How many times have you told yourself, “I just don’t have enough time”? If you’re a real estate agent trying to break through the noise of cold calling and expensive ads, time is usually your primary excuse for not launching that YouTube channel or taking on a massive new passion project. In the latest episode of our podcast, my partner Travis Plumb and I broke down a story from our own team that completely shatters this time myth. It’s a powerful testament to what happens when you stop waiting for things to line up, step outside your comfort zone, and actively engineer your own luck.

Let’s be completely honest: the old-school real estate playbook is exhausting. Spending hours cold-calling uninspired lists, dropping thousands on unpredictable Zillow leads, or blasting generic postcards into mailboxes that go straight to the recycling bin just doesn't hit the mark anymore. When I jumped into the real estate scene in Dallas, Texas , I knew I had to find a different way to build a real estate business. I started with a YouTube channel focused on relocation buyers, which was an incredible tool—driving over 500 transactions completely organically. But as the market shifted, a question kept popping up: What about listings? Standard relocation guides don't appeal to local homeowners looking to sell. If you want to unlock an unlimited, free stream of high-quality seller leads, you have to shift your strategy toward local intelligence content. Here is exactly how we cracked the code to dominate local listings without spending a single dime on advertising. 

Every single day, I see it on my feed: "You need this AI platform," "AI has completely automated my life," and "If you aren't automating everything, you're falling behind". But after years of building a business that earned over $1 million in GCI in our first year alone, I have a different perspective. Is all this noise helping you, or is it creating a "technology wormhole" that’s sucking the personal touch out of your deals?. In 2026, the question isn't whether you should use AI—it's whether you're using it to build a bridge to your clients or a wall between them. 

Everything works if you actually do it, but let’s be honest: some things are just a grind. For years, John Burton was the king of the "hustle," setting up 50+ signs for open houses and cold calling for four to six hours a day. While he was successful, he eventually felt jaded. "You're going up against people that don't want to talk to you every single day," John shared. So, he made the switch to YouTube real estate marketing, and the results in his small town of Durango, Colorado (population: 20,000) have been nothing short of life-changing. 

I’ll be honest: I thought about quitting a lot during my latest race. I was waist-deep in mud, it was freezing, and the rain was relentless. Running a 50k—31.5 miles of technical trail—was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done physically. But the discomfort wasn't just a physical test; it was a masterclass in business resilience. Whether you’re training for a long-distance race or building a real estate empire, the path to the finish line is rarely a straight line.