How does a corporate finance professional reinvent herself to become a **multi-state Realtor®** closing over **$7 million in sales** across **Illinois, Indiana, and Georgia**?

Meet **Yolanda Jeffries**, a 2025 **RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist** whose leap from corporate life to real estate success proves it’s never too late to chase your purpose — and win big doing it.

In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, host Tina Lapp sits down with Yolanda to discuss her powerful career pivot, how she built a thriving business in multiple states, and the mindset shifts that helped her go from employee to entrepreneur.

You’ll hear:
💡 How Yolanda’s corporate finance background gave her an edge with clients
🏘️ The strategic steps she took to get licensed in three states
📈 What it took to reach $7M in sales in her first full year
🤝 How she builds long-term trust through financial education and authenticity
💬 The client success story that reminded her *why* she started
🔥 Her advice for anyone considering a career change into real estate

Yolanda’s story is proof that discipline, faith, and a business mindset can turn bold career transitions into lasting success.

00:00 Welcome to *Unlocking Real Estate*
01:00 Meet Yolanda Jeffries — from finance to real estate
02:00 Life before real estate: 20 years in corporate finance
04:30 What inspired her to pivot into real estate
06:00 Getting licensed in Illinois, Indiana & Georgia
08:30 Finding her first client and closing her first deal
10:00 Using her financial background to guide first-time buyers
12:00 The systems and habits that helped her scale fast
14:30 How she hit $7M in volume in her first full year
17:00 Balancing multiple markets and maintaining client relationships
19:00 Building a referral-based business
21:30 Mentorship, mindset, and staying consistent
23:30 The importance of serving with integrity
25:30 Advice for corporate professionals looking to make the leap
27:00 Lightning round: books, mentors, and business tips
30:00 Where to connect with Yolanda

Connect with Yolanda Jeffries:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolandajeffries/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theyolandajeffriesteam/?hl=en
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yolanda.m.jeffries

Want to be featured on *My First Commission*?

We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents!
📧 Email us at **[UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com](mailto:UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com)** or fill out this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply.

Lindsay Smith went from new agent to leading a 500‑agent Keller Williams market center doing $1.45B in volume—fast. In this episode, she breaks down the exact moves that built her business (and later her leadership style): saying yes to the right coffee, authentic follow-up that isn’t “just checking in,” turning local knowledge into conversion, and building a leadership team that complements your strengths.

What you’ll learn:

The lender partnership that became a top referral engine
Follow-up that adds value (equity calls, Homebot, “word swaps”) without the cringe
Converting online leads through hyper-local expertise (schools, city updates, permits)
A simple open-house system: aim for 2 signed clients per event
Why foundations beat “shiny object” tactics (Gary Keller’s triangle: foundation → creativity)
How to lead authentically and build a team around complementary strengths
Finding a niche (VA loans, military families, moms) and letting your lifestyle drive lead gen
2025 market snapshot: inventory, rates, pickier buyers, and where opportunity is shifting
New-agent advice: move from fearful to fearless, move fast, and find mentors

Chapters:

00:00 Meet Lindsay Smith — 500 agents, $1.45B volume
00:51 What a KW Team Leader/CEO actually does
03:03 The coffee that changed everything (lender partnership)
08:33 Authentic follow-up that isn’t “just checking in”
12:19 From brand-new agent to 21 deals in year one
16:13 Converting online leads with local expertise
20:53 Niche: VA loans, military families, and moms
21:48 Call openers that create connection
22:33 From agent to CEO in 6 years
23:19 COVID pivot and moving to KW South Park
25:01 Teaching, masterminds, and saying no to the wrong role
27:41 The offer to lead — imposter syndrome and saying yes
30:43 Day one as Team Leader + learning fast in Austin
31:28 Overcoming imposter syndrome (with a surprise call)
36:26 Building the right leadership team (snuggler vs implementer)
37:40 Leading authentically (the 2024 shift)
40:06 Models vs culture — serving what agents actually need
43:02 Why new agents win here: foundational > “try” mindset
46:16 Open-house strategy: 2 signed clients per event
47:56 Goals, the $100K myth, and time freedom vs flexibility
49:27 Make your lifestyle your lead gen
50:06 Words that work: simple swaps that open doors
51:54 2025 trends: inventory, buyers, rates
56:00 New-agent advice: be fearless, move fast, find mentors
59:36 Final takeaways: savings, live budget, find your “home” office
1:00:00 Close

Guest:

Lindsay Smith — Team Leader/CEO, Keller Williams South Park (Charlotte). Known for building authentic partnerships, VA loan expertise, and growing agents through foundational coaching and culture.

