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Stop Waiting to Be Told What to Do: Why Real Estate Agents Must Own Their Operations

Show Notes: Stop Waiting to Be Told What to Do: Why Real Estate CEOs Must Own Their Operations

Episode Overview

In this episode, Althea gets real about a frustrating pattern she's been seeing with agents lately—the constant request to just be told what to do instead of learning to identify what their business actually needs. She breaks down the critical difference between employee mindset and CEO mindset, why understanding your own operations isn't optional, and how depending on others to run your business leaves you vulnerable. If you're ready to stop waiting for instructions and start owning your business like the leader you are, this episode is your wake-up call.

What You'll Learn

✅ The dangerous pattern of agents asking "just tell me what to do" instead of engaging with their business operations

✅ Why there's no one-size-fits-all blueprint for real estate success (and why copying someone else's system will fail you)

✅ The fundamental difference between employee mindset and CEO mindset—and which one you're operating in

✅ How not knowing your own systems puts you at risk (lessons from celebrities and entrepreneurs who've been robbed blind)

✅ What it actually means to be helped vs. being told what to do

✅ The critical questions every real estate CEO should be able to answer about their business

✅ A 4-step framework for shifting from employee behavior to CEO ownership

✅ Why understanding your operations is the key to long-term, sustainable success in real estate

Key Quotes

💬 "If you need someone to constantly tell you what to do, you're not operating as a CEO. You're operating as an employee."

💬 "Your business is not my business. If I just told you, 'Do exactly what I do,' you'd be trying to fit into a system that wasn't designed for you."

💬 "When you don't know your own systems, your own workflows, your own processes—you can't catch the mistakes. You can't spot the gaps."

💬 "My goal isn't to create dependency. My goal is to build CEOs who can operate their businesses with confidence."

💬 "You didn't get into real estate to be an employee. You got in to build something. So build it with intention."

Episode Breakdown

Intro - The frustrating pattern Althea keeps seeing on coaching calls

Section 1 - The questions agents won't answer and why "just tell me what to do" is a red flag

Section 2 - Employee mindset vs. CEO mindset: Which one are you operating in?

Section 3 - The danger of not knowing your operations (and what we can learn from celebrities who've been robbed)

Section 4 - Being told what to do vs. being helped to identify what needs to be done

Section 5 - The questions you must be able to answer about your business

Section 6 - How to shift from employee to CEO (4-step framework)

Section 7 - Why understanding your operations determines your long-term success

Outro - The challenge: Stop waiting and start owning

Questions Every Real Estate CEO Should Answer

Lead Management:

  • Where do your leads come from?
  • What happens the moment a lead comes in?
  • How long does it take you to respond?
  • What's your follow-up process for non-responsive leads?
  • How do you categorize your leads?

Systems & Workflow:

  • What CRM are you using and do you know how to use it?
  • What automations do you have set up?
  • How do you track pipeline stages?
  • What's your re-engagement strategy?

Communication:

  • How often do you reach out to past clients?
  • Do you have a complete database?
  • What's your top-of-mind strategy?

Business Operations:

  • What's your lead-to-close conversion rate?
  • What's your average commission per transaction?
  • What's your cost per lead?
  • Do you have a business plan or are you winging it?

🔗 Follow Althea on Instagram: @IAmTheRealtorCoach

Action Steps

1️⃣ Audit your business - Go through the questions listed in this episode and honestly answer where you stand

2️⃣ Get involved in your systems - If you're working with a coach or systems builder, start asking questions and understanding the "why" behind the setup

3️⃣ Stop saying "I don't know" - Start saying "I don't know yet, but let me find out"

4️⃣ Schedule a strategy session - If you need help identifying what needs to be done in your business (not just being told what to do), book a call with Althea

Connect with Althea

📱 Instagram: @IAmTheRealtorCoach

📧 Email: [email protected]

🌐 Website: www.Altheahearst.info

📝 Substack Newsletter: Capture. Convert. Close. @IAmTheRealtorCoach

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Join the Conversation

What's one system in your business you don't fully understand yet? Drop a comment or DM Althea on Instagram and let's start the conversation about how you can take full ownership of your operations.

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#RealEstateCEO #RealtorCoach #RealEstateCoaching #AgentMindset #RealEstateSystems #EntrepreneurMindset #RealEstateLeadership #IAmTheRealtorCoach