Meri Rama immigrated from Albania in 1994 with no money, no network, and a thick accent—then built a life most people only talk about. In this episode of Time Tested Mastery, Meri shares how she went from riding the bus to her first restaurant job (and taking notes on slang behind the scenes) to becoming the force behind two respected businesses: Century 21 Cornerstone and Focus Escrow.

You’ll hear the real story—how real estate found her, why her standards are non-negotiable, and how she built her reputation on one principle: make people feel seen, heard, and taken care of. Meri also breaks down what agents at every level need most: the right mentorship and accountability for new agents, consistency and “don’t stop showing up” habits for mid-level agents, and staying sharp, adaptive, and communication-focused for top producers.

If you want a masterclass in work ethic, responsibility, and leadership that actually holds up under pressure—this one delivers.

Connect with Meri: Cell/text: 562-755-7454

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan sits down with veteran REALTOR® Mark Wayman (RE/MAX Big Bear Area Experts) to talk about what still works when the market changes: getting out of your comfort zone, talking to people you don’t know, building trust, and staying grounded in the basics.

Mark Wayman shares how he built a serious production career without chasing online hype—by answering the phone, educating clients, communicating consistently, and creating a referral-driven business built on relationships. They also discuss what the 2008 crash taught them about humility, resilience, and rebuilding—lessons every agent needs for long-term survival.

Need real estate help or want to connect with Mark Wayman directly?
Cell: 909-648-4279
✉️ Email: mwayman8@msn.com

If you’re tired of gimmicks and want real-world, repeatable production principles, this episode is for you.

What does it look like to build a real estate career the long way—without shortcuts, without flash, and without turning people away based on price?

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan sits down with Becki Wheeler (RE/MAX Big Bear), a Big Bear specialist who’s been in the trenches since 2001. Becki shares how she went from working three jobs and learning real estate from the ground up, to becoming a trusted name in her community—one client at a time.

You’ll hear a straight talk conversation on:

• Why empathy isn’t “soft”—it’s a competitive advantage

• What buyers and sellers really go through (including Becki’s own COVID-era experience)

• The truth about time, boundaries, and being available in a service business

• Why turning down “smaller” listings can cost you long-term trust—and referrals

• How consistency over years turns into a reputation that starts bringing clients to you

If you believe mastery isn’t a moment—it’s a pattern—this one will land.

In this final episode of the year, I share the fifth and final insight ChatGPT challenged me to talk about more: my commitment to lifelong learning and mastery—even after 40 years in business. I unpack why the most dangerous thing a veteran can do is coast on past wins, and why growth isn’t optional if you want to stay relevant: competition improves, customer expectations evolve, and technology changes the game.

I also share a Jim Rohn story about what it means to keep working your craft, plus lessons from my mentor Tim Wood on experimenting, adjusting, and continuing forward—even when your path isn’t a straight line. If you’ve hit a plateau, felt complacent, or wondered if it’s “too late” to reinvent yourself, this episode is your reminder: it’s not.

In this episode:

• Why “not improving” quietly becomes falling behind

• The power of compounded effort over decades

• How to experiment your way into the next level

• Real-world reminders that growth can start late (and still win big)

If this helps you, share it with someone who needs a reset going into the new year.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery, Mark pulls back the curtain on the real driver behind his work ethic: family, safety, and legacy—not just money. He shares the story of Andrew Carnegie’s life mission, a painful early-career negotiation that exposed his own financial vulnerability, and how growing up without financial security shaped his obsession with freedom and provision. You’ll learn why a stack of cash on a desk means nothing—and why what that money represents is what actually gets you out of bed without an alarm. Mark will challenge you to define the “why” that’s bigger than income, big enough to make you pick up the phone, learn new skills, and keep fighting for the life and legacy you want. This conversation aligns with the Time Tested Mastery belief that real success is built on purpose-driven action, not gimmicks.

Full Quote:

Here is a prompt I just gave Chat GPT… Based on everything you know about me what should people know about me that I rarely talk about?That’s a great self-reflective question. Here’s what stands out from everything I’ve learned about you—things that are powerful, but you don’t put front and center often:

1. You’ve rebuilt yourself more than once.Most people know you as the veteran broker, mentor, or podcaster—but you rarely highlight that you’ve had to start over in different seasons of life. From overcoming addiction, to navigating business shifts, to rebuilding after setbacks—you’re not just experienced, you’re battle-tested. That resilience is part of your DNA and gives credibility to everything you teach.

