What if your entire business model came down to one simple principle: give, give, give?

In Monday Morning Pep Talk #269, I’m revisiting the 2011 business plan that completely changed my career trajectory. That year, I made a bold decision to build my business purely on relationships—no transaction goals, no GCI targets, just a relentless focus on adding value. It was the foundation of Take Flight, and the principles I learned then are even more relevant today.

The real estate industry was in crisis—36% of all transactions in Chicago and Cook County were short sales or foreclosures, and we had 12-15+ months of inventory. Traditional lead generation tactics weren’t working. Instead of cold calling, I doubled down on helping people. By consistently providing insights and staying present when others disappeared, my business doubled for the second time in three years. That momentum shaped everything I teach today.

If you’re looking for a predictable and enjoyable way to grow your business—without the constant peaks and valleys—this episode is for you.

What You'll Learn:
✅ How 2011 taught me to build a career, not just chase transactions
✅ Why a relationship-based business is more sustainable than prospecting
✅ How top advisors stay top-of-mind by engaging their five lists
✅ The critical role of a CRM in scaling a relationship-based model
✅ Why giving isn’t about bartering—it’s about influence
✅ How leading indicators (client engagement, conversations) drive long-term success
✅ Why today's top brands win by giving first before asking for business

The 2011 Playbook – Still Relevant Today:
📌 Give, give, give—then give more
📌 Your business is built in conversations, not contracts
📌 Stop thinking in transactions, start thinking in decades
📌 If you feel helpless, be helpful—but systematize it
📌 No CRM? No business. CRM = Stability & Scale
📌 Your influence is built on authentic giving, not expectation
📌 Leading indicators (meaningful conversations) predict success, not lagging ones (closings)

Final Thought: The Modern Version of Giving
Today’s most successful brands give value before they ever ask for business. The same applies to a relationship-based real estate business. If you’re not consistently nurturing your network, engaging your past clients, and staying top-of-mind, you’ll always be forced into transactional prospecting instead of a sustainable, repeat business model.

If you want to create predictable success, watch this episode and start implementing these principles today.

📩 Get More Coaching & Resources
📬 Join My Weekly Email List → www.askjimmiller.com
📧 Email Me → Jim@askjimmiller.com
📲 Follow Me on Instagram → www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts → podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-jim-miller/id1490481207
🎵 Stream on Spotify → open.spotify.com/show/639ZlTcWjTNW9Cdq8QkwQJ

🔔 Don’t Forget to:
👍 Like this video if you found it helpful
💬 Drop a comment: What’s your biggest takeaway?
📢 Share this episode with someone who would benefit
🔔 Subscribe & turn on notifications for weekly coaching content


🔑 The Business Plan That Changed Everything | Monday Morning Pep Talk #269 ✈️

In a competitive market, success isn’t just about selling—it’s about leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, build relationships, and close deals faster.

🔑 In this episode, I’m sharing how I use technology to streamline communication, manage transactions, and engage with my database—so you can work smarter, not harder.

📲 Here’s what you’ll learn:

1️⃣ Mastering "Send Later" for Text, Email & Instagram DMs
Timing is everything. A well-placed message can be the difference between winning or losing a client.

💡 Why This Matters:
✅ Schedule follow-ups for peak engagement
✅ Avoid late-night messages while maintaining workflow
✅ Stay consistent without being tied to your phone

🔹 How to Use It:
📩 iMessage: Tap the plus icon → Select Send Later
📧 Email: Hold send → Choose Schedule Send
📥 Instagram DMs: Hold send → Select Send Later

This strategy keeps your outreach intentional and proactive.

2️⃣ The Notes App: A Simple Yet Powerful Productivity Tool
Smart advisors use apps like Apple Notes, Evernote, or Notion to store repeatable messages.

