For many new real estate agents, compensation is the first factor they evaluate. However, Joshua Smith offered a different perspective during the latest Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered episode with James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson: the most important question is not, “What split will an agent receive?” It is, “Who is that agent becoming?”
Choose Mentorship Over Shortcuts
Joshua entered real estate after working in the health and fitness industry. He wanted to raise capital for a gym but quickly discovered that real estate became his true obsession. With the right mentor, he completed 40 deals during his first year and eventually helped sell more than 7,000 homes.
Joshua did not prioritize splits or fees. Instead, he searched for someone who had already created the success he wanted. That lesson applies to every real estate broker, real estate brokerage, and new agent evaluating an opportunity.
His message is simple:
- There are no shortcuts.
- The only shortcut is doing it right the first time.
- The right mentor provides strategy and guidance.
- Consistency is the only “magic pill.”
A new agent should focus less on finding the cheapest brokerage and more on developing the skills required for a sustainable career in the real estate industry.
Build the Right Strategy
Joshua compared business strategy to choosing the correct trail up a mountain. First, an agent must identify the destination. Then the agent must determine which skills, systems, processes, and daily actions are required to reach it.
That approach matters in every real estate market. Instead of labeling conditions as good or bad, Joshua encouraged agents to identify who the market currently serves. That means understanding:
- Who is buying and selling
- Why people are moving
- Where they are coming from
- Where they are going
- How consumer behavior is changing
This strategy helps an agent respond to shifting real estate trends, changing real estate prices, and evolving real estate listings without becoming distracted by headlines.
Get Reps and Master the Fundamentals
Joshua emphasized the importance of getting reps. Technology can improve execution, but it cannot fix a poor strategy. The same is true for real estate technology and artificial intelligence. If the fundamentals are weak, better tools will only make ineffective habits faster.
Agents should focus on prospecting, follow-up, client service, and market knowledge before chasing every new platform or tactic. Whether the goal involves real estate for sale, real estate investing, or building a team, consistent execution remains essential.
Eliminate What Gets in the Way
One of Joshua’s strongest ideas came from Grant Cardone: success is usually not about addition; it is about elimination. Agents can apply that lesson by identifying what prevents them from completing necessary work. That might mean removing distractions, changing a schedule, improving an environment, or becoming more intentional with time.
This principle applies beyond business, including real estate financing, real estate taxes, and understanding real estate laws. Growth requires focus.
Keep Learning and Take Action
Agents can learn through real estate blogs, real estate podcasts, real estate books, real estate courses, and real estate events investing. They can research real estate agents near me, real estate companies near me, a real estate franchise, NextHome, or the NextHome real estate franchise. However, information only matters when it is applied.
For anyone investing in real estate or exploring real estate investing for beginners, the same lesson applies to real estate investment real estate brokerage decisions: choose strategy, mentorship, and long-term development over temporary incentives. That is the central takeaway from this real estate podcast: agents who prepare, adapt, and consistently do the work can create strong opportunities in any market.
