The Startling History Of Minority Agents, And The Leaders Closing The Gap-with Cheri Benjamin- EP 167

On today's episode, host Jeff Pfitzer talks with Cheri Benjamin  about her life and journey of how she got into Real Estate. She is now a member of a new platform called ‘Closing the Gap’; It is about bridging the generational divide. Cheri regards every agent she meets as a new or existing leader. She emphasizes how if you are just entering the industry, you are a leader and that is the mindset you must have. Tune in now.   Episode Highlights: Cheri owns a brokerage firm and their headquarters is in Atlanta;  They have around 400 agents. They are in Georgia, Florida, Maryland, DC, and Virginia and they are in the midst of expansion.  What a lot of people aren't realizing is, over the next couple of years, you are going to see a lot of contraction, and especially in the mortgage business and it's going to happen in the real estate business, says Jeff. Real Estate is a business where you are growing your vendors or your partners.  You do need to find people with the right mindset and have the partnership mentality, because that is the key, says Jeff. Cheri talks through different types of deals and how you should be approaching them. What happens if you advise your client to shop? Cheri's sister’s brokerage called Cole Realty Group, started this with Zillow. A lot of people don't realize that the panel speaker is actually a Zillow coach. “Less than 5% of agents are black and brown in the entire United States”, Cheri states. Jeff was at the National Association of Real Estate brokers. He loved it.  We just have a lot to catch up with all of that lack of education. What about marketing events? Cheri' shares about a friend of hers  and his approach to them. Cheri had a team of 46, and that is a lot to manage. It's much easier for her to have a brokerage of 400 than a team of 46- It's all leverage. What does leverage and at the brokerage level? Cheri's biggest year in growth was from her New Year's resolution. She always made her New Year's resolution in October because that is part of her business planning and her life planning, and everything else.  Diversity in all forms is beautiful; That is how we learn, and that is how we grow. 3 Key Points: The Real Estate industry is very old school and there are a lot of old school leaders teaching new school agents the wrong way. Jeff and Cheri discuss the differences. The politics behind business and politics behind Real Estate affects investment and communities.  Right before COVID hit, Cheri bought this company. It was a lot to take on, but they have grown it. She shares about the journey.   Resources Mentioned: Lab Coat Agents | Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Instagram  Jeff Pfitzer   | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter Follow Up Boss (Sponsor)  Street Text (Sponsor) Cheri@villagepremier.com https://www.instagram.com/cheribenjamin/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/cheriballen