Empire Building

Hosted by Keller Podcast Network

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About the show

It’s no secret that business owners face a unique set of challenges, often juggling marriage, parenthood, and career aspirations. Empire Building brings together five influential women who are unapologetic in their goals to build big businesses and live big lives. Another common goal? Helping others do the same. Tune in for authentic, unfiltered conversations with Wendy Papasan, Seychelle Van Poole, Sarah Reynolds, Kymber Lovett-Menkiti, and Tiffany Fykes, as they invite you to be a part of their journey.

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60 recent

35 min

346. Give Yourself Permission to Want More

Ever feel like you're doing everything you're supposed to do, but you're still not happy? Between running businesses, raising families, and showing up for everyone else, it's easy to lose sight of what we actually want. In this episode, Seychelle Van Poole and Kymber Lovett-Menkiti are giving us permission to rethink the roles, responsibilities, and expectations we've been carrying. We talk about how to recognize when you're living according to someone else's definition of success, why being good at something doesn't mean you have to keep doing it, and how to let go of the labels that no longer serve you. We also explore why wanting more doesn't have to mean working harder, and how trying new things can help you rediscover what brings you joy. Then we get practical about making your best life a reality. From creating a "not-to-do" list and auditing your calendar to delegating responsibilities and setting boundaries, we share ways to start making room for what matters most. Plus, we walk through a permission slip exercise to help you get clear on what you want to stop, start, change, and become. You don't have to wait for someday to build a life you love. Give yourself permission to start now! Resources: Read The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

38 min

345. How to Keep Great People Growing With You (Part 2)

How do you help great people grow without promoting them too soon, making promises you can't keep, or putting them in a role that's wrong for them? This week, we're finishing our PATH framework for keeping talented people growing with you. We dig into T, Test the Future, and H, Hold the Standard. Instead of treating growth like a promotion ladder, we share how to give people a chance to experience the work, develop new skills, and demonstrate readiness before making a permanent move. We also break down the four areas we look at before someone steps into a bigger role: current role results, future role capabilities, values and trust, and business readiness. You'll hear why being great at your current job doesn't automatically make you ready to lead, why tenure alone isn't enough, and why both the person and the business have to be ready before a promotion makes sense. The goal isn't simply to give great people bigger titles. It's to give them clarity, coaching, honest opportunities to grow, and a path that works for them and the business. Resources: Listen to Part 1 of our conversation on how to keep great people growing with you Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

42 min

344. How to Keep Great People Growing With You (Part 1)

You have an amazing person on your team, you want to keep them, and suddenly you find yourself promising a future role before you know whether the business actually needs it. We've been there. In this episode, we're kicking off our PATH framework for creating growth opportunities without prematurely promoting people into roles that aren't right for them or your business. We start with P: Picture the Business. Before attaching someone's name to a future role, we share six questions to help you get clear on where the business is actually going: What must be true of this business in one, three, or five years? What production, GCI, gross margin, and net profit would support the future? What functions will become bottlenecks as volume grows? Which seats will the organization genuinely need? Which work requires leadership, and which requires deeper expertise without managing people? Which roles can be funded now, and what only becomes viable after a defined economic trigger? Then we move into A: Align Ambitions. Instead of assuming your best people want your version of growth, we're sharing how to listen for what they really want. We talk about motivational interviews, separating career conversations from vision casting, and finding the "honest overlap" between three things: what the business needs, what the person wants, and what they're capable of. Stay tuned for part two, where we'll break down T: Test the Future and H: Hold the Standard. Resources: Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

37 min

343. Why Culture Is Your Strongest Business Strategy with Dana Gentry

Culture isn't just the team lunches, celebrations, or giving back. It's what we tolerate, what we reward, how we treat each other, and the standards we protect every single day. We're joined by Dana Gentry, longtime real estate leader and Keller Williams Senior Culture Advisor, to talk about what it really takes to build a culture that supports a big business. Dana shares the lessons she's carrying forward from mentors like Mo Anderson, including why leaders have to address bad culture instead of looking the other way, why productivity and profitability belong in the culture conversation, and how recognizing the right behaviors can change an entire team. We also get personal about stepping into rooms where the pressure feels big. Dana shares how she's navigating a major leadership role by increasing her capacity, staying close to mentors, remaining coachable, focusing on the work that gives her energy, and remembering that she doesn't have to fill someone else's shoes. She gets to make her own. If we're serious about building businesses that last, we have to intentionally build the culture that will carry us there. Resources: Learn more about Dana's book, Restore: 90 Days of Intentional Living Interview with Mo Anderson: Part 1 , Part 2 Listen to Everything Life and Real Estate Follow Dana Gentry on Instagram: @danaggentry Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

20 min

342. The Next Stage of Scaling: From One Business to an Empire

You’ve scaled one business. Now what? Building an empire isn’t about chasing every new opportunity that catches our attention. Before we add another business, we need a profitable foundation, the right opportunity, and the right people to grow it without putting everything we’ve already built at risk. We’re wrapping up our scaling series with the next step: taking what works in business one and using it to build business two, three, and beyond. We break the process into four steps: use profit from the first business to fund what’s next, look for synergistic businesses that solve another problem for the same customer, identify the right “who” to lead the new venture, and incubate the new business with the systems and operational talent we already have. We also talk about structuring partnerships around what each person actually brings to the table, including cash, expertise, influence, and time. Plus, we unpack why profit interest can sometimes make more sense than giving away equity and how Walt Disney’s interconnected businesses offer a powerful model for building an empire where each piece strengthens the others. Once we know how to scale one business, we have a framework we can repeat. The goal is to build the empire that supports the big life we actually want. Resources: See Walt Disney’s 1957 Corporate Strategy Chart Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