📝 Why It Works:
✅ Saves time—quickly copy, paste, and personalize
✅ Ensures consistency across platforms
✅ Reduces mental fatigue—your best messaging is ready to go

🔹 Pro Tip:
Create a “Frequently Used Messages” folder for:
✔️ Client Check-ins
✔️ Lead Follow-ups
✔️ Thank You Notes
✔️ Market Updates

Pairing templates with scheduled sending keeps your communication personal and professional.

3️⃣ AI Assistants Like ChatGPT: Your Personal Writing Coach
If you’re not using AI, you’re falling behind. AI helps advisors draft, edit, and optimize messaging in seconds.

🤖 How AI Boosts Efficiency:
✅ Refines emails, texts, and scripts for clarity
✅ Generates client-friendly explanations for market insights
✅ Saves hours—AI gets you 85-90% of the way there instantly

🔹 How I Use It:
✍️ Refining client emails
📢 Drafting social media posts
📊 Summarizing market trends

AI won’t replace your voice—it’ll enhance it.

4️⃣ Scheduling Follow-ups Like a Pro
Forgetting to follow up = lost deals.

🔹 The Fix:
🔁 Use reminders & scheduled messages to follow up before clients expect it
📅 Keep a rolling follow-up calendar for warm leads and past clients
📝 Automate check-ins using "Send Later" to stay top of mind

By combining scheduled messaging, templates, and AI-powered writing, you can run a high-touch business without sacrificing your time.

5️⃣ Small Adjustments = Massive Gains
Success isn’t just effort—it’s strategy. High-performing advisors leverage systems to amplify results.

🔹 Ask Yourself:
✅ Where am I losing valuable time?
✅ Am I open to adopting digital strategies?
✅ Which of these 5 tips can I start using immediately?

The difference between good and great is execution. Take control of your time, maximize client engagement, and stay ahead of the competition.

📩 Get More Coaching & Resources

📬 Join My Weekly Email List: www.askjimmiller.com
📲 Follow Me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

#MondayMorningPepTalk #TheWeeklyFlightPath #AskJimMiller #TakeFlight #RealEstateCoaching #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurSuccess #HighPerformanceHabits #ProductivityHacks #SuccessMindset #TimeManagement #BusinessDevelopment #RealEstateSuccess #AdvisorCoaching #NetworkingTips #RealEstateAdvisor #CRMStrategy

Mastering Digital Efficiency: 5 Tech Hacks for Real Estate Advisors | Monday Morning Pep Talk #270 🚀

Welcome to episode 271 of Monday Morning Pep Talk. Today, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood aspects of high-performance real estate—the battle between vision and ego.

Vision vs. Ego: The Real Battle
Your vision is the promise you’ve made to yourself—the life you want, the impact you seek. Your ego is the external fuel—rankings, recognition, competition—that pushes you forward.

📌 When ego leads, you lose sight of your purpose.
📌 When vision lacks drive, you struggle to take action.

I’ve lived both sides—from my real estate heart attack in 2008 to rebuilding my career and redefining success. Today, I’ll show you how to turn ego into fuel and ensure every step aligns with your true purpose.

Are You Letting Ego Lead?
Many advisors fall into ego-driven thoughts:
🔹 I need to be #1 to feel successful.
🔹 If I don’t beat my competitor, I’ve failed.
🔹 I must prove something to others.
🔹 I have to dominate at my age.
🔹 I need a comeback to silence doubters.
🔹 I’ll just grind—I don’t need a vision.

If these thoughts drive you, you’re chasing an empty scoreboard. The game changes when ego fuels vision—not the other way around.

Winning the Internal Battle
Ask yourself:
❓ Are you focused on your progress or distracted by others?
❓ Are you making daily commitments or searching for excuses?
❓ Are you surrounding yourself with people who elevate you?

Your mindset, habits, and strategy determine your results. If you wake up chasing external validation, you’re in a losing game. But if you’re committed to becoming the highest version of yourself, you’re on the right path.

The Commitment to You vs. You
This is why I created Take Flight—to help advisors win their battle. But here’s the truth:

➡️ The commitment must come from YOU.

