Let’s examine the five languages of appreciation in the workplace and their direct impact on team culture and retention. Sam discusses how to recognise, motivate and support your staff using strategies backed by research and shaped by real-life experience.

With reference to her upcoming book, Sam talks about understanding what makes each team member feel valued - from words of affirmation to acts of service, and how that translates to improved productivity, loyalty and stronger team bonds.

Matching your appreciation style to the individual can reduce staff turnover, enhance morale, and lead to a more harmonious workplace environment.

The 5 Languages of Appreciation is based on ‘The Five Love Languages’ by Gary Chapman, which can be found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Love-Languages-Secret-Lasts/dp/0802473156

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Team members receive appreciation in different ways; understanding their preferences can lead to higher retention and engagement.
➡️ Performance reviews and open communication make a team feel valued and clarify roles in your estate agency.
➡️ Approaches like quality time, tangible gifts and appropriate physical touch need to be applied with care and awareness.

Some great moments:

✅ “You can only be as happy as your unhappiest team member… A happy team is a happy you.”
✅ “If you show your love and appreciation to them in the way that they prefer, it resonates much more clearly and deeply.”
✅ “What we're trying to do is help people be the best form of themselves they can possibly be. And that is going to take time and effort from you.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Here is part 2 of the AI for Agents webinar that Sam and Phil wanted to share with you! If you missed part 1, go and check out the previous episode.

This podcast will help you understand the difference between SEO and GEO (That’s Generative Engine Optimisation), find out why clear, extractable website text is now essential, how listings on third-party sites like Rightmove can influence AI recommendations and learn how to construct prompts that improve your visibility and reach.

Why is PR going to become even more valuable, how AI is changing search habits and which areas of your agency can you automate with AI integration tools?

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ AI is rapidly shifting the landscape for independent estate agency marketing and search visibility.

➡️ Getting your website and content AI-ready is now vital to capture new leads and referrals.

➡️ Third-party profiles, comparison pages, and clear, extractable text make a difference to how AI recommends your agency.

Some great moments:

✅ “At the moment AI is using our own website to feed back towards that information, but it's also using third party and it prefers third party websites.”

✅ “Language needs to be simple, straightforward and extractable...It doesn't go into videos... it's going to go to the most easily extractable text.”

✅ “Create comparison pages...you can put yourself at the top of that ranking and AI will take that as fact and then report that back to a searcher.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Recently Sam and Phil hosted a webinar called ‘AI for Agents - 5 Easy Ways to Use AI in Your Estate Agency TODAY’ and they wanted to share it with you on the podcast, so we’ve split it into two parts and you can listen to part 1 this week and part 2 next week.

You’ll hear practical examples of how to use AI for property descriptions, summarising complaints, market analysis, and automating everyday admin. Sam shares how AI helped structure an entire action plan for a client, while Phil highlights the impact of AI on consumer behaviour and how this could shift the way agencies are chosen.

Which AI tool should you choose? ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google Gemini? We take a look at the strengths and limitations of the most popular AI assistants and demonstrate how to craft better prompts, making AI outputs more human, and developing templates that save time for busy agency teams.

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ AI can streamline core business operations and free up time for agents to focus on higher-value tasks.

➡️ Prompt engineering is essential! How you ask determines the quality of AI output.

➡️ Keeping updated and open to new AI tools enables you to stay ahead in a changing industry.

Some great moments:

✅ “All the information that it's collated is available on the web, but AI has found it, amalgamated it and put it into a list form which, which would take hours or days.”

✅ “It’s the consumer’s attention that’s going towards AI, which is where your changes will need to be made.”

✅ “Treat it like a child, be very accurate in what you ask for. If it gives you the wrong answer, tell it what you need.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Sam and Phil tackle the ongoing challenge of hiring and recruitment, from feeling stretched too thin and hitting financial ceilings, to making key decisions about when and who to recruit to enable growth.

Many common business obstacles come back to recruitment but planning your agency’s structure ahead of time can also help break plateaus and prepare for long-term progress.

Why should you prioritise recruitment, even when time or finances feel tight, and how can you step back from frontline agency work to drive success?

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Recruitment is often the answer when your estate agency hits a ceiling or the owner is overwhelmed.
➡️ Building a future-focused Org chart helps clarify hiring needs and unlock the next stage of business growth.
➡️ Investing time in recruitment—even when it feels impossible—prevents bottlenecks and prepares your agency for opportunity.

Some great moments:

✅ “As soon as you drop down to a level that is paid less than you want to take as a salary, you’re costing your business the opportunities that you would create otherwise.”
✅ “If you don’t have time to recruit, it’s because you didn’t recruit when you were supposed to recruit. The best time to recruit is right now.”
✅ “No successful business ever has one person bank access ever. That will definitely slow you down.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Pack your bags because we’re going on holiday with Phil! How do holidays shape your business growth, motivation, and agency operations? Regular breaks can impact your mindset, family dynamics, and agency performance.

Phil shares his holiday schedule and discusses the practicalities of balancing agency demands with time away. Sam and Phil reflect on how lifestyle goals, including travel, serve as drivers for income and business structure.

How can you have more freedom while delivering exceptional service and running your business to support your personal priorities, whether that’s travel or something else entirely?

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Designing your agency around your personal goals is both possible and impactful.
➡️ Creating business systems allows owners to step away without sacrificing client service.
➡️ Motivation and agency progress can be fuelled by having clear lifestyle rewards in mind.

