In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan interviews Rachael Smith-Meadors, Broker Associate at RE/MAX Big Bear, on her journey from Kentucky to California, cutting her teeth in vacation rentals, spending a decade on a top team—then making the leap solo and thriving. Rachael breaks down the real drivers of growth: relentless follow-up, clear systems, creative social media, a disciplined morning routine, and coaching that fits your market (not generic one-size-fits-all “training”).

You’ll learn:

• How to transition from a team to independent producer without dropping the ball

• The exact early activities that created momentum: follow-up, old “dead” leads, listing checklists

• Why coaching > training (custom strategy beats canned scripts)

• The pillars approach to marketing: master a few channels, then add more

• Social media that stands out (borrow ideas across industries, don’t copy agents)

• Time-blocking and weekly planning to balance high production with family life

• Mindset for scary changes: plan tomorrow before you go to bed

Chapters (suggested):
0:00 Rachael’s backstory: KY → Big Bear
3:50 First deals, mentorship, and early lead gen
10:45 Ten years on a team—then the leap
18:20 Surprises of going solo (volume, systems, help)
24:40 Coaching vs. training: what actually works
28:50 Marketing pillars & creative content
33:40 Visibility, brand, and YouTube wins
36:30 Calendars, checklists, and family balance
41:50 What’s next: smart growth without losing quality

Connect with Rachael

• Website: buyinbigbearlake.com (and rachelsmith.remax.com)

• YouTube: Rachael Smith Real Estate — Living in Big Bear

• IG/FB/LinkedIn: Rachael Smith Real Estate

Connect with Mark / Time Tested Mastery

• Website: TimeTestedMastery.com

• Podcast: Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell

• Social: @TimeTestedMastery

If this helped you, share it with a new or rising agent who needs a no-fluff blueprint. Subscribe for weekly conversations on sales mastery, mindset, and transformation.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark sits down with Ali Grant-Shoemaker—Big Bear Lake broker and REMAX Big Bear standout—whose path ran from communications and media to top-tier resort real estate. Ali shares how a decade of mentorship (Tyler Wood Group), earning her broker’s license, and finally stepping out under her own brand led to her best year yet—powered by personalized marketing, consistent client care, and systems that scale.

You’ll learn:

• How mentorship, structure, and on-the-job reps accelerate mastery—especially early.

• Why unique positioning beats copycat marketing (think “purple cow”): be memorable or be invisible.

• The long game of retargeting ads and brand visibility (expect months, not weeks).

• Navigating the leap from team to solo: lead gen, support, and building your own playbook.

• Balancing production with family life through time-blocking and real boundaries.

• Setting meaningful targets (hello, REMAX Chairman’s Club) without losing your soul.

Connect with Ali:
Website: aligrantshoemaker.com
Facebook: “Ali Grant-Shoemaker Big Bear Real Estate”
Instagram: @bigbearrealestate

If this episode sparked an idea, share it with a new or rising agent who needs a real, time-tested blueprint—and subscribe for weekly training on sales mastery, mindset, and transformation.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan challenges you with a question that could unlock your next breakthrough: Are you truly teachable—or just going through the motions?

Growth doesn’t come from praise, comfort, or leaning on past wins. It comes when we choose curiosity over defensiveness, accountability over excuses, and getting better over just feeling better.

Mark shares personal stories—including a turning point in his early career when a tough question forced him to rise higher—and gives you practical ways to measure and strengthen your own teachability. You’ll discover:

• The difference between incremental growth and explosive growth.

• Three powerful questions to test your teachability.

• Why discomfort is the birthplace of transformation.

• How to shift from “feeling good” to truly getting better.

If you’re ready to stop defending, start learning, and accelerate your growth, this episode will help you lean into the stretch that changes everything.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to never miss an episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell.

In this episode of Time-Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan shares how he turned chaos and frustration in his early buyer showings into a simple, repeatable process that built trust, saved time, and closed deals.

You’ll discover:

• Why the biggest problem with buyers isn’t the buyers—it’s your process.

• How to shift from “tour guide” to “trusted guide” and earn loyalty fast.

• The exact steps Mark used to go from endless showings to closing 70–80% of buyers on the second appointment.

• A real-life story that proves discipline and process beat luck every time.

If you’re tired of wasting time, losing trust, and working harder than you should—this episode will show you how to win with buyers by working smarter.

Listen now—and if you found this episode valuable, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a lesson that could transform your career.

In this powerful episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, I sit down with Nick Volenchak—transformation coach, speaker, and founder of the MicroShift Project.

Nick’s story is raw, real, and inspiring. After losing his mother at a young age, enduring abuse, battling addiction, and experiencing homelessness, he rebuilt his life—celebrating over 20 years of sobriety. From running a professional wrestling company to building a successful digital marketing firm, Nick now dedicates his work to helping high-achieving men move beyond surviving to truly thriving.