If you don’t commit to competing against yourself, you’ll eventually hit your own version of a real estate heart attack.

💡 The battle is won in your mind. It lasts years, not weeks.
💡 When you push past doubt and distraction, your life transforms.

Lifting Others as You Climb
As real estate award season begins, achievements are recognized, rankings are posted. But true success isn’t just about winning your battle—it’s about helping others win theirs.

➡️ Be the mentor.
➡️ Be the encouragement.
➡️ Be the inspiration.

Take Flight: Your Next Level
At Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 50 advisors are beginning their Take Flight journey—the coaching program I created to help advisors reach new heights.

Personal and professional growth is a continuous journey. Now is the time to commit to your next level.

🏡 That house I thought I built in 2008? Looking back, I realize the truth—That house built me.

Team, have a great week. I’ll talk to you next Monday.

🚀 Stay Connected with Jim Miller
📩 Join My Monday Morning Pep Talk Weekly Email → www.askjimmiller.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube → www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3o0Wp1nE8dV_r1TFRb_Uw
📲 Follow on Instagram → www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

The Journey to 'You vs You' | Monday Morning Pep Talk #271

Most real estate advisors never actually take flight. They stay stuck on the runway, burning energy without ever reaching cruising altitude. Why? Because they never optimize their business for predictable, sustainable success.

In this episode of Monday Morning Pep Talk, I take you behind the Take Flight framework—how I developed it and why it remains the foundation of building a successful, scalable real estate business.

📌 If your real estate business feels unpredictable, exhausting, or like you're constantly starting over, this episode is for you. The key is to break free from the stop-and-start cycle and create a business that runs efficiently, attracts high-quality clients, and supports the life you want to live.

🚀 This is the Take Flight philosophy. It’s not about just working harder—it’s about working smarter, implementing the right systems, and reaching 30,000 feet, where your business becomes self-sustaining.

✈️ Where Are You in Your Business Journey?

🔹 Still on the runway? → You’re working hard but not gaining momentum. It’s time to simplify your strategies, focus on the right clients, and build consistency.
🔹 Climbing but struggling? → You’re getting traction but still feel turbulence. This means it’s time to optimize your CRM, improve branding, build your referral network, and systematize marketing.
🔹 At 30,000 feet? → Your business is running efficiently. Now, the focus shifts to scaling your relationships, optimizing time management, and positioning yourself as a market leader.

📌 Most advisors get stuck in a cycle of constant takeoff. They start and stop, never reaching a level where business is predictable, sustainable, and truly enjoyable.

🚀 In this episode, I’ll help you identify where you are in your business and what you need to focus on next.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ How to transition from an unpredictable, reactive business to a strategic, sustainable one
✔️ The 3 phases of growth (Runway, Climb, and Cruising Altitude) and how to move from one to the next
✔️ Why most advisors stay stuck in the takeoff phase for years and how to break free
✔️ The biggest mistakes real estate professionals make that keep them in constant struggle mode
✔️ How to use CRM, branding, and relationship marketing to create an inbound pipeline of high-quality clients
✔️ What it really takes to build a real estate business that supports your lifestyle—not one that drains your time and energy

📌 If you want to create a business that is predictable, sustainable, and aligned with your personal and professional goals, this episode will show you the path.

📩 Subscribe & Watch New Episodes Every Monday

Join my Monday Morning Pep Talk Weekly Email and get:
✅ Exclusive coaching strategies to optimize your real estate business
✅ Actionable systems to create predictable success
✅ Proven frameworks that top advisors use to scale
📩 Sign up here → www.askjimmiller.com

📺 Watch More Monday Morning Pep Talks

🔹 Catch all past episodes & subscribe on YouTube → www.youtube.com/@askjimmiller

📲 Stay Connected for More Real Estate Coaching

🔹 Instagram → www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔹 LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

🔔 Don’t Forget to:

👍 Like this episode if it resonated with you!
💬 Comment below—Where are YOU in your business journey?
📢 Share this episode with a fellow real estate professional.

