Starting a career in commercial real estate can feel overwhelming, especially when you are competing with people who have years of experience. So in episode 253 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak breaks down exactly what he would do if he had to start all over again. This episode is part of the Momentum and Mindset series designed to help you begin 2026 with clarity and confidence.

Darren shares six practical strategies that work in any market. These steps helped him rebuild his career twice, once after moving from Australia to Korea and again when returning home. You will learn how to choose your market, how to leverage your network, and why prospecting early builds long term value.

You will also discover how to learn from experienced operators, how to position yourself as a source of value, and why realistic goals matter more at the start than big production targets.

What You Will Learn:
🔹 How to pick the right market and study it effectively
🔹 Ways to learn from top performers even if you lack experience
🔹 How to build and leverage a growing network
🔹 Why early stage prospecting creates lasting career security
🔹 How to set realistic goals that build long term momentum

Whether you are brand new to commercial real estate or restarting in a new market, this episode gives you a clear blueprint for a strong beginning.

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Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works.

If prospecting is a skill you want to keep sharpening at any stage of your commercial real estate career, grab the free A to Z of CRE Prospecting at cresuccess.co/abc which includes 26 practical ideas to help you immediately up-level your prospecting activity.

Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co

Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/253

To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess

If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn

Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

High performers in commercial real estate don't just take action… they take intentional action.

In episode 252 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explains why setting goals is essential for directing effort and maximising results.

This special episode kicks off a four-part series on momentum and mindset, diving into the relationship between goal setting, leadership, and sustainable success.

Darren explores what happens when ambitious agents work without direction, and why leaders with big visions are uniquely positioned to unify and propel their teams.

You'll discover:
🔹 Why goal-setters have a performance edge in CRE
🔹 What to do if you're not naturally a goal setter
🔹 How leaders can channel untapped team potential
🔹 The mindset that transforms hustle into progress
🔹 Why vision is non-negotiable for commercial real estate leaders

If you want 2026 to be your most focused and productive year yet, this episode shows you where to start.

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Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works.

Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co

Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/252

To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess

If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn

Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

Starting the new year with strong commercial real estate momentum is not something you need to leave to chance. In episode 251 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak breaks down a simple and highly effective process called The New Year Stack of Leads, designed to help principals and agents create immediate activity in their first week back in January.

Instead of returning from the break feeling sluggish or waiting weeks for momentum to rebuild, this episode shows you how to manufacture it ahead of time. By drafting thoughtful Happy New Year messages before the holidays and scheduling them for your first day back, you set yourself up for inbound inquiries from owners, landlords, and buyers who are ready to talk.

Darren explains how to use the natural etiquette of a New Year greeting to open conversations that matter, create opportunities from existing relationships, and set the tone for a productive start to the new year. He also outlines a simple cadence to follow so those first emails translate into real activity.

What You Will Learn:
🔹 Why New Year messages are an underrated prospecting tool
🔹 How to craft emails that spark real commercial conversations
🔹 A proven follow up cadence to increase response rates
🔹 How principals can prepare their whole team for a strong January

If you want your first week back to be full of opportunity, this episode gives you the template.

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Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works.

Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co

Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/251

To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess

If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn

Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com