You might be working hard, but are you working smart?

Chris Cook dives deep into the common traps real estate agents fall into when setting their goals and power plans for the new year.

He shares real insights from reviewing agent submissions in the PATH program, showing how vague strategies and “busy work” often replace meaningful, measurable action.

From dissecting the importance of being definitive (no more “2-3 open houses!”) to sharing personal examples of how community involvement drove real results, Chris provides a playbook for how agents can stop hiding behind planning and start connecting with people—where it counts.

Get ready to tighten up strategies, own your schedule, and become the visible, trusted leader your sphere needs in 2026.

Listen For

:44 Why do most agents fall short on their goals each year?

3:45 What’s the danger of vague strategies like “2 to 3 open houses”?

6:58 How can school drop-off lead to more listings?

11:48 What personal passion can you turn into a client goldmine?

16:01 What is the #1 thing agents get wrong in their power plans?

Connect with Chris, Sales Representative | Team Lead at

The Haylard Group - RE/MAX Hallmark ®

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AI won’t replace great realtors, but realtors who use AI well might replace those who don’t.

In this episode of Mind Your Real Estate Business, Chris sits down with Johnder Perez to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate today: artificial intelligence.

Rather than hype or fear-mongering, this conversation cuts to what actually matters, how AI can support a realtor’s business without stripping away the human connection that defines great client service.

From the “hammer and nail” analogy to real-world examples like listing presentations, email drafting, video avatars, and automations gone wrong, Chris and Johnder explore where AI adds speed and clarity, and where it can quietly damage trust, authenticity, and brand.

The core takeaway is clear: information is now commoditized, but experience, storytelling, and human consultation have never been more valuable.

Listen For

00:00 Should realtors fear AI?
3:33 When does AI erase personality?
6:30 Can AI build listings fast?
12:35 What makes content still authentic?
27:04 How automations destroy trust?

Johnder Perez, Directory ofTechnology andMarketing for RE/MAX Hallmark®
Website | Email | Instagram | LinkedIn

Connect with Chris, Sales Representative | Team Lead at The Haylard Group - RE/MAX Hallmark ®

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Can one daily action really change the trajectory of your real estate career?

Chris Cook sits down with coach and educator Kory Gorgani to unveil the Power Plan—a simple, one-page system that's reshaping how agents approach productivity and growth.

Ditching dusty 30-page business plans, Kory explains how intentional, measurable, and repeatable daily actions, paired with weekly accountability and short review cycles, can lead to a 39% increase in sales.

This conversation offers the tools, mindset, and system (including Chris's PATH platform) to help you get clear, stay consistent, and finally move the needle in your business.

Listen For

1:30 How did the Power Plan come to replace traditional business planning?

5:17 What’s the one action per day that can transform your real estate business?

8:26 How do agents build a one-page GPS for real estate success?

14:47 Why should you hold your team capable instead of accountable?

22:06 What’s the real reason agents see a 39% boost from this system?

Connect with Guest: Kory Gorgani, Director of Agent Training and Development at RE/MAX Hallmark ® | Professional Certified Coach | NLP Practitioner | Author | Speaker

Real Estate Website | Coaching Website| LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube | Weekly Mastery Insights

Connect with Chris, Sales Representative | Team Lead at The Haylard Group - RE/MAX Hallmark ®

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Is online lead generation just a dopamine hit for desperate agents?

Chris Cook sits down with Josh Decaire, founder of Waypoint Media Solutions, to unpack the real truth behind building a sustainable real estate brand versus chasing cold leads.

From the flaws of short-term lead gen tactics to the emotional toll of endless follow-ups, they explore how agents can shift their mindset and energy toward building a long-term digital presence that actually works.

Chris shares his own struggles and revelations, while Josh drops practical insights on foundational marketing, CRMs, and why most agents confuse tactics for strategy.

Listen For

:47 What’s the real difference between a tactic and a strategy in real estate marketing?

6:47 Are online leads giving you a dopamine hit or actual business?

11:16 Is it worth chasing cold leads in an oversaturated market like Toronto?

18:28 Can AI voice agents actually help scrub real estate leads effectively?

