In this episode, John sits down with longtime real estate leader Jim Pruett for a powerful reminder of what actually drives success in this business: fundamentals, discipline, and treating your business like a real business.

Jim breaks down why 87% of agents fail, the mindset shift required to survive in today's market, and the simple systems and habits that have allowed him to build a long-term, consistent, and respected real estate business.

From setting up your business like a CEO, to mastering the purchase agreement, to building world-class community relationships, this episode is packed with timeless truths agents desperately need—especially those who keep getting distracted by shiny objects instead of focusing on the work that matters.

If you feel overwhelmed, inconsistent, or unsure what to focus on to grow, this episode is the clarity punch-in-the-face you've been needing.

• The "employee-to-CEO" mindset shift every new agent must make

• Why shiny objects are draining your money and killing your momentum

• The power of joining a team to dramatically increase your odds of success

• Setting up your business like a real CEO: accounting, legal, brand assets, and systems

• Why your email, your URL, and your online profiles matter more than you think

• The necessity of consistency across photos, bios, and digital presence

• How checklists, workflows, and repeatable processes create freedom

• Why systems must be "living documents" that evolve as your business grows

• The role of CRMs, automation, and organized procedures for scale

• How to build real, human connections—online and offline

• The key difference between transactional contacts and real influence

• Why "contacts sprout contracts" is still one of the truest principles in real estate

• How Jim's community involvement (especially the Riverfront Development Committee) became a long-term lever for influence and opportunity

• Why agents struggle to articulate value and how to fix it

• How to confidently have the hard conversations with buyers and sellers

• Why your presence alone should add value to every transaction

• Why every agent should reread the purchase agreement weekly

• How pre-listing inspections reduce future friction

• The essential difference between working in your business vs. on your business

• Blocking out noise, avoiding distractions, and staying focused on what matters

• The power of being a "slave to your calendar"

• Forecasting and knowing your numbers like a true operator

• How the right rooms and the right relationships change your trajectory

• The mindset of professionals: "Do it until you can't get it wrong."
  
  

• The E-Myth Revisited – Michael Gerber

• Profit First – Mike Michalowicz

• Choose Your Enemies Wisely – Patrick Bet-David

• The Checklist Manifesto – Atul Gawande (Chapter 1 recommended)

• Honey Badger Nation

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach
  
  

Success isn't complicated—it's consistent.
The agents who win aren't the ones chasing noise or shortcuts… they're the ones who master the basics, know their value, build real relationships, and operate like CEOs.

As Jim puts it:
"Professionals do it until they can't get it wrong."

• 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 Part 2 of this 6-part Power Hour series, John Kitchens and Joel continue building the Agent to CEO Framework by diving into Milestone 2: Charting the Course — the vision, values, purpose, and long-term direction that every real estate business needs before it can scale.

If Part 1 helped you find clarity on where you stand, Part 2 shows you how to define where you're going and build the strategic foundation your future growth will stand on.
John and Joel walk through the process of creating your core values, articulating your core purpose, and crafting a 10-year BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) that aligns your team, filters decisions, and keeps you focused when the market — and your emotions — shift.

If you've ever struggled with team alignment, inconsistent decision-making, hiring the wrong people, or constantly shifting strategies, this episode gives you the structure to set a direction your entire organization can follow with confidence.

• How Milestone 2 builds on the clarity gained in Part 1

• Why vision is the strategic anchor of the entire Agent to CEO process

• The role of values, purpose, and BHAG in building a scalable organization

• Why core values must be discovered, not invented

• Using frustration, peak performance moments, and "hire/fire tests" to uncover your real values

• How values become the filters for decision-making, culture, and hiring

• Why 3–5 values create clarity — and anything more creates confusion

• Understanding the emotional driver behind your business

• Why teams lose direction without a clearly articulated purpose

• How purpose helps you attract the right people and repel the wrong ones

• The difference between a mission statement and a motivating purpose

• The four types of BHAG: Target, Competitive, Role Model, and Internal Transformation

• Why thinking in 10-year timelines creates freedom, not pressure

• How a BHAG aligns your team and simplifies strategic planning

• Turning a long-term goal into a vivid, inspiring future your people can see

• Why vision must be communicated, repeated, and embedded into daily operations

• How to turn your vision into a "decision compass" for every level of the business

• Why teams fail without clarity on where the business is going

• How to bring your values and BHAG into hiring, onboarding, and accountability

• Agent to CEO Process – Milestone 2: Charting the Course

• Start With Why by Simon Sinek

• Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold

• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

• Good to Great by Jim Collins

• Honey Badger Nation

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach
  
  

Before you build systems, scale teams, or step out of production… you must chart the course.
Vision, values, purpose, and a 10-year BHAG give your business direction, alignment, and the foundation to grow without breaking.

"As a CEO, your job is to show your team the mountain. If they can't see it, they can't climb it." – 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 sits down with Scott Benson, founder of the Benson Crew, to unpack how agents can shift from chasing transactions to building true wealth.

Scott shares how he went from selling phone book ads to becoming one of Canada's most innovative real estate entrepreneurs — leveraging real estate not just to generate income, but to create financial freedom. He dives into how he used private lending, partnerships, and marketing at scale to build long-term wealth and impact.

Together, John and Scott explore the mindset, math, and discipline it takes to turn your business into a wealth engine, not just a paycheck. This one's for every agent who's ready to stop working in the business and start working on their future.

From Phone Books to Freedom

• How Scott's early career in advertising led him to discover real estate as a wealth-building vehicle

• The power of seeing opportunity before the market catches up

Building Wealth Beyond Commissions

• Why most agents stay broke even when they earn more

• How Scott used private lending and investing to make money work for him

• The compounding effect of financial discipline

The Wealth Mindset Shift

• Why ego kills growth and how humility fuels collaboration

• How to think like a quarterback, not a player — control the field and your income

• Using AI and automation to invest smarter, not harder

Scaling with Strategy

• The $1M marketing move that built massive momentum for Benson Crew

• How strategic partnerships and risk-taking turned a local brand into a market powerhouse

• What's coming next for team models, AI, and wealth creation in real estate

• Benson Crew Real Estate

• Patrick Bet-David (PBD Podcast)

• Choose Your Enemies Wisely by Patrick Bet-David

• The Motive by Patrick Lencioni

• John Kitchens Executive Coaching → JohnKitchens.coach

Stop seeing your real estate business as your final destination — it's just the vehicle.
Use it to fund your investments, create leverage, and build the life you actually want.

"Your real estate business isn't your freedom. It's the vehicle that funds your freedom." — 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! 🔥