What if everything you thought you needed to succeed in real estate was wrong? No massive sphere. No warm leads. No perfect market conditions. In this episode, Katie DeWitt sits down with Houston-based powerhouse Shelley Cooley, who sold 72 homes her first year as a licensed agent—and not a single one came from her personal network. Shelley's story will dismantle every excuse you've been holding onto about why you can't level up right now. From her unconventional start as a home stager during the 2009 crash to cold calling builder salespeople with zero sales experience, Shelley built her business on guts, relationships, and radical consistency. She stayed on a team for seven years, then left the same week the NAR settlement dropped to launch her own team with her husband. Two years later? Over $40 million in sales in one of the worst markets in decades. This conversation is packed with tactical advice on building quality relationships over chasing quantity, putting your ego aside to ask for help, and doing the boring work that actually moves the needle. If you're ready to stop waiting for perfect conditions and start building an empire, this episode is your blueprint. Key Themes: How staging 1,000 homes became Shelley's sales boot camp The builder relationship strategy that led to 72 first-year deals Why competing with yourself beats comparing to the market The "puppy dog problem" and how to avoid shiny object syndrome Transitioning from team member to team leader in a down market Small, intentional events vs. massive community activations Leading with humility and service in a high-ego industry Ready to stop making excuses and start building real relationships that convert? This episode will challenge you to rethink everything about how you approach your real estate business. Want to learn more about joining a brokerage that supports massive growth like Shelley's? Visit nextlevelagents.com/exp and discover how eXp Realty can help you reach your next level. Please leave us a review at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/nla⁠⁠⁠⁠

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.