27:19 Why most realtors struggle to build a consistent pipeline—and how to fix it

Connect with Guest: Josh Decaire, Founder Waypoint | Marketing Professor

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Contact

Connect with Chris, Sales Representative | Team Lead at

The Haylard Group - RE/MAX Hallmark ®

Website | Email

Think you're a solo agent? Think again—your success depends on the team you build around you.

Chris Cook draws a brilliant parallel between real estate and professional baseball to drive home one powerful point: even the greatest players can't win alone.

From broker managers and accountability coaches to CRM specialists and mastermind groups, he outlines the roles that elevate agents from average to elite.

But it’s not just about having the right people—it’s about being the right kind of agent.

Chris challenges listeners to rethink their definition of “coachable” and to take full ownership of their growth.

If you’ve been grinding alone or feeling stuck, this episode will make you ask the tough but necessary question: are you building the right team—or trying to do it all yourself?

Listen For

4:14 Who is the first person you should recruit to your real estate “team”?

5:51 What roles should make up your personal real estate support staff?

6:58 What does it really mean to be coachable in real estate?

13:46 What’s the missing piece when you feel stuck in your business?

Connect with Chris, Sales Representative | Team Lead at The Haylard Group - RE/MAX Hallmark ®

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“Think real estate is easy money? Think again.”

Most agents don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they were never taught how to actually succeed.

Chris sits down with Micah Munro, a real estate coach and former team leader, to dive deep into why most new agents fail, and how a brand-new, high-accountability launch program is flipping that script.

From hands-on shadowing to daily habits and real-time coaching, they break down what it really takes to start or restart a thriving real estate career.

Micah shares personal stories, industry stats, and some unfiltered truths about paid lead gen vs. working your sphere.

Whether you’re a brand-new agent or just looking to reignite your business, this episode offers a no-nonsense roadmap to results.

Listen For

:45 What’s the single most important habit for a new real estate agent?

04:12 Why do most new agents spin their wheels even after training?

10:54 Can agents really succeed without spending thousands on leads?

20:32 What are the biggest problems with online lead generation in major cities?

29:36 How do you build a real estate business that doesn’t control your life?

Guest: Micah Munro, Real Estate Coach at RE/MAX Hallmark® | Bill Pipes G3 Nation Coaching

Website | LinkedIn | Email | Instagram | Facebook | G3 Nation Coaching

Connect with Chris:

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Ever wonder why some agents crush listing appointments while others crash and burn?

In this episode, Chris Cook sits down with 38-year real estate veteran Shawn Whelan for a no-nonsense conversation about mastering the fundamentals of sales, specially the oft-misunderstood power of scripts.

They unpack why most agents fail to use scripts effectively, how internalizing your dialogues changes everything, and why chasing shiny objects won't build your business.

Listen For

3:59 What Happens When You Knock on Doors for 30 Days Straight?

6:36 Why Do Real Estate Scripts Sound So Robotic at First?

13:11 Are Your Sellers Practicing Their Objections Before You Arrive?

17:00 How Long Should a Cold Call Last to Actually Get an Appointment?

25:24 Why Is Practicing Scripts More Important Than Chasing Leads?

Connect with guest: Shawn Whelan

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Connect with Chris:

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Sometimes it’s easier to give new birth than drag around the dead”—that’s just one of the many memorable one-liners Dan Railey drops in this episode.

Chris Cook sits down with his longtime mentor to discuss sales discipline, hiring the right people, overcoming objections, and keeping your energy high.

Dan shares his proven “sales matrix,” why athletes make the best salespeople, and how relationships, brand, and community involvement keep the pipeline full.

Packed with humor, stories (including golfing with Michael Jordan), and hard-earned advice, this episode delivers timeless principles any real estate or sales professional can use to build long-term success.

Listen for:

5:16 The 100-Call Matrix: Turning Effort Into Predictable Results

11:30 The Pipeline Compounds: Growth Even Without Getting Better

15:47 Repeat Business is Hidden Gold

23:25 Relocation Opportunities as a Lead Source

37:16 Overcoming Every Objection in Sales

Guest: Dan Railey

Website

Connect with Chris Cook, Salesperson and Executive Director of The Halyard Group of RE/MAX Hallmark®

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