Key takeaways:

Track your referrals and double down on what works
Swap “just checking in” for valuable touchpoints (equity updates, local intel)
Build a complementary team: implementer + nurturer = consistent execution and trust
Foundations first. Creativity second. That’s how you scale sustainably

Want to be featured on My First Commission?

We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents!
📧 Email us at UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or click this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply.

How does a master’s-prepared nurse become one of Arizona’s top-producing agents in just three years — while raising two young kids and balancing a firefighter husband’s 24-hour shifts?

Meet Crystal Novak, a 2025 RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist with 22 transactions and $22 million in volume under her belt — all while proving that you can build a thriving real estate business and stay present as a mom.

In this inspiring episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, host Tina Lapp sits down with Crystal to unpack how she:
✨ Transitioned from nursing and entrepreneurship to full-time real estate
🏘️ Built her business from scratch through relationships and authenticity
💬 Used voice messages, social media, and education-first marketing to stand out
👩‍👧‍👦 Balanced motherhood, marriage, and 3-4 deals a month
🔥 Created a referral-based business by simply being herself

Crystal’s story is proof that you don’t need to follow a cookie-cutter path — just passion, persistence, and purpose.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:55 Meet Crystal Novak — nurse, mom, and Arizona Realtor
02:00 Life before real estate: 13 years in nursing & launching a boutique
04:00 Discovering entrepreneurship and real estate investing
05:00 Overcoming fear of leaving a “secure” career
08:00 COVID pivot: taking the leap into real estate
09:30 Balancing kids, studies, and business during licensing
11:00 Getting her first deal — her own home!
12:30 How teaching prepared her for educating clients
13:30 Building credibility and finding her first clients
14:00 The “list of 50” strategy that launched her business
16:00 Authentic marketing: voice messages & social media
17:30 How Crystal used new-build promotions to help buyers
18:00 Finding mentorship & the power of a great team
19:45 Balancing motherhood and business growth
20:40 Hiring a coach and finding work-life harmony
22:50 22 transactions & $11M in volume — how she did it
24:15 Setting boundaries and protecting family time
27:00 Evolving from buyers to listings & investing in video
29:00 The power of personal touches: handwritten cards & small gifts
31:00 How her boutique background built her social media brand
33:30 Why authenticity drives referrals
35:00 Helping clients build wealth through real estate
36:30 Partnering with her husband to grow their business
37:25 Crystal’s tips for new agents: be authentic & add value
39:05 Lightning Round: book recs, lessons learned, and more
44:54 Where to connect with Crystal

🔗 Connect with Crystal Novak:

📸 Instagram: @CrystalNovak_PhoenixRealtor
📘 Facebook: Crystal Novak Realtor
🏡 Brokerage: Real Broker AZ

✨ Want to be featured on My First Commission?

We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents!
📧 Email us at UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or fill out this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply.

How does a martial artist and former construction worker go from *fixing drywall* to managing *$11 million in real estate sales* in less than two years?

In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, host **Tina Lapp** sits down with **Bryan Coco**, a 2025 **RISMedia Rookie of the Year finalist** from Long Island, New York. Bryan’s story is anything but typical — from his early days in luxury Miami developments to flipping houses upstate during COVID, to now leading sales and development at **Kelly Real Estate**.

Bryan shares:
🏘️ His bold transition from martial arts to real estate analysis and construction
📊 How he turned hands-on trade work into a six-figure brokerage career
💡 Why patience, kindness, and market knowledge are his biggest sales tools
📈 His top 3 marketing strategies for generating quality leads in any market
🤝 Why “relationship over transaction” is the mindset every new agent needs

This episode is packed with *entrepreneurial lessons, creative marketing ideas,* and *real talk* about the grit it takes to make it in real estate — especially in one of the world’s most competitive markets.

01:00 Bryan Coco’s journey from martial arts to real estate
03:30 Early days in Miami’s luxury condo market
07:00 Learning international real estate & luxury sales
09:00 Earning an MBA and exploring the sports industry
10:30 Flipping homes during COVID & finding passion in construction
13:00 Getting licensed in New York and joining Kelly Real Estate
16:00 From procurement manager to sales leader
18:00 How Bryan hit $11M in transactions within two years
21:00 Overcoming challenges & learning local markets
23:00 Rookie agent advice — focus on relationships, not listings
27:00 Bryan’s top marketing tactics for 2025
32:00 Why he believes patience and curiosity win in real estate
37:00 Client challenges and lessons from the field
43:00 Book recommendation: *The Real Estate Game* by William Poorvu
46:00 What he’d do differently if starting again
53:00 Where to connect with Bryan & final advice

📸 Instagram: [@bryancocohomes](https://www.instagram.com/bryancocohomes)
🏠 Company: [Kelly Real Estate & Development](https://www.kellyrealestate.com)
📍 Location: Long Island, NY

**Want to be featured on *My First Commission*?**

We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents!
📧 Send us a note at **[UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com](mailto:UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com)** or fill out this form (https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish) to apply.

