You ran into an old friend at the grocery store who mentioned they might downsize next year. A neighbor casually said they're thinking about moving. A past client texted asking if you're still selling. Three potential transactions just landed in your lap.   Two weeks later, you can't quite remember which neighbor said what or when you last followed up with that old friend. The past client? You meant to text back.   Look, prospecting is challenging enough. Add in tracking ever

Self-funding doesn't have to mean emptying your savings account. You can bootstrap your company using strategies most entrepreneurs overlook. Some are unconventional. Some require creativity. None of them require a massive bank balance or perfect credit score. Here are six: Vendor credit or payment terms. Most suppliers offer net-30, net-60 or even net-90 payment terms. Translation: you get the inventory or materials now and pay later. This keeps more cash in your pocket upf

Real estate agents are natural doers. They show up, pitch in, volunteer, help clients through stressful moves and take on more than their schedules can support.   I’ve covered the industry for 25+ years, and one pattern shows up again and again. The agents who build successful businesses aren’t always the busiest ones. They’re the ones who decide early and often where their time should go and stick to it, even when distractions pile up.   In practice, this usually comes down

Every so often, startup culture declares a new “right way” to become an entrepreneur. Raise venture capital, disrupt something, copy something that’s already working…the list goes on and you get the picture. Now that the pendulum is swinging again, millennials are choosing where to step off instead of hanging on for the full ride. A recent Entrepreneur  article says more millennials are skipping the startup grind altogether and buying existing businesses instead. The approach

Maybe cash flow feels tight. Maybe you want to hire, buy equipment or stop putting things off. Whatever the motivation, a business loan may be your first stop. In fact, it’s where roughly 37% of business owners turned in 2024 (similar to the prior year), according to the Fed’s Small Business Credit Survey. Finding a loan can be confusing and time consuming, but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants to help by pointing business owners toward current loan programs and financing re

I came across a recent LendingTree article  that walks buyers through the process of choosing a real estate agent. It’s written for consumers, but the takeaways can be valuable for agents if you just flip the perspective.   This is important because consumer-facing advice from a leading online lender doesn’t just educate the public. It sets the rules of engagement . Agents who understand those rules can show up, communicate and position themselves for success.   Flipped for a

If building or growing a business is on your agenda for 2026, there’s no need to start from zero on funding. In fact, many small business owners miss out on grant opportunities because the information feels scattered, outdated or unreliable. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has done some of the sorting for you. Its CO— platform maintains a “live list” of more than 100 grants and funding programs for small businesses. It pulls together federal, state, nonprofit and corporate oppor

A good business plan isn’t a document you just file away. It’s a tool you can use all year to guide decisions, track progress and course-correct when needed.   And when goals are tied to your plan, those priorities become actionable instead of just aspirational.  Here are some steps you can take right now to turn your 2026 New Year’s goals into a plan you can actually use:   Start with just one or two core goals, not everything at once. Break each one of those goals down into

The start of the year provides a brief pause before the real estate market picks up again. That means it’s a great time to step back and decide how you want the year to play out. Taking time now to set direction gives you more control once things get busy. Here are nine ways to set the tone for the year ahead:   Lay out your income and transaction goals for the year.   Review last year’s numbers to spot patterns and gaps.   Audit your 2025 lead sources and double down on the

Every new year brings a rare opportunity for a goal reset. For business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, 2026 doesn’t need to be about doing more. It can be about doing the right things, in the right order and with intention.     Here are seven steps you can take right now to set clearer priorities right out of the gate:   Write down one clear, overarching business goal for the year.   Define what “progress” looks like in measurable terms that you can track and act on.   Id

We’ve reached that point in the year when the pace eases just enough to think clearly. The inbox quiets down, meetings taper off and for a brief moment, there’s time to step back. Use this pause to put a few fundamentals in place before January brings a full calendar and fresh expectations. 1) Starting a new business in 2026? Get your idea into a single, concise paragraph. Write it the way you’d explain it if someone asked what you’re working on. What are you offering, who is

We’ve reached that point in the year when the pace eases enough to think clearly. The inbox quiets down, showings slow and for a brief moment, there’s time to step back. Use this pause to put a few fundamentals in place before business picks back up in January. Here are three ways to maximize the downtime: 1) Getting started in real estate in 2026? Put your business mission into one clear paragraph. Write it the way you’d explain it if someone asked what kind of real estate a

These final weeks of the year are the time to step back and look at your business without the usual pressure. Review what you built, evaluate the work that paid off and adjust the parts that kept you stuck. That way, you’ll kick off 2026 with direction instead of more guesswork. Here are 10 grounded ways to close out the year with purpose: • Look at what you planned and what got done. Measure the gap so you know what needs attention. • Revisit your income goals. Set a target

Real estate moves fast and it’s easy to tell yourself you’ll figure it out as you go. A good business plan isn’t just busywork. It’s a path to staying focused, avoiding burnout and keeping your business steady when things get busy. These are the usual excuses and the real truth behind each one: “I don’t have time to write a plan.”  Putting one together now saves time later and keeps you from chasing the wrong goals. “Plans are for corporate types.”  Corporations use plans bec

Getting a business plan down on paper (or screen) is a big accomplishment, but it doesn’t build the business for you. It’s up to you to turn that plan into clear actions you can actually follow without getting overwhelmed or pulled in twenty different directions. Here are four ways to make your plan useable in the real world: Focus on the first 30 days. Don’t try to do everything at once. Identify what needs to happen in the first month to prove your idea, build momentum or

Agents usually move straight from licensing class into looking for leads, then quickly realize that passing a test and running a business are two different things. Those first few months feel fast and unpredictable, but there’s a way to create more stability and control.   Here are three ways to start strong:   First, look at your daily habits.  Real estate rewards consistency more than intensity. A simple routine for outreach, follow-up and marketing gives you something stea

New agents enter the business ready to work but soon see that licensing is just the starting point. The real momentum comes from the systems they build next.   If you’re feeling stuck, use these five moves to set a strong foundation: Write a one-page plan today. Define your service, list your ideal clients and pick three ways you’ll reach them this week. Set up your business finances. Open a business account, separate your money and track every expense. Block your schedule

Financing a small business is stressful for everyone; there’s just no point in sugarcoating it. The “How will I fund my business?” question carries pressure, uncertainty and real consequences, especially when you’re making decisions that affect both your business and your household. It’s a big hurdle, and most people feel it. Here are four grounded ways to approach it: Expect your first dollars to feel personal. Most founders start with savings, part-time income or sweat equ

Most people don’t start a business because they have a grand plan and a sure route to success. They start because they’ve hit their limit: the paycheck, the boss, the bureaucracy. Frustration, it turns out, is one of the best startup fuels there is.   The fuel is so potent it’s practically an economic engine. Just look at what it’s set in motion:   About 5.5 million new small businesses launch in the U.S. every year. Those small companies make up 99.9% of all firms nationwi

Gen Z isn’t waiting for permission. They’re starting businesses earlier and faster than any generation that came before them. A couple of years ago Samsung and Morning Consult did a survey and found that 50% of Gen Zers want to become entrepreneurs or start their own businesses. These aspiring entrepreneurs top out at 28 years old now, and they grew up watching traditional career paths change overnight. Here’s what the rest of us can learn from them: Move fast when it’s calle