Creating personalized content for your business can be overwhelming, especially when you aren’t one to enjoy the spotlight. However, as I have learned over the years, valuable content is the most important part of your marketing plan. Giving your potential customers the opportunity to get to know and trust you will make them more likely to do business with you. In my most recent podcast, I’ll talk about two things anyone can do to help get their message out there, thus generating more business.

Real Estate Mastery | Your Path to Financial Freedom

Ep 33: How Stepping Into The Spotlight Will Propel Both You and Your Business

This is Ben Souchek with Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence.    It’s been a few weeks since I have been able to sit down and record a podcast. It seems as the time around the holidays flies by before you know it. Personally, I can believe 2019 is over let alone the first month of 2020. It seems like the older I get, the faster time goes. A whole year can fly by and you can’t remember what you did.    2019 - My Year In Review   When I first think about it, it doesn’t necessarily seem like I accomplished much in 2019. This is exactly why I think it’s important to think back on what you did and celebrate those wins.    For me, I finally started my podcast, something I had wanted to do for a very long time. I am not currently doing it as consistently as I would like, but I am actively taking steps to grow it into something bigger. Attracting motivated sellers is tough right now. With so much competition out there right now, generating high-quality leads can be a challenging process. I know that I need to do something to stand out from the crowd, and this podcast is part of the process.    Standing Out   As the real estate industry changes with iBuyers and more and more people getting into real estate, both agents and investors will have to do things that separate them from the pack. If you are just an agent or just an investor, you may find yourself very limited in that lane. It is my opinion that everyone involved in the business should make themselves a “total solutions agent.” Instead of just offering one option to your clients, offer many or work with a company that does.    Today, when my team goes in to meet with a seller, they will discuss the positives and negatives of each selling solution. We’re finding that we are able to do much more business because we’re always able to provide the best solution.    Setting Goals & Realizing How Far I’ve Come   For my 20+ years in real estate, I have always set goals for myself. I’ve found that we often overestimate what we can do in one year and underestimate what we can do in 10. When I think back to ten years ago and what I wanted for my future, I can confidently say I am at the place where I wanted to be. In the past ten years, I have accomplished a lot.    As I write this, my family and I are spending our winter in Florida to avoid the NE winter. Being able to travel freely with my family is something I always dreamed about doing. Ten years ago, this wouldn’t have been a reality for me. It’s about much more than the money. Sure, money allows you to buy the things you want. But being able to spend this time with my family means far more to me than any dollar amount. I may not feel as if I changed the world this past year, but when I look back over the past ten, I can see how far I’ve come.    Where Do You Want To Be?   I challenge you to write down where you want to be in one, five, and ten years, both professionally and personally. Write down a plan of action that will help you to get there. Find a speaker or a podcast you can listen to that really helps to motivate you into achieving your goals. It doesn’t have to be the most popular motivational speaker out there. For me, I’ve found that the most popular ones don’t really resonate with me. It’s important to find the person who speaks to you.    If you’re not where you want to be today, remember that this is an ongoing journey. You can be well on your way and enjoy the success that you’ve had this far. Be grateful for what you’ve achieved, your gifts, and the opportunities you’ve had.    My next post will cover content creation, something that was very elusive for me in the past. And coming up shortly thereafter, I want to share my takeaways from the Funnel Hacking Live Conference I am currently attending here in FL. If you have an interest in lead generation and really finding ways to get your message out there, I highly recommend taking the Click Funnel Challenge. If you sign up here, I’ll be happy to hop on a consulting call to help you with the process.    If there is anything you would like to hear discussed on future episodes, don’t be afraid to reach out! 

