In this episode of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens sits down with Ryan Smith for an honest and powerful conversation on leadership, mindset, and faith in real estate.

From navigating a tough market and having hard client conversations, to leading with integrity, core values, and purpose, Ryan shares the timeless principles that help his team thrive—no matter the conditions.

This is more than a real estate conversation; it’s a masterclass in faith-based leadership, culture building, and personal alignment. If you’ve been feeling the tension between growth and gratitude, business and balance, this episode will remind you what really matters and how to lead from the inside out.

• Why your mindset determines your altitude, not the market conditions.

• How to stay proactive when transactions slow and uncertainty rises.

• Why fundamentals and skill mastery always win over hype and panic.

• How to bring clients back into what Ryan calls the “Circle of Reality.”

• Why early expectation-setting prevents frustration later in the process.

• When to walk away from clients—and how honesty always builds trust long-term.

• The power of hiring based on values, not production alone.

• Why culture is just a collection of your people—and how one wrong fit can shift everything.

• The “gardener” analogy: pruning your team for health and growth.

• How Ryan structures his business around his faith and family priorities.

• Why excellence in business flows from spiritual and personal alignment.

• Balancing ambition with purpose: redefining success beyond production numbers.

• The “Story Model” for self-awareness: how your internal narrative shapes your results.

• Why agents must master mindset before strategy.

• How to create a culture where team members can call each other out with truth and trust.

• Why honesty and excellence set you apart when others take shortcuts.

• The shrinking competition and growing chance to win listings and market share.

• The power of attraction through doing the right thing—consistently.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive coaching for growth-minded agents

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

• The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! by Greg Crabtree

• The Bible, Matthew 7:24–27 – Building your foundation on the rock

True leadership isn’t about selling more homes—it’s about building your business on character, consistency, and conviction.

As Ryan puts it:

“All I can do is the next right thing. Do it over and over, and that’s what leads to your breakthrough.”

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
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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 of The John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens and Joel Perso unpack what it really takes to scale your real estate business and eventually step out of production—without losing control, clarity, or cash flow.

From AI-powered leadership and communication to strategic planning and financial modeling, this conversation breaks down the mindset and systems behind building a business that serves your life, not the other way around.

Whether you’re a solo agent working toward your first million or a team leader looking to escape production, this episode delivers a playbook for scaling with strategy, clarity, and confidence.

• Why AI should amplify your leadership—not replace it.

• How to prompt AI to challenge your thinking instead of feeding your bias.

• The key difference between AI-assisted leadership and AI-dependent leadership.
  
  

• Why every agent and team needs a repeatable planning process.

• How to build clarity into your vision, model, and execution.

• The “Agent to CEO Framework” — a proven structure for thinking like a CEO.
  
  

• The three pillars of stepping out of production:

• 1. Strategic planning to prevent drift.

  2. Repeatable value propositions for buyers, sellers, and agents.

  3. A clear financial model that supports your next move.

• Why most leaders fail at stepping out—and how to forecast before you leap.
  
  

• Why market-based wages are the foundation of sustainable growth.

• The financial traps that keep leaders stuck in production.

• How to leverage your real estate business as a wealth engine for investments.
  
  

• Why clarity and vision come before every major decision.

• The mindset shift from chasing transactions to building opportunities.

• How top agents are turning their teams into vehicles for financial freedom.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive Coaching for agents ready to scale like CEOs

• The Agent to CEO Framework – Proven path from production to leadership

• Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! by Greg Crabtree

• The Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

• The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale

Final Takeaway

Building a business that gives you freedom isn’t about hustling harder—it’s about leading smarter. Strategic planning, financial clarity, and the right systems turn production into profit and chaos into control.

And as Joel Perso reminds us:

“The essence of strategy isn’t what you do—it’s what you decide not to do.”

• 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 powerhouse episode that is originally streamed 7 months ago, John Kitchens, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek dive deep into the future of real estate leadership, the evolution of brokerage models, and what the next 18 months will look like for the industry.

From Keller Williams’ latest strategic moves to the unstoppable rise of EXP Realty, the crew unpacks the business lessons, market realities, and leadership frameworks that define success in a rapidly changing market.

This conversation isn’t just about brokerage wars—it’s about building a moat around your business, leading through uncertainty, and embracing innovation, data, and AI to stay relevant in the new era of real estate.

• Why your moat—the defensibility of your business model—will determine survival in the next 18 months.

• How to think like a wartime CEO and lead through disruption.

• Why leadership loyalty, core values, and promoting from within build unbeatable organizations.

• What Keller Williams’ latest moves reveal about the state of traditional brokerages.

• Why culture kept KW alive—and why innovation is now leaving it behind.

• The pitfalls of the franchise model vs. the agility of cloud-based companies.

• Why EXP’s operational efficiency and same-day pay systems are redefining brokerage excellence.

• How EXP’s value stack—EOS leadership training, luxury branding, and legal support—creates a true “business in a box” for agents.

• The next strategic move EXP is making (hint: it’s about to cripple the competition).

• The race between brokerages to own data + AI—and why that’s where the real power lies.

• How AI will reshape not just agent operations but also the consumer buying and selling journey.

• Why the agents who learn to leverage AI now will dominate the next decade.

• How fast growth exposes weak talent—and why “ones and threes” matter for scaling.

• Why every CEO must master the cycle of clarity, constraint, and culture.

• What EXP’s leadership lessons from Glen Sanford and Leo Pareja teach about visionary vs. wartime leadership.

• JohnKitchens.coach – Executive coaching for agents ready to lead like CEOs.

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Community, training, and resources for top-performing agents.

• Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

• The Ultimate Question 2.0 by Fred Reichheld

• The Theory of Constraints by Eliyahu Goldratt

• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle

The next era of real estate belongs to leaders—not just agents.
Those who master adaptability, embrace AI, and lead with clarity and conviction will outlast every market shift.

“The companies that win are the ones that keep adding value faster than anyone else.” - Jay Kinder

• 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! 🔥