Team Lead Talks

Garrett Cologne saw a gap in Arizona’s highly competitive real estate market and built his independent brokerage around a different approach to listing homes. Instead of relying on the traditional percentage-based model, W3ST Realty offers a $7,500 flat-rate listing package with clearly defined services.In this episode:• Why Garrett moved away from charging a 3% listing fee• How the $7,500 flat-rate model works at W3ST Realty• Why clarifying his deliverables changed the way he operates• How the new model increased his listing appointment conversion rate• Why Garrett believes agents need a clear differentiator in competitive marketsAbout Our Guest:Garrett Cologne is the Owner and Designated Broker of W3ST Realty, an independent real estate brokerage serving the Phoenix area and clients across Arizona. After previously leading a real estate team at HomeSmart, Garrett launched W3ST Realty on January 1, bringing an entrepreneurial, client-first approach shaped by his experience building and operating service-based businesses.His work spans residential and commercial real estate, investment opportunities, and land development, giving him a broad perspective on the Arizona real estate market. From helping individuals buy and sell homes to navigating commercial transactions and development projects, Garrett combines hands-on brokerage experience with the mindset of a business owner. His transition from running a team within a larger brokerage to building an independent real estate brokerage offers valuable insight for agents, team leaders, and entrepreneurs looking to grow on their own terms.#RealEstate #RealEstateBroker #RealEstateBusiness #RealEstateAgents #RealEstateLeadership #ArizonaRealEstateMentioned/associated with this episode: GARRETT COLOGNEOwner and Designated Broker - W3ST RealtyEmail: [email protected]: https://www.w3strealty.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W3STRealty/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w3strealty/Team Lead Talks Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/teamleadtalksTeam Lead Talks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teamleadtalksTeam Lead Talks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-team-lead-talks-podcastTeam Lead Talks Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mSwUWw3b8AFFhDMkCu2bcTeam Lead Talks Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-lead-talks/id1867510015Team Lead Talks TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teamleadtalkspodcastBILLIONS: https://joinbillions.com/

Most real estate agents earn their license but never learn how to build a business. Jimmy Nelson shares why a clear 90-day plan, measurable KPIs, and consistent coaching can help agents create sustainable growth instead of chasing arbitrary production goals.In this episode:• Why defining your personal goals is the foundation of every business plan• How breaking annual goals into 90-day action plans creates momentum• Why tracking KPIs helps agents make better business decisions• How emotional intelligence and AI work together to improve performanceAbout Our Guest:Jimmy Nelson is a real estate coach, team builder, and business development leader with more than two decades of experience developing high-performing individuals both on and off the court. After spending 20+ years as a head basketball coach, including earning Macomb County Coach of the Year honors and helping lead De La Salle Collegiate to the 2022 MHSAA Division 1 State Championship, he brought that same leadership philosophy into real estate. As a top-producing Metro Detroit listing agent, former Keller Williams productivity coach, and agent development director at eXp Realty, Jimmy has trained and mentored hundreds of real estate agents while building a reputation for developing leaders, not just salespeople.Today, Jimmy is the founder of Elite Edge Network, where he helps agents grow through emotional intelligence, accountability, leadership, and practical AI implementation. He also hosts The Elite Real Estate Podcast and serves as Business Development Director at Fieldstone Title. Grounded in faith and family, Jimmy's insights offer a practical blueprint for building lasting success in real estate and leadership.

Many real estate investors believe scaling means adding more people, more markets, and more deals. Jon Nolen learned the hard way that bigger isn't always better. In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Jon to discuss why he intentionally downsized his operation, how that decision improved both profitability and quality of life, and the systems that now allow his business to run with a lean, high-performing team.In this episode:• Why chasing volume led to more stress instead of more freedom• How narrowing marketing efforts improved lead quality and profitability• Why focusing on the right deals beats doing more deals• How AI and better systems help a lean team accomplish moreAbout Our Guest:Jon Nolen is a real estate investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Pete®, a real estate operating system built specifically for real estate investors. Since 2012, Jon and his wife, Amy, have grown successful house flipping and rental businesses in Oklahoma City, consistently closing 4–6 deals each month. After spending years testing nearly every real estate CRM available and still losing opportunities through inefficient systems, Jon leveraged his programming background to build the first version of Pete® for his own business. What began as an internal solution has evolved into a platform now helping real estate investment teams across the country streamline operations, manage leads, and scale more effectively.With 14 years of investing experience, including the last seven as a full-time investor, Jon brings a practical, operator-first perspective on building efficient real estate businesses through better systems and technology. A Marine Corps veteran, pilot, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu student, he is passionate about continuous improvement both in business and in life, while prioritizing time with his family.

Recruiting agents is only half the challenge. Keeping great agents engaged, supported, and growing is where many brokerages struggle.In this episode, Andrew Becker sits down with Nick Belardo, Director of Operations at Compass, to discuss the intersection of marketing, operations, retention, and technology. Nick shares how Compass approaches agent experience, why human connection still matters in an AI-driven world, and what leaders often overlook when building long-term loyalty.In this episode:• Why agent retention starts long before someone considers leaving• The balance between technology, automation, and personal service• How marketing supports business growth beyond lead generation• The leadership mindset required to build lasting relationshipsAbout Our Guest:Nick Belardo is an operational leader, marketing strategist, and real estate executive with more than 15 years of experience spanning corporate hospitality, luxury brands, and real estate. As a leader within one of Compass’s largest markets across Southern California, San Diego, and Hawaii, Nick oversees large-scale operations and high-performing teams, helping drive growth, customer experience, and business performance. His expertise centers on business strategy, leadership development, marketing alignment, and using data-driven insights to strengthen customer loyalty and organizational success.Nick’s career path is anything but conventional. From working as a Justin Bieber impersonator to leading teams of more than 200 real estate professionals, his journey has shaped a unique perspective on leadership, resilience, and personal growth. Known for guiding organizations through periods of rapid expansion, product launches, and major market transitions, Nick combines strategic thinking with a people-first approach. As he prepares to begin his MBA at Boston University and launch a new podcast focused on leadership, mindset, and living an integrated life, he continues to inspire others to maximize their potential both professionally and personally.