Ep 32: Checking In On Your Goals and Appreciating The Process

Hello and welcome to Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Lifestyle That Doesn’t Require Your Presence. Today I wanted to talk about planning, goals, and preparing for the new year.    In November and December, many businesses are beginning to think about where they want their business to be in the upcoming year. This is important for any business owner no matter what industry you are in. It will give you a chance to take a look at your business, measure what is working, and take steps to correct the areas in which you fell short.    Setting Your Goals   Now is a great time to sit back and assess how 2019 went for your business. Look at how things went this year and what you want 2020 to look like. Set goals for yourself and be sure to write them down. Writing them down makes them real and will help to motivate you into achieving them. You should layout your action steps and what you need to do to achieve those goals. You don’t just hope for things to happen - you need to make a plan.    Don’t Wait   Many business owners will begin to relax around the end of the year. They will spend less time marketing and will only think about what they want to do with their business come January 1st. The problem with this is that once January rolls around, they fall back into their routine and the big goals they had laid out, continue to just lay there.    In order to kick off the new year right, you not only need a plan, but you need to start implementing it now. For example, you can get your mailers prepared now so that they are out the door the first week of January. By doing as much as you can to prepare now, you will be able to hit the ground running in 2020.  Personally, some of my best months are in Nov and Dec when other investors are backing off.    What You Can Do Now   There are a number of things that you can do now to get your business ready for the new year.    You can get a head start on your marketing for the new year by planning your mailers to go out consistently and scheduling your social media posts in advance.  You can compile new lists of people to market to so you can start the year off by reaching a new audience You can look at new marketing channels - for us, it has been TV advertising and Val-pak.    By creating your plan for 2020 and beginning to implement your strategy now, you will be able to keep your self one step ahead of all the other investors who may be taking it easy right about now.    Today I challenge you to think about the things you can do for your business today to help you make 2020 even better than 2019. What can you do today to help get yourself there? Do you want to grow your business or find a way to work less and spend more time with your family? Don’t wait until next year to get the wheels in motion, the time to take action is now! Instead of feeling stressed when the new year starts, this way it is already done.  Where I Want To Grow   In 2020, I don’t just want to buy properties, I also want to work with agents in different markets, providing leads and working together to offer multiple selling options to homeowners. I want to be able to provide value to the people I work with and the clients I serve.    Recently, I have become an authorized buyer for Homelight and a licensed agent with EXP Realty. I work with brokers who want to provide multiple resources to the clients they work with. These partnerships provide credibility for me and my business. Sellers will know that they are working with a trusted buyer and agent.    If you are an agent or investor who is looking to differentiate yourself from others in the market, I encourage you to take the Click Funnels 30-day Challenge. When you really put the time and effort into it, you’ll be able to find your ideal client or avatar. You will learn the best way for you to market and attract that person.    If you have questions or topics you would like discussed, don’t be afraid to reach out!    As always, thanks for listening! 

Ep 31: Taking Your Follow-Up To The Next Level - Why Lead Generation Isn’t Enough

Good afternoon and welcome to the latest episode of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Lifestyle That Doesn’t Require Your Presence   As I am recording this, it is the day after Thanksgiving. I’ve had some time to reflect on my business as well as the things I am grateful for. When looking back, it is important to be grateful for your successes as well as for the things that challenged you over the past year. While being appreciative of your struggles may sound difficult, it is these struggles that will turn you into a better investor, agent, or entrepreneur.    Finding Gratitude For Your Struggles   Finding gratitude for the hard ties isn’t always easy. Set-backs and roadblocks don’t make things easy, but they do help you grow. By learning from your challenges, you will know exactly what you need to do differently in order to improve.    In 2008-2009 the economy changed and forced us to shift how we were doing business. The same thing happened after 9/11 after the economy was abruptly shaken up. Today, the economy is once again showing signs of a major change, especially within the real estate industry.    Today, as more agents, buyers, and iBuyers are getting into the game, it is forcing me to take a better look at what we are doing and how we can improve. The difficult times allow me to either walk away from something or change what I’m doing in order to better capitalize on the market shifts. This year we have changed a number of our processes, including the way leads are handled, how we follow up, and how we interact with potential sellers in general. Over the past 30 days, we have been able to see big improvements.     Nobody Is Forcing You To Be Here   When the times get tough in this business, I remind myself that nobody is forcing me to be here. Sure, it would be nice to not have to go through all of the work, through the trial and error, and the challenging times my business has faced.    Living in the USA, we have the ability to do whatever we want to do. If we aren’t in a business we like, we can change it. For over 20 years I have chosen to be here, knowing that along with the good comes the bad. The challenges faced this year by my business forced me to get back in the field. I wasn’t excited at first, but getting out there, helping people, and finding solutions have really renewed my enjoyment for why I do this. I often remind myself that if this business were easy, everyone would be doing it.     Making Your Business Personal I recently heard a podcast about how people were wholesaling properties, without actually having any interest in real estate. I wasn’t sure how to take this. Yes, I understand that it can be a numbers game, but we like to run our business a little bit differently. We know that selling is a huge transaction for many homeowners and we strive to help them through it in every way possible.    We specialize in helping homeowners who need to downsize, and for us, this takes on a much larger meaning. Downsizing usually means the homeowner has lived in the home for a long time and may find the transition more difficult than a normal sale. Our goal is to take care of these home sellers, offering multiple solutions, and assistance throughout every part of the process.    If you are an agent who would like to be able to offer our services to your clients, we would love to work with you. Reach out to me using the links below. I hope you all have had a wonderful year! Never stop looking for ways to improve and let’s make 2020 the best year yet!    Resources:    Ben Souchek - https://www.bensouchek.com/home Home Downsizing Solutions - https://www.homedownsizingsolutions.com/ EXP Realty - https://bensouchek.exprealty.careers/ 30 Day Challenge From Click Funnels -  

Ep 30: Embracing Challenges | How To Be Grateful For Your Setbacks As Well As Your Victories

