Justin Stoddart 0:00
Hey, welcome back to the Think Bigger Real Estate Show. I’m your host Justin Stoddart thrilled about the topic today. It’s one that I’m passionate about. And I was so fortunate to be introduced to really an influencer in this space, somebody who helps with a personal brand, helping people find the greatness within them and share that with the world. So please help me welcome, Jennifer Powers. Jennifer is a master certified coach, top 3% of coaches worldwide. Pretty impressive. She’s the best selling author of the book “Oh, Shift”. In addition to that, she has actually been a keynote over 250,000 people. So needless to say, I feel humbled to have a big thinker. How appropriate for this show a big thinker isn’t today to help us solve the problem of how do we help unlock people’s potential and help the world know about these people so that they can make the impact that they’re supposed to make? So Jennifer, thank you for coming on the show today. It’s such a privilege such an honor to have you.
Jennifer Powers 0:58
I’m giddy, I’m giddy be here, thanks.
Justin Stoddart 1:02
We’re gonna have a blast. I know that we’ve had conversations before. And I’m just thrilled that you agreed to come on the show today. And I’m thrilled that my audience, the think that your real estate audience gets a chance to know who you are, and getting some access to the resources. In fact, I’m going to ask a favor. At the end of this show, I know you have this best selling book, if there’s even a part of it, that you could share maybe a digital portion that we could put in the Think Bigger Real Estate Group. So people can kind of get a taste for that. So can I put you on the spot and say, will you?
Jennifer Powers 1:34
Whatever, you need Justin, you’ve got it,
Justin Stoddart 1:36
you are the best. Okay, so here’s something that I’ve noticed. And I’m really going to kind of present this as a challenge that all of us are facing in today’s day and age. And then I want to really tap into your expertise to help us solve this. And the problem that I’m seeing is that because of information overload, because there are so many ways in which people are gaining information, that we are all happy to make split decision on the brands that we support the people the products, the services, we don’t have a lot of time to evaluate. And so as a result, people who are not clear on their brand people who maybe aren’t outspoken, and letting the world know who they are, are going to get passed up. Would you agree?
Jennifer Powers 2:20
Yeah, definitely. And I think it’s becoming more and more so because the competition is becoming more and more. So it really is important to get really clear on that. Yeah.
Justin Stoddart 2:31
So so I’m excited to kind of dig into that with you. But I think that there’s a lot of people, again, my this audience is probably very heavily saturated real estate agents and mortgage loan officers. And at a time when their competition isn’t just the real estate agent down the street, right, or the mortgage loan officer down the hall, like their competition, is now Wall Street and venture-backed tech companies that are spending massive amounts of dollars to not only create technology platforms that minimize what a real estate agent doesn’t get paid. But they’re also spending billions of dollars to change the consumer mindset, that maybe the traditional path of hiring a real estate agent isn’t as important or isn’t necessary like it once was. And for any of us that have been on the backside of a real estate transaction to see kind of below the tip of the iceberg. Everything that a real estate agent does and the value that the good ones really bring that thought is not well grounded, right. And so real estate agents have to more than ever be good at speaking up and sharing who they are. In fact, I was teaching a video class yesterday. And one of the big challenges that that agents are facing is the courage to speak up. And I know you absolutely specialize in helping people step into that role. So So please take the mic for me and teach us what you do what you teach people what your book teaches people, how would you help us solve this problem?
