Do You Need an Assistant—or Do You?

A lot of agents hit a point where they think, “I just need to hire an assistant.” Or, “It’s time to build a team.”

Sometimes, that’s true. But here’s the thing—hiring people without systems in place is just adding chaos to chaos. That’s one problem. An assistant isn’t a magic fix. And building a team? That’s a whole different kind of business.

Systems Come First

Before you add people, you need to be sure your systems are dialed in. Think:

• Calendar

• Contracts

• Lead Generation

• Follow-Up

• Workflows

• Listing Process

• Buyer SOPs

• Ops & Marketing

• Automation

Without this foundation, you’re just stacking complexity on top of confusion.

The Bigger Problem: The Old Brokerage Model

But let’s talk about the elephant in the room—the old brokerage model. It’s broken. I know because I’ve lived it, and I’ve left it. Here’s how it usually plays out:

You train agents. You give them leads. You share your systems. You help them win. Then, when they’re ready to build their own team or go solo, they move into that phase of their career with your brokerage. The brokerage profits more from the time and training you invested, while your return disappears.

Read that again.

From a relationship standpoint, you may want the best for your people. But from a business model standpoint, it’s really screwed up—because your time is your most valuable asset.

A Better Way

I’m not bitter about agents learning, growing, and spreading their wings. In fact, I love it. I’ve always led with value and support for any agent on my team. But there’s a smarter way—a more mutually beneficial way.

At REAL, I help agents get really good at being entrepreneurs. We talk strategy, implementation, and building a business based on who they are. And when they’re ready to branch out? I support them fully. I want them to build an empire if that’s what they want.

Here’s the difference: when they go out on their own, I’m still right here. They’re still part of my network. Their sales and growth continue to directly impact my revenue share and stock benefits. My time is rewarded. Their independence is celebrated. Everybody wins.

No Guilt, No Resentment—Just Growth

That’s the shift. Aligned incentives. A business model that actually works—for everyone.

👉 Conversation Starter for the Week: Do you really need people right now—or do you need systems (and maybe a new brokerage model) first?

—R

P.S. If you’re ready to grow—not just your sales, but a diversified business with systems and a smarter model—we should talk.