Now, I’ll be the first one to tell you how much I enjoy smut. Television, radio, books that are made for sheer pleasure and not a smidgen of intellectual quality are just sometimes the candy I need (because I have GOT to get off the refined sugar, but that’s a soapbox for a different day!). For example, there is not even one good reason to watch The Bachelor, yet I sure do.
But like sugar, they are occasional treats, not the staple of my diet. What you feed your brain is no different than considering what you feed your body. You want to get smarter? Grow your business? Better engage with clients? Then you have to read and absorb the materials that will encourage that growth.
One way that I squeeze the good stuff into my day is through listening to podcasts. They’re free. Apple forced that little app onto your phone anyway, so fill it up! Here’s what I’m listening to:
- Serial.
This podcast is currently in season two, and it’s like old school radio (think: The Shadow Knows), each episode unrolls a different bit of the plot, from a different angle. I like it because I am forced to consume it in bits. I can’t gorge on it, so I re-learn the beauty of anticipation and suspense. It’s how your buyers and sellers feel while they are in the process of real estate-you can’t make it happen any faster than it’s going to happen. - 10x Talk With Joe Polish and Dan Sullivan.
I have made no secret of how much I admire Dan Sullivan-he has coached more entrepreneurs than anyone on the planet. Joe Polish knows marketing and how to be engaging. You want to grow? You listen to these guys AND you implement what they say. Get outside of the real estate paradigm for a few minutes! - Freakonomics Radio.
The broader economy taken in tidbits that are really, really interesting. You will think differently about real estate and about your business when you consider a far larger forest. My favorite episode recently was on whether you would rather your kids drink or smoke pot. Your answer might change after you give a listen. - I Love Marketing with Joe Polish and Dean Jackson.
Let’s be frank. You Realtors call yourselves marketers but you aren’t marketing-you’re utilizing a template over and over. Think about marketing differently. Reconsider the product-whether you are talking about YOU as product or property as product. You may just change the real estate perspective in your area. - Real Estate Success Rocks.
This series of interviews with coaches/top producers/random people that Patrick Lilly likes is the best real estate podcast I’ve found. You’ll get actionable takeaways from just about every episode. - Ashton Gustafson, Let the Music Play.
If you’re not listening to Ashton yet, you HAVE TO. He’s so gifted with words. I feel like a better person after hearing him and I can reach for the person I want to be. Like you, I am not perfect but I want to get better. So do my clients. I feel like I can be this rock star Realtor when I listen to Ashton. - Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History.
You know I’m a nerd. History isn’t just for kids, it’s how the past applies today. Learning about WWI helps me see the political landscape differently today and whether you like it or not-you have to pay attention to politics to protect real estate interests. I wish I’d had Dan as a professor in college. - Crazy Sh*t In Real Estate. Call me biased if you want, but i think my new podcast showcasing the weirdness in real estate and how professionals get through it is worth a listen. =)
I’m busy. Y’all are busy, too. I get it. It’s your top excuse for not doing what you should. There are a zillion great podcasts out there-how about suggesting your own in the comments? And remember, there is no silver bullet for real estate success, but that’s no reason not to build your arsenal from the brain out!