or you learn. If you can keep that in mind, you never lose.” – Frankie   “I’m a firm believer in going back and doing what’s hard, which in our business is cold calling. I love cold calling, give me a phone and a headset!” – Frankie   “I firmly believe that the consumer holds all the cards and I think agents are going to have to step outside the box and provide a service to be successful. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we as real estate agents are not even really finding the houses for the clients anymore. They're not finding on our portals; they're finding them all on the other third party websites!” - Frankie      You can connect with Frankie G at https://www.instagram.com/gilbertnow/ or [email protected]        Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!  

In the studio this week we have one of the best partnerships in the business, two individuals who like Steve have made a huge name for themselves since the old days of crazy markets: Kevin Kauffman and Fred Weaver of Group 46:10 and Next Level Agents! We have a wealth of knowledge and shared stories that we’re going over this week, and how that experience of coming up in the short sale market that gives us a fresh perspective on where today’s market is heading. Bottom line: don’t fear the reaper.   Aside from our discussion about the market and the way it’s not like the short sale days of 2009, we also have a chance to talk about their long running business partnership. They’re the exception to the rule of the eventual partnership break up, still going strong after all these years, and they have some words of advice on how to make it work. You’re getting all this and more on this episode of the podcast, movers, shakers, and some outside the box thinkers.   “I think there's just a lot of uncertainty, and when people are uncertain, they try to predict what they think is going to happen. The reality is like none of us truly know. We know what's happening right now, I know what's happened over the last 30 days, we know rates have gone up, we know the inventories going up in the Phoenix market and many other markets across the country. I think the thing that we've been talking about is people are getting really challenged right now and have to truly believe in homeownership and selling real estate because it's a lot easier to sell real estate when everything goes up.” – Fred   “I forget the guy who said it, but the quote is, effectively, ‘Chaos creates opportunity.’ When people start freaking out, from a purely strategic standpoint, from a business standpoint, chaos is good.” – Kevin   We've always been committed to the idea of learning and being mentored and taught by others. I think that's something that hasn’t changed no matter what. We're always making sure that when we start a relationship or in a conversation with somebody, that somebody is someone that can help us with our business or our mindset.” – Kevin   “The thing I kick myself for is earlier in life, not putting a certain percentage of my income aside just for investments. Even if I didn't know what I was going to invest in, but to just grow in some account. It’s just that simple and it’s something I will teach other people, and someday teach my kid.” - Fred   You can find Kevin and Fred at their website https://www.group4610.com/ and on their Podcast The Kevin and Fred Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kevin-and-fred-show-next-level-agents/id1438457876   Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!  

It’s the culture club episode! Today we’re talking about culture and leadership in your organization and what works and what absolutely doesn’t. A huge blind spot that was exposed by the pandemic and the great resignation is that for many people in many professions, corporate and work culture had become a source for burnout for workers because there has been such a disconnect between the average worker and the people who they work for. When it comes to building a team that sticks around and works to the best of their abilities, it goes beyond a few perks and grinding day in and day out. It’s about collaboration and giving the people on your team the knowledge that they matter, and their ideas are going to be heard, as well as knowing the people they work for have their best interests in mind.   When you’re looking for a team to be a part of, how that team conducts business and balances work and life is just as important as how much success they have. We’re entering a whole new world where team members are looking for more than just a paycheck, they’re looking for a workplace where they feel they matter. If you’re a leader of a team, or a manager in a bigger organization, knowing what your workers are looking for in engagement and what they might need professionally is key to existing in this evolving market.   “We’ve had the Great Resignation, and now it's time for the Great Reimagination.” – Bernie   “I think people will ultimately give up certain things for quality of life and a great place to work that's flexible.” – Steve   “A healthy culture will reverse engineer into productivity. If you have a workplace that people don't want to show up to, you're not going to have production.” – Bernie   “Bonuses and raises are great and necessary, but there's things in between that you can do to show your appreciation so that those people feel that connectedness they want.” – Steve   Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!  

You may have heard that interest rates are going up and that it’s a sign that the sky is falling and it’s 2008 all over again. Is it time to panic? We here at Thinking OTB are giving you a warm blanket, some tea, and telling you it’s all going to be ok. The market is changing, but that doesn’t mean it’s all doom and gloom. We haven’t been silent about the differences between 2008’s market and today and how there is still opportunity for some real outside the box thinking to still make a huge difference for yourself and your clients in the near future.   As agents, it’s our job to know all the details of what the market is doing and understanding the history of the market and doing our best to be as realistic as possible about where we go from here. The truth that remains is that home buying continues to be one of the best ways to build wealth and legacy, even with rates going up and the market slightly slowing. This is the time that is going to test us as professionals because patience and attention is going to be the best qualities you as an agent can have to help your clients navigate the market and make good decisions about the future.   “We're not done yet, unfortunately. The feds are trying to slow inflation down, and it's going to slow down the demand here. But the bigger thing is that we're seeing contracts come in and still competitive, and we're still seeing multiple offers. So, with that being the case, I think the prices are going to continue to rise here and they're going to stabilize.” – Steve   “If you want to buy a house, you have to get on it. There's going to always be these variables to buying a house or any kind of investment that are going to fluctuate. Right now, the prices are not going to drop. Prices are not going down. They might not rise as fast, but they're not going down.” – Bernie   “I think that the agents that are listening need to immerse themselves and understand the data that's happening so that they can have intelligent conversations with their clients. Have some patience because this is not a quick market. This is going to be a market of your understanding and your ability to educate and to nurture and nourish relationships. You have to understand what's happening with interest rates and what's happening with inventory, and with that you have to understand the different programs that are out there to take advantage of.” – Bernie   “Part of our jobs as real estate agents is to be a guide to people through all things, not just when we sell them a house, or sell their house, but to help them navigate the waters and put them in touch with the best people to help them accomplish what they need to accomplish.” – Steve   Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!

