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

In this game-changing episode, Kevin Kauffman sits down with 20+ year real estate veteran Erik Kelly to uncover the deceptively simple framework that has allowed him to build a thriving business through multiple market cycles. Erik shares his journey from corporate burnout (flying 100,000 miles annually) to building a sustainable real estate business while raising a family. His "Five and Five" system reveals why consistent, authentic conversations trump flashy marketing tactics for long-term success. They tackle the elephant in the room: in an industry where 7 out of 10 licensed agents had ZERO closings last year, what separates those who thrive from those who struggle? The answer challenges conventional wisdom and might be the mindset shift you've been searching for. Key points: Why finding YOUR strategy is more important than finding the "best" strategy The surprising reason "old school" tactics like open houses are more effective now than they've been in decades How to recalibrate your scoreboard to measure activities you can control, not results you can't The three phases of business growth: traction, momentum, and acceleration Why both success and failure are the result of compounded daily decisions How consistency in small actions can transform your business (and life) in 30-90 days This episode is essential listening for agents at all levels who want to build a business that's both profitable and sustainable through changing market conditions. Ready to take your real estate career to the next level? Learn more at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ Connect with Erik Kelly: Find his book "The 100K Business Blueprint" on Amazon Follow him on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikkellyhomes/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this episode of Next Level Agents, Kevin Kauffman sits down with industry thought leader Rob Hahn to discuss a provocative idea that challenges the very foundation of what it means to be a realtor. Starting with a controversial tweet suggesting realtors should help low-income renters pro bono, the conversation expands into a bold examination of the housing affordability crisis and how real estate professionals should respond. Rob breaks down why he's been calling millennials and Gen Z "generation screwed" for over a decade and explains how the housing crisis affects everything from birth rates to social cohesion. He challenges the real estate industry to look beyond transactions and commissions to embrace their "grave social responsibility" and "patriotic duty" as outlined in the Realtor Code of Ethics. The discussion dives into the distinction between being a realtor versus just a real estate agent, the structural problems with NAR's membership model, and concrete actions professionals can take to address the housing crisis while building a more sustainable business. Key Points The housing affordability crisis is reaching a breaking point, with Fannie Mae research showing prices would need to drop 40% or incomes double to restore affordability Being a true "realtor" means embracing social responsibility and patriotic duty beyond just facilitating transactions The real estate industry primarily serves buyers and sellers while missing the struggles of renters who make up half the housing market NAR's structure of tying MLS access to membership creates "hostages, not members" and prevents authentic engagement Deregulation of housing development is necessary but politically challenging Real estate professionals should consider helping renters pro bono to understand their challenges and demonstrate their commitment to all housing consumers For younger generations of consumers, authenticity matters more than polished sales scripts or techniques Whether you're a seasoned real estate veteran or new to the industry, this conversation will challenge you to rethink your role in society and consider how you can be part of the solution to one of America's most pressing crises. Connect with Rob Twitter/X: @robhahn Newsletter: https://notoriousrob.com/ Podcast: Industry Relations (with Greg Robertson) Learn more about Next Level Agents and explore ways to take your real estate business to the next level at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

In this eye-opening episode of Next Level Agents, top-producing agents Katie DeWitt and Chelsea Wright reveal the unexpected strategies that are flooding their businesses with opportunities—even in today's challenging market. Katie shares her embarrassing wake-up call when a friend bluntly told her that "no one calls you to buy or sell a house from a newsletter," forcing her to abandon her perfect systems and start making real connections. Meanwhile, Chelsea discovers that announcing she's stepping back from real estate to focus on a new business venture somehow triggered an avalanche of 20+ listings in just three weeks. Their candid conversation challenges everything you think you know about growing a sustainable real estate business and offers a refreshing perspective on what it really takes to break through to your next level. Key points: Why your "perfect systems" might actually be preventing deals How stepping away from real estate paradoxically attracts more business The simple daily practice that's rebuilding Katie's pipeline after her hardest year Why authenticity in the community outperforms traditional marketing every time How to protect your energy while still making meaningful connections Breaking free from self-limiting beliefs about who you are and what you're capable of If you're tired of the same old advice that isn't moving the needle for your business, this episode delivers the perspective shift that could transform your approach and results. Ready to take your real estate career to the next level? Learn more about joining a community of bold, innovative agents at https://nextlevelagents.com/exp/ Connect with today's guests: Chelsea Wright - ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Katie DeWitt - ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ​​Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla

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