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The quiet weeks of late fall decide your first quarter. We bring on Janine Hunt, team leader, past association president, and current MLS chair, to show exactly how to turn seasonal goodwill into a steady pipeline without feeling salesy or stretched thin. Think of this as your practical reset: a clear distinction between sphere and pipeline, the messaging each one needs, and a simple cadence you can keep even when life gets loud.

We dig into systems for relationship-based growth, why specificity beats generic marketing, and how to use events for a three-part touch sequence that compounds results. Janine shares how she time-blocks mornings to build and afternoons to manage, plus how to move social media reactions into real conversations that convert.

If you’ve struggled to stay consistent, you’ll get a lightweight tracking approach to measure inputs and outcomes. We talk leverage too, when to bring on a coach, what good coaching looks like, and how accountability transforms team dynamics. Close the year with intention, build your own economy, and step into January with momentum you can feel.

If this episode sparks a plan, share it with a colleague who needs a boost, subscribe for more real estate strategy with heart, and leave a quick review to tell us which lead gen pillar you’ll commit to next.

Janine Hunt is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01909766

Follow Janine in Instagram @ilovemartinis

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

What happens when the noise gets louder than the work? I invited the ever-candid Herman Chan to cut through the hype and talk honestly about what it takes to build a meaningful real estate career right now, where brand still shapes outcomes, regulations keep shifting, and clients are more anxious than ever.

We trace Herman’s journey from corporate and TV pilots to a long, resilient practice, and why he ultimately chose local, personal, and sustainable over scale and spectacle. We unpack the three fronts agents feel most: regulatory pressure that rewrites playbooks, client dynamics frayed by post-2020 stress, and industry competition sharpened by scarcity. Along the way, we examine brand gravity, why the sign still matters at higher price points, and how broker wars and private listing platforms manufacture FOMO that most agents don’t need to carry.

Herman argues for a smaller, stronger tribe: fewer gimmicks, deeper trust, and the discipline to say no. That’s where the joy lives. He shares raw stories from the field; squatters, liens, break-ins, midnight security calls, the quiet, unglamorous work that protects clients and never makes the reels. We also talk AI without the buzzwords: where a co-pilot helps (drafts, structure, polish), where it crosses boundaries (privacy, ethics), and how to use it without feeding it your life. For new agents, Herman maps a practical on-ramp: apprentice with a strong producer, publish one consistent content lane, reduce expenses, and let your micro-community anchor your lead flow.

If you’ve felt exhausted by broker drama, algorithm churn, and the pressure to “be everywhere,” this conversation offers relief and a plan. Shrink your world, serve with precision, and measure wins by the people you help, not the likes you chase. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs a reset, and leave a review to tell us where you’re finding real joy in the work.

Herman Chan is a Broker Associate and licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 001988025

Follow Herman Chan on Instagram @hermanity

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Two twenty-somethings, high stakes, and a market that refuses to sit still. I sit down with Emma Dolgin (The Grubb Company) and Ellen Martinez (Compass) to unpack what it really takes to build a real estate career in your early 20s. No TV gloss, just the moves that matter. From first deals during the 2021 frenzy to the humbling slowdown that followed, Emma and Ellen share how they learned fast on strong teams, built trust through consistency, and kept cash flow sane when commissions went quiet.

We dig into the East Bay’s unique rhythm, upfront disclosures, multiple offers, and the kind of local nuance that renders automated pricing laughable. They explain why buyer representation agreements filter for serious clients, how open houses and sphere marketing still work when you’re patient, and where social media shines as a credibility layer rather than a magic lead faucet. The Oakland realities come into focus: price declines, tougher insurance in the hills, and the lock-in effect of 2–3% mortgages that keep sellers put and inventory uneven.

And yes, we challenge the AI narrative. Emma tested disclosure summaries with a model and watched it miss vital details. Helpful for drafts and checklists? Absolutely. A stand-in for local judgment, negotiations, and on-the-spot problem solving? Not even close. If you’re an aspiring agent, you’ll hear hard-won advice about choosing teams, asking for help early, and treating real estate like a pro, because the moment you show up with care and competence, people notice.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a friend who loves the East Bay market, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps more curious listeners find the show.

Follow Emma Dolgin on Instagram @emma.dolgin

Follow Ellen Martinez on Instagram @ellenmartinezre

Emma Dolgin is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02113494

Ellen Martinez is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02135069

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898