Next Level Agents: The Kevin & Fred Show - Interviews with the best and brightest minds in the real estate industry

In this eye-opening episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with Nolan Rucker to explore how he transformed from a reluctant second-generation real estate agent into a business owner who challenges the traditional "always hustling" model. Nolan shares his unconventional approach to mentorship, client selection, and business design that allows him to work less, earn more, and enjoy a quality of life most agents only dream about. Key Points: How Nolan flipped the mentorship script by asking "What can I bring to you?" instead of "What can you give me?" Why understanding energy dynamics (givers vs. takers) is crucial to building a sustainable business The revolutionary definition of success: working less while making more and delivering better service How tracking your numbers precisely leads to smarter business decisions about where to invest your time The power of selecting clients based on energy alignment rather than just commission potential Why maintaining multiple lead sources while focusing intensely on your most profitable ones creates business stability The importance of showing up consistently in growth-oriented environments even when you think you "already know enough" Nolan demonstrates that the conventional wisdom about real estate success—that it requires sacrifice of your personal life, boundaries, and free time—is fundamentally flawed. By designing his business with freedom and quality of life as the foundation, he's created a more profitable, sustainable, and fulfilling enterprise. Whether you're just starting in real estate or looking to transform your existing business, this conversation will challenge your assumptions about what's possible and provide a blueprint for creating a business that truly serves your life. Connect with Nolan Rucker: Instagram: @NolanRucker Ready to take your business to the next level? Learn more about joining the Next Level Agents community at nextlevelagents.com/exp/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening conversation, Chelsea Wright and Katie DeWitt challenge the conventional wisdom about work-life balance in real estate. Instead of pursuing the myth of perfect equilibrium, they reveal how embracing distinct "seasons" in your business can lead to greater productivity, fulfillment, and sustainable success without the burnout. Katie shares her transparent struggles with pipeline management in today's uncertain market and how she's leveraged her strengths in open houses and follow-up to maintain momentum. Meanwhile, Chelsea introduces the powerful concept of "seasons" as an alternative to balance, explaining why trying to maintain balance while building an empire creates an internal "civil war." Together, they explore how making small, consistent promises to yourself builds the self-discipline needed for bigger achievements, why nationwide referral networks are replacing traditional local networking, and how setting clear deadlines and boundaries during intensive work periods can actually strengthen your relationships rather than damage them. Key Points: Why your pipeline keeps filling up only to get wiped out—and what to do about it How the concept of "seasons" offers a more realistic framework than "balance" The power of small, consistent promises in building self-trust and discipline Why expanding your network nationwide creates more opportunities than focusing locally How to communicate boundaries effectively during intensive work periods The distorted perspective many successful agents have about their own performance This conversation isn't just about real estate tactics—it's about designing a business that works with your natural rhythms and priorities instead of against them. Ready to break free from the balance myth and embrace a more sustainable approach to success? This episode is your blueprint. Connect with Today's Hosts: Chelsea Wright - Instagram⁠ Katie DeWitt - Instagram⁠ Learn more about Next Level Agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

Are you playing real estate on hard mode when you could be playing on easy mode? In this game-changing conversation, Shane Parrish, author of "Clear Thinking," reveals how the success of top-performing agents isn't determined by how they handle obvious decisions, but by the seemingly insignificant "ordinary moments" they navigate daily. Shane shares the counterintuitive insights that separate elite performers from average ones, including why Warren Buffett's greatest advantage isn't his intelligence but his positioning, how relativity and Newton's laws apply to business growth, and why your willingness to "look like an idiot" might be the missing ingredient in your success formula. Key Points & Themes: How "ordinary moments" position you for either strength or weakness when facing critical decisions The physics-inspired mental models that eliminate blind spots in your business Why "going positive and going first" creates a magnetic pull of opportunity The difference between "easy mode" and "hard mode" in real estate success How fear of looking foolish prevents even top performers from reaching their potential Practical techniques for improving decision-making in teams and eliminating groupthink The counterintuitive connection between Warren Buffett's success and his positioning strategy This episode will challenge you to examine the seemingly minor daily choices that ultimately determine whether you'll face tomorrow's challenges from a position of strength or weakness. Ready to transform your approach to decision-making? Connect with us at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ to learn how our community is helping agents break barriers and build empires. Connect with Shane Parrish: Website: https://fs.blog/ Podcast: The Knowledge Project Book: "Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments Into Extraordinary Results" ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