Nick shares the philosophy behind his MicroShift framework: the belief that the smallest shifts in our mindset, choices, and conversations can spark massive transformation.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why survival isn’t enough—and how to step into thriving.

• The truth about imposter syndrome and how to overcome it.

• How a single compassionate conversation can redirect the course of a life.

• Why cause over cash creates deeper impact (and lasting fulfillment).

• The power of community, vulnerability, and finding your tribe.

• Why you’re only ever one shift away from momentum.

Connect with Nick Volenchak:

• Website: themicroshift.com

• LinkedIn: Nicholas Volinchak

• Instagram: @nickfromcwe

• Facebook: facebook.com/nvolinchak

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, I sit down with Jan Raeder—the Self-Care Sensei—to unpack the principles of discipline, wellbeing, and resilience that she has honed over 30 years in martial arts, positive psychology, and behavior change.

Jan is a national AAU gold medalist, keynote speaker, and author of Strive for MORE: What Wellbeing Really Means and How You Can Achieve It. She introduces us to her M.O.R.E. framework—Meaning, Optimism, Relationships, and Engagement—four pillars that underpin true wellbeing and can transform the way we live, lead, and sell.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How martial arts discipline translates into success in sales and life.

• Why taking things personally causes us to lose our center—and how detachment creates clarity.

• The difference between self-care “treats” and true self-care that builds strength from within.

• The evidence-based practices Jan uses to help people avoid burnout and build resilience.

• A simple yet powerful exercise you can use today to shift your perspective: What Went Well?

Connect with Jan here:

• Website: selfcaresensei.com

• Facebook: facebook.com/jan.h.raeder

• Instagram: @selfcaresenseijraeder

• LinkedIn: Jan Raeder on LinkedIn

• Book: Strive for MORE (Amazon)

“Practice doesn’t make perfect—perfect practice makes permanent.”

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, host Mark Dolan dives deep into the second non‑negotiable activity of every real estate agent’s 6‑hour workday: Practice.

Too many agents “wing it” on listing appointments and buyer presentations—and it costs them deals. The top performers? They role-play scripts, dialogues, objections, CMAs, contracts, and listing presentations until it becomes second nature.

Drawing on 40+ years of real estate mastery, Mark shares exactly how to structure your one hour of practice a day so you build confidence, competence, and consistency that translates into more sales and more trust with clients.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why practice makes things permanent—not perfect—and how that works in sales

• How to memorize and internalize sales scripts so they sound natural

• The importance of objection handling (commission cuts, short listings, etc.) and how to prepare

• Why role-playing with colleagues or a coach is a game-changer

• How to practice CMAs, contracts, and listing presentations before facing live clients

• The 7% / 38% / 55% rule of communication—and why practice unlocks the other 93%

Mark’s Challenge for You:
Decide to become the best salesperson you can be. Add one hour of practice to your daily schedule. Memorize, role-play, and critique. Build your confidence before you step into the living room or office.

Whether you’re brand new or a veteran agent, this practice principle is the shortcut to confidence, trust, and profitability.

Ready to sharpen your skills? Learn more at TimeTestedMastery.com
If this episode helped you, share it with a colleague and subscribe for more sales mastery strategies.

#RealEstateSuccess #SalesTraining #RolePlay #PracticeMakesPermanent #TimeTestedMastery

The Power of One Hour a Day of Education

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan unpacks one of the five non-negotiable daily activities every real estate professional must build into their schedule: education.

With 40 years in the business, Mark has seen too many agents stumble simply because they don’t truly understand their tools, their contracts, or the trends shaping their market. In this conversation, he challenges agents—whether new or seasoned—to commit to just one hour a day of focused learning.

Why? Because consistent education compounds. One hour of daily study, sustained over years, turns ordinary salespeople into recognized experts.

• Why your clients deserve an agent who knows contracts better than they do—and why failing here is malpractice.

• How one hour a day of education will position you as a true expert in your field over time.

• The five essential activities in a six-hour non-negotiable daily schedule.

• What to focus your education on, including:

  • Sales skills: scripts, dialogues, objection handling, and personality styles.

  • Contracts & disclosures: mastering every clause so you can explain it simply and protect your clients.

  • Market trends & statistics: absorption rates, pricing shifts, and days on market.

  • Industry changes: legislation, DOJ rules, financing trends, and economic shifts.

• How to turn your education into practical tools that win trust and close deals.

Mark reminds us that real estate is a career where extraordinary results come not from shortcuts, but from disciplined habits. By building daily education into your schedule, you’ll bring more value to the table, avoid costly mistakes, and position yourself as the trusted advisor your clients need.

Learn more at TimeTestedMastery.com
Connect with Mark on Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, or YouTube
Share this episode with a fellow agent who needs to level up their skills