Commercial Real Estate Leadership (CRE Success)

Hosted by Darren Krakowiak

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Episodes

281

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Aug 2026

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About the show

This is the Commercial Real Estate Leadership podcast. The show is hosted by Darren Krakowiak, the Founder of CRE Success. Inside the CRE Success Revenue Accelerator, Darren helps commercial real estate principals to lead their people better, grow their businesses faster and have less stress in their lives. Send an email with 'GROW' in the subject line to hello@cresuccess.co for more information. CRE Success Agent Accelerator is our program for commercial real estate agents who want to upgrade their skills, elevate their mindset and get the accountability they need to grow their production by $100,000 or more. Visit cresuccess.co/waitlist for your invite to join. This podcast was previously known as CRE Success: The Podcast (until episode 158).

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 26, 2026Episode 28410 min

284. How Top Commercial Agencies Generate Opportunities; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

In episode 284 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak reveals how commercial real estate agencies can build a stronger, more reliable pipeline by deliberately generating opportunities from four key lead generation channels. Many CRE principals don't really know where their last five deals came from. Business arrives through a mix of prospecting, referrals, existing clients and inbound inquiries, but without tracking and deliberate systems, it is difficult to know what is working, what is being neglected and where leads are leaking. Darren breaks down the four channels every commercial agency should be running: outbound prospecting, referrals, existing clients and inbound leads. He also explains what combination makes outbound prospecting work, and why better follow-up may be more valuable than spending more on marketing. You'll discover: 🔹 The four lead generation channels every CRE agency should manage 🔹 Why prospecting needs to be consistent, persistent and proactive 🔹 How to create two deliberate referral systems 🔹 When to ask existing clients for referrals and repeat business 🔹 Why inbound leads are often lost through poor follow-up If your pipeline relies too heavily on one source of business, this episode will help identify the gaps and create a more deliberate lead generation system. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/284 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

August 19, 2026Episode 2839 min

283. The Three Problem Areas in Every Commercial Agency; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Problems inside a commercial real estate agency are easier to diagnose when principals know where to look. In Episode 283 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak highlights the three areas where almost every problem in a commercial agency exists: pipeline, people and process. The episode moves from mindset into the tangible aspects that help commercial real estate principals build momentum, improve execution and create an agency that can operate without relying on them for everything. What you'll learn: • Why a strong commercial real estate pipeline requires generating, qualifying and converting opportunities. • How proactive prospecting, quality referrals, database mining and inbound inquiries can work together to create pipeline momentum. • Why hiring, developing and retaining the right people requires consistent leadership and purposeful action. • How regular one-on-one conversations can become a genuine development and retention mechanism. • Why documented processes, clear accountability and AI-enabled software can improve agency efficiency. This discussion sets up the next three episodes, which go deeper into pipeline, people and process and provide practical strategies commercial real estate principals can apply inside their businesses. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/283 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

August 12, 2026Episode 28214 min

282. Performance and Freedom Compound; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Commercial real estate success is typically synonymous with long hours, constant availability and being visibly present. But Darren Krakowiak argues that commercial real estate principals can build high-performing businesses while creating more freedom for themselves. In episode 282 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren shares lessons from his corporate career in Korea, including how he structured his working life to take six weeks of annual leave and visit the health club daily during business hours while leading hundreds of employees. His experience led to a powerful realisation: performance and freedom do not trade off. They compound. You'll discover: 🔹 Why physical presence is not the same as effective leadership 🔹 How giving yourself more freedom can force greater capability across your team 🔹 Why guilt about personal time during business hours is often misplaced 🔹 How to use a personal constraint as a design brief for your business 🔹 Why commercial real estate principals should build freedom into their growth plans now, rather than waiting for it later For principals who want to build an agency that performs without depending on them every hour, this episode offers a different way to think about leadership, growth and freedom. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/282 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

August 5, 2026Episode 28112 min

281. Deliberately Building Freedom into Your Business; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Most commercial real estate principals build an agency that depends on them being physically there. But what would happen if you deliberately designed a business to operate without you? In episode 281 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak shares how he built more freedom and flexibility into CRE Success while continuing to grow the business every single year since 2020. From restructuring his calendar and batching content to delegating inbox management and designing programs that require less of his input, Darren explains the practical decisions that reduced his business' dependence on his constant presence to keep on growing. The goal for principals isn't necessarily to travel as often as Darren does. It's to build a commercial real estate agency that gives them greater choice over how they spend their time. You'll learn: 🔹 How calendar design can create meaningful periods of freedom 🔹 Why delegation can reduce both workload and mental load 🔹 How to build flexibility into a service before you launch it 🔹 Why business freedom needs to be designed at every stage of growth 🔹 The question principals should ask to reduce dependence on themselves Because if revenue cannot operate without you, then you actually just have a challenging job instead of a truly scalable business. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/281 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

July 29, 2026Episode 28010 min

280. Stop Treating Property Management as the Support Act; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Most commercial real estate principals treat property management as the stable income that keeps the business running between deals, because "sales and leasing is where the real money is made". That belief is costing you more than you realise, so in episode 280 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak looks at why your rent roll deserves more attention. An agency generating $1 million in GCI may be worth very little to a buyer, because the income depends on the people producing it. Conversely, a rent roll generating $1 million in recurring management income is worth around $3 million at a three-times multiple. In this episode, you'll discover: 🔹 Why sales and leasing revenue and management income have completely different financial and valuation profiles. 🔹 The three reasons principals keep prioritising transactions over deliberate rent roll growth. 🔹 How every sales and leasing transaction can become an opportunity to create a property management relationship. 🔹 Why growing property managements should be treated just like tracking a sales and leasing pipeline. If you are a commercial real estate principal who wants a business with enduring value beyond your own involvement, this episode will change how you think about your rent roll. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/280 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

