In this episode, John Kitchens sits down with Joel Perso for a forward-looking conversation about the 2030 Real Estate Team. Together, they unpack the five business models available to real estate agents and team leaders, how to align those models with your vision and season of life, and what it really takes to build freedom, profitability, and sustainability into your business.

From the “ATM Cash Machine” model to traditional teams and hybrid mega-organizations, Joel and John break down the pros, cons, and exit strategies of each. They also preview how AI, fractional leadership, and new business structures will reshape what winning real estate teams look like in the years ahead.

Whether you’re an agent trying to scale, a team leader considering your next evolution, or simply curious about the future of the industry, this episode provides a roadmap for thinking bigger about your business model.

The Five Real Estate Business Models

• The ATM Model: high profit, low freedom—and why the only exit strategy is asset acquisition

• Leverage Models: adding licensed support to create time for a “plus one” revenue stream

• Traditional Teams: the in-production vs. out-of-production dilemma

• Team Ridge: scaling with headcount, leadership, and agent as your customer

• Hybrid Models: why mixing leads teams with traditional teams may define the next five years
  
  

Freedom vs. Profitability

• How each model fits on the freedom/profitability quadrant

• Why lifestyle creep can kill your exit strategy

• The mindset shifts required to move from one model to the next
  
  

Exit Strategies & Long-Term Growth

• How to avoid the trap of selling yourself until you retire

• Why joint ventures in mortgage, title, or home services open new doors

• The path to creating scalable, acquirable businesses in real estate
  
  

Vision & Alignment

• Choosing the right vehicle based on your strengths, season of life, and vision

• Why leadership—not just systems—determines scalability

• The importance of aligning goals with values and family support

• Agent to CEO 2025 (Cleveland) – AgentToCEOCE.com

• Business Model Canvas Framework

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” for building a real estate business. Each model—from solo ATM producers to large-scale teamridges—comes with tradeoffs in profit, freedom, and leadership requirements. The key is aligning your vision, strengths, and season of life with the right vehicle to get you where you want to go.

“These are business models. These are not ways to be an agent—these are ways to build a real estate business.” – Joel Perso

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this episode, John Kitchens, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek sit down with the powerhouse herself, Veronica Figueroa, to talk about leadership, culture, and the future of transformational events in real estate. From her groundbreaking “Build at Sea” event to her women’s leadership mastermind “Be Still Sisterhood,” Veronica shares why vulnerability, faith, and authenticity matter more than ever in business and life.

The crew also dives into the upcoming Agent to CEO event in Cleveland, why intimate events are replacing mega-conferences, and how real leaders balance vision, core values, and community to build something that lasts.

This is a candid and inspiring conversation about leading with heart, creating culture that sticks, and amplifying your mission without losing yourself along the way.

Transformational Events That Last

• Why conferences must respect attendees’ most valuable asset: their time

• How Build at Sea combined AI, prayer, personal growth, and business strategy

• Why intimate events (50–100 people) create deeper, lasting impact compared to mega conferences

Leadership & Vulnerability

• Why Veronica believes “real estate is what we do, but we are humans first”

• How sharing personal struggles creates connection and trust

• Why true leadership starts with being open, honest, and authentic

Core Values & Culture

• The difference between people who “say” they’re aligned and those who embody it

• Why core values both attract and repel—and why that’s a good thing

• How smaller, tighter communities create unshakable culture

Team Building & Vision

• How Veronica scaled her team to #1 in Florida without being in the weeds

• Why clarity of vision and grooming leaders is more powerful than control

• The role of diversity in leadership styles, faith, and experience in building stronger teams

• Agent to CEO 2024 (Cleveland) – Limited seating, capped at 100 agents

• Moments of Impact – Book on designing events that transform lives

• The Perfect Day 2.0 Exercise – Vision & AI-powered personal transformation

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Community, training, and resources

Events, teams, and culture are only as strong as the leaders behind them. As Veronica Figueroa reminds us, leadership isn’t about being at the front of the stage—it’s about being in the back of the room, empowering others, and amplifying the mission with clarity and authenticity.

“Real estate is what we do, but we are humans first.” – Veronica Figueroa

In this episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John sits down with Portuguese real estate leaders Rodolffo Carvalho and Nuno Batista to unpack their journey of disrupting one of Europe’s toughest real estate markets. From breaking free of legacy brands like Century 21 to building Portugal’s #1 eXp Realty team, they share how mindset, perseverance, and innovation helped them create explosive growth in an environment with no MLS, limited data access, and outdated practices.

This is a masterclass in faith, consistency, and execution—a story of how two agents trusted the process, built proof, and are now leading an expansion movement that’s changing the way real estate is done in Portugal.

• The unique challenges of selling real estate in Portugal (no MLS, watermarked listings, fragmented data).

• Why 80% of new agents quit within months—and how to survive beyond the early hits.

• The critical decision to go all-in on listings over buyers.

• Why mindset and perseverance were the foundation for success.

• The three phases of their growth journey: mindset, execution, and consolidation.

• How they doubled GCI year over year by staying consistent with ads, social media, and training.

• The game-changing move to partner with a marketing agency for scale.

• How investing in branding and content positioned them as market leaders.

• Why proof had to come before recruiting—and how patience set the stage for expansion.

• The value proposition they now offer agents: lead generation, training, and on-the-ground support.

• Why helping agents “work smart” (not just hard) creates long-term loyalty.

• How they’re building a revenue share team and a leadership hub in Lisbon to support growth.

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach

• eXp Realty – Global growth platform

• Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way of Being

• Eric Post – huzi.ai

Success in real estate doesn’t come from following the crowd—it comes from trusting the process, building proof, and leading with value. Rodolffo and Nuno’s story proves that even in the toughest markets, consistency and faith can disrupt an entire industry.

“Faith is rewarded perhaps even more than talent or ability.” – Rick Rubin (quoted in this episode)

“You wake up and you go to sleep thinking about motivated sellers. That is the game.” – John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