What does the next level truly look like for successful real estate agents? In this candid roundtable episode, the Next Level Agents crew—Kevin Kauffman, Brittini Bowers, Chelsea Wright, Katie DeWitt, and Erik Kelly—get real about the bold strategies they're implementing to break through plateaus and reach new heights in their businesses and lives.Far from theoretical concepts, this episode delivers actionable insights you can implement immediately: Brittini reveals her revolutionary two-part listing consultation process that transforms how sellers engage with pricing decisions Chelsea shares how building authentic women's community has generated 27 referral opportunities in just one month Katie demonstrates why launching a business outside real estate might be the key to reigniting your passion Erik explains his counter-intuitive focus on consistency over novelty to reach the next level Kevin speaks candidly about returning to full-time work and launching new ventures The biggest takeaway? Your next level doesn't require perfect clarity on all details—but it absolutely requires decisive action today.Whether you're feeling stagnant in your current business, searching for fresh inspiration, or ready to implement bold new strategies, this episode provides the kick-start you need to define and achieve your own next level.Ready to join agents who are breaking barriers and building empires? Learn more about Next Level Agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/Mentioned in the episode: Next Level Ladies Collective Wisdom Session: April 2nd Next Level Tuesdays: Listing Pricing Strategies Class with Brittini Bowers on April 8th Erik Kelly's book: "The 100K Business Blueprint" Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Learn more about joining Next Level Agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ Connect with our hosts: Chelsea Wright: Instagram Brittini Bowers: Instagram Katie DeWitt: Instagram Erik Kelly: Instagram ​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening episode of Next Level Agents, Kevin Kaufman sits down with Christin Kingsbury to uncover the wealth-building strategies most real estate agents overlook. Growing up watching her grandmother build financial freedom through real estate investing while her mother struggled, Christin learned early on that passive income—not commissions—was the key to true financial independence.Christin shares her journey from selling 60 mobile homes her first year as an agent (earning just $34,000 despite outworking everyone in her office) to developing a "Family Banking System" that now funds her lifestyle, investments, and family experiences. This episode challenges the conventional real estate career path and offers a blueprint for agents who want to stop building wealth exclusively for others.Key Points: Why Christin's first investment property at age 19 (with no job!) netted her $150,000 and changed her perspective forever The critical mindset shift from "selling higher price points" to "owning assets that work while you sleep" How watching her grandmother travel the world while her mother "heated the house with the oven" shaped Christin's financial philosophy The difference between amateur investors (who buy when they see deals) and professionals (who invest on a schedule) Why most real estate agents know how to create wealth but fail to apply that knowledge to their own finances How Christin's "Family Banking System" captures passive income to fund investments, education, experiences, and emergencies The wake-up call all agents need: "You don't make money selling real estate; you make money buying and holding it" Start building your own wealth instead of just facilitating it for others. Learn how to create a "Family Banking Blueprint" that transforms commission income into lasting financial freedom.Connect with Christin:Support Christin's "Buy One, Give One" book launch initiative for "The Family Banking Blueprint" (April 29) by texting "GIVE" to 59559.Learn more about how Next Level Agents can help you elevate your real estate business at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this game-changing episode of Next Level Agents, Kevin Kauffman and the crew (Chelsea Wright, Brittini Bowers, Katie DeWitt, and Erik Kelly) dive deep into what might be the most underrated success factor in real estate: consistency.The team challenges conventional wisdom about what consistency really means and reveals why it's so much more than just discipline or willpower. From Erik's story of watching 365 consecutive sunrises (that people still talk about a decade later) to Brittini's data-driven approach that exposed a shocking profitability gap in her business, this conversation is packed with actionable insights that will transform how you approach your daily activities.Key Points: Why consistency builds trust more effectively than almost any other business strategy The myth of discipline vs. the reality of developing "recovery skills" when you inevitably fall short How one year of consistency in one area can create a decade of memorability in your market The "bare minimum" approach that makes consistency achievable for everyone Why tracking your numbers consistently reveals business insights that can save or make you thousands How one team discovered a business segment representing 38% of transactions but only 9% of profit The surprising truth about why most agents avoid consistency (hint: it's not laziness) This episode will challenge you to identify your own consistency play and give you practical strategies for implementing it in your business immediately. Whether you're struggling with consistency or looking to leverage it more effectively, this conversation provides the blueprint for using this powerful principle to take your business to the next level.Ready to harness the transformative power of consistency in your real estate business? Visit NextLevelAgents.com/exp/ to learn more about joining our community of growth-minded agents.Connect with our hosts: Chelsea Wright: Instagram | Helping overachieving realtors escape burnout through coaching and keynotes Brittini Bowers: Instagram | Co-leader of a top real estate team in Arizona and host of Other Ambitions podcast Katie DeWitt: Instagram | Real estate coach and industry leader with experience in all facets of the business Erik Kelly: Instagram | Host of Live Your Legacy podcast and relationship-focused real estate veteran Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Visit Next Level Agents to learn more about our community of growth-minded professionals.​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