💡 Jim’s Mission Statement

"My professional purpose is to help you, the full-service, full-fee advisor, optimize your productivity and become the best version of yourself. Why? Because happy advisors sell more real estate."

🚀 If you can effectively manage the challenges and opportunities in your business, you will create a sustainable, scalable career that supports the life you want to live.


Why Most Advisors Never Take Flight 🚀 | Monday Morning Pep Talk #272

Burnout is not a rite of passage. It is a warning light—and this week’s Monday Morning Pep Talk is here to make sure you never ignore it again.

In Episode 274, Jim Miller gets personal and tactical. He unpacks the real reason most real estate advisors and entrepreneurs crash: they don’t schedule rest—they collapse into it. This episode outlines how to prevent burnout before it starts, with a business and life strategy that is both practical and sustainable.

If you’ve ever promised yourself, “this year will be different” but found yourself right back in the grind by April, this episode will show you how to finally break that cycle.


💡 Key Takeaway:
If you do not control your time, your business will control your life. The best advisors don’t just plan their work—they plan their recovery.

🧭 Your Mission
Start planning your business around your life—not the other way around. Be honest about your capacity. Build SOPs. Hire below your pay grade. Protect your downtime.

Because burnout doesn’t just cost you professionally.
It will cost you your joy, your health, your relationships, and your ability to lead.

"This industry will take everything you’re willing to give—and then it will ask for more." – Jim Miller
📲 Stay Connected

📩 Join My Weekly Email List:
www.askjimmiller.com

📲 Instagram:
www.instagram.com/askjimmiller

🔗 LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

📺 Subscribe on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@askjimmiller


🔥 Avoid Burnout at All Costs | Monday Morning Pep Talk #274

Welcome to Episode 275 of Monday Morning Pep Talk.

This week, we are going deep on a word that gets tossed around a lot in real estate—but rarely lived out: fiduciary.
FIDUCIARY: What It Really Means

It sounds powerful. It sounds professional. But most advisors using the word aren’t actually showing up that way in their day-to-day business.

Too many agents are functioning as facilitators—not fiduciaries. They’re taking orders, moving people from step to step, doing what’s easy—not what’s right. And clients? They can feel it.
📌 A facilitator helps.
📌 A fiduciary leads.

A true fiduciary puts the client’s interest first—even when it’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly. Especially then.
In this episode, I break down:
✅ Why most agents default to “suitability” thinking—and why that’s not enough
✅ The subtle ways clients know when you’re faking it
✅ What separates a true advisor from an order-taker
✅ Why trust—not likability—is the real currency that compounds
✅ How to build a business around referrals by earning trust daily

Ask Yourself This:

If you got paid nothing on a deal, would your advice change?
If the answer is yes, you’re not advising. You’re selling.
That’s the hard truth—and the standard we all need to hold ourselves to if we want to build something long-term.
This episode is your invitation to shift from transactional thinking to transformational service—to be a fiduciary not just in name, but in action.

Are You Earning Trust Every Day?

🔹 Do your clients feel safe, or sold to?
🔹 Are you showing up to impress—or to guide?
🔹 Are you willing to lose a deal to protect your client’s future?
Trust is built through behavior. It’s earned in quiet moments—when no one is watching, and there’s no commission on the line.

In real estate, your legacy is not built on sales. It’s built on service.

The Standard Has Been Raised. If you want to stand out in this market, it won’t come from louder marketing. It will come from deeper relationships and a higher level of professionalism. Lead with integrity. Advise with clarity. And put the client first—every single time.

Have a great week, team. I’ll talk to you next Monday.

🚀 Stay Connected with Jim Miller
📩 Join My Monday Morning Pep Talk Weekly Email → www.askjimmiller.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube → www.youtube.com/channel/UCe3o0Wp1nE8dV_r1TFRb_Uw
📲 Follow on Instagram → www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

FIDUCIARY: What It Really Means | Monday Morning Pep Talk Episode 275

Welcome to Episode 279 of Monday Morning Pep Talk.

