Rob sits down with a powerhouse panel made up of Spears Group's Founder, Jonathan Spears, and its COO, Maria Coukoulis, both of whom are also co-founders of MyOps AI, and Larry Kendall, the author of Ninja Selling, to discuss a pivotal moment in every successful real estate agent's career. Together, this all-star team tackles the critical crossroads agents face: whether to continue as a solo producer or to build a high-performing real estate team.

This conversation goes deep into the nuts and bolts of scaling a real estate business from the ground up. The group explores Jonathan's transition from a driven solo agent doing $70 million in volume to the leader of a billion-dollar team, highlighting the operational challenges and mindset shifts required for success. They discuss the common pitfalls of team building, the necessity of creating documented systems and processes, and how a strong, clearly defined culture is the engine for sustainable growth. This episode provides an enlightening and informative case-study on how to turn a real estate practice into a true business, unlocking not just financial success but personal freedom and fulfillment.

Episode Highlights:

• The critical crossroads every agent faces: staying solo versus building a team.

• Shifting your mindset from running a practice to owning a true business.

• The power of documented, repeatable systems for driving consistency and success.

• Why a strong culture - and getting the right people in the right seats - is non-negotiable for growth.

• Avoiding the "alligator pond" mistake: teaching agents to hunt versus simply feeding them leads.

• How mastering operations unlocks massive growth, eliminates waste, and creates personal freedom.

• Unlocking team potential by trusting each member to operate in their area of genius.

• Leveraging AI and technology to solve operational bottlenecks and give your team their time back.

Key Takeaways:

"We are not an anomaly… you can have this for yourself. You just have to be consistent with it, and you have to have those processes to carry you."

"If you're an agent out there that's worried about an AI, oh my gosh, it's going to steal everything. Get curious instead of fearful."

"A good system will work regardless of the market you're in. It's the documented process that will give you predictable results regardless of the market."

"True success is when you're able to come alongside people, and out of that collaboration is birthed a greater product than either of you could create on your own."

"People do not refer Jonathan Spears… They refer his process."

"Build your goals into your calendar. Build your goals into that system and process. That way your daily executions, those daily movements, allow you to move towards them, not away from them."

Links:

• Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/

• Email: TSW@NinjaSelling.com

• Phone: 1-800-254-1650

• Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/#

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling

• Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public

• Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/

• Spears Group: https://spearsgroupfl.com/

• MyOps AI: https://myops.ai/#home

• Larry Kendall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-kendall-1078b61/

Eric Thompson is joined by world-class Ninja, Ethan Shapiro, and his coach, Steve Mangelson, at a Ninja Installation in Fort Collins, Colorado, for a lively discussion about intentionally creating change. Ethan shares his journey from the grind of cold-calling to building a thriving business on genuine relationships and a unique charitable model. Together, with Steve and Eric, he offers powerful insights for achieving sustainable success and personal fulfillment in your real estate career.

Ethan's transition from prospecting to a system that fosters deep client connections and improves quality of life is examined in depth, highlighting the fact that his company donates 50% of profits, turning each transaction into a positive impact. Throughout the episode our panel explores achieving work-life harmony over balance, as well as practical strategies, such as conducting 50 live interviews a week to boost business growth and career joy. Today's conversation between these three top level professionals provides a compelling illustration that building a business on authentic contribution is the ultimate path to exponential growth and a truly joyful life.

Episode Highlights:

• Create Change Realty's innovative model for charitable client impact.

• Transitioning from burnout prospecting to a sustainable, relationship-based system.

• Strategies for creating intentional change for exponential business growth.

• Why work-life harmony is more effective than work-life balance.

• Tips for conducting 50 live interviews weekly to build relationships.

• The power of coaching and system implementation in business.

• Reviving old leads by focusing on genuine connection.

• How providing value boosts client loyalty and call-answer rates.

Key Takeaways:

"My quality of life is what has dramatically improved since the installation."

"It really is the difference between pursuing the transaction versus pursuing the relationship."

"I really want my clients to feel like they're having a huge positive impact on the world by working with me."

"She looks at me right in the eye and she's like, 'Yeah, stop doing that.' She's like, 'Stop cold calling.'"

"When he calls someone, they'll stop what they're doing to talk to Ethan, and it's because he provides value."

"I'm genuinely trying to be a force of light in their life."

"If we're reluctant to make the call, we're making it too much about ourselves."

"Ninja has given me a system for how to build genuine relationships with people, which is what I would do for no money."

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has changed, but our ability to perform the task has increased."

Links:

• Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/

• Email: TSW@NinjaSelling.com

• Phone: 1-800-254-1650

• Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/#

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling

• Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public

• Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/

• Create Change Realty: https://ccrealty.org/

• Steve Mangelson: https://givebackhomes.com/agent/steve-mangelson