Welcome To Episode 29 of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Lifestyle That Doesn’t Require Your Presence   With the end of the year slowly creeping up on us, I am thinking more and more about what I can do to increase the success of my business. What action steps and goals to I want my business to achieve before the end of the year?  Assessing 2019   A good place to start is to look back on 2019 to see what worked and what didn’t. What can you start doing and what should you stop doing in order to do better next year? How can you use this information to set your goals for 2020? As you set your goals, be sure to write them down. Writing them down makes them real, and will make you more likely to accomplish the task at hand!    What Can You Do Now?   As the year winds down, many people will begin to slow down when it comes to their business. They will often relax a bit more, decreasing advertising or time in the office. It is because of this that November and December have been some of my best months in years past. When other home buyers are taking some time off and not deploying their marketing as normal, I will actually up what I am doing, taking advantage of this time to cash in on more deals.    So my challenge to you is this: Don’t just start your planning for next year, start taking the steps you need to today! You don’t have to wait until January 1st to begin working on your 2020 goals! Start today so you can get a head start on the year ahead! If you are doing direct mail, create your pieces today! Start mailing in December! You don’t have to wait for the year to end!    How Can You Be Different?   As you hear me mention quite often in my podcast, it is important to be different. It is important to set yourself apart from the competition in some way, offering value to your clients that they won’t be able to receive elsewhere. As a buyer, I will often work with agents, partnering on leads to provide the home seller with as many options as possible when trying to sell.    What My Company Can Offer   While I aim to add value to the home sellers I work with, a big part of my company is bringing value to real estate agents both in my market and in the markets I would like to be in. My company provides value to agents in two ways.    First, we are able to generate a number of leads, referring homeowners who don’t wish to sell directly to the trusted agents we have partnered with.  Additionally, agents are able to present our services to the clients they work with. As an authorized buyer for Home Light, agents are able to use our services to provide a trusted selling situation for their buyers.  If you are an agent or real estate investor who is looking for ways to differentiate yourself, I encourage you to take The Click Funnels 30 Day Challenge. It will really help you to understand what makes you so different and who you want your ideal client to be.    As always, thank you for listening, and if there is anything else you would like to hear discussed on future episodes, please let us know!    Resources:    Ben Souchek - https://www.bensouchek.com/home Home Downsizing Solutions - https://www.homedownsizingsolutions.com/ EXP Realty - https://bensouchek.exprealty.careers/ The Click Funnels 30 Day Challenge - https://www.bensouchek.com/click101 

Ep 29: Setting Goals and Starting Now | Why You Shouldn’t Wait For The New Year

Welcome to Episode 28 of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create a Lifestyle That Doesn’t Require Your Presence   As I am sitting down for today’s episode, it is Veteran’s Day, 2019 and I wanted to send out a big “thank you” to all the Veterans out there for all of their service. As a veteran myself, I am proud and humbled to have been able to serve my country. It was thinking back on my career both in the military and outside of it which motivated today’s podcast.    Extreme Ownership   Two veterans in particular inspired today’s podcast and their names are Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. They wrote one of the best leadership books I’ve ever read called Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win. In their book, they talk about how the leader is ultimately the one responsible for the success or failure in the organization, military, ship, or company.    Years ago, when I was in the military if a ship were to run aground or collide with another ship, the captain was immediately relieved of their command. While this may seem harsh, the sentiment is that one person is ultimately responsible for everything that happens on that boat. That is extreme ownership. Yes, it is harsh but it is also reality.    Owning Your Situation   When I left active service, I began my career in real estate. You’ve probably heard me mention before, that one of my biggest regrets is that I wish I would have worked harder when I first got started. Instead of saying I didn’t have the time, money, knowledge, or resources I needed to be more successful, I should have gotten out there and made it happen. Eventually, I learned that I was the one responsible for my own success. I could only become as successful as I would allow myself to be.    Jumping ahead to about 10 years ago when the economy corrected in 08-09 I had some friends in real estate who only knew how to do one activity. They were investors who were able to buy, fix up properties a little and sell for a profit with little effort. I knew others who were agents and as long as they could snag a listing or two, a buyer would eventually come along to facilitate their commission. But as the market changed, I watched friends and colleagues slowly leave the business. I heard excuses about the market, about being unable to flip, and about a weak real estate market. I had learned from my past experience that none of that mattered. It was up to me to own the situation I would find myself in. I understood that my offers to sellers had to change as did the way I was doing business. By doing this, I was able to not only get through this time unscathed, but I was also able to make the market work for me.  Owning Your Future   How do you want your future to look? And what steps are you going to take to make it happen? Personally, as I am seeing first hand another correction in the market taking place, I am shifting gears in my business to seek a new strategy and direction. There are so many people out there offering to buy houses and they are all saying the same things. They are saying generic things and attracting generic clients. The goal for my business is to find ways to provide more value to the home sellers who reach out to us. We are focusing on the things that set us apart from the competition. Home sellers have a lot of options available to them when it is time to sell. I am doing more to up my game to provide more value and to be the best solution for them.    As we move forward, I am taking extreme ownership of where my company goes. I will not rely on the market, nor on what other agents and buyers are doing. I will take control of MY company to ensure we are successful in going forward.    Think about where you are with your business. If you are an agent, how you can work with a company like mine to provide multiple solutions for home sellers? Providing multiple options to sellers will help you profit from more leads while being involved in more deals.    How I Can Help   If you are an agent, if you are in the military, or if you are a Veteran who is interested in making real estate your career, I can help you learn how to improve. Shoot me a message via bensouchek.com and discover the value that I can bring to your business.  I would be happy to share info with you on the things I have learned.   Something else I wanted to share is the ClickFunnels Challenge I took earlier this year. Whether you are an investor or an agent, following the steps in the Challenge will help you to create your personalized offer, which in turn will help you connect with more clients.    Resources:   Ben Souchek - https://www.bensouchek.com/home Home Downsizing Solutions - https://www.homedownsizingsolutions.com/ EXP Realty - https://bensouchek.exprealty.careers/ Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win - https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250183863/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= The Click Funnels 30 Day Challenge - https://www.bensouchek.com/click101