2. You lead with faith, even when it’s not fashionable.You’ve made it clear that your values come from timeless, Catholic-rooted principles—integrity, dignity, stewardship—but you tend to downplay how much faith has carried you through adversity. For many people, hearing that your success isn’t just hustle, but also humility and surrender, would deepen trust in your message.

3. Your heart for underdogs.You don’t just want to coach high-achievers—you want to reach people who didn’t have the roadmap, who grew up without mentors, support, or guidance. That empathy is rooted in your own story. You’ve walked the road of struggle, and that makes you uniquely equipped to walk alongside those who feel behind.

4. Your family and legacy matter more than the spotlight.You’ve built companies, sold real estate, stood on stages—but behind it all, you’re a husband, father, and grandfather. You don’t often highlight how deeply your drive for mastery is connected to providing, protecting, and leaving a legacy. That “why” is what gives weight to your words.

5. You’re a lifelong student—still sharpening the blade.You often mention your mentors, but you don’t always showcase how disciplined you are about continuing to learn, read, study, and push yourself even after 40 years in the business. That sets you apart from most veterans who coast on past wins. You’re proof that mastery is never finished.

Put simply: You’re not just a broker who became a coach—you’re someone who rebuilt, grounded yourself in timeless truth, and now shows ordinary people how to do extraordinary things.

n this deeply personal episode of Time Tested Mastery – Life Lesson Sell, Mark shares how even ChatGPT called out his true mission: a heart for underdogs. Not the already-polished high achievers—but the people who never got the roadmap, who grew up without mentors, support, or guidance.

Mark opens up about feeling like he never quite fit in, battling learned helplessness, and even confronting his own codependency in wanting success for others more than they wanted it for themselves. He breaks down why fear is an illusion, why your mental pictures matter, and how mentors and time-tested principles can turn struggle into strength.

If you’ve ever felt behind, out of place, or convinced that success is for “other people,” this conversation is for you. You’ll walk away with a simple but non-negotiable truth: nothing can stop you except your mind—and you can change your mind, your habits, and your future.

In this second episode of the 5-part Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell series, Mark Dolan pulls back the curtain on a part of his story most people never see: how faith, surrender, and God’s power have shaped his life, career, and long-term success in real estate and sales.

Building on a ChatGPT reflection exercise (full quote in the show notes), Mark unpacks the line:

“You lead with faith, even when it’s not fashionable.”

If you’ve ever thought, “I just don’t have enough strength, intelligence, or talent to win at this level,” this episode is for you. Mark shares how he went from learned helplessness and self-doubt to a life of progress by combining personal development, disciplined work, and a power greater than himself.

He talks candidly about:

• Overcoming addiction and the moment he realized he couldn’t win on his own

• Facing a cancer diagnosis at 48 and how it deepened, not weakened, his faith

• Moving from using God as a “panic button” to walking with Him daily

Mark also challenges the way we talk about goal setting in business. Big, audacious goals are useful—but they can also become a ceiling. He explains why God doesn’t have limits on what’s possible for your life, your business, or your impact.

• Why faith is a quiet engine behind real, lasting success

• The true meaning of surrender (and why it’s not quitting, it’s joining the winning side)

• How to think about goals, calling, and God’s plan in your business

• Why seemingly ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they’re connected to a higher power

If you’re a real estate agent, salesperson, or entrepreneur who feels like your own strength isn’t enough, this episode will help you see that you’re not supposed to do it alone.

If this resonates with you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s in a battle right now, and let Mark know in the comments how faith has played a role in your journey.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan pulls back the curtain on a piece of his story he doesn’t often talk about: what it really means to be battle-tested in life and in business.

Drawing from decades of rebuilding after addiction, childhood trauma, business setbacks, and market shifts, Mark breaks down why adversity isn’t a detour from your success—it’s the path to it. Using insights pulled from an AI exercise about his own life, plus wisdom from Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled and mentor Jim Rohn, Mark shows you how to stop wishing things were easier and start becoming stronger.

If you’re in real estate or sales and feel like you’re pushing through “hard soil” right now—rejection, changing markets, personal struggles—this episode will help you reframe the fight and embrace the battle in front of you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why everyone faces adversity—and why comparing stories doesn’t help.

• How to turn setbacks, rejection, and challenges into an actual competitive advantage.

• The mindset shift that makes difficulty stop feeling like a punishment and start feeling like progress.

• Why in sales, you are the product—and why that means you must rebuild yourself every year.

• The daily question to ask when you don’t like where you are.

Listen in if you’re ready to stop wishing for less problems and start building more skills, more resilience, and more courage for the next battle in your career.