In this high-impact episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens and Joel Perso unpack one of the most common struggles top-producing real estate agents face—how to escape production and build a real business that runs without you.

From strategic planning frameworks like EOS and Rockefeller Habits to mastering financial discipline and team structure, John shares the exact playbook that took him and Jay Kinder from burnout to building a scalable, profitable company.

They also break down real-world examples of agents who have successfully stepped out of production—including how they did it, the math behind it, and what freedom actually looks like once you get there.

Whether you're a solo agent planning your next stage, a team leader looking for leverage, or a CEO aiming to scale, this episode will give you the clarity, systems, and strategy you need to create lasting freedom.

The 3 Keys to Escaping Production

• Strategy: How mastering frameworks like Rockefeller Habits and EOS creates structure and focus.

• Value Systems: Why CHSA & CHBA are game-changers for consistency and scalable client value.

• Financial Clarity: The "Simple Numbers" model that transformed their net profit by 17% in one quarter.

Forecasting and Financial Discipline

• Why forecasting is not goal setting—and how to get accurate with your assumptions.

• Understanding cash flow vs. profit to stay in control of your business.

• How small teams and large teams can step out of production faster than mid-sized ones.

Leadership, Freedom, and Ego

• Why most agents can't escape production—and how to fix it.

• Letting go of ego to empower your team and build true leadership depth.

• The real difference between stepping out of production and stepping out of the business.

Real Case Studies:

• How Jim & Leanne scaled leadership to step out within 24 months.

• The Reedy team's path to financial freedom through real estate investing.

• Why Blake Sloan and others achieved lifestyle freedom through leadership leverage.

• Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish

• Traction / EOS by Gino Wickman

• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits by Greg Crabtree

• CHSA & CHBA Designations – Certified Home Selling & Buying Advisor Programs

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach
  

Freedom in real estate isn't about working harder—it's about building systems, developing people, and knowing your numbers.

As John Kitchens says:

"If you don't have a goal for freedom, you'll never escape production—it'll always own you."

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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 powerful episode of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens sits down with AI strategist and industry innovator Nick Krem to uncover how the AI-powered consumer is changing the real estate landscape faster than ever before.

From Google's evolving search behavior to ChatGPT and Zillow integration, Nick breaks down how consumers are becoming more informed, more confident, and in many cases—believe they know more than their real estate agent. The two dive deep into how agents can adapt, build authority, and stay relevant in an era where technology knows the answers before the conversation even begins.

This is a must-listen for every agent, team leader, and brokerage owner ready to future-proof their business in a world driven by AI and consumer intelligence.

The Rise of the AI-Powered Consumer

• Why the #1 consumer complaint is now "I know more than my agent"

• How ChatGPT, Google, and Zillow integrations are shaping buyer and seller behavior

• What agents must understand about the consumer mindset shift

SEO, AEO & GEO — The New Era of Search

• How Answer the Public reveals what your clients are asking online

• Why SEO isn't dead—it's the foundation for AI-driven visibility

• The power of "digital density" and how to dominate your market through keyword intent

The Coming Wave: AI Agents & Everyday Adoption

• How the "AI agent" device (created by Sam Altman & Jony Ive) will change daily life

• What happens when AI becomes your consumer's full-time collaborator

• How this new wave will transform how buyers find and choose their real estate agent

Emotional Intelligence & Human Leadership

• Why emotional intelligence (EQ) will be the defining skill of future leaders
  
  

• How to use AI as a thought partner—not a replacement for critical thinking
  
  

• The power of mindfulness, discernment, and self-awareness in the AI era

Building an AI Culture in Your Organization

• Why most brokerages are creating AI tool addiction instead of collaboration

• The blueprint for fostering a culture of AI collaboration

• How to use AI to make people better—not replace them

Adapting as an Agent

• Questions to ask clients to identify if they're using AI in their home search

• How to position yourself as a trusted advisor, not just an agent

• Branding yourself in the AI world: expertise, niche, and authority

• Krem.AI – The #1 Institute for AI Certification in Real Estate

• AnswerThePublic.com – Keyword and content search research tool

• The AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods – Recommended reading for real estate leaders

• CoachKitchens.AI – Custom GPT tools and frameworks for agents and team leaders

• Huzi.AI – Eric Post's AI platform for real estate professionals

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Training, events, and resources for top agents

Artificial Intelligence won't replace agents—but agents who use AI will replace those who don't.
The real threat isn't the technology itself—it's the AI-powered consumer who expects faster answers, higher trust, and more expertise than ever before.

