Rich and Gina Thomas left successful careers in the entertainment and cable industries—including HBO and Spectrum—to reinvent themselves in Big Bear Lake, California real estate. In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, host Mark Dolan explores their journey from corporate sales to resort property sales, where the challenge isn’t selling a “need” but uncovering and fueling a client’s true “want.”

They discuss the steep learning curve of starting over, the differences between corporate sales cycles and the long timelines of real estate, and the lessons they’ve learned from shadowing, mentorship, and daily discipline. Rich and Gina also share creative prospecting strategies, how they manage seasonality in the Big Bear market, and their best advice for anyone considering a mid-career leap into real estate.

This episode is packed with insights on resilience, professionalism, and building a business that reflects your values and lifestyle.

• Website: bigbearhomesearch.com

• Instagram: @gina_t_bbrealestate

• Text or Call: 909.936.1464

• Email: ginathomasbigbear@gmail.com

New agents chase leads; pros chase consistency and character. In this conversation, Realtor Nick LaBate shares how centering his business on faith, choosing connections over commissions, and running a disciplined morning system took him from ~$6–8M a year to ~$25M—and why he’s now blueprinting a $50M year. We break down his 4:30 a.m. routine, prospecting cadence, how to remove drama from heated deals, and the mindset shift that made everything click.

• Connection > Commission: Put the client’s interest first. The dividends show up later—bigger and better.

• Consistency compounds: Daily prospecting beats the feast-or-famine cycle. Same morning system, Monday–Thursday.

• Belief drives performance: When your conviction matches your habits, results jump.

• Slow the drama: When emotions spike, step back for hours—not minutes—then solve.

• Design your day: Faith → fitness → family → focused prospecting → afternoon appointments.

• Know your why: A real purpose prevents burnout; if you don’t have it, pivot.

• Level up with systems: Buy back time so you can do high-leverage work (matching buyers/sellers, luxury focus).

• 00:00 — Why faith changed Nick’s business

• 02:45 — Work ethic origins: splitting wood for a first phone

• 06:30 — Credibility hurdles as a young agent

• 09:45 — Mentorship and “teach to fish” foundations

• 15:40 — Phones, mailers, sphere: the simple, hard stuff

• 19:50 — The belief inflection point (≈$8M → ≈$26M)

• 24:30 — 1% better daily; momentum and grace

• 30:10 — Perfect-day design: 4:30 a.m. routine & prospect blocks

• 35:20 — Consistency vs. burnout and having a why

• 38:05 — Next 5 years: systems, luxury, and a $50M target

• 39:50 — How to reach Nick & closing thoughts

• 4:30–5:30 a.m.: Devotional/prayer + light stretch

• 5:30–6:30 a.m.: Gym

• 6:30–7:30 a.m.: Coffee + quiet

• 7:30–9:00 a.m.: Family time

• 9:00–9:30 a.m.: Inbox, quick follow-ups

• 9:30–12:00 p.m.: Prospecting (phones + mailers/sphere/social)

• Afternoons: Appointments, showings, negotiations

• Friday: Work from home, family-centric, still touch the system

1. 60 minutes of calls daily (no zero days).

2. 100 mailers or 50 warm reach-outs.

3. Write your WHY on an index card; keep it at your desk.

4. When a deal gets hot, remove the drama—pause 3–4 hours, then re-approach.

• “Connections over commissions.” —Nick

• “You can’t do the right things over time and not get the right results.” —Mark

• “When belief caught up with my habits, my volume jumped.” —Nick

• “Take the drama out of the deal, and solutions appear.” —Nick

• Daily devotional / morning routine

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan sits down with Christine Lee—entrepreneur, faith-driven leader, and founder of the God in Business Mastermind—to explore how faith can radically reshape the way we build and lead businesses.

Christine shares her journey from skepticism to fully embracing God in her entrepreneurial path, revealing how prayer, surrender, and a faith-centered mindset have transformed her productivity, leadership, and peace. Together, Mark and Christine unpack practical ways to integrate spirituality into daily business life—including a three-step day planning framework that prioritizes divine guidance over hustle and grind.

Listeners will discover how letting go of control can unlock greater results, how fear often disguises itself as “productivity,” and why building a community of faith-driven entrepreneurs matters now more than ever.

If you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or professional searching for deeper meaning in your work, this episode is a roadmap for aligning business success with spiritual growth.

Find Out More @ https://www.seizethemarket.com/

California’s insurance market shifted under our feet. Insurance pro Brian Walker explains why carriers pulled back, why renewals exploded, how FAIR Plan + DIC actually work, and what agents and buyers can do inside the 30-day insurance window before closing. Practical, no-nonsense guidance for anyone buying or selling in high-risk wildfire zones—and a candid look at what’s improving.

The mortgage world isn’t one-size-fits-all—and guessing costs clients money. In this episode, lender Michele Town (30+ years in the business, known as “the gal who gets it done”) breaks down today’s loan landscape in plain English so agents and buyers can make smarter, faster decisions.

We cover the real differences between conventional (Fannie/Freddie), FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, portfolio, and non-QM loans—plus when adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) actually make sense and how private (“hard”) money/bridge loans solve short-term problems. Michele also demystifies PMI vs. FHA MIP, manual underwriting, recasting (lower your payment without refinancing), and practical tactics like paying down a small credit card to unlock a higher score. Bottom line: there’s almost always a path to homeownership if you match the person to the product.