We’re back in town after traveling to New York to attend Inman Connect and let’s just say that we have a few notes. But first, shout out to all of the speakers and the city for having us! It’s always a treat to take a trip to the Big Apple, and to be among so many of our colleagues from around the country is an experience that doesn’t happen every day. We heard about some new technologies that are intersecting with Real Estate, and what the digital landscape has in store for life as we know it. We truly live in interesting times.   One thing that we did notice about the event, however, was the lack of something near and dear to us: Outside the Box Thinking. We’re all about finding solutions that are unique to our client’s needs and finding new ways to build wealth and legacy through our professional interactions. What we ended up seeing at the conference is an adherence to the old way of doing things, a low-energy way of approaching a rapidly changing market landscape.   Even still, events like Inman Connect are great venues to network with so many professionals from across the country. But like any professional event, know what you want to get out of it and understand what it is when you attend. Investing in yourself by getting out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, and making lasting connections is a great way to push yourself both personally and professionally.   “I think the industry needs some refresh when it comes down to these types of events. It’s not just bringing in real estate agents, it’s about bringing in amazing people from all different walks of life. Real estate communities need to start bringing in people to inspire and motivate agents in ways that will add to their business.” – Steve   “I always thought that if I was a realtor and I went to Inman, my whole goal besides meeting and networking with people would be to come away with some feathers in my cap that I didn’t have before. I’m looking for resources to become aware of and educated on, so that when I meet with a prospective client, I’m much more educated and an authority on the industry.” – Bernie   “If you go to these events to pull a bunch of information, that’s great but it’s just a quarter of what you’re really there for. Go and meet different people and hear their stories, get motivated and inspired, but make those connections from all over the country and make some referral partners.” – Steve   “I would say, go into an event with a mindset of number one: I’m going to come out of this with at least three new ideas, number two: I’m going to leave here having met and connected with 10 new people, and number three: I’m going to evaluate how I can apply all of this to my business.” – Bernie   Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!

Each week, Steve Valentine shares mindset tips and actionable strategies to help build wealth and impact families through your real estate business. Want more of this? Check out the Steve D. Valentine mentoring program: https://stevedvalentine.mykajabi.com/

Look, it’s no secret: this podcast is all about showing real estate agents in today’s market that using outside the box thinking to help they and their clients build wealth and legacy. It’s pretty much our whole thing, so when we have the opportunity to talk to a kindred soul, we’re going to be all over it. This week on the pod we’re interviewing Derek Jarr of Stay Frank to talk about their philosophy on providing solutions to their client’s situations, the direction today’s market is taking, and how things have changed over the course of his career in real estate.   Our conversation is a great example of agents working together and sharing their experiences of what has worked for them in finding success and building wealth in today's market. We’ve said so many times before that when you’re working in real estate, it’s not your fellow agents that you’re competing against. We’re all trying to make our way in this crazy market, and some are going to have more success than others. It’s the solutions that we create for our clients that set us apart from one another, separating the casual person with a real estate license from the professionals working toward success.   “There's always new stuff happening and so the one constant is change. You got humans and you got financial markets. And we have lots of crazy stuff happening in this country right now in financial markets. So, I just figured out there’s an opportunity, there's a need, and we've come up with a solution that is not a fit for everyone, but for a lot of people who have some financial need right now.” – Derek   “As an agent, you should be a portal to the information itself. It's almost like a responsibility of understanding and learning about all the different programs that are out there. So, you can make those connections and you will know that something's available based on somebody that you meet or talk to. If it's not fundamentally a connection, at least you're educated to be able to share with people that these concepts exist.” – Bernie   “I'm trying to get agents to understand that there are so many other ways that you can help somebody besides just charging a commission. If you're willing to ask the questions and get to what the end goal is, just because somebody says they want to sell their house, doesn't mean that's the only thing they can do. Sometimes they don't know what they don't know. So, unless you're willing to help them understand it, you're not really helping them.” – Steve   Catch up with Derek Jarr and Stay Frank. at https://www.stayfrank.com/    Hey you! You’re a long-time listener, time to be a first-time caller! Have a question or topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a line to our DM’s at: Steve’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!

A lot of people don't want to own rental properties because they hear all the negative chatter about it. We're digging into it on this week's bonus short.