Take it and Run

Real Estate Agents: Stop Avoiding Tough Conversations (Here's What to Say)

Most agents know they should have tough conversations. Few of them actually do. In this episode, Kristi sits down with Steve LaCrosse, co-team leader of the Ladd Group — one of the top producing teams in central Oregon — to get specific about what those conversations actually sound like and how to have them without damaging the relationship. Steve spent nearly 15 years as a futures trader before making the jump to real estate in 2015, and that background shows up in everything from how he builds monthly market reports to how he frames a price reduction conversation. His team closed 167 sales last year with an average price point of $1.2M, and the way they operate is worth studying. In this episode you'll hear Steve break down his exact framework for price reduction conversations, how to deliver news clients don't want to hear, how to set expectations with buyers so they stay anchored to their real motivation, how the Ladd Group uses Thursday team meetings to make tough scripts feel natural, what top teams give you that you can't replicate on your own, and his one non-negotiable piece of advice for any agent who's behind on their numbers right now. The phrase that stuck with us from this conversation: clear is kind. You'll know exactly what he means by the end. Connect with Steve LaCrosse at bendpropertysource.com or find him on Instagram and Facebook at @bendpropertysource If this episode gave you an idea you can implement in your business, don’t just listen — take it and run. 🎤 Book me to speak at your event/team meeting:  kristijencks.com 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter for more strategies: https://kristijencks.myflodesk.com/subscribe 🎥 More content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachkristijencks 📱 Follow along on Instagram: @kristijencks 🎙️ About the Podcast Take It and Run is the podcast for ambitious professionals—especially real estate agents—who want practical strategies they can implement immediately. Each episode delivers mindset shifts, frameworks, and real-world insights to help you move from thinking about it… to doing it.

The Story You Keep Telling Yourself Is the Problem

What does losing 200 pounds have to do with your real estate business? More than you think. In this episode of the Take It and Run podcast, we sit down with a very special guest — Merrill Jencks — who dropped over 200 pounds, leg presses 540 pounds, and hasn't focused on weight loss for nearly three years. But the number on the scale? That's not the story. The real story is identity. Mindset. And the narratives we tell ourselves about who we are — in the gym, in marriage, and on the phones. Merrill gets raw about what it felt like to be disciplined in every area of life except his health, and how he finally stopped lying to himself. He breaks down the all-or-nothing trap (sound familiar?), why perfection killed his progress more than pizza ever did, and the moment Tom Ferry's words about recommitting faster changed everything for him. Here's what makes this episode land for agents: every principle Merrill shares translates directly to your business. Tracking your workouts = tracking your contacts. Progressive overload at the gym = progressive overload in your pipeline. Consistency over blitzes. Done is Better Than Perfect. Small wins that stack into a new identity. You'll walk away with: * The exact mindset shift that finally made the transformation stick — after decades of failed attempts * Why your identity has to change before your results do * Merrill's 4 non-negotiables for tracking progress (and how they apply to business) * The 80/20 principle that replaced the all-or-nothing spiral * How to find an accountability partner that actually holds you to it * The one thing Merrill has never once regretted — and what it means for your own "I don't feel like it" days If you've ever told yourself I'm just not the type of person who… — this episode is for you. Tactical Takeaways: 1. Break the story. Identify one narrative you've been telling yourself that isn't serving you. 2. Pick one habit. Start tracking it. Expect it to get boring — that's the point. 3. Stop slashing all four tires when you get a flat. Recommit fast. 4. Find your accountability partner. You'll do more for someone else than you'll ever do for yourself. Take what you heard today — and run with it. If this episode gave you an idea you can implement in your business, don’t just listen — take it and run. 🎤 Book me to speak at your event/team meeting:  kristijencks.com 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter for more strategies: https://kristijencks.myflodesk.com/subscribe 🎥 More content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachkristijencks 📱 Follow along on Instagram: @kristijencks 🎙️ About the Podcast Take It and Run is the podcast for ambitious professionals—especially real estate agents—who want practical strategies they can implement immediately. Each episode delivers mindset shifts, frameworks, and real-world insights to help you move from thinking about it… to doing it.