July 22, 2026Episode 2798 min

279. Why External Capability Lands Differently; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

The commercial real estate principals who know why their team isn't performing can't always change their behaviour. In episode 279 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak reports that the gap between knowing the problem and fixing it is almost always due to a lack of time. And why, even when principals do find the time to deliver accountability, agents have often learned how to deflect it. This episode introduces Sales Management as a Service, a structured weekly sales management program built specifically for Australian commercial real estate agencies. You'll discover: 🔹 Why understanding the problem doesn't automatically change agent behaviour 🔹 How external accountability lands differently than accountability from the principal 🔹 Why weekly coaching and support outperforms occasional training for your team 🔹 How principals stay informed without carrying the sales management workload 🔹 The financial case for investing in structured, external sales management If your team isn't prospecting consistently and the sales management process keeps landing back on your desk, this episode reveals what to do about it. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. To find out more about Sales Management as a Service, visit cresuccess.co/sales and register your interest. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/279 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

July 15, 2026Episode 27812 min

278. Recruit Like You Prospect; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Recruitment is one of the most important tasks facing commercial real estate principals who want to grow their business, but the challenge of getting it done may not be due to a lack of talent. In episode 278 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explains why many business owners struggle to hire quality people and how a simple but important shift in mindset can dramatically improve hiring outcomes. Rather than treating recruitment as an urgent task when a role needs to be filled, Darren argues it should be approached the same way successful agents approach prospecting: consistently, strategically, and long before a hire is needed. In this episode, we cover: 🔹 Why reactive hiring leads to poor recruitment decisions 🔹 The recruitment score every principal should give themselves 🔹 How to build a warehouse of candidates before vacancies arise 🔹 The overlooked recruitment channels that can produce better hires 🔹 Why recruitment should become part of your weekly business rhythm If you're looking to build a stronger team and reduce costly hiring mistakes, this episode of the show provides a practical framework to improve your recruitment process and attract better people into your business. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. If you're looking for a structured way to think through and upgrade your recruitment process, get your free copy of our 7-step hiring playbook created specifically for commercial real estate principals at cresuccess.co/recruitment Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/278 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

July 8, 2026Episode 27711 min

277. Are You a Deal Junkie?; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Many commercial real estate principals know they should spend more time on the tools, but what happens when that time gets consumed by managing transactions instead of finding new business? In episode 277 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak gets into a common growth constraint facing commercial agency owners: staying too involved in the deals they have already won. Drawing on the Find, Mind and Grind framework, Darren explains why principals often remain deeply involved in negotiations, paperwork, and transaction management, even when capable team members could take ownership. He also introduces the concept of the deal junkie mindset and how it can quietly pull leaders away from the highest-value activities that drive revenue growth. You'll discover: 🔹 Why being on the tools doesn't automatically lead to revenue growth 🔹 The three reasons principals stay involved in transactions too long 🔹 How the deal junkie mindset limits scalability 🔹 The difference between finding, minding, and grinding deals 🔹 How to structure your team so more deals can progress without you If you're a commercial real estate principal looking to grow your agency, build leadership capability within your team, and spend more time generating new opportunities, this episode provides a practical framework for making that shift. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/277 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

July 1, 2026Episode 27610 min

276. The Two Jobs Every Commercial Real Estate Principal Has; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Many commercial real estate principals start a new financial year with ambitious growth targets, only to discover their revenue looks remarkably similar to previous years. In episode 276 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak investigates one of the most common causes of stagnant revenue growth: the principal becoming the bottleneck. While many agency owners blame market conditions, lead flow, team performance, or their competition, Darren explains why the real constraint is often how a principal spends their time. When business owners divide their week between generating revenue and managing day-to-day operations, they can unintentionally limit the business's growth potential. This episode examines the difference between working on the tools and running the business, and why reallocating responsibilities can unlock higher revenue without increasing hours worked. You'll discover: 🔹 Why commercial agency revenue often plateaus despite increased effort 🔹 The difference between revenue-generating work and operational work 🔹 Why principals can become the biggest constraint to business growth 🔹 How leadership structure can create more capacity for growth 🔹 Practical ways to reduce operational dependency on the principal If your commercial real estate agency has hit a revenue plateau, this episode will help you identify if the limit really exists and what you can do about it. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/276 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

June 24, 2026Episode 27510 min

275. The Prospecting Problem You Created; Commercial Real Estate Leadership

Many commercial real estate principals find themselves carrying the prospecting burden for their team, even when they have capable agents in the business. In episode 275 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explains why prospecting often breaks down at the team level and why the problem is rarely a lack of motivation. To explain this, he introduces two powerful concepts: the Buffer Effect and the Pipeline Dependency Loop. Darren explores how commercial real estate principals unintentionally create an environment where their agents learn they can rely on them to generate new business whenever the pipeline slows down. Over time, this creates a structural dependency that accountability measures alone cannot solve. You'll discover: 🔹 Why prospecting failures are usually a structural problem, not a motivation problem 🔹 How the Buffer Effect prevents agents from feeling the consequences of poor prospecting habits 🔹 Why accountability systems often produce only temporary improvements 🔹 The two changes required to build genuine prospecting ownership 🔹 How to break the Pipeline Dependency Loop and create a more self-sufficient team If you're tired of being the primary source of new business, this episode provides a practical framework for developing a team that takes responsibility for prospecting and pipeline growth. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/275 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com