As Nick Krem put it:

"AI isn't coming for your job—it's coming for your excuses."

The future belongs to agents who can combine AI efficiency with human connection and leadership clarity.

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
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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 inspiring episode of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens sits down with Connie Alexander, a powerhouse real estate leader who built a luxury brand from humble beginnings. From growing up in Section 8 housing to closing multimillion-dollar homes, Connie's journey is a masterclass in perseverance, mindset, and standards.

Connie opens up about her early struggles, how she turned survival into success, and why luxury isn't about price—it's about process, presentation, and service. Together, she and John explore what it means to lead with integrity, build a lasting brand, and hold yourself to an elite standard, no matter your market.

Whether you're breaking into luxury, rebuilding your confidence, or striving to elevate your business, this conversation will leave you inspired and ready to redefine your standards of success.

• How growing up with limited resources shaped Connie's work ethic and drive.

• The shift from proving yourself to making your family proud.

• Why your story—not your starting point—defines your brand.
  
  

• The "aha" moment that led Connie to launch her luxury brand.

• How to market luxury by decision, not by price point.

• The mindset difference between chasing status and living by standards.
  
  

• Training agents to think, act, and communicate at a luxury level—first.

• Why "luxury" is a mindset of excellence and precision, not just listings.

• How process, consistency, and attention to detail create a Ritz-Carlton experience in every transaction.
  
  

• How survival moments built the confidence to thrive in any market.

• Turning fear into fuel—and using adversity as a platform for growth.

• Why faith and gratitude are Connie's daily business practices.
  
  

• The book that shapes Connie's leadership philosophy: The Nordstrom Way.

• How Gandhi's quote on belief, values, and destiny became her team's mantra.

• Why consistency and clarity are the ultimate luxury brand builders.
  
  

• The rise of wellness-focused, lifestyle-driven luxury homes.

• How affluent buyers are prioritizing health, technology, and entertainment spaces.

• Why marketing luxury now means showcasing lifestyle, not just square footage.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive coaching and leadership resources for agents.

• The Nordstrom Way by Robert Spector – Lessons on world-class customer service.

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle – Creating connected, high-performing teams.

• The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale – On mindset and personal transformation.

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni – Identifying your leadership strengths.
  
  

Luxury isn't about status—it's about standards.
It's about serving with excellence, living with gratitude, and creating experiences that elevate everyone involved.

"We train luxury first, because excellence should be the standard for every client, not just the elite few." - Connie Alexander

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
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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 strategy session, John Kitchens sits down with Joel Perso to break down the two most critical levers driving real estate success in 2025: recruiting and standards.

While most teams are struggling in a tough market, others are breaking records—closing over 1,000 transactions and scaling at unprecedented speed. So what separates the two? John and Joel unpack the mindset, systems, and leadership principles that determine whether your team thrives or stalls.

They dig deep into the real definition of agent productivity, why recruiting solves more problems than anything else, and how clear standards and accountability drive culture, growth, and profitability. If you lead a real estate team—or aspire to—this episode is your blueprint for building a business that performs no matter the market.

• Why agent count doesn't equal productivity

• How to define productivity around performance, not presence

• The key metrics that drive agent success

• Why top teams never stop recruiting—no matter the market

• How fresh talent raises performance across the entire organization

• Building a "lead generation system" for people, not just prospects

• How to recruit in small markets (even when the talent pool is thin)

• Why "the only standards you have are the ones you enforce"

• Balancing accountability with culture and trust

• How to eliminate drag on your team and attract top performers

• Why A-players don't stick around when C-players are tolerated

• Why fitness, discipline, and consistency amplify leadership performance

• How mindset determines team culture and output

• The difference between leading a team and dragging one

• When to coach, when to correct, and when to cut

• The two controllables that separate high-performing teams from average ones

• How to raise conversion rates across every stage of your sales funnel

• Why every productive agent masters conversations, follow-up, and negotiation

• How to build standards around both activity and results

• Why great recruiting empowers tougher standards

• How culture self-polices when the right players are in the room

• Why maintaining standards is the foundation for scale

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive coaching and team strategy resources

• Agent to CEO 2024 – Leadership and productivity event for top agents

• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! by Greg Crabtree

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

If you want to build a thriving team, it's not about adding more leads—it's about raising standards and recruiting better talent.

