In this episode of the John Kitchens Coach Podcast, John Kitchens and Joel Perso close out the Agent to CEO six-part series by unpacking the final and most critical milestone: The Leadership Flywheel.

This conversation is all about building a self-managing, self-sustaining team—one that doesn't rely on you as the bottleneck. John and Joel break down how elite leaders design lean organizational structures, recruit true A-players, and create leadership development systems that generate momentum instead of burnout.

If you've ever felt trapped by your team, overwhelmed by people decisions, or unsure how to scale without chaos, this episode delivers the blueprint for moving from operator to architect—and leading at the CEO level.

• What a flywheel really is—and why leadership must create momentum, not friction

• Why teams fail when leadership systems aren't intentional

• How leaders move from "doing" to designing the business
  
  

• Using the Functional Accountability Chart (FAC) to separate people from roles

• Why you must define functions before hiring humans

• How AI-first thinking reshapes org design and eliminates unnecessary roles
  
  

• What an A-player actually is (and what they are not)

• Why "job done 90% of the time within the pay range" is the real standard

• How resourcefulness separates high performers from everyone else
  
  

• The correct order: AI → VAs → Fractional → Full-time

• Why hiring out of pain creates long-term damage

• How modern leaders raise the talent ceiling while lowering overhead
  
  

• Why expectations fail—and agreements win

• How data-driven scorecards eliminate ambiguity

• Creating clear ownership so leaders stop rescuing their team
  
  

• Why leadership isn't just for managers—it's for everyone

• Creating micro-leadership opportunities inside your organization

• The power of daily wins, public accountability, and cultural ownership
  
  

• Why C-players burn out A-players faster than workload

• How to identify when roles need to split before performance drops

• Monitoring hours, opportunity alignment, and growth paths
  
  

• The Agent to CEO Framework

• Functional Accountability Chart (FAC)

• Honey Badger Nation

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach

• Concepts from Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni, David Marquet
  
  

You don't scale by hiring more people—you scale by designing better leadership systems.

The Leadership Flywheel isn't about control. It's about clarity, ownership, and momentum. When leaders design the structure, recruit intentionally, and develop leadership at every level, the business stops relying on them—and starts growing without them.

"You can't build a self-sustaining business without developing leaders. That's the flywheel." – John Kitchens

• 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 episode, John Kitchens welcomes back powerhouse leader Brett Sikora for a deep, real-world conversation on intentional growth, leadership decisions, and scaling without chaos.

Recorded nearly five years after Brett's first appearance during the height of COVID lockdowns, this conversation reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his brokerage's evolution—from doubling down during uncertainty to building one of the most stable, scalable, and culture-driven organizations in the country.

Brett breaks down how real growth doesn't come from chasing shiny objects or expanding out of ego, but from clarity around avatar, disciplined recruiting, financial visibility, and relentless focus on developing leaders who create leaders. If you're a team leader, broker-owner, or agent thinking about growth, mergers, or expansion, this episode delivers hard-earned lessons you can apply immediately.

• How Brett leaned into opportunity during COVID instead of playing defense

• Identifying the right buyers and agents when the market feels unstable

• Why growth during hard times creates long-term leverage

• Why most teams grow by accident—and why that kills profitability

• The dangers of recruiting without a clear avatar

• How Brett filters agents before they ever join the organization

• Why part-time and misaligned agents drain leadership energy

• The numbers behind effective recruiting conversations

• How saying "no" protects culture, profitability, and leadership focus

• Why systems don't replace leadership

• The real power of one-on-one coaching conversations

• Shifting from leading agents to developing leaders who create leaders

• Understanding P&Ls before scaling or merging

• The hidden costs inside team growth

• Why knowing your numbers is non-negotiable for CEOs

• The mistakes Brett made expanding too early

• Why most expansions lose money before they make sense

• How to evaluate markets, leadership, and density before expanding

• The difference between a "sexy idea" and a smart decision

• Protecting A-players by not tolerating B- and C-players

• Why leadership energy must be invested where it compounds

• Building an organization where agents can achieve their biggest goals
  
  

• Expert Mentors Live

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → https://johnkitchens.coach

• Concepts referenced:

  • Intentional recruiting & avatar clarity

  • Leadership development through coaching

  • Financial discipline and P&L awareness

  • Expansion strategy vs. ego-driven growth
    
    

Growth doesn't come from adding more people—it comes from making better decisions.

The teams that win long-term are led by CEOs who know when to say no, who they're building for, and how to invest their time where it creates the most leverage. Expansion, recruiting, and scale only work when they're rooted in clarity, leadership, and discipline—not ego.

"If it's not a hell yes, it's a no. And knowing when to say no might be the most powerful leadership skill you have."