Why Most Real Estate Leads NEVER Convert (And How Top Agents Fix It)

What separates agents who close deals consistently from those who struggle to convert leads? In this episode of Take It and Run, Kristi Jencks and Kelcie Dowd sit down with Jeremy and Eileen Knight, a successful husband-and-wife real estate team from Austin, Texas. They share the lead conversion strategies, follow-up systems, and communication skills that help them turn online inquiries into real clients. If you're a real estate agent looking to convert more online leads, improve your follow-up strategy, and build trust with buyers and sellers, this conversation is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately. Jeremy and Eileen also reveal how consistent content creation on YouTube, objection handling, and understanding client motivation have helped them grow their business and attract more opportunities. If you’ve ever wondered: • Why some agents convert leads and others don’t • How to follow up without feeling pushy • What to say when a lead says “we’re just looking” • How YouTube can generate real estate clients • Why listening is your most powerful sales skill This episode will give you the mindset and strategies to take action today. Because that’s what Take It and Run is all about. If this episode gave you an idea you can implement in your business, don’t just listen — take it and run. 🎤 Book me to speak at your event/team meeting:  kristijencks.com 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter for more strategies: https://kristijencks.myflodesk.com/subscribe 🎥 More content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachkristijencks 📱 Follow along on Instagram: @kristijencks 🎙️ About the Podcast Take It and Run is the podcast for ambitious professionals—especially real estate agents—who want practical strategies they can implement immediately. Each episode delivers mindset shifts, frameworks, and real-world insights to help you move from thinking about it… to doing it.

Why Most Real Estate Content Isn’t Getting Shared - with Katie Day

If your content calendar is full but your business still feels scattered, this episode is your reset. Kristi Jencks and Kelcie Dowd sit down with Katie Day, a Texas Realtor, team leader, mentor, and long-time content creator who has built a business around clarity, consistency, and real results. Katie breaks down what real estate agents should stop doing in their content, why follower count no longer matters, and how niching down creates momentum faster than posting more. She shares how she uses AI for research and scripting, how public accountability reduces decision fatigue, and why playing to your strengths matters more than copying someone else’s playbook. This episode covers: * How to structure the next 30 days if you are starting over with content * Why shareable content beats chasing likes and followers * What to cut immediately from your current content strategy * How to batch, research, and script content without burning out * The link between decision-making, accountability, and time freedom ⚡️ Take It and Run moment: Block 30 minutes this week to decide where you need more accountability and put one habit in place that removes daily decision fatigue. This episode works when you apply it. Pick one idea and move on it this week. Find Katie for referrals and inspiration: 📱 @movemetotx 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 https://meetkatieday.com/ If this episode gave you an idea you can implement in your business, don’t just listen — take it and run. 🎤 Book me to speak at your event/team meeting:  kristijencks.com 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter for more strategies: https://kristijencks.myflodesk.com/subscribe 🎥 More content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachkristijencks 📱 Follow along on Instagram: @kristijencks 🎙️ About the Podcast Take It and Run is the podcast for ambitious professionals—especially real estate agents—who want practical strategies they can implement immediately. Each episode delivers mindset shifts, frameworks, and real-world insights to help you move from thinking about it… to doing it.

Accountability Without Micromanagement + Seller Reports Agents Have Been Waiting For

What if accountability didn’t feel like pressure  And what if seller reports didn’t take hours to build In this episode of Take It and Run, Kristi and Kelcie sit down with Derek Caldwell, Team Lead of The Caldwell Group at eXp Realty, to break down how he’s built real accountability systems using automation, trust, and AI. Derek shares how his team replaced manual reporting, awkward check ins, and CRM overwhelm with weekly scorecards, transparent dashboards, and systems agents actually enjoy using. You’ll hear how empathy drives performance, why non negotiables create freedom, and how AI has become his second brain in operations. Then Derek pulls back the curtain on North, the AI powered seller report generator he built to solve one of the biggest pain points in real estate. North automatically pulls listing data, social media activity, showing feedback, comps, and market analysis into a clean, branded report sellers actually read. No spreadsheets. No copying data. No guessing. To make it even better, Derek gave Take It and Run listeners an exclusive offer. 🚨 Use code RUN20 to get 20% off North You’ll also get a 14 day free trial to test it with your own listings. If you lead a team, manage operations, or carry listings and want smarter systems without micromanaging people, this episode is required listening. 🔑 What You’ll Learn * How to create accountability without confrontation * Why weekly scorecards motivate agents naturally * How AI replaces hours of manual reporting * What sellers actually want to see in listing updates * How North changes the listing conversation 👉 Try North at NorthReports.com [https://www.northreports.com/] 👉 Use code RUN20 for 20% off after your free 14 day trial 🙌 Connect with Derek Caldwell Instagram: @dcaldwell Email: derek@northreports.co or derek@caldwellrg.com If this episode gave you an idea you can implement in your business, don’t just listen — take it and run. 🎤 Book me to speak at your event/team meeting:  kristijencks.com 📩 Subscribe to the newsletter for more strategies: https://kristijencks.myflodesk.com/subscribe 🎥 More content on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachkristijencks 📱 Follow along on Instagram: @kristijencks 🎙️ About the Podcast Take It and Run is the podcast for ambitious professionals—especially real estate agents—who want practical strategies they can implement immediately. Each episode delivers mindset shifts, frameworks, and real-world insights to help you move from thinking about it… to doing it.