Ep 28: Taking Ownership Of your Business, Your Life, and Your Future

Welcome to episode 27 of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence.    Today I wanted to talk about something I have been hearing discussed quite often lately, and that is defining the “one thing” that is most important within your business. It is very easy as an entrepreneur, especially a real estate entrepreneur, to get distracted by the shiny objects that often show up in our industry.    Instead of focusing or putting effort into the success we are having, we become sidetracked, focusing on “the next big thing.” Instead of making an effort to perfect what is working or find ways to maximize our current efforts, we put are distracted by other opportunities… this is the entrepreneurial way. However, by doing this, we are decreasing our potential success.    There was a book written by Geoff Woods, Jay Papasan, and Gary Keller of Keller Williams Realty entitled The One Thing, which focuses on this exact topic. The authors focus on not wasting your time on the shiny object - don’t let yourself become distracted from the one thing you should be focusing on.    Breaking Your Goals Into Steps   How do you want your life to look next year? In 5 years? In 10 years? And what can you do this year, this month? This week? Or tomorrow to get you there?    Last year, when I was looking ahead to 2019, my goals we to spend more time with my family and to find a business manager to handle some of my day to day activities enabling me to work on my business instead of in my business. While these are great goals, the changing real estate market has changed my focus business-wise over the past year.    I’ve discussed previously that 2019 has been a more challenging year for my business as opposed to 2018. With more competitors, more people investing, and the rise of iBuyers, the things that worked in the past, are no longer working today. When I was setting my goals for this year, lead generation wasn’t at the top of my list as in 2018 we were generating high-quality leads and a high conversion rate… two things that changed in 2019.    Instead of adding more people to my team, my focus has changed to finding the best leads in places my competition may not be looking. Instead of trying to compete in a flooded market, I am changing up my strategy to attract leads in new ways.    Adjusting Your Goals   Instead of focusing on the thing I wanted to, I had to switch gears and work on bringing in the leads. The methods I had been using previously weren’t working and I wanted to get away from the costly lead generation techniques I had been using. Instead, I have tried to find ways to set myself apart.  With all of the competition out there, you need to be different from the other investors and home buyers out there.    History Repeating Itself   Right now I am having the same feeling I did in 2008. All kinds of people getting into the market, competing for the same leads. Instead of getting lost amongst the competition, I am looking to find our companies in new and unique ways. Back in 2008, I was forced to change with the market. While it was uncomfortable for me, it turned out to work out well for me.    This time around I am not so worried. I’ve been able to build a niche in the downsizing arena as people looking downsize really benefit from the services we offer. I’ve been able to partner with agents, sharing leads so that both parties benefit from the sale. Doing these things has set by business apart and will help to propel us into 2020!    Take a look at your business. What is your one thing going into 2020 that you can work on to make your business go? What will be the thing that propels you into reaching your goals?   As always, I would love to be a resource for agents in the area who are looking for ways to grow their business. Please check out the resources below and reach out to me at any time.    Resources:   Ben Souchek - https://www.bensouchek.com/home Home Downsizing Solutions - https://www.homedownsizingsolutions.com/ EXP Realty - https://bensouchek.exprealty.careers/ The One Thing - https://www.the1thing.com/about/ 

Ep 27: Setting Goals, Refining Your Business, and Discovering Your “One Thing”