32 min

341. The Success Trap: When More Stops Making Your Life Better

What happens when you finally achieve the success you worked so hard for, but your instinct is still to chase more? For high achievers, growth can become such a habit that we forget to ask whether the next milestone will actually make our lives better. In this episode, we’re talking about the success trap and eight strategies for building a healthier relationship with ambition. We break down how to define what “enough” looks like across your money, business, and lifestyle, separate enough from expansion, decide in advance what counts as winning, and actually give yourself time to celebrate what you’ve built. We also talk about creating a second scoreboard for the parts of life that revenue can’t measure, including freedom, relationships, health, adventure, giving back, and peace of mind. We also challenge ourselves to identify the “no” behind every new “yes,” practice staying instead of automatically expanding, and ask one powerful question before pursuing the next achievement. We’re not giving up ambition. We’re becoming much more selective about what deserves it. If you know someone who keeps moving the goalpost the second they reach it, share this episode with them. Resources: Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

26 min

340. How to Win the Pricing Conversation Before the CMA

What if the pricing conversation was won before you ever opened the CMA? This week, we're bringing you inside Keller Williams Mega Camp, where Sarah Reynolds shares the six keys her team uses to help sellers make empowered decisions about one of their biggest assets. After serving more than 12,000 families, Sarah has learned that telling sellers what to do isn't enough. We have to educate them. She breaks down how to uncover a seller's real why, reframe list price as a marketing strategy, help sellers think like buyers, and understand why active listings matter just as much as past sales. We also talk about how time on market can steal equity and how showings and offers give us the signals we need to listen to the market instead of arguing with it. The goal is to make the CMA confirmation, not confrontation. When sellers understand the strategy before they see the numbers, we can stop battling over price and start working together toward what matters most to their family. Take these six keys into your next seller conversation, educate first, and choose impact. Resources: Read SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times by Gary Keller, Dave Jenks, and Jay Papasan Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

32 min

339. 6 Ways to Create Urgency In a Shifting Market

When buyers and sellers are scared to make the wrong move, waiting can feel like the safest option. But in a shifting market, waiting isn't neutral. The market keeps moving, inventory changes, carrying costs add up, and opportunities can disappear. In this episode, we're sharing six ways great agents create real urgency without relying on pressure or manipulation: create clarity, understand motivation, show the cost of waiting, take charge, ask great questions, and create momentum through action. We also talk about why fear often shows up as procrastination, how to uncover what a client really wants, and why strong leadership can give people the confidence to make informed decisions in an uncertain market. If you lead buyers, sellers, or a sales team, this episode will help you create clarity, build trust, and guide people toward the next right step. Resources: Check out Ringo Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

32 min

338. How to Set Standards That Protect Your Business

The business you tolerate is the business you create. So are the expectations inside your company actually standards, or are they just preferences? In this episode, we’re breaking down what makes a business standard real: it’s clearly defined, consistently communicated, regularly measured, and backed by accountability when the expectation isn’t met. We share examples from our own businesses across communication, customer experience, sales, team performance, culture, and financial operations, including response times, client updates, lead follow-up, weekly scorecards, spending limits, and even cell phones in meetings. We also dig into the harder part: actually holding the standard. We talk about modeling expectations as leaders, building standards into systems and workflows, addressing missed commitments without making every conversation punitive, and figuring out whether a performance issue comes down to clarity, skill, capacity, or willingness. Standards should create consistency, not rigidity, and strong accountability can help your people achieve the goals they committed to in the first place. Your culture is ultimately shaped by what you consistently reward, correct, and tolerate. Start with the standards that matter most, hold them well, and build from there. Resources: Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.

36 min

337. 7 Real Estate Negotiation Mistakes That Are Costing You Money

What if the thing costing you your next commission check isn't the market, but the way you're negotiating? In this episode, we're breaking down seven mistakes that can leave money on the table and keep good deals from coming together. We talk about why our job is to solve problems instead of predict the future, why the first buyer deserves more attention than most sellers realize, and how even a small counter can keep valuable momentum alive. We also dig into the communication habits that separate professionals from everyone else. That means knowing when to put down the text thread and pick up the phone, negotiating the entire deal instead of fixating on price, and helping emotional clients slow down long enough to make informed decisions. And when a transaction hits a roadblock, we share why curiosity and creative problem-solving can uncover options that aren't always obvious, from seller concessions and rate buydowns to occupancy agreements and alternative terms. If you want to put more deals together, create better outcomes for your clients, and keep more opportunities from slipping away, these are negotiation skills worth practicing. Resources: Check out Her Best Life: www.herbestlife.com Learn more about Empire Circle Connect on Instagram: Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan Kymber Lovett-Menkiti: @kymbermenkiti Tiffany Fykes: @tiffanyfykes Produced by NOVA This podcast is for general informational purposes only. The views, thoughts, and opinions of the guest represent those of the guest and not Keller Williams Realty, LLC and its affiliates, and should not be construed as financial, economic, legal, tax, or other advice. This podcast is provided without any warranty, or guarantee of its accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or results from using the information.