How does a former Winnebago sales executive pivot into real estate and close nearly 40 transactions in her first year? 🚀 Meet Jennifer Mink, a small-town Nevada agent with a big entrepreneurial drive who proves it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.

In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Jen shares how she:

• Left corporate America to chase freedom and purpose
• Leveraged her background in sales & entrepreneurship to dominate her market
• Used old-school methods like handwritten letters, direct mail & newspaper ads to stand out in a digital-first world
• Built credibility as a “new” agent despite starting at 55
• Balances hustle, mentorship, and family while scaling fast

Whether you’re thinking of starting in real estate or looking for fresh strategies to grow your business, Jen’s story is a masterclass in hustle, mindset, and market knowledge.

👉 Subscribe for more rookie success stories and tips to launch your real estate career!

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 Meet Jennifer Mink – From corporate to real estate
02:00 Life before real estate: corporate RV sales & entrepreneurship
05:15 Family real estate roots & first license in Indiana
07:00 Starting over in Nevada & getting licensed fast
09:30 Hustling for her first deal with handwritten letters
13:00 Closing her very first land deal
16:00 Building credibility as a brand-new agent
20:00 Why Jen chose mentorship over going it alone
22:30 Exposure vs. commissions – taking smaller deals for bigger growth
28:00 Finding her groove (and not following cookie-cutter schedules)
33:00 Lessons from tough clients & lost listings
37:00 Heartwarming client wins that make it all worthwhile
43:00 The power of mindset, vision boards & The Secret
46:00 A day in the life of Jen Mink, Realtor®
47:45 Advice for aspiring agents: just do it!
49:30 Where to connect with Jen

🔗 Connect with Jennifer Mink:

📱 Facebook: Jennifer Ann Mink
(search her name)
📧 Email: Jen@MinkListings.com

✨ Want to be featured on My First Commission?

We’re always looking for inspiring rookie agents! Send us a note at UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com
to apply, or fill out the form here: https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish

How does a former nurse and stay-at-home mom go from zero experience to 10 transactions in her very first year—and become a finalist for the 2025 RISMedia Rookie of the Year award?

Meet Julie Peteritas, a Berkshire Hathaway Realtor® from Lancaster, PA, whose inspiring leap into real estate shows what’s possible with hard work, creativity, and perseverance. In this episode of Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission, Julie shares how she turned her family’s investment background into a thriving career while balancing motherhood, time management, and building her client base.

You’ll hear:

Why she left nursing to pursue real estate

How she passed her license exams in just two weeks (while juggling mom life!)

The creative ways she found her first clients—handwritten notes, social media, and neighborhood farming

The challenges she faced with time, money, and “looky-loo” buyers (and how she solved them)

A heartwarming story of helping a VA buyer family that six other agents turned away

How quirky “animal encounters” became part of her real estate adventures 🦌🦇🦨

Her top tips for new agents: boundaries, authenticity, and perseverance

Julie’s journey proves you don’t need to have it all figured out—you just need grit, strategy, and the drive to keep going.

⏱️ Video Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Julie Peteritas, Rookie of the Year finalist
02:00 – From nurse & mom to real estate career
03:30 – Family investing background & first projects
05:00 – Getting licensed through CE Shop (in just 2 weeks!)
07:30 – Passing the exam & mom-life curveballs
09:00 – First year expectations & first settlement story
12:00 – How she found her first clients (handwritten notes, social media, farming)
16:00 – Why Instagram worked best for her business
18:00 – Open houses: more marketing than clients
20:30 – Biggest challenges: time & money management
24:00 – Handling “looky-loos” & Zillow leads
26:00 – Mentors, support system & office culture
28:00 – Funny stories: skunks, bats & surprise animal encounters
29:30 – Most memorable client: helping a VA buyer family
31:30 – Building lasting client relationships & referrals
34:00 – Community involvement & long-term goals
36:00 – Advice for new agents: keep going, be yourself
38:00 – Lightning round: books, advice, & dream dinner guest
44:00 – Where to connect with Julie

🔗 Connect with Julie Peteritas:

📲 Instagram: @juliepeteritas

💡 Want to Be Featured?

Are you a rookie real estate agent with an incredible first commission story? Apply to be featured on Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission by reaching out to UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com or filling out this form: https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish

What does it take to bounce back from five failed real estate exams, reinvent your career during the pandemic, and grow into a thriving Michigan agent?