Some great moments:

✅ “What it allows me to do is go full speed for a period of time. And I'm sure there's people out there that can go full speed for the full year, but my head doesn't work like that.”
✅ “It gives me headspace and clarity. It gives me motivation to come back and earn money because I want more experiences like that.”
✅ “So what's important to me is lots of holidays and time in the family. I'm not interested in watches at all or anything like that.”

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Sam is joined by Clare Hughes whose career journey went from London’s high street agencies to founding her own business with eXp. She shares how the landscape in East London has changed since the 2012 Olympic regeneration.

Clare is the co-founder (with Liana Loporto-Browne) of Women in Estate Agency, which aims to create a safe space for sharing challenges unique to women in the industry. Clare and Sam discuss the impact of leadership programs, the value of mentorship, and strategies for long-term relationship marketing.

Other topics include gender dynamics in recruitment, unconscious bias in job specs, and what agency owners can do to promote equality in their teams.

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

If you missed it, you can watch Liam’s viral video on…

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdjjNGGL/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DI9aS-sNRM9/?igsh=MTJiem9xdmxoZjhsZg==

Some key takeaways:

➡️ Leveraging local networks and referrals can underpin agency growth.
➡️ Building a personal brand often means overcoming self-doubt and prioritising authenticity.
➡️ Addressing equality and bias in recruitment is essential for future-ready estate agencies.

Some notable moments:

✅ “Have you, have you read the let them theory?... You can't change what somebody's thinking about you... You can only change yourself.”
✅ “It's me that gets me through the door. EXP is a platform to run the business how I want to.”
✅ “If women don't meet at least seven out of ten (criteria), they won't apply. Whereas men, it's about three and they'll apply.”

Women in Estate Agency: https://womeninestateagency.co.uk/

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

How can you manage your team effectively without slipping into micromanagement? This week Sam and Phil explore the difference between leadership and management and discuss how the right structure for your estate agency can support growth and empower your team, rather than causing confusion or frustration.

Are the best salespeople always the best managers or could promoting people based on skillset create a healthier office dynamic.

Sam recommends reading THE ANSWER IS A QUESTION by Laura and Dominic Ashley-Timms for advice on handling mistakes, encouraging staff accountability and not becoming a parent to your employees by trying to solve all of their issues for them.

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Key takeaways:

➡️ Clarity on the difference between management and leadership is essential for healthy agency growth.
➡️ Building strong processes lets your team manage themselves, freeing you up to focus on big-picture leadership.
➡️ Effective management means asking better questions, not just giving orders.

Memorable moments:

✅ “Leadership is all about setting the direction… Management is making sure all parts are working like a machine.”
✅ “You should be looking for who’s the best person to manage the team—not just the best at the job.”
✅ “If you treat someone as an adult, not always but usually, they respond as an adult.”

Tune in now to unlock ways to empower your team, structure your agency for success, and ignite the next phase of your estate agency’s journey.

The Answer is a Question: https://theanswerisaquestion.com/

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/

Have you seen the video? It even made the national news…

“London Marathon runner gets tube back home and something special happens” (The Mirror)

Watch it on TIKTOK or INSTAGRAM

AJ’s Marketing and Content Creator (and Sam’s future son-in-law) Liam Hussell went viral as he was making his way home after running the London Marathon.

Liam joins Sam to explore what makes a video go viral and why it matters for independent estate agency owners. The video has been viewed by millions across TIKTOK and INSTAGRAM, but how could it help your agency’s content strategy?

Authenticity, timing, emotion, and knowing your audience, these are all elements seen in almost all viral videos. Do you have a content plan that leverages current events, involves your community and always focuses on value for your followers. We’ve got tips to help you to spot viral opportunities to drive brand growth.

Check out the Viral HUSSELLUP Recipe to find out how they did it!

Here’s how we can help you to IGNITE your agency:

Find out more about COSMO and take advantage of our exclusive podcast offer!

LISTEN to another episode

Request an AJ Mastermind brochure by calling 015394 40892 or emailing emma@ajmastermind.co.uk

Connect with a community of ambitious agency owners on our private AJ Mastermind FACEBOOK PAGE

For your questions, reach out to Sam Or Phil: sam@ajmastermind.co.uk OR phil@ashdownjones.co.uk

Stay updated on our upcoming EVENTS

Key takeaways:

➡️ A mix of timing, relevance and authentic emotion can dramatically extend your reach on social media.

➡️ Making your community the focus of your content helps build loyalty and interest in your agency’s brand.

➡️ Estate agency owners can achieve more consistent content growth by understanding the principles behind viral success.

Notable moments:

✅ “It became viral in such a short space of time. It kind of dominated all the feeds.”

✅ “Tess got straight on it. It was a pretty much perfect video. It could have gone wrong in so many different ways.”

✅ “Making the audience the hero... that also helped people just feel really good about sharing that video.”

Watch the viral video on…

TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdjjNGGL/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DI9aS-sNRM9/?igsh=MTJiem9xdmxoZjhsZg==

Follow HussellUp on…

TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@hussellupsocial

Instagram: https://www.instag

Cosmo: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/cosmoignite

Listen: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/ignite-podcast

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ajmmforagencygrowth

Upcoming Events: https://www.ajmastermind.co.uk/events/