Jennifer Powers 4:01
So here’s the thing, I want to start by saying, yes, that is an incredible problem that is facing, I think, more than just the real estate, mortgage agents. But overall, there is a move toward, or I should say, away from the human interaction toward something that’s their main storyline. But here’s the thing. And we got to remember these humans, no matter how much AI can take over humans are always going to be humans and humans have a very special need. And that is a connection. So I think in order to stand out among all of those, we need to use what we bring each individual as humans. And that is the power, the richness, the intimacy, the service, the person ability of connection. And I know that sounds like so doll, right? But now more than ever, you’re no longer competing with just someone else, you can also now you’re competing with something that’s going to just streamline the whole process and kick you out, right? So I think we all need to tap into that unique aspect of ourselves that people connect with. So maybe you need to take a poll and ask people that you know, or that know, love and trust you. What is it about me that makes it easy to connect with me, some people it might be a smile, some people might be their conversation skills, some people it might be that they always have a compliment, or, you know, positive words to say, some people might just be like, you are so intelligent and educated on your experience that just draws me in. So like find that one unique element that you bring and then exploit it, exploit it, exploit it. And I think that’s where a lot of folks are missing Justin is they’re trying to do all things and be all things all people and they’re getting lost in the noise, right that everyone else is trying to do all things that all people are expecting. So I think we need to sort of rising to the occasion to bring our, the greatest asset of ourselves to the table fearlessly. without apology. You know what I mean, by that?
Justin Stoddart 6:16
How do you when somebody is searching for that? And I think probably most of us know the things that bring us energy, right? They know the things where it’s like, man, if I could do that all day, like number one, my energy level goes up. And number two, like I light up other people like I’m really good at that. And maybe it’s the paperwork side of the business. Maybe it’s speaking maybe it’s, it’s been an in, you know, negotiations? Is there some other way that you found people to really identify what is their sweet spot?
Jennifer Powers 6:45
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s easy. You have to stop doing the things that you don’t like doing and that you’re not good at it’s simple. spend the majority of your energy on the things that you excel at and enjoy joy, right? That doesn’t necessarily mean the things you have experience? Because just because you have experienced something doesn’t mean you should be doing it right. Do you like it? Because that’s when you’re going to shine. You know, that’s when you are in your brightest, greatest state of being is when you’re doing things that you are really enjoying. And I don’t mean just the job. I mean, the things that you’re more the way your marketing like so for example, people have said to me for years old, Jen, you should really do a blog, you should you know, you should write a blog. I’m like, you know what, I don’t want to write a blog. I hate right here. What
you should be on Facebook is you know what, I don’t like Facebook, no offense, Facebook, we’re on Facebook. But if I do something that I don’t like, how well is it going to come across? Yeah, right. Yeah. But I love speaking, I love networking. I love audio, right audio and video. So instead of writing doing a written blog, I’ve done an audio blog, because I like to talk I don’t like to write. So do things that you really enjoy, so that you can excel and therefore stand out and get rid of all the other things or outsource it.
Justin Stoddart 8:03
Yeah. Did you say on our previous episode, we actually interviewed a guy who has a virtual assistant company, that was a big topic of like, people are spending way too much time doing stuff that they’re mediocre at trying to get good at it. And it’s like, and what I hear you saying is even taking that to the next level of like, if you don’t like it, there’s no reason why you should be doing it. And it kind of goes down the theme of like, how do you stand out in such a crowded marketplace. And it’s the only way you stand out, really is to only do the things that you are great at right?
Jennifer Powers 8:34
That you love that, as you said, that fills you up that is so easy like this here, this is so easy for me, right? If you asked me to sit down and write a blog post today about this, I would yawn first and then I went to bed, and then I would have an all you know what I mean? Like why not? Why not be in flow? And do the things that come easily to you? Yeah,
Justin Stoddart 8:58
yeah, no, it’s your there’s, there’s and I’ve shared this before that these interviews again, I do them on a daily basis. And people like, that’s way too much like, I could never do that. And it’s like, but you could do something every day. Like Yeah, because it’s, it’s, it’s mine. And it actually gives me more energy to be in conversation with people like you that light me up and light up an audience. Like, that’s, that’s part of my legacy. That’s what I want to do is connect, you know, this audience with people like you that will light them up. And that’s, that’s a joy for me, right? I’ll do two or three of these a day. Right? But yeah, like asked me to, like, organize my database. And it’s like, yes, it needs to happen. Yeah, might not need to happen. Like it might not need to be me that’s doing it. Right.