Welcome to episode 26 of my podcast, Real Estate Mastery - How To Create a Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence.    Today I wanted to talk about the importance of having a unique selling proposition, or USP. Within any business, it’s important to be able to stand out from the competition. As a home buyer or real estate agent, this is especially true. The market has become cluttered with competition, with many people saying the same things.    A Unique Message   20+ years ago it was a common thing for buyers to say “we buy houses for cash,” and while it’s still commonly said, so much has changed in the industry. There are so many more people buying houses and entering the real estate world. It is reminiscent to me of the market in 2006-2007, before the market correction in 2008. There were so many self-proclaimed gurus and people out there selling information, that everyone was hoping to get rich from real estate. I knew a number of people during this time that were only doing business one way and who subsequently went bankrupt or out of business. Business was tough for those who weren’t able to adapt.    What The Gurus Are Doing   One of my mentors and friends, John Schaub once said to me, that a good indicator of market cycles, is to see what the gurus are doing. If information is flying off the shelves, and seminars are being sold out, it’s time to watch out and adjust your strategy. A lot of people showing interest in real estate means you’re going to be faced with much more competition. It’s when fewer people are showing interest, like in 2011-2012, that it’s a good time to get in there and buy.    The Power of Education   When you are able to offer your client many options and truly educate them on the pros and cons of each, it will allow you to build trust and credibility while giving you the ability to help more people with their real estate transactions. As an agent, let people know what working with a professional home buyer will mean for them. For some people, the convenience it offers makes it a better choice. By skipping inspections, appraisals, and further negotiations, many sellers will find working with a direct buyer to be a huge benefit.    Personally, I have been educated about this over the years by the sellers I have worked with. I have seen many situations first-hand in which selling off of the MLS was a better choice for my client. When someone doesn’t have to worry about making repairs, cleaning up, or having to show the property, they are able to put their time and money toward other, often more important things. When agents bring these sorts of deals to me, they are still able to collect their fee, without having to market the property or wait for months at a time to see their reward.    If you believe our company could be of service to you, reach out to me at any time using the resources below. I would love to work with you and learn more about how our services could benefit each other.  Resources:   Ben Souchek - bensouchek.com Home Downsizing Solutions - homedownsizingsolutions.com EXP Realty - bensouchek.exprealty.careers  

EP 26: How to Find Your Unique Selling Proposition

Hello, and welcome to episode 25 of my podcast, Real Estate Mastery - How To Create a Lifestyle That Doesn’t Require Your Presence   In this podcast, I brought in a special guest, Agostino Pintus who is a very successful multi-family property investor based in the Cleveland area. Agostino hosts a popular podcast entitles Bulletproof Cashflow in which he discusses matters that pertain to multi-family property investors. Agostino’s career is inspiring in seeing what he has been able to do in such a short amount of time. In the past 2 years, he has purchased about $40 million dollars in real estate.    During our conversation, we discussed many things from determining what motivates you to how to evaluate the best multi-family deals.    Your Why   While it might sound cliche, understanding your why is critical to your success as an investor. Agostino started in tech, working as a C-level executive for publically traded companies. While the money was good, he always knew that he wanted to be an entrepreneur, who worked for himself. For about 10 years, he lived in what he referred to as the dark years. He tried many things, but the thing that really stuck was real estate. It was his silver lining, allowing him to build the life he had always envisioned for himself. His why, is to leave a legacy. Something that his kids, kids, kids would know about. So far, he is on the right track!    What You Believe   My last podcast discussed beliefs and in particular what people believe about themselves. Personally, I always believed I could be successful in real estate, my problem was doing the work I needed to in my first few years in the business. If I knew then, what I know now, I would be much further along. Agostino pointed out that it is not so much the size of your belief, but the amount of motivation you have to get the job done. As the phrase goes, what you think, you become.    Out Of The Dark   Agostino mentioned three ways he got out of his dark years. This is what took him from bouncing around job to job, to finally doing what he knew he was supposed to be doing this whole time. They are:    Design Your Life Around Your Goals For Agostino, this meant selling off all of his single-family properties, not doing any wholesaling, any industrial, and solely focusing on multi-family real estate.    Find A Mentor A mentor is going to help you get your mindset in the right place. Some people may not have anyone to turn to for this, but there are virtual options and a series of books Agostino recommends to help you to get in the right mindset, learn how to sell and how to close deals.  Analyzing Deals There is no better way to learn something than to do it. Agostino was practicing 100 deals per week, running the numbers to separate a good deal from a bad one.    When it comes down to it, you have to be able to break past the fear, do the legwork, and take action. As Agostino puts it, you have to decide to be successful. Take action. Do it now. Don’t wait. We are running out of time.    I hope today’s podcast was of great value to you. To get in touch with myself or Agostino, refer to the links below.    Resources:   Ben Souchek: bensouchek.com   Home Downsizing Solutions: homedownsizingsolutions.com   EXP Realty: bensouchek.exprealty.careers   Bulletproof Cashflow Podcast: https://bulletproofcashflow.com/   Connect with Agostino on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agostinopintus/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bulletproofcashflow   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bulletproofcashflow/   For a list of the books Agostino referenced in this podcast, text your email to: 216-777-2084 

