In this no-fluff masterclass, John Kitchens sits down with industry titan Kyle Whissel to break down the five essential keys to scaling a high-performance real estate team in 2025. From running a billion-dollar operation to managing 100+ agents, Kyle shares the exact frameworks, tools, and leadership mindset that separate scalable success from burnout.

Whether you're looking to build your first team or scale past $500M, this episode delivers the blueprint—straight from someone who’s doing it now.

Key #1: Mindset and Leadership

• Why loving people is a non-negotiable for leaders

• The real reason most team leaders fail

• How to shift from agent to visionary CEO

Key #2: Business Operating Systems (EOS)

• Why EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) changed everything

• The difference between an org chart and an accountability chart

• How Kyle’s integrator filters ideas and prevents chaos

Key #3: Processes and Training

• How to use Trainual to scale knowledge and create repeatability

• Why every process should have a name (e.g., "The Whissel Way")

• The system for capturing daily huddles and onboarding at scale

Key #4: Standards and Accountability

• The hard truth: expectations without enforcement are just suggestions

• Why Kyle fires agents—even top producers—who don’t meet standards

• What a “real” production standard looks like (and why most don’t have one)

Key #5: Recruiting and People Strategy

• How Kyle brings on 10 agents a month—and only keeps 4

• Why most agents get cut in the first 60 days

• Focusing on the top 20% to create a cascade of leadership across the org

• Traction by Gino Wickman

• Trainual – SOPs + LMS platform

• EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating System

• TheWhisselWay.com – Courses, resources, referrals

• Follow Kyle on Instagram: @kylewhissel
  

Scaling a real estate business in 2025 requires more than hustle—it demands leadership, structure, and relentless standards. Kyle Whissel lays out the five pillars that can help any team go from local to legendary.

“The system runs the business. People run the system.” – Kyle Whissel

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥

In this episode, John Kitchens, Jay Kinder, and Al Stasek bring the heat with a jam-packed, no-guest session that dives deep into where the real estate industry is headed—and what it takes to stay ahead. From the truth behind commission lawsuits to the rapid evolution of AI in marketing, the guys pull back the curtain on what real leaders are doing in 2025 to stay relevant, profitable, and highly valuable in a noisy world.

They also unveil details for the 10th annual Rock the Spectrum and Agent to CEO event in Cleveland—and why it's the most high-impact, can't-miss event for top agents in the Honey Badger Nation.

Rock the Spectrum & Agent to CEO 2024

• Official dates announced: September 24–25 in Cleveland

• Why last year’s Agent to CEO event set a new standard—and how 2024 is leveling up

• VIP access, exclusive music performances, and community like never before

The Big Commission Lie

• Debunking the myth that 6% was ever a standard commission

• Why the lawsuit headlines were misleading—and what the real data says

• How agents can confidently defend their value without racing to the bottom

The Rise of the Tribe

• Why tribalism and community are shaping business decisions more than ever

• How values, alignment, and culture are driving real estate migration patterns

• Why small, intimate events are outperforming large conferences in 2025

Owning the Problem = Owning the Market

• Lessons from StoryBrand: stop being the hero, start being the guide

• Why clarity of your client’s problem positions you as the authority

• How to dominate your niche by solving one thing better than anyone else

AI-Powered Consumer vs. Agent Authority

• The #1 complaint from modern consumers: “I know more than my agent”

• Why agents must evolve past templates and become true expert advisors

• CHSA/CHBA’s role in restoring trust, value, and leadership in the transaction

Marketing to One Person at Scale

• How to use ChatGPT to profile the ideal buyer persona for every listing

• Why one-to-one relevance at scale is the new gold standard in lead gen

• Real-world examples of AI creating high-converting, hyper-specific marketing strategies

The AI Collaboration Opportunity

• How collaboration—not resistance—is the agent’s advantage with AI

• Why service, proactivity, and personal touch will never go out of style

• The real key: becoming the expert on what consumers don't know they need yet

The Future of CHSA/CHBA in an AI World

• Why the foundational principles of CHSA/CHBA matter more than ever

• How to adapt the system for today's AI-powered buyer and seller landscape

• Why process, preparation, and personalization win every time

• HoneyBadgerNation.com – Tickets, merch, CHSA/CHBA, Honey Badger of the Month

• StoryBrand by Donald Miller – Framework for owning a problem and guiding clients

• The AI-Driven Leader – Must-read for agents, brokers, and team leaders in 2025

• The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni – Recommended foundational read

• CHSA & CHBA Systems – Learn how to increase perceived value and authority in every deal

• Honey Badger Nation Legacy Merch – New drops available now
  
  

"If you own the problem, you own the market." – John Kitchens

• Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach
• LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach
• Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