• 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, John Kitchens sits down with Oklahoma City powerhouse and brokerage owner Will Mahan for a raw, real, and revealing conversation about leadership, obsession, building culture, and the evolution every top-producing agent must go through to truly become a CEO.

Will takes us through his 15-year journey—from life insurance to top-tier real estate producer, to team leader, to eXp influencer, and now the founder of a rapidly growing hybrid brokerage built around entrepreneurship, investing, and true wealth creation. He breaks down why most agents stall out, why leadership matters more than ever, and how to build a business that aligns with your strengths, your energy, and your long-term vision.

If you're craving clarity on scaling, culture, leadership, and building a business that actually gives you time, money, and location freedom, this episode will hit you right between the eyes.

• How selling life insurance built the foundation for his real estate success

• Why obsession—not interest—is the real separator in this industry

• The mentors who shaped his business mindset and leadership style

• How Will realized "commission checks" weren't the same as "building a business"

• The mindset traps that hit agents once they reach $250K… $500K… and even $1M GCI

• Why ego is the silent killer of progress

• The difference between being interested, committed, and obsessed

• Why humility is the single greatest leadership trait

• What Will looks for in mentors and why "yes-men" are dangerous

• The strategic thinking behind leaving eXp

• How he identified a massive gap in the OKC market

• The rise of the Hybrid Agent and why his brokerage attracts entrepreneurs, investors, and multi-cultural talent

• Building a culture where agents learn flipping, BRRRR, private money, and wealth-building methods—not just how to get commissions

• The harsh truth: agents stop doing what got them to success

• The false comfort of leverage when you don't reallocate your time correctly

• How agents accidentally sabotage their growth by abandoning the fundamentals

• Why Will intentionally reduced his agent count to increase production

• The dramatic results: double the transactions with fewer agents

• What his top 25 agents do that the others don't:

  • They show up

  • They take notes

  • They stay coachable

  • They stay consistent

– Why leading with energy and passion fuels culture
– The fulfillment that comes from watching agents become wealthier, empowered, and confident
– How to create a business that supports your life—not the other way around

– The Need to Lead by Dave Berke
– Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin
– Agent to CEO Coaching Framework
– John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach

You don't build a real estate business by accident—you build it with clarity, consistency, leadership, and obsession.
As Will demonstrates, the path to real freedom comes from knowing who you are, what energizes you, and building the business that aligns with that vision.

"Show up with passion. Show up with energy. If you pour into your people, they'll run through a brick wall for you." – Will Mahan

• 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 another powerful guest episode, John Kitchens takes the hot seat for a deep dive into the real roadblocks holding agents back from real success. This conversation unpacks the journey from overwhelmed producer to intentional CEO — and why most agents stay stuck far longer than they should.

John opens up about his early days in real estate, the tough lessons learned through market crashes, building and scaling brokerages, and how escaping "hero mode" transformed everything. He breaks down the exact mindset shifts, business models, and strategic frameworks agents must adopt if they want real freedom — not just another job disguised as a business.

From hiring mistakes and bottlenecks to leadership identity and the future of AI-driven consumer behavior, this episode is a blueprint for any agent ready to scale with clarity, systems, and confidence.

This is the episode that will challenge how you think — and change how you run your business.

• How a chance introduction to Jay Kinder changed the trajectory of his life

• What he learned from operating in both small-town and mega-market environments

• Why tough markets (like 2007–2011) built the muscle that made long-term success possible

• The mindset move from salesperson → business owner

• Why clarity, forecasting, and financial visibility matter more than "hustle"

• Understanding your "freedom number" and the Perfect Day framework
  
  

• How skipping steps creates collapse later

• Why most agents actually have a talent problem, not a lead problem

• Understanding the Theory of Constraints and using bottlenecks to guide growth

• How proven systems (not heroics) remove you from production

• Why agents should leverage VAs, AI, and the global workforce

• What "unique ability" means — and how it decides who you should hire next

• Hiring out of pain instead of strategy

• Jumping too fast without a clear role or process

• How to time your first and second key hires

• The breakfast that changed everything — sitting across from Glenn Sanford

• How John, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek hit their 10-year vision in 18 months

• Why eXp's platform, flexibility, and long-term sustainability matter

• Why agents must become knowledge-based experts, not order-takers

• How AI will change consumer behavior — and what pros must do now

• Why adaptability, trust, and content leadership will dominate the next 5 years

• CoachKitchens.ai — AI-powered real estate business systems

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach

• The Goal by Eli Goldratt — Theory of Constraints

• Who Moved My Cheese? — Adaptability mindset

• The Perfect Day exercise by Frank Kern

You can't scale chaos.
If you want real freedom — financial and lifestyle — you must think, act, and decide like a CEO. That means knowing your numbers, identifying your constraints, and building a business that uncovers opportunities instead of chasing transactions.

"Skipping steps only presents the illusion of speed." — John Kitchens

• 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! 🔥