• How to triage borrowers into the right lane: conventional vs. government (FHA/VA/USDA) vs. non-QM/portfolio

• Why VA can beat conventional—even with 20% down (no monthly MI; potential lower rate)

• When USDA wins (0–2% financed, rural, income-restricted) and the key “gotchas”

• FHA’s sweet spot for lower FICO buyers—and the streamline refi advantage

• ARMs without the fear: when a 7/10-year fixed period is the smarter play

• Jumbo realities: tighter DTI, reserve rules, and timing

• Portfolio & non-QM for self-employed or “outside the box” files (asset-depletion, using the stronger spouse’s score, etc.)

• Private/bridge money use cases (timing gaps, NOD rescue, deferred payments—what that really means)

• Recasting explained: apply a lump sum and re-amortize to lower the payment without changing your rate

• Why agents should loop in a lender early to compete with cash and write stronger offers (pre-approval > pre-qual)

Agents who want to speak confidently about financing (without playing lender), first-time buyers who need options, and self-employed borrowers who’ve been told “no” by cookie-cutter guidelines.

• Email: michele@micheletown.com

• Phone: (949) 510-9062
  (“Think yes.” If there’s a path, she’ll find it.)

If this helped, share it with one agent or buyer today.
Subscribe to Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell for weekly, no-fluff episodes on sales mastery, mindset, and transformation.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan interviews Rachael Smith-Meadors, Broker Associate at RE/MAX Big Bear, on her journey from Kentucky to California, cutting her teeth in vacation rentals, spending a decade on a top team—then making the leap solo and thriving. Rachael breaks down the real drivers of growth: relentless follow-up, clear systems, creative social media, a disciplined morning routine, and coaching that fits your market (not generic one-size-fits-all “training”).

You’ll learn:

• How to transition from a team to independent producer without dropping the ball

• The exact early activities that created momentum: follow-up, old “dead” leads, listing checklists

• Why coaching > training (custom strategy beats canned scripts)

• The pillars approach to marketing: master a few channels, then add more

• Social media that stands out (borrow ideas across industries, don’t copy agents)

• Time-blocking and weekly planning to balance high production with family life

• Mindset for scary changes: plan tomorrow before you go to bed

Chapters (suggested):
0:00 Rachael’s backstory: KY → Big Bear
3:50 First deals, mentorship, and early lead gen
10:45 Ten years on a team—then the leap
18:20 Surprises of going solo (volume, systems, help)
24:40 Coaching vs. training: what actually works
28:50 Marketing pillars & creative content
33:40 Visibility, brand, and YouTube wins
36:30 Calendars, checklists, and family balance
41:50 What’s next: smart growth without losing quality

Connect with Rachael

• Website: buyinbigbearlake.com (and rachelsmith.remax.com)

• YouTube: Rachael Smith Real Estate — Living in Big Bear

• IG/FB/LinkedIn: Rachael Smith Real Estate

Connect with Mark / Time Tested Mastery

• Website: TimeTestedMastery.com

• Podcast: Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell

• Social: @TimeTestedMastery

If this helped you, share it with a new or rising agent who needs a no-fluff blueprint. Subscribe for weekly conversations on sales mastery, mindset, and transformation.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark sits down with Ali Grant-Shoemaker—Big Bear Lake broker and REMAX Big Bear standout—whose path ran from communications and media to top-tier resort real estate. Ali shares how a decade of mentorship (Tyler Wood Group), earning her broker’s license, and finally stepping out under her own brand led to her best year yet—powered by personalized marketing, consistent client care, and systems that scale.

You’ll learn:

• How mentorship, structure, and on-the-job reps accelerate mastery—especially early.

• Why unique positioning beats copycat marketing (think “purple cow”): be memorable or be invisible.

• The long game of retargeting ads and brand visibility (expect months, not weeks).

• Navigating the leap from team to solo: lead gen, support, and building your own playbook.

• Balancing production with family life through time-blocking and real boundaries.

• Setting meaningful targets (hello, REMAX Chairman’s Club) without losing your soul.

Connect with Ali:
Website: aligrantshoemaker.com
Facebook: “Ali Grant-Shoemaker Big Bear Real Estate”
Instagram: @bigbearrealestate

If this episode sparked an idea, share it with a new or rising agent who needs a real, time-tested blueprint—and subscribe for weekly training on sales mastery, mindset, and transformation.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan challenges you with a question that could unlock your next breakthrough: Are you truly teachable—or just going through the motions?

Growth doesn’t come from praise, comfort, or leaning on past wins. It comes when we choose curiosity over defensiveness, accountability over excuses, and getting better over just feeling better.

Mark shares personal stories—including a turning point in his early career when a tough question forced him to rise higher—and gives you practical ways to measure and strengthen your own teachability. You’ll discover:

• The difference between incremental growth and explosive growth.

• Three powerful questions to test your teachability.

• Why discomfort is the birthplace of transformation.

• How to shift from “feeling good” to truly getting better.

If you’re ready to stop defending, start learning, and accelerate your growth, this episode will help you lean into the stretch that changes everything.

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