What if everything you've been doing to market yourself as a real estate agent is actually keeping you trapped in a bloody "red ocean" of competition? In this game-changing episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with Greg Hague, founder of 72 Sold and pioneer of program-based real estate marketing, to challenge the fundamental assumptions about how agents should position themselves.Greg shares the breakthrough moment when, as a struggling new agent unable to get listings, he developed his first "irresistible offer" that completely changed the decision criteria for sellers. This innovation launched a career filled with bold, market-disrupting programs that have consistently delivered superior results regardless of market conditions.From the "marketing hierarchy" that explains why certain channels automatically confer higher credibility, to the revolutionary "counteroffer intelligence" technique that extracts higher offers from buyers 70-80% of the time, this episode is packed with immediately applicable strategies to differentiate yourself in a crowded marketplace.Key Points: Why marketing a program instead of your personal qualities creates a "blue ocean" where competition becomes irrelevant The four-tier marketing hierarchy and why higher-credibility channels can actually cost less than traditional approaches How 72 Sold adapted their program during COVID and the 2021 market frenzy to address the specific concerns keeping sellers up at night The 12-step system designed to increase the probability of higher sale prices Why the coming changes to buyer agent compensation represent a massive opportunity for agents willing to innovate The consumer-first philosophy that should guide real estate organizations This episode will make you rethink everything about how you position yourself in the marketplace and provide a blueprint for creating your own irresistible program that makes competition irrelevant.Whether you're a new agent looking to gain traction, or an experienced professional seeking to differentiate yourself in a crowded marketplace, Greg's insights on creating blue ocean opportunities will transform how you approach your business.Want to learn more about creating your own next level in real estate? Visit https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ to discover how you can join a community of forward-thinking agents who are redefining what's possible in this industry.​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this special roundtable edition of the Next Level Agents podcast, host Kevin Kauffman brings together four industry powerhouses – Chelsea Wright, Brittini Bowers, Katie DeWitt, and Erik Kelly – for a candid conversation about what truly separates consistently successful agents from those caught in cycles of mediocrity.This episode challenges conventional wisdom about real estate success, exposing the uncomfortable truths about why some agents perpetually struggle while others thrive regardless of market conditions. From the counterintuitive education habits of top performers to the relationship crisis plaguing modern agents, this discussion offers both philosophical insights and practical strategies for breaking through to your next level.Key Points: The paradox of education: Why the busiest, most successful agents prioritize learning opportunities that struggling agents claim they're "too busy" to attend The relationship foundation: How many agents seek new lead sources because they've failed to build genuine connections with people already in their sphere The "comfortable complacency" trap: How achieving just enough success to maintain your current lifestyle can prevent you from reaching your true potential The authenticity challenge: Why being honest about your real motivations (including financial goals) creates more alignment than claiming "I just want to help people" The boundary mastery of top performers: How strategic unavailability and energy management enable sustainable success The "Golden Retriever Principle": Why some seemingly unlikely agents succeed through sheer enthusiasm and consistent action The living legacy perspective: How viewing daily decisions through the lens of legacy transforms your approach to business and life Whether you're a new agent seeking the right foundation or an experienced professional looking to break through your current ceiling, this episode provides the uncomfortable truths and actionable insights needed to elevate your business to its next level.Listen now to join the conversation that's challenging industry norms and creating a new standard for real estate excellence.Connect with our hosts: Chelsea Wright: Instagram | Helping overachieving realtors escape burnout through coaching and keynotes Brittini Bowers: Instagram | Co-leader of a top real estate team in Arizona and host of Other Ambitions podcast Katie DeWitt: Instagram | Real estate coach and industry leader with experience in all facets of the business Erik Kelly: Instagram | Host of Live Your Legacy podcast and relationship-focused real estate veteran Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Visit Next Level Agents to learn more about our community of growth-minded professionals.