In this episode of Re-Define, Will and Eli catch up with marketing pro Gene Volpe for a real, unfiltered conversation about how the business landscape has shifted post-COVID. Gene talks about why the pandemic forced him to double down on essentials, how AI is changing the game (but not replacing real strategy), and why most people still don’t understand how to use it. They break down what it takes to actually scale, what’s working in marketing today, and how Roof Max became a high-margin, low-maintenance business opportunity worth watching.

03:10 – Catching Up With Gene Vulpe
A friendship forged in marketing and past episodes.

06:45 – COVID's Business Impact: The Silver Lining
How the pandemic unexpectedly boosted Gene’s business and changed his focus.

14:20 – Real Estate Shut Down: PA vs. CO
State-by-state chaos and the essential vs. non-essential debate.

21:00 – Post-COVID Mindset & Psychological Impact on Kids
Gene opens up about family life during lockdown.

27:40 – Real Estate, Interest Rates & Artificial Inflation
How rates and demand changed the game—and fooled some agents.

33:30 – Zoom Culture & The Remote Revolution
Less windshield time, more productivity—and why Zoom dominates.

36:20 – The AI Explosion: Tools vs. Talk
Gene breaks down how to actually use AI, not just talk about it.

44:05 – Real Estate + AI: The Human Advantage
How Eli and Will are using AI to better serve clients without losing the human element.

51:30 – AI Prompting: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Why quality questions matter more than ever with AI.

57:00 – AI in Real Estate Systems & Marketing
Detailed look at embedding AI into CRMs, calls, emails, and campaigns.

1:04:00 – Trades Are the Future: A Message to Young Entrepreneurs
Why HVAC and plumbing might just be the next tech wave.

1:09:10 – Roof Max: A Real Solution for Real Estate
Gene explains his roof rejuvenation business and how it helps homeowners and agents.

1:19:45 – Real Estate Deals, Inspections, and the Roof Fix Gap
How Roof Max fits into real-world deal-making and client satisfaction.

1:25:30 – 2025 Goals & the AI Marketing Overhaul
Gene’s focus on AI, rebranding his agency, and making real passive income.

1:30:10 – Phillies, Football, and the “Brotherly Shove”
Sports trash talk, Bryce Harper’s tears, and the love/hate with Philly fans.

1:37:00 – Where to Find Gene + Final Thoughts
Gene shares how to connect and what’s next for him in business and life.

In this episode, Will and Eli open up about what it’s really like to navigate major transitions — in business, in life, and within yourself. They dig into what it means to stay grounded when things feel chaotic, and why emotional awareness isn’t just a buzzword — it’s survival.

From lessons learned in the Marine Corps to real conversations about leadership, friendship, and family, this one’s packed with perspective. The guys get honest about carrying stress, leaning on your circle, and communicating through the messy parts of growth. There's humor (yes, including a surprisingly deep analogy about shitting your pants), but also a lot of wisdom about how to show up better — for yourself and for others.

If you’ve been feeling stretched, distracted, or just trying to keep it together — this episode hits home.

⏱️ Episode Chapters

1. [00:00] Opening Banter & Catching Up

2. [04:00] Navigating Life Transitions with Grace

3. [08:00] Emotional Check-ins and Leadership Growth

4. [13:00] Brotherhood, Loyalty & the Power of Conversations

5. [17:00] The Role of Self-Awareness in Decision Making

6. [22:00] From the Marine Corps to Mindfulness

7. [28:00] Communicating Expectations in Business & Marriage

8. [31:00] Self-Regulation and Building a Healthy Circle

9. [35:00] Humor, Healing & Dirty Pants Metaphors

10. [38:00] Final Thoughts: Redefining What Matters

In this episode, we sit down with Michael Valdez, CEO of LPT International, to talk about the explosive growth of the fastest growing real estate brokerage in the world. Michael shares the story of his own journey—from his early days in finance to leading global expansion for one of the largest brokerages in the world, and now steering the ship at LPT. We explore what makes LPT’s model so attractive to agents, how they’re scaling internationally, and what the launch of Aperture, their new luxury brand, means for the high-end real estate market. If you're serious about where the industry is going, this is one you don’t want to miss.

