Good morning! In this edition:
Planting Seeds - Are You Laying Bricks or Building a Cathedral?
The Treehouse Top 5 - Changing Speed of the Real Estate Industry, 32% Higher Closing Rate, Systems vs. Goals, Wispr Flow, & Get What You Want
Vantage Point - Build Your Rev Share with Aces
The Builders Table - The R.E.F. Model for Success with Hank Avink
Branching Out - CEO Leo Paraja in South Carolina on April 14
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Planting Seeds
Welcome to the first official edition of The Treehouse!
Have you heard the parable of the three bricklayers? If not, here’s a quick refresher.
A traveler comes across three men working. He asks the first, “What are you doing?”
The man replies, “I’m laying bricks.”
He asks the second the same question.
“I’m putting up a wall,” the second man says.
Finally, he asks the third, who answers, “I’m building a cathedral.”
All three men are doing the same task—but their perspectives are completely different.
The first man was completing a task.
The second man had his eye on the goal.
The third man was focused on the vision.
Most versions of this parable highlight the visionary as the “right” mindset. But the truth is, all three perspectives matter. In fact, a well-rounded approach to business requires all of them.
All three aspects are important to the collective outcome. After all, if we only spend time dreaming up the vision, will we ever execute? And if we are only executing without clear and measurable goals, we may never reach a finished product.
As Sketchplanations puts it:
“To do something well, we probably need a balance of all three aspects:
Pride and skill in detail and craft
Progress through clear intermediate goals
Vision and meaning for our work”
This week, take a moment to reflect. Which mindset do you naturally lean toward? Task execution, goal, or vision? And how can you surround yourself with people who balance your approach?
The Treehouse Top 5
A curated list of books, podcasts, tech, articles, and more to help you grow your leadership, relationships, and wealth.
People still matter (perhaps more than ever!). In this NAR Realtor News podcast, Leo Pareja, CEO of eXp Realty, shares some real nuggets that expand beyond real estate. While AI has streamlined communication, crunched the numbers for you, and provided endless information, when making an emotional decision (like purchasing a home, changing careers, writing a memoir, leaving a relationship, hiking Mt. Everest, etc.), people still want an expert guide. The human element of sharing real-life experiences can’t be overlooked. We still want and need Sherpas. And it’s so important to find your people. Whether you’re a business owner, real estate agent, or employee, you will require different economic models, compensation, benefits, culture, leadership, and responsibility throughout different seasons of your life. And that’s okay! Be honest with yourself (and others) and make the right moves for you. This was a great episode. I hope you found some of these takeaways as interesting as I did. Hit reply and share your thoughts!
Want a 32% higher closing rate? Wait 8 seconds. Alex Hormozi shared that Columbia Business School found purchases increase by 32% when salespeople extend that silence to 8+ seconds. Yet, research from the University of Texas shows the average salesperson waits only 2.7 seconds after asking for the sale before jumping back in. Clients, whether they are buyers/sellers or agents/brokers, need 6-8 seconds to process a large decision. So make your ask and then wait at least 8 seconds. You may be surprised what comes after the pause! For more from Alex, subscribe to the Mozi Money Minute.
Atomic Habits by James Clear is already a classic (even though it’s only 8 years old). The book is full of brilliantly simple concepts, specifically around goals. We seem to be a culture/society that encourages us to set big, scary, ambitious goals, but goals don’t equate to success. If that were true, I think all of our lives would look a lot differently! I know mine would. Instead, as Clear shares, we have to forget about setting goals and focus on the system. Goals set the direction. Systems help you succeed. What systems do you have in you already have in your life and business? And what systems do you need?
Okay, full disclosure, Wispr Flow is not going to be for everyone. I don’t use it (at least not yet), because I actually think and communicate better and faster by physically writing/typing. But for those who don't, Wispr Flow is a game changer. Wispr Flow offers seamless speech-to-text in every application on your iPhone or computer with AI commands and auto-edit. I’ve already shared it with several high-octane entrepreneurs and they LOVE it!
Recently on our weekly leadership call, we got into a conversation about Seth Godin’s “Yes, And” vs. “Yes, But” concept. It can be a powerful communication shift when recruiting and attracting agents and negotiating. In this Mel Robbins Podcast, How to Build a Life That Matters & Get What You Want Starting Today, Seth and Mel talk about the power of “and” among so many other incredible ideas such as how to stop making excuses and finally follow through, how to be more magnetic, how to take action when perfectionism is holding you back, and what authenticity really means. Enjoy!
Vantage Point [from Rich Tomasini]
Stop Building Your Rev Share With Sixes and Sevens
Most people celebrate when their six beats a four. Then their nine beats a seven. And they start building organizations full of little cards. But in the game of war—and in building a real estate organization—the only cards that actually matter are the aces.
The Builders Table
Saying "No" to Destructive Abundance and "Yes" to One Conversation a Day
Hank Avink doesn’t build his business through complexity—he builds it through consistency. With a simple rhythm of conversations, a clear focus on relationships, energy, and finances, and a refusal to guess when it comes to money, he’s created a system that compounds over time. What stands out isn’t a secret strategy, but a disciplined return to the fundamentals: talk to people, protect your energy, know your numbers, and don’t drift.
Branching Out
90% of success is not getting distracted.
Until next week… Let’s grow!
P.S. Grow With Us
If you’re starting to think more strategically about your business—how you grow, who you grow with, and what you’re building long term—THIS is a good place to start. We tend to work best with agents who are self-starters, relationship-driven, and interested in building something that extends beyond just closing deals. We look forward to hearing from you!
Some of the links in this email are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only share products or services I genuinely love and believe you’ll find valuable, too.