In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, we meet **Amber Boone**, a social media marketing pro turned full-time Realtor® with Thrive Realty in Troy, Michigan. Amber’s story is all about resilience, authenticity, and building a business rooted in helping people—not chasing transactions.

She shares:

* How losing her marketing job during COVID pushed her toward real estate
* Why it took her **five tries** to pass the licensing exam—and why that didn’t stop her
* How she landed her first clients through her sphere and Instagram (no paid ads!)
* Why being “real” with clients became her brand and biggest differentiator
* How she manages multiple businesses, family, and real estate without burning out
* Why perseverance, self-awareness, and authenticity are the keys to long-term success

Amber’s journey proves that setbacks don’t define you—perseverance does.

00:00 – Meet Amber Boone (Thrive Realty, Michigan)
02:30 – From social media marketing to real estate
04:30 – Inspired by a bad buying experience
05:30 – Licensing school during COVID (Groupon course!)
07:00 – Failing the exam 4 times before passing
09:30 – Adjusting expectations in her first year
11:20 – Landing first clients via sphere & Instagram
13:00 – Building a brand on authenticity (“Get Real with AB”)
15:00 – Marketing experiments beyond social media
15:50 – Why she loves open houses
16:45 – Serving all clients, from first-time buyers to luxury
19:15 – Imposter syndrome & early challenges
21:00 – Support system & learning from peers
22:30 – Advice for new agents: stay true to yourself
24:50 – Running 3 businesses & community involvement
27:00 – Organic networking & referrals
29:40 – A day in the life & time management
33:00 – Growth, mindset, and future goals
35:50 – Lightning round: books, mentors & advice
40:30 – Final tips: perseverance & authenticity
41:10 – Where to connect with Amber

📲 Instagram & TikTok: [@GetRealWithAB](https://instagram.com/getrealwithab)
📘 Facebook: [Amber Boone Real Estate](https://facebook.com/GetRealWithAB)

Are you a rookie real estate agent with an incredible first commission story? Apply to be featured on *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission* by reaching out to ** https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish
[UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com](mailto:UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com)**.

How do you go from graduating college during COVID, working in mortgages, and feeling “too young” for real estate—to becoming one of the **Top 25 Rookies of the Year**?

In this episode of *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission*, we sit down with **Caroline Coladonato** of RE/MAX Ready in Pennsylvania. Caroline opens up about her journey from the mortgage world to real estate, how she built confidence as a young agent, and why authentic networking and staying true to herself fueled her success.

She shares:

* How her entrepreneurial family inspired her to bet on herself
* The challenges of starting in real estate without buying a home of her own yet
* Why it took over a year to close her first deal—and how she stayed motivated
* How she turned rentals and referrals into a six-figure client pipeline
* Her million-dollar client success story that started with a simple apartment search
* Tips for staying confident, building relationships, and avoiding rookie burnout

Caroline proves that being young in real estate isn’t a disadvantage—it’s an opportunity to bring fresh energy, authenticity, and resilience to the business.

Video Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Caroline Coladonato (RE/MAX Ready)
00:40 – From Villanova grad to mortgage desk job
02:00 – Inspiration to switch into real estate
03:30 – Getting licensed while working full time
06:00 – Classroom lessons vs. real-life real estate
07:30 – Expectations for her first year
09:50 – How athletics shaped her work ethic
10:30 – Why her first transaction took over a year
11:30 – Staying motivated through the grind
12:30 – Hitting her stride in 2023
13:20 – Networking, referrals & renters who became buyers
14:40 – Social media & staying authentic
15:30 – Coaching field hockey & community involvement
16:50 – Challenges of being a young agent
18:30 – Staying connected with clients (handwritten notes & personal touches)
19:30 – Advice for new agents: realistic expectations & confidence
20:40 – Why she loves real estate: people & variety
22:10 – The million-dollar client story that started with no commission
24:00 – What’s next: growing with RE/MAX Ready
25:00 – Caroline’s biggest success tips
26:30 – Lightning round: books, advice & mentors
31:10 – Where to follow Caroline online

Connect with Caroline Coladonato:

📸 Instagram: [@closingwithcola](https://instagram.com/closingwithcola)


Want to Be Featured?

Are you a rookie real estate agent with an incredible first commission story? Apply to be featured on *Unlocking Real Estate: My First Commission* by reaching out to **[UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com](mailto:UnlockingRealEstate@ColibriRealEstate.com)** https://share.hsforms.com/1o4DbEqKvQwSzoMTSnrznZQ8ish