"If you're not recruiting, you're not growing. And if you're not enforcing standards, you're not leading." - Joel Perso

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
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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 of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens sits down with Ryan Smith for an honest and powerful conversation on leadership, mindset, and faith in real estate.

From navigating a tough market and having hard client conversations, to leading with integrity, core values, and purpose, Ryan shares the timeless principles that help his team thrive—no matter the conditions.

This is more than a real estate conversation; it's a masterclass in faith-based leadership, culture building, and personal alignment. If you've been feeling the tension between growth and gratitude, business and balance, this episode will remind you what really matters and how to lead from the inside out.

• Why your mindset determines your altitude, not the market conditions.

• How to stay proactive when transactions slow and uncertainty rises.

• Why fundamentals and skill mastery always win over hype and panic.

• How to bring clients back into what Ryan calls the "Circle of Reality."

• Why early expectation-setting prevents frustration later in the process.

• When to walk away from clients—and how honesty always builds trust long-term.

• The power of hiring based on values, not production alone.

• Why culture is just a collection of your people—and how one wrong fit can shift everything.

• The "gardener" analogy: pruning your team for health and growth.

• How Ryan structures his business around his faith and family priorities.

• Why excellence in business flows from spiritual and personal alignment.

• Balancing ambition with purpose: redefining success beyond production numbers.

• The "Story Model" for self-awareness: how your internal narrative shapes your results.

• Why agents must master mindset before strategy.

• How to create a culture where team members can call each other out with truth and trust.

• Why honesty and excellence set you apart when others take shortcuts.

• The shrinking competition and growing chance to win listings and market share.

• The power of attraction through doing the right thing—consistently.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive coaching for growth-minded agents

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

• The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! by Greg Crabtree

• The Bible, Matthew 7:24–27 – Building your foundation on the rock

True leadership isn't about selling more homes—it's about building your business on character, consistency, and conviction.

As Ryan puts it:

"All I can do is the next right thing. Do it over and over, and that's what leads to your breakthrough."

• 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 of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens and Joel Perso unpack what it really takes to scale your real estate business and eventually step out of production—without losing control, clarity, or cash flow.

From AI-powered leadership and communication to strategic planning and financial modeling, this conversation breaks down the mindset and systems behind building a business that serves your life, not the other way around.

Whether you're a solo agent working toward your first million or a team leader looking to escape production, this episode delivers a playbook for scaling with strategy, clarity, and confidence.

• Why AI should amplify your leadership—not replace it.

• How to prompt AI to challenge your thinking instead of feeding your bias.

• The key difference between AI-assisted leadership and AI-dependent leadership.
  
  

• Why every agent and team needs a repeatable planning process.

• How to build clarity into your vision, model, and execution.

• The "Agent to CEO Framework" — a proven structure for thinking like a CEO.
  
  

• The three pillars of stepping out of production:

• 1. Strategic planning to prevent drift.

  2. Repeatable value propositions for buyers, sellers, and agents.

  3. A clear financial model that supports your next move.

• Why most leaders fail at stepping out—and how to forecast before you leap.
  
  

• Why market-based wages are the foundation of sustainable growth.

• The financial traps that keep leaders stuck in production.

• How to leverage your real estate business as a wealth engine for investments.
  
  

• Why clarity and vision come before every major decision.

• The mindset shift from chasing transactions to building opportunities.

• How top agents are turning their teams into vehicles for financial freedom.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive Coaching for agents ready to scale like CEOs

• The Agent to CEO Framework – Proven path from production to leadership

• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! by Greg Crabtree

• The Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

Final Takeaway

Building a business that gives you freedom isn't about hustling harder—it's about leading smarter. Strategic planning, financial clarity, and the right systems turn production into profit and chaos into control.

And as Joel Perso reminds us:

"The essence of strategy isn't what you do—it's what you decide not to do."

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
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• 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 powerhouse episode that is originally streamed 7 months ago, John Kitchens, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek dive deep into the future of real estate leadership, the evolution of brokerage models, and what the next 18 months will look like for the industry.