In this episode, we are talking about time optimization — and why the best way to manage your time is the way that actually works for you.

There is no universal perfect system. True optimization is about building a rhythm that matches your style, protects your time, and ensures you stay productive and consistent without burning out. Elite advisors do not waste time chasing perfection — they simplify, eliminate, automate, and protect their most valuable resource.

👉 What You Will Learn in This Real Estate Productivity Training:

📌 The Myth of the Perfect System:
Success comes from consistency, not complexity. Learn why your approach should fit your natural workflow — not someone else’s formula.

📌 10 Essential Time Optimization Strategies:
From eliminating low-value activities to upgrading tech, automating tasks, and delegating wisely — these principles keep you in control of your time.

📌 Analog Meets Digital:
Hear why even top producers use simple, analog tools to execute their daily plans — and why this balance helps maintain focus.

📌 Breaking the Scroll and Setting Boundaries:
Social media, streaming, and interruptions can hijack your focus. Learn how to stop distractions and guard your calendar.

📌 The Power of AI and Delegation:
Use AI and smart delegation to eliminate tasks below your profit per hour — buying back time to focus on what matters most.

📌 Reinvesting Saved Time:
Understand how to take the time you save and pour it back into your personal well-being and high-value business activities.

👉 This Episode Will Help You:

✅ Stop chasing rigid routines and do what works for you
✅ Build a sustainable, repeatable rhythm for your day and week
✅ Eliminate busywork and increase time for revenue-generating activities
✅ Avoid burnout and maintain control of your time and priorities
✅ Reinforce that consistency — not perfection — is the key to scaling your business

💬 Ask Yourself:

• Am I forcing a time management system that does not fit how I work?
• Am I protecting my time — or letting distractions control my day?
• Am I reinvesting saved time into what matters most?

📌 If you are uncertain, this episode will give you a better way forward.

🔗 Stay Connected with Jim Miller — Real Estate Coaching for Advisors:

📩 Join My Weekly Email → www.askjimmiller.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube → www.youtube.com/@AskJimMiller
📲 Follow on Instagram → www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

Time Optimization — Do What Works For You | Monday Morning Pep Talk Episode #279

Discover expert funding insights to help entrepreneurs boost sales and scale their ventures. In this episode, Craig Emslie shares proven tips, strategies, and practical advice on securing capital to fuel sustainable business growth. Visit here: https://www.crunchbase.com/person/craig-emslie-f5eb

Craig Emslie Talks About Funding Tips For Entrepreneurs To Boost Sales

Innovation is reshaping modern entrepreneurship, helping startups grow faster and smarter. In this podcast, Eric Tippetts shares insights on how creative strategies, resilient cultures, and customer-focused solutions are driving long-term entrepreneurial success in today’s competitive world. Visit here: https://www.reddit.com/user/erictippettsus


Eric Tippetts Talks About Innovation Driving Entrepreneurial Growth

Entrepreneurs thrive with the right team, and recruiters play a vital role in shaping success by connecting startups with top talent. Craig Emslie explains how expert recruitment builds strong sales teams, drives growth, and ensures long-term business success for entrepreneurs worldwide. Visit here: https://www.f6s.com/craigemslie


Craig Emslie Talks About How Recruiters Shape Entrepreneurial Success

Craig Emslie, founder of SalesMatch, helps growing online businesses scale through elite sales recruitment. A former NCAA athlete and Olympic swimming hopeful, Craig blends athletic discipline with global experience to lead with precision, passion, and proven performance in sales leadership.

Jim Miller is a success mentor and life coach who guides top real estate brokers from around the country while managing 2.3B+ in sales production as Designated Managing Broker with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in Chicago, Illinois.  He is also recognized as a top real estate coach to top Sotheby's International Realty brokers in 35 luxury markets.

New tracks tagged #EntrepreneurSuccess