EP 25: Agostino Pintus of Bulletproof Cashflow

Hello and welcome to episode 24 of my podcast of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence!    Today I wanted to talk about beliefs. In the past couple of weeks, two of my favorite podcasts (The CarrotCast with Trevor Mauch, and Russell Brunson’s Marketing Secrets) have discussed this topic and it really helped me get a better understanding of why I have been able to be successful in my business.    Where I Started   When I was 19 I bought my first property in Pensacola. I never doubted myself when doing this because I knew I could do it. I believed it was possible, I saw others doing it, and therefore, I know I could do it too. At this time in my life, I never wrote down my goals or really defined them in any sort of way. Looking back, I know that writing down your goals is important. I think it would have helped to motivate me and would have pushed me to be further along than I am today. I was never one to find my motivation from sort or rah-rah event, but rather I knew I wanted to be successful in real estate to live the lifestyle I wanted.    Believing In Yourself   Over the years I have learned that you should write your goals down, it gives your mind something to shoot for. However, if you don’t believe that you can accomplish what you are writing down, then you never will. A long time ago I spent a good amount of money to attend a boot camp held by Ron LeBrand. I went so I could learn how to buy and sell real estate. I never questioned if I would be successful. I knew if other people could do it, then I could too. I never thought it couldn’t be done, even if I was living on the family farm, two hours from any real market and with barely a dial-up internet connection. Despite all this, I know I would be able to do what I needed to do to be successful. I knew real estate was going to be my vehicle to success.    During the market correction of 2008, a lot of real estate agents and investors were forced out of the business. Meanwhile, I know that with some small changes to by business, I would be able to keep doing what I was doing and be successful. I never questioned it, I just did what I had to do. I had to keep providing solutions to sellers who wanted to sell a house. I feel like the market is similar today. Everyone is in real estate it seems, which can make the competition fierce. By adapting your business, you will be able to stay busy, maybe even closing more deals once your competition has been forced out.    Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you're right. - Henry Ford.    Motivation vs Discipline   Motivation and discipline are two very different things. Motivation is short-lived and can easily go away if you aren’t implementing anything to really change your business for the better. You get motivation after an event or seminar. You may be so fired up and ready to start 10 new projects, however, this motivation will fade if you don’t have the discipline to follow through, completing the actions that will help you to reach your goals. You should incorporate one or two things into your business, not try to tackle 10 new projects. Doing so will kill your motivation and you won’t get anything accomplished.  Action Expresses Priorities   I have a picture in my office with this saying and it really helps me to remain focused on my goals. I often ask myself if my actions at the current moment are helping me to get where I want to be. Are they in alignment with what I say I want to accomplish?    I challenge you to look at how you are spending your time and what you are doing to modify your business in the effort of helping more people. As always, if I can be a resource for you in any way, don’t be afraid to reach out!  

Ep 24: Motivation, Discipline, and Your Beliefs

Welcome to Episode 23 of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence.    Today I wanted to give a bit of a “market update” on things I have recently read and heard about pertaining to the real estate world. In previous podcasts, you’ve likely heard me talk about the massive changes taking place in the real estate market. If agents aren’t offering options, they may be in trouble. Many agents are beginning to offer direct-buy solutions so they are not beaten out by iBuyers.    The CarrotCast Podcast   One podcast I often listen to is hosted by Trevor Mauch of Investor Carrot, you may have heard me interview Trevor back in Episode 11. In my interview with Trevor, we discussed this very thing. I recently heard him bring it up again in a more recent episode of his own podcast stating that successful agents and home buying companies will need to begin offering multiple solutions if they want to survive.   One story he mentioned discussed a stock market crash we had back in 1987. It shook up the whole market, ultimately changing how people bought stock. It went from calling up your stockbroker which could often be expensive, to utilizing technology and being able to buy and sell stock on your own. Trevor likened this to what is currently happening in the real estate market. People are turning to technology to buy and sell homes, and if agents and homebuyers want to stay afloat, they will need to change with the times to stay competitive.    MarketWatch    Marketwatch recently posted an article about the same thing. They discussed how technology and the rise of iBuyers are changing how people buy and sell real estate. In the article, they talk about how buying and selling a house can now be a simple as trading stocks. The article discussed how these iBuyers are jumping in and helping to solve the “pain” of selling a house. Sellers don’t necessarily want to list their house. The idea of someone walking through their home and invading their private space is often overwhelming. Direct buyers and iBuyers now entering the scene eliminate this part of the process, which sellers will really like, unfortunately, agents don’t always see this.    As someone who buys homes myself, I specialize in helping people who need to downsize. I know that I need to improve my game and what my company is able to offer. I work with agents, investors, and people who need to sell their homes. If you feel as if I could be a benefit to you, or to learn more about what was discussed in this episode, don’t be afraid to reach out!    Resources:   Ben Souchek - bensouchek.com Home Downsizing Solutions - homedownsizingsolutions.com EXP Realty - bensouchek.exprealty.careers Get A Carrot Website - bensouchek.com/carrot CarrotCast Podcast - https://carrot.com/blog/category/carrotcast/ MarketWatch Article - https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-buying-and-selling-a-home-could-soon-be-as-simple-as-trading-stocks-2019-09-11 