​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In real estate, being a broker is the ultimate dream we’re taught to aspire to, but for most people, it’s a nightmare. If you put the ego and bragging rights aside, you’ll find that most brokers aren’t happy. They work 80+ hours a week, get very little time with their families, and at the end of the day, have very little to show for it financially. People often say a restaurant is one of the worst businesses to own, but a real estate brokerage isn’t all that different if you really dig into the numbers. What if we could aspire to a business model that gave us freedom, leverage and more money? What if you could do away with the things that make owning a brokerage so difficult? Mitch Riback did just that and created a model that allows owners to keep more income, have less overhead and responsibility over agents and way more freedom. You could go from working 80+ hours a week to 30 hours, and sell more homes with less headaches. Ultimately, what most “successful” brokers don’t tell you is how much they hate what they run. By taking a different approach, you can sign up for a business, and not a trap. Today, I’m joined by the Realtor, coach, speaker and author of The Big Lie: Are You On the Real Estate Hamster Wheel? Mitch talks about what drove him to build a different business and how it’s allowed him to pour into what truly matters. People think working 80+ hours a week is a badge of honor, it’s a badge of stupidity. -Mitch Ribak Guest InfoMitch Ribak is a Realtor, Broker, Coach, Speaker and author of The Big Lie: Are you on the Real Estate Hamster Wheel? Most Successful Realtors, Team Leaders and Brokers never truly build a business, they build a crappy job. Mitch teaches agents and brokers how to create a business that not only increases their profits, but also creates a life of freedom. To get the book, get https://a.co/d/1T0qWAt or send an email to Mitch@mitchrealty.com. CTA​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In an industry that celebrates making rain, GCI, units and volume, it’s really easy to lose sight of why we got into real estate in the first place. Most of us got into this for our families and for freedom to spend time with them. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, we forget and find ourselves working too much, prioritizing the next meeting,  appointment and commission check.  It’s only when we have a smack-in-the-face moment that we realize that we’re running our businesses all wrong, and that we have to refocus on the original goal. A lot of what we hear from the stage doesn’t share this truth, and what the road to refocusing on what matters looks like.  The great thing about this business is you can build it, find out you built it all wrong, burn it all down, start over and build it right. You can regain the vision and start doing it in alignment with what matters to you. It’s certainly not an easy thing to do, but following through on it is worth it. It gives us a business that puts pressure on the things that really move the needle and nothing else. Shonna Ruble shares her own path through this process, from realizing it was built wrong to building it right in a new city and becoming the top team there.  Smacked in the faceWhat led Shonna Ruble into real estate was making sure her children could get what they needed, after her son needed a $700 nebulizer she couldn’t afford. Again, her children are the reason she ultimately decided to build a business and stop working all the time. Sometimes, we get so lost in rain making we forget what matters, but a slap in the face moment got Shonna to refocus.  Prioritizing what mattersIt’s crazy how much real estate you can do when you’re sitting in your car while your kid is at dance or swim class. Shonna learned how to work while her kids were doing something so that she could be there for them. Then after time with her family in the evening, she’d go back to the office. That level of focus is what allowed her business to grow.  Great people, not-so-great systems We can have really amazing people on our teams, but if we don’t have systems, everything falls apart if those people aren’t there anymore. It’s so important to take the time to document what has made you successful because that’s what will keep you going through staff changes. From how we do client events to how we celebrate birthdays on the team, you need to have everything written down.  Focus on profit Leading with profit is something we’re not taught enough in our business. We get caught up in the numbers, awards, units, GCI and volume, not net worth statements, bank accounts and profitability and it gets us in trouble. Shonna learned how to make focus the priority and it gave her staying power while everyone’s business tanked.  Put pressure on the things that matter most A lot of team leaders think you get a new agent ready by teaching them the CRM. The truth is, we have to put pressure on things that move the needle. The onboarding doesn’t end when they sign a contract, it ends when they get their first deal. We have to get them into production and get them to understand the importance of being prospecting-based. That’s what gets them paid and gets them into a deal.  Even if we have the best recruiting system, it’s impossible to predict who will be great in the long-run. Even the people who interview well can end up just being all talk and nothing more. No matter how detailed your process is, you can never really tell or predict who will be successful. That means we have to open the door for more people, let people prove who they are by their actions, and then also keep the back door open so that the wrong ones get out the door quicker.For more information, connect with Shonna on LinkedIn or find her on Facebook.  CTA ​​Please leave us a review at https://ratethispodcast.com/nla