Jennifer Powers 9:44
Right, right. So for the people listening for the folks out there, you know, maybe take stock and think about Okay, every time you approach a marketing effort, or something that is going to enhance your brand, or your sales ever think about it, how would you rate this on a scale of one to 10? Right? In terms of enjoyment? If you’re anywhere below a six, maybe you need to think about outsourcing that to someone else, I think it’s 789 or 10. So you’re good to go. But it’s like every element, it’s not just the work that you do. It’s not it’s all the elements that make up your work that you need to give some reading too. And I’m telling you, when I stopped doing the things that I no longer enjoy, guess what happens to like, for example, I do a lot of things in my business, I speak I coach, I teach, I train and sometimes consult when I let drop off the things that weren’t serving me or didn’t fill my soul more of what came more of what I wanted came in right in terms of business. And that’s true for clients, too, if you’re holding on to clients serving people that like are stinky, you know, we’re not allowing room for the good ideal clients to come in.
While likes energetic space.
Justin Stoddart 11:01
I think there’s there’s we oftentimes underway, this concept of opportunity costs, right when it’s like this much time. Yeah, but it’s but if you were to reallocate that time to something else. Yeah. Like, what are the possibilities? It’s like, I know, but I can do it fast. And I know I’m not that good at it. But I don’t really want to take on the expense of having somebody else do it. But the opportunity cost of taking that on both in time in resources and an energy and passion. Right that. Yeah, I think we underestimate the impact that that has upon our ability to serve people at a high level. stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Jennifer Powers 11:44
Yeah, I can totally relate to that Justin I’m, I’m actually guilty of that on several occasions. I love doing I love tweaking the website, for example. No one’s paying me my hourly rate to tweak a website and do it is what I think happened as we do that low hanging fruit that sort of, you know, is fun, and doesn’t necessarily have a great return on investment. But we do it because it’s easy, or because we’re trying to avoid doing most of the more important things. So I would question like, what’s that about? Like, what am I trying to avoid? When I’m doing like nitty-gritty work, like
website updates? You know, I mean,
Justin Stoddart 12:20
it’s interesting, I’ve got a similar set of bad habits that it’s like, like just perusing social media, right or over and consuming. In fact, I was having this thought this morning. One of my dear clients, it’s her birthday today. And I thought about how important it is for me to use social media as a way to connect with people. But perusing aimlessly, yeah. Right? And allow Mark Zuckerberg to decide what’s going into my brain. Right? Not a good, it’s not a good use of time. And so that’s something that I’m working on is to be more intentional is not just be a content creator, but go connect people that matter to me, and then additionally, cut out the stuff that isn’t serving anybody. Right? Which is that yeah, it’s pleasing.
Jennifer Powers 13:05
Not easy to do. Because it’s like, it’s like a magnet to draws you in. So you have to be mindful, like you’re saying intentional to say, Okay, what am I here to do? How is this tool going to serve me? Right? and support me rather than defeat me or suck my time away? Yeah, you gotta be really intentional, like most things, right?
Justin Stoddart 13:24
That’s true. How? No, I would imagine that if people are stuck there saying, Yeah, yeah, I know what I should do. But I don’t do it regularly. Talk to us a little bit about coaching. You’ve coached thousands of people. Right, and have impacted people on five continents. And I’m sure that’s specifically direct speaking. But talk to us about the place how coaching fits into that when people are like, Yeah, I know, I should be doing that. But I’m having a hard time letting go with this. Or it’s just, it becomes kind of an easy diversion of time. How do you help people unlock from that and really, really focus in on the areas where they’re great.
Jennifer Powers 13:57
Yeah, yeah. Well, the first thing is, is to allow them space to stop the judgment, right. So I think when we find out we’re doing something that is, you know, not the best use of time, or we’ll start flogging ourselves, you know, like, Oh, I’m such an idiot. Why do I do that? If I could just stop? Right, right. And so when we’re using that space, that energetic space to sort of flogging and criticize ourselves, we don’t have the space to move forward or even the energy. So a lot of people just want to go from I’m doing this now today, I want to stop doing this tomorrow. I don’t recommend that because there’s a process in between that you need to sort of letting go of the judgment and start practicing acceptance and what so what I start to encourage people to do is to say, Hmm, look at that, very go perusing Facebook again, aimlessly, right. And just be with that, be