Ep 23: How Technology Is Impacting The Way Real Estate Is Done

Welcome to Episode 22 of Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence.    In this episode, I wanted to discuss something I saw in a short video recently, and that is how to set yourself apart from the competition. I’ve talked about it before in other podcasts and I will continue to do so as I believe it is one of the most important aspects of doing business.    Adding Value   In the real estate industry, there is competition coming at you from all angles. With discount brokers and iBuyers entering the arena, you have to do something to help yourself stand out. If you are listing a house and your client asks what you charge and all you can say is 6-7%, you are at a disadvantage. They may ask others who will say 6-7% but will also say something after that shows how they add value for that 6-7%. By spelling out the benefits and letting people know what sets you apart, you will find yourself with the advantage. In my business, the agents on my team are always striving to add value to our offers so that they stand out from other agents the seller may be talking to.    For Example…    If I am buying a house, I will be sure to let people know that…    We handle closing We will clean up anything you leave behind You pick the closing date  We can give you time in your current house even after we buy it   Other companies may offer the same price or even some of the same benefits, but by listing those benefits and showcasing their value, our offers will often stand out.    Standing Out   This year I have been looking at ways to set my business apart from the competition. It is an evolving process that you should always be thinking about. All agents can list houses on the MLS, getting the listings sent to third-party sites like Zillow. If an agent only has one solution, to list and market, that can put them at a huge disadvantage. Having a resource that can buy houses directly is a huge benefit. It may not help in every situation but it can be the best solution for some home sellers. An agent can share the benefits and downfalls of listing, such as showings, cleaning, and wasted time. They can also share with them the pros and cons of a direct sale, ensuring that they are able to provide the best solution for the seller's particular situation.    My message for today is how we can build more value for our clients and customers? If I can be a benefit to you, please feel free to reach out to me at any time. If there is something you would like me to discuss on a future episode, send me a message and let me know.  Resources:   Ben Souchek - bensouchek.com Home Downsizing Solutions - homedownsizingsolutions.com EXP Realty - bensouchek.exprealty.careers 

Ep 22: Standing Out By Adding Value

In episode 21 of my podcast, Real Estate Mastery - How To Create a Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence, I wanted to talk about a Click Funnels event I attended in Denver, which offered a lot of inspiration, innovation, and information.    The 2 Comma Club   ClickFunnels has a coaching group called the 2 Comma Club, and I am a proud member. There are several hundred people who are a part of this, and i always enjoy connecting with other like-minded individuals who want to grow their business the way I do. Some people in the club have one funnel, while others have several. What everyone in the club has in common is that they all have a dream they want to make a realty.    The Event   The event was a unique experience, and unlike any I had ever attended in the past. The event wasn’t just for club members, but for their families too. A third of the room were children, with a couple hundred being in attendance. I was incredibly impressed with these kids some of whom used ClickFunnels themselves to either help their parents or to run businesses of their own. It was really great to see kids taking an active interest in the same things their parents enjoy as opposed to just playing video games or spending time on social media.    Consumption vs. Production   Russel Brunson, who started ClickFunnels just a few years ago, brought up a good point about production vs. consumption of information. Over the summer he and his wife challenged his kids to not spend their time-consuming information on social media, but rather to produce it. This allowed them to still be involved, but in a much more productive way. I thought this was a good message for everyone, not just for kids.    Hook, Story, Offer   Russel spoke a lot throughout the event, but what I noticed that much of what he said came back to the fundementals and doing them well. Hook, story, offer. Whether you re creating a Facebook ad, print ad, radio spot, or television commercial, the formula remains the same.    Hook - You need a hook or headline that will pull in your ideal client.  Story - Why they need your service, how you can benefit them, and why you are better than everyone else Offer - What they will get out of it   It is important to know who your ideal client is and who you would like to serve so that your hook, story, and offer all resonate with them. You don’t want to attract the wrong customers to your business. The wrong people will drain your energy and take the fun out of your business. Know who you want to serve and ask how you can be of even more help to them. We would love to be of service to you or your business. Reach out to us at any time to learn more about how we can help you.    Resources:   Ben Souchek - bensouchek.com Home Downsizing Solutions - homedownsizingsolutions.com EXP Realty - bensouchek.exprealty.careers 2 Comma Club - https://2commaclub.com/the-members 