From Keller Williams' latest strategic moves to the unstoppable rise of EXP Realty, the crew unpacks the business lessons, market realities, and leadership frameworks that define success in a rapidly changing market.

This conversation isn't just about brokerage wars—it's about building a moat around your business, leading through uncertainty, and embracing innovation, data, and AI to stay relevant in the new era of real estate.

• Why your moat—the defensibility of your business model—will determine survival in the next 18 months.

• How to think like a wartime CEO and lead through disruption.

• Why leadership loyalty, core values, and promoting from within build unbeatable organizations.

• What Keller Williams' latest moves reveal about the state of traditional brokerages.

• Why culture kept KW alive—and why innovation is now leaving it behind.

• The pitfalls of the franchise model vs. the agility of cloud-based companies.

• Why EXP's operational efficiency and same-day pay systems are redefining brokerage excellence.

• How EXP's value stack—EOS leadership training, luxury branding, and legal support—creates a true "business in a box" for agents.

• The next strategic move EXP is making (hint: it's about to cripple the competition).

• The race between brokerages to own data + AI—and why that's where the real power lies.

• How AI will reshape not just agent operations but also the consumer buying and selling journey.

• Why the agents who learn to leverage AI now will dominate the next decade.

• How fast growth exposes weak talent—and why "ones and threes" matter for scaling.

• Why every CEO must master the cycle of clarity, constraint, and culture.

• What EXP's leadership lessons from Glen Sanford and Leo Pareja teach about visionary vs. wartime leadership.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive coaching for agents ready to lead like CEOs.

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Community, training, and resources for top-performing agents.

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

• The Ultimate Question 2.0 by Fred Reichheld

• The Theory of Constraints by Eliyahu Goldratt

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

The next era of real estate belongs to leaders—not just agents.
Those who master adaptability, embrace AI, and lead with clarity and conviction will outlast every market shift.

"The companies that win are the ones that keep adding value faster than anyone else." - Jay Kinder

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
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• 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 of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, we break down the biggest lessons, takeaways, and leadership insights from the Agent to CEO 2025 event in Cleveland. From mindset and systems to vision, strategy, and people, they unpack what it truly means to lead like a CEO in today's evolving real estate landscape.

The conversation dives deep into clarity, culture, and leadership—exploring why vulnerability, storytelling, and alignment matter more than ever. With takeaways from powerful sessions featuring Blake Sloan, Tina Caul, Veronica Figueroa, and Jay Kinder, this episode is a masterclass in building scalable businesses that thrive through clarity and connection.

Whether you're running a solo operation or leading a growing team, this is your blueprint for thinking, acting, and executing like a CEO.

Mindset & Vision

• Why every breakthrough starts with clarity—and how to find yours.

• The power of vision: how to cast it, communicate it, and get your team aligned.

• Why leaders fail when they accomplish a goal and forget to reset it.
  
  

Leadership & Team Culture

• Blake Sloan's framework for leading with vulnerability and transparency.

• The Culture vs. Productivity Matrix—how to identify and remove "terrorists" in your organization.

• How "Working Genius" reveals what drives people and how to communicate with your team effectively.
  
  

Systems & Strategy

• The "half-built bridges" problem: why unfinished projects drain momentum.

• How to identify your biggest bottleneck ("Herbie") and build strategy around it.

• Why focusing on the right three priorities each quarter drives consistent growth.
  
  

Vision, Model, Strategy, People

• The four pillars of the Agent to CEO framework—and how they work together.

• How to design a business model that serves your lifestyle and goals.

• The difference between a business hire and a life hire—and how both create freedom.
  
  

Event Highlights

• How Blake Sloan set the tone with raw honesty and next-level leadership.

• Why storytelling builds trust in an age of skepticism.

• Key takeaways from Jay Kinder, Tina Caul, and Veronica Figueroa's sessions.
  
  

• The Agent to CEO Framework – Learn more at JohnKitchens.coach

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni – Discover your unique leadership type

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• Atomic Habits by James Clear

• Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold

• No B.S. Trust-Based Marketing by Dan Kennedy

The agents and leaders who win in this market aren't just better at selling—they're better at leading. Vision, systems, and culture are the real multipliers.

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
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• 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! 🔥