An AI bot recently sent me an email asking if I was still looking to purchase a home. Problem? I had spoken with that agent just days before about a property I was considering selling. This wasn’t a neutral misfire—it guaranteed he wouldn’t get my listing. I don’t want an agent whose AI bots offend people.
That agent likely spent hours learning AI automation, only to have it torpedo his real business development work.
In the spirit of summer—when the pace softens and clarity has room to rise—I wanted to share this story along with four other powerful insights from recent client conversations. No long blog post this time, just five strategic sparks that might shift your thinking and elevate your business while everyone else coasts along.
5 Summer Glimmers to Reflect On:
1. Your Focus: Take Back What Tech Giants Stole
The tech giants have gamified distraction. Your attention is their profit and your loss. There are brilliant people writing addictive algorithms designed to monetize your focus.
When you step back from technology and view the world through a human-centered lens, you regain your focus, productivity, and joy.
This week, try this:
- Set specific “phone-free” hours for deep work
- Use the “3-2-1 rule”: No screens 3 hours before bed, no food 2 hours before bed, no work 1 hour before bed
- Ask yourself daily: “Am I using technology to be more productive, or is it using me to make billionaires richer?”
2. Your Brand Isn’t Your Canva Mood Board
Your brand isn’t your logo, colours, or that mood board you made. It’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room. It’s the feeling they get when they interact with you.
It’s the trust you earn. The results you deliver. The clarity you bring.
Realtors burn time polishing their aesthetic, but it’s the substance underneath that sticks.
Summer reflection exercise: Write down three reasons why someone should choose you over every other agent available to them. Answer from your client’s perspective, not yours. If you can’t clearly articulate your unique value, neither can your referral sources. (Hint: it’s mostly your professional skills that get them better results)
3. Your AI Is Both a Gift and a Trap (Back to That Lost Listing)
That AI email story isn’t just embarrassing—it’s expensive. AI is a tool, not a voice. Used well, it enhances productivity and insight. Used poorly, it erodes the very trust that drives our business.
Pro Tip: Don’t outsource your brilliance. Use AI to support your thinking, not replace it. Every automated touchpoint should pass the “would I be comfortable if my best client received this?” test.
4. Sharpen Your Skills While Others Coast
Speaking of staying sharp—I’ve launched a monthly Negotiation Intelligence column in REM Magazine. Each month, I tackle the tricky negotiation challenges that keep deals from closing.
The latest piece addresses seller price expectations in this market. August’s column will help you handle uncooperative, difficult, or inexperienced counterparts in negotiations.
Why this matters: Staying sharp in this market isn’t optional. While others take summer breaks from learning, you can build the skills that separate you from the pack.
5. A Reflective Question for the Hammock or the Dock
What would your business look like if you stopped doing what everyone else is doing and started doing only what works?
I’m seeing thousands of agents doing millions of hours of work that achieve nothing. The world is changing. No one is interested in your content—they’re interested in your human connection and your professional skills. A rare but sought-after combination.
Simple audit: List everything you did last week. Next to each activity, write either “moved business forward” or “busy work.” The ratio will surprise you.
What’s Next?
Summer is the perfect time to step back, reflect, and make strategic changes while your competitors are on autopilot.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building the skills that actually drive results, let’s talk. I’m accepting applications for fall coaching cohorts and custom training programs.
Ready to level up your negotiation game? There are a few spaces available in the AREN (Accredited Real Estate Negotiator) Course and the PREN (Professional Real Estate Negotiator) Courses in September.
Wishing you clarity, courage, and some good quiet time this summer.
Warmly, Suze