In this episode, we break down why we made the move—one of us to LPT, the other to Aperture—and why we think it’s the best move for agents right now. We talk honestly about what wasn’t working at EXP, what LPT and Aperture are doing differently, and why leadership—not comp plans—is what actually matters most.

We dive into everything from luxury branding, revenue share models, and marketing tech. We also talk about the kind of support agents actually need—and why most brokerages just aren’t providing it.

If you're an agent who's been wondering whether to make a change, this episode’s for you.

⏱️ Chapter Timestamps

• 00:00 – Water company shoutout & intro banter

• 03:10 – Making the move: Who joined what brokerage

• 07:00 – The real difference between LPT & Aperture

• 10:40 – Revenue share meets luxury? Finally.

• 13:30 – Why leadership is non-negotiable

• 19:45 – The EXP struggle: Cool platform, no real support

• 25:00 – Real talk about marketing support for listings

• 32:00 – Flat-fee vs rev share models – pick what fits you

• 39:00 – “We’re not for everyone” – stop saying that

• 46:00 – Robert Palmer & why ownership matters

• 54:30 – The gatekeeper problem in EXP

• 1:03:00 – Integrity, trust, and putting agents first

• 1:09:00 – What’s next for Legit Agents and final thoughts

  
  

  Takeaways

  • Leadership trumps comp plans. Every. Time.

  • LPT gives agents options that don’t exist anywhere else.

  • Aperture finally gives luxury agents a place to grow AND earn rev share.

  • If you’re still doing everything yourself at your brokerage… why?

  • Stop holding on to what’s familiar if it’s no longer serving you.

Aperture Pt. 2

In this powerful and introspective episode of Redefine, Will Grimes and Eli Schmidt sit down with longtime collaborator JT Fore for a raw, transparent conversation about the evolution of real estate, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. The trio shares pivotal career moments, leadership lessons, and the mindset shifts necessary to thrive in a changing real estate landscape.

The conversation blends industry insights with deeply personal reflections, making it valuable for both real estate professionals and entrepreneurs looking to elevate their game. A key message throughout: success in 2025 and beyond isn’t about having the right tools — it’s about becoming the right person.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “The solution to your problem will not be found in the problem. You’re gonna have to take a step back.”

• “I’m not new to being new.”

• “People don’t respect you for what you’ve done before—they only see what you’re doing now.”

• “You won the battle… but are you ready to win the war?”

• • “In 2025 and beyond, success will be less about what’s outside of you, and more about what’s within.”

  
  

  ⏱️ Timestamps of Notable Segments

  • [00:02:00] – Will's quote on stepping back from problems to find clarity.

  • [00:10:30] – Transition from fitness to real estate; branding through education.

  • [00:23:00] – Marine Corps boot camp story and the power of having no bad habits.

  • [00:36:00] – The early dynamic between Will and Eli and how trust formed the foundation.

  • [00:51:00] – Defining leadership roles to scale growth and prevent confusion.

  • [01:10:00] – JT Fore shares macro-level patterns in agent success and failure.

  • [01:25:00] – The "battle vs. war" analogy and how agents miss long-term strategy.

  • [01:37:00] – Why they dissolved a top-producing team at their peak.

  • [01:45:00] – Real estate’s future: internal transformation over external tools.

  • [01:55:00] – Outro setup for part two, focused on tactical moves and upcoming pivots.

  
  

In this reflective and honest episode of Re-Define, Will and Eli dig deep into their own journeys to unpack the profound difference between conviction and convincing. They share openly about moments in their personal lives and careers when they found themselves pushing too hard to persuade others, only to realize that true influence and respect come from internal confidence and clarity—what they call conviction.

Will and Eli discuss how tempting it can be to chase after every new opportunity or idea, especially during periods of growth. Yet, they acknowledge that the constant pursuit of external validation or approval often leads to burnout, frustration, and compromised integrity. Through heartfelt storytelling and candid introspection, they explore how shifting their mindset to operate from true internal conviction allowed them to become better leaders, business partners, fathers, and friends.