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


Flipping homes may be a beneficial funding method, but for new traders, the path to fulfillment is regularly plagued by not-uncommon pitfalls. Patrick Ductant, an experienced real estate investor, emphasizes avoiding these common mistakes.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16162668/

Five Mistakes New Investors Make When Buying a House to Flip

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 🚀

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

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

Real estate continues to change fast, driven by technology, shifting client expectations, and new working methods. Staying ahead means more than just keeping up; it means improving how you serve clients, manage deals, and grow your business. Eric Udelhoven, a seasoned expert in the field, shares five practical tips to help real estate professionals work smarter, respond faster, and deliver better results. These ideas focus on solving real problems, saving time, and building stronger client relationships. Whether new to the industry or looking to refresh your approach, these tips offer a clear path forward.

Eric Udelhoven Shares 5 Key Tips to Improve Real Estate Work


Better Way to Track Your Production | Monday Morning Pep Talk Episode #278

Welcome to Episode 278 of Monday Morning Pep Talk.

This week’s episode is all about how to track your production in real estate — and more importantly, how to use your numbers to drive consistent, predictable growth.

Top-performing advisors and elite entrepreneurs do not guess. They track, forecast, and hold themselves accountable to clear production targets. In this episode, I break down exactly how to do the same so you can scale your business, keep your pipeline healthy, and stop leaving your results up to chance.

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

📌 12-Month Rolling Production:
Understand how to calculate your real production pace and spot trends before it is too late. This method gives you a real-time view of your business health.

📌 The Proper Size of a Real Estate Pipeline:
Learn why your active pipeline must be 1.5x your goal to avoid coming up short. I explain the math and mindset behind pipeline management for success.

📌 Creating Urgency in Prospecting:
Avoid complacency. Discover how visualizing lost opportunities (literally) can push you to prospect daily and stay committed to your income goals.

📌 Gamify Your Prospecting to Stay Consistent:
Borrowed from Atomic Habits, this simple trick turns outbound prospecting into a measurable and rewarding daily habit.

📌 Build a Massive Warm List:
Future deals come from future relationships. I share why warm leads deserve more attention and how staying top-of-mind prevents pipeline gaps.

📌 Know Your Numbers Cold:
Forecast like a CEO, not a salesperson. Use my framework to calculate exactly how many deals and leads you need — and track your production like a pro.

👉 This Episode Will Help You:
✅ Build a reliable and predictable real estate production system
✅ Stay accountable through visual tracking methods
✅ Eliminate dry spells with a deep, engaged warm list
✅ Reverse engineer your annual income goal into weekly and daily targets
✅ Take full ownership of your pipeline and sales process

💬 Ask Yourself:
• Am I truly tracking my real estate business — or guessing?
• Do I have enough in my pipeline to hit my income targets?
• Am I creating urgency around prospecting every single day?

📌 If your answers are uncertain, this episode will shift how you run your business.

🔗 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
🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-jim-miller/id1490481207



A Better Way to Track Your Production | Monday Morning Pep Talk Episode #278

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

Summer is a transitional season—routines shift, energy changes, and the structure of your week gets looser. But for top real estate advisors, summer is not a slowdown—it’s a reset. In this episode of Monday Morning Pep Talk, Jim Miller lays out a focused, tactical plan to make this your most intentional, productive summer yet.

Whether you’re closing deals or catching sunsets, this episode is your guide to blending growth with enjoyment—because a purposeful summer builds a sharper fall.

🧠 What You Will Learn in This Episode:
• 5 Essential Books – Curated titles to reshape how you think, lead, and operate.
• 3 Podcasts – Weekly listening to strengthen skills and shift perspective.
• Weekly Check-In Ritual – A Sunday/Monday habit to reset your week with clarity and intention.
• Morning Routine Framework – A 60-minute template to activate your body, mind, and business.
• AI Growth Challenge – Commit to 10 hours of learning and stay ahead of the industry curve.

This is your opportunity to design your growth. Self-development is not about doing more—it’s about becoming more. Let this be the season you upgrade your inputs, sharpen your tools, and build a business that reflects the best version of you.

🔔 SUBSCRIBE FOR WEEKLY COACHING CONTENT
New episodes every week with real estate strategies, systems, and insights to help you grow, lead, and Take Flight.
• Weekly Coaching Email → https://askjimmiller.com/contact/

📚 RESOURCES
• Reading List → https://askjimmiller.com/my-reading-list-2024/
• About Jim + Useful Docs → https://askjimmiller.com/take-flight-2/

📲 CONNECT WITH JIM
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago
YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@AskJimMiller

📘 Your Summer 2025 Self Development Syllabus | Monday Morning Pep Talk #282

Alaa Daloussi is a smart business leader with strong experience in real estate and construction. He believes real growth comes from careful planning and smart decisions. In this podcast, Alaa Daloussi explains 5 simple steps anyone can follow to grow in real estate the right way. From learning how the market works to choosing the right locations and thinking long term, his advice helps people make smart moves. These steps are easy to understand and work well for both new and experienced investors. His clear approach makes it easier to build success with confidence in today’s real estate world.

Alaa Daloussi Explains 5 Simple Steps for Real Estate Growth

Eric Udelhoven is an accomplished professional who blends expertise in construction, real estate, and technology with a visionary approach to innovation. With extensive experience in construction management, he has led projects emphasizing sustainability, efficiency, and long-term value. As the founder of Triangulum. global, Eric Udelhoven is redefining the real estate industry by integrating advanced technology to streamline processes and enhance outcomes. At Othala Enterprises, Eric Udelhoven focuses on developing and managing residential and commercial properties, ensuring each project leaves a positive and lasting impact on the community.

Based in Canada Alaa Daloussi is a results-driven entrepreneur, specializing in construction equipment and real estate development. He connects international machinery manufacturers with North American markets, overseeing sourcing, compliance, and delivery. In real estate, he partners on residential and commercial projects, focusing on land selection and infrastructure planning. Alaa’s hands-on approach and logistics expertise make him a key player in project planning, while his private portfolio targets long-term value in high-potential properties.

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.

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