Ep 21: The 2 Comma Club - Notes On A Recent ClickFunnels Event In Denver

In episode 20 of my podcast, Real Estate Mastery, How To Create A Life That Doesn’t Require Your Presence, I sat down with Chip Kessler who is the author of two popular marketing books and who offers a unique perspective to real estate.    About Chip   I’ve worked with Chip on and off for the past few years on a number of projects, and I wanted to have Chip on because of his unique background. He has not only worked in marketing, but he has also worked in radio, tv. PR, and once published a weekly newspaper. Today, Chip works in healthcare marketing, along with clients in the legal and IT fields.    Notes From Our Conversation   Standing Out    We discussed how to make yourself stand out and what an agent can do to attract clients. We talked about how real estate can be a very profitable venture, even with all of the changes that have taken place in the past few years.    Just like any profession, you can always refer to the 80/20 rule: 10-20% of the real estate agents are doing 80-90% of the business. So how do you become one of those agents? You have to do what is necessary, you have to be willing to do the work.    Finding Your Speciality   The more a real estate agent can specialize, the more likely they are to be successful. For example, any agent can list houses or direct clients, however, our team specializes in working with seniors who need to downsize a home they have been living in for a long time. The idea is to pick a niche within your profession and figure out how you can best work with them. You want to make yourself as attractive to buyers and sellers as possible so they will choose you before anyone else.    A Lot Of Work Doesn’t Always Translate Into Success   Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that because you are doing a lot, that you are doing well. You can have a hundred homes for sale, but how many of them are actually selling? Don’t confuse activity with results. Track everything you are doing, taking an honest look at everything you re doing. If something isn’t working, even if you have invested a lot of money into it, you should reaccess and try something else.    There is nothing wrong with failing when you learn!    Never Stop Learning   School is never out of session for the professional. As Chip says, he has done marketing for over 20 years, yet he still reads about marketing every day. Make the investment in tools and publications that will help you, and aim to model the success you are after. You don’t have to invent anything, take what’s working, apply yourself, and make it your own.    Working Together   When I look back 20 years to when I first started my business, I realize I was always more independent than I should have been. Instead of working with others, seeking advice, and asking questions, I assumed those in a place of success would not want to share their information with me. However, I shouldn’t have allowed a couple of protective agents stop me. I should have reached out to others who were in a place business-wise that I wanted to see myself in one day.    The Importance of Testimonials   People tend to go along with the crowd. When you can get others to sing your praises, others will take note. Anyone can talk about themselves, but to hear it from other people will improve your credibility.    Please reach out to us if you have questions about any of these topics of if we can be of any assistance to you or your business.    Resources:   Ben Souchek - bensouchek.com Home Downsizing Solutions - homedownsizingsolutions.com EXP Realty - bensouchek.exprealty.careers 

Ep 20: How To Be Different: My Interview With Chip Kessler

Welcome to Real Estate Mastery - How To Create A Lifestyle That Does Not Require Your Presence   In this podcast, I wanted to share with you a real-life example of a point I’ve referenced many times throughout this podcast, This morning, I  had a phone call with a local franchise owner of a company called Caring Transitions. This company assists individuals who have owned their home for a long time and are ready to transition to a smaller house, apartment, or assisted living facility. As business owners, we are looking for the same types of customers - people who are looking for a more simple living arrangement.    But What If They Could Offer More?    People who work for these types of companies, or other fields in which they work with people who may want to sell a home, can greatly benefit from obtaining their real estate license. They do not need to act as agents - instead they can refer the person to any one of the agents they work with or a company such as Home Downsizing Solutions who can buy the house directly. In exchange, they will legally receive a referral fee for their efforts. Doing this alone can add tremendous value to leads that are already being generated.    Adding Value   By offering more services to leads and clients, you can bring more value into their lives. You will be able to better serve them by helping in more ways than one. When you offer more value to your clients, you will be able to generate more income from the leads that are already coming in. So without doing any more work, you will be able to be of greater service to your clients, thus increasing your overall value.    Small Investment - Big Reward   It can take some work to get your license and the process varies from state to state. Some states require more hours than others and different amounts of continuing education to keep your license active. However, the small investment of preparing to get your license will pay off as soon as you make your first referral. Whether you are a business owner or work for a company that deals with homeowners who may need to sell, getting your license can pay off in more ways than you might think!    Today’s podcast was relatively short, but I wanted to share a real world experience which really cemented in the opportunities for individuals who had never considered getting licensed in the past. If you have questions or want to learn more about how getting your real estate license can benefit you, reach out to me any time.    Resources:   Ben Souchek - bensouchek.com Home Downsizing Solutions - homedownsizingsolutions.com EXP Realty - bensouchek.exprealty.careers  

Ep19: Getting Your Real Estate License - How To Benefit Without Listing Homes

You got into real estate to make more money and have more freedom, yet you still have no idea where your next paycheck is coming from or when you'll be able to take a vacation. So what's the missing piece? You need a mentor. As a licensed agent and active investor for over 20 years, Ben Souchek has been involved with hundreds of home sales. Now, he's here to help you. Every week, you'll hear about his strategies, successes, failures, and lessons learned, that will finally put you on the path to financial success. Listen in and learn how you can create a lifestyle that generates income without requiring your presence. https://bensouchek.com/

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Real Estate Mastery | Your Path to Financial Freedom

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