The Sponge Mentality: How Curiosity and Cold Calling Built a $75 Million Real Estate Business with Ari Jakobov

In this episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with Ari Jakobov, a Phoenix-based real estate powerhouse who has generated over $75 million in sales in just three and a half years. What makes Ari's journey particularly remarkable is his unconventional path—dropping out of college against his parents' wishes and building his business through relentless cold calling when everyone around him relied on easier lead sources.

Ari reveals his "sponge mentality," approaching every interaction as a growth opportunity and showing genuine interest in others rather than trying to appear important himself. This fundamental shift in perspective has not only fueled his business success but created a foundation for meaningful relationships that transcend transactions.

The conversation explores how Ari's background in chess taught him to think several moves ahead in business, preparing for market shifts while others focused only on immediate gains. When interest rates jumped in 2022 and the market cooled, Ari continued thriving while others panicked—a direct result of mastering skills that work in any market condition.

Perhaps most valuably, Ari breaks down his specific approach to cold calling, including pattern interrupts, tonality shifts, and questioning frameworks that transform this often-dreaded activity into a consistent source of business. For agents struggling with consistency or worried about market volatility, this episode provides both tactical guidance and the mindset shifts required for sustainable success.

Key Points & Themes:

1. The "sponge mentality" that transforms every interaction into a learning opportunity

2. Why "I hate small talk" reveals poor communication skills and how to fix this mindset

3. The Dale Carnegie principles Ari implemented to build deeper relationships

4. How to think like a chess player in business, anticipating market shifts before they happen

5. The exact pattern interrupts and frameworks that make cold calling effective

6. Why teaching your team to "hunt" creates more sustainable success than feeding them leads

7. How proper time blocking prevents the peaks and valleys that plague most agents

Ready to transform your approach to business relationships and develop skills that transcend market conditions? This conversation provides the blueprint.

Connect with Ari Jakobov on Instagram: @ari.jakobov

Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Learn more at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/

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