In this episode, John Kitchens and Jay Kinder unpack the real reason most agents are struggling in 2025: they don’t understand marketing. From identifying “have-to” sellers to the hidden power of new construction funnels, this conversation is a masterclass in how agents must shift their mindset and skillset to thrive.

Jay pulls back the curtain on what’s working right now in lead generation, direct mail, and social positioning—and how to build authority at scale without burning out. If you're doing fewer than 2 deals a month, this is the wake-up call you need.

Whether you're looking to rebuild your pipeline, reignite your referral business, or finally master social media strategy, this episode gives you the blueprint.

• Why marketing—not selling—is the survival skill for 2025

• How most agents confuse busy work with real business

• The direct connection between marketing mastery and freedom

• Why obsessed marketers dominate even in tough markets

• How to spot “have-to” sellers vs. “want-to” time-wasters

• Why the best agents are educators, not chasers

• Why new construction remains the best listing funnel

• How to position builder incentives as buyer solutions

• Real-world examples from agents winning this strategy

• How to use KCM, Altos, and real-time MLS data to educate at scale

• Becoming the “daily market update” voice for your community

• Why trust-based content outperforms any paid ad

• The winning formula: Teach + Consistency + Frequency

• Why showing up every day creates unfair top-of-mind awareness

• Real examples of content that builds inbound momentum

• Why most agents fail at mailers (and how to fix it)

• The real play: saturation + frequency + a dog-whistle offer

• How “guaranteed offer” language still pulls in high-quality sellers

• Building omnipresence with the right messaging

• Why personalization wins over generic branding

• Case study: the “I’ve got your postcards wallpapered” moment

• What agents get wrong with their ads and postcards

• How to build trust through education, not persuasion

• “If you confuse, you lose”—why clarity beats cleverness

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Resources, community, and training

• Keeping Current Matters (KCM) – Data-backed market insights

• Altos Research – Real-time market trends

• 100M Leads / 100M Offers by Alex Hormozi – Marketing fundamentals

• Dan Kennedy No B.S. Books – Direct response marketing masterclass

• CHSA & CHBA Systems – Increase trust and perceived value with every deal

• Alex Pox YouTube Channel – A+ new construction strategy model

• Predictable Success by Les McKeown – Discover your leadership archetype
  
  

"It’s not the best agent who wins—it’s the best marketer." – John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this no-fluff masterclass, John Kitchens sits down with industry titan Kyle Whissel to break down the five essential keys to scaling a high-performance real estate team in 2025. From running a billion-dollar operation to managing 100+ agents, Kyle shares the exact frameworks, tools, and leadership mindset that separate scalable success from burnout.

Whether you're looking to build your first team or scale past $500M, this episode delivers the blueprint—straight from someone who’s doing it now.

Key #1: Mindset and Leadership

• Why loving people is a non-negotiable for leaders

• The real reason most team leaders fail

• How to shift from agent to visionary CEO

Key #2: Business Operating Systems (EOS)

• Why EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) changed everything

• The difference between an org chart and an accountability chart

• How Kyle’s integrator filters ideas and prevents chaos

Key #3: Processes and Training

• How to use Trainual to scale knowledge and create repeatability

• Why every process should have a name (e.g., "The Whissel Way")

• The system for capturing daily huddles and onboarding at scale

Key #4: Standards and Accountability

• The hard truth: expectations without enforcement are just suggestions

• Why Kyle fires agents—even top producers—who don’t meet standards

• What a “real” production standard looks like (and why most don’t have one)

Key #5: Recruiting and People Strategy

• How Kyle brings on 10 agents a month—and only keeps 4

• Why most agents get cut in the first 60 days

• Focusing on the top 20% to create a cascade of leadership across the org

• Traction by Gino Wickman

• Trainual – SOPs + LMS platform

• EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating System

• TheWhisselWay.com – Courses, resources, referrals

• Follow Kyle on Instagram: @kylewhissel
  

Scaling a real estate business in 2025 requires more than hustle—it demands leadership, structure, and relentless standards. Kyle Whissel lays out the five pillars that can help any team go from local to legendary.

“The system runs the business. People run the system.” – Kyle Whissel

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this episode, John Kitchens, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek bring the heat with a jam-packed, no-guest session that dives deep into where the real estate industry is headed—and what it takes to stay ahead. From the truth behind commission lawsuits to the rapid evolution of AI in marketing, the guys pull back the curtain on what real leaders are doing in 2025 to stay relevant, profitable, and highly valuable in a noisy world.

They also unveil details for the 10th annual Rock the Spectrum and Agent to CEO event in Cleveland—and why it's the most high-impact, can't-miss event for top agents in the Honey Badger Nation.

Rock the Spectrum & Agent to CEO 2024

• Official dates announced: September 24–25 in Cleveland

• Why last year’s Agent to CEO event set a new standard—and how 2024 is leveling up

• VIP access, exclusive music performances, and community like never before

The Big Commission Lie

• Debunking the myth that 6% was ever a standard commission

• Why the lawsuit headlines were misleading—and what the real data says

• How agents can confidently defend their value without racing to the bottom

The Rise of the Tribe

• Why tribalism and community are shaping business decisions more than ever

• How values, alignment, and culture are driving real estate migration patterns

• Why small, intimate events are outperforming large conferences in 2025

Owning the Problem = Owning the Market

• Lessons from StoryBrand: stop being the hero, start being the guide

• Why clarity of your client’s problem positions you as the authority

• How to dominate your niche by solving one thing better than anyone else

AI-Powered Consumer vs. Agent Authority

• The #1 complaint from modern consumers: “I know more than my agent”

• Why agents must evolve past templates and become true expert advisors

• CHSA/CHBA’s role in restoring trust, value, and leadership in the transaction

Marketing to One Person at Scale

• How to use ChatGPT to profile the ideal buyer persona for every listing

• Why one-to-one relevance at scale is the new gold standard in lead gen

• Real-world examples of AI creating high-converting, hyper-specific marketing strategies

The AI Collaboration Opportunity

• How collaboration—not resistance—is the agent’s advantage with AI

• Why service, proactivity, and personal touch will never go out of style

• The real key: becoming the expert on what consumers don't know they need yet

The Future of CHSA/CHBA in an AI World

• Why the foundational principles of CHSA/CHBA matter more than ever

• How to adapt the system for today's AI-powered buyer and seller landscape

• Why process, preparation, and personalization win every time

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Tickets, merch, CHSA/CHBA, Honey Badger of the Month

• StoryBrand by Donald Miller – Framework for owning a problem and guiding clients

• The AI-Driven Leader – Must-read for agents, brokers, and team leaders in 2025

• The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni – Recommended foundational read

• CHSA & CHBA Systems – Learn how to increase perceived value and authority in every deal

• Honey Badger Nation Legacy Merch – New drops available now
  
  

"If you own the problem, you own the market." – John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