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.
Stop chasing leads and start attracting them! 🧲 Last year, I split my YouTube strategy to focus purely on local sellers in North Texas. The result? 8 listings and $216,000 in GCI in the first year alone. Now in 2026, we’ve already hit 10 listings in just two months! 📈✨
Many real estate agents believe they need a personal brand to succeed in 2026, but strong brands usually form after agents generate real results & valuable content.
“It will pay off. It absolutely will pay off.” That’s what Elizabeth Oliva, a real estate agent in , says about starting her YouTube channel — even during one of the slowest housing markets in decades. In 2025, she closed 15 transactions and earned nearly $150,000 in GCI, with about 76% of her business coming directly from YouTube. Here’s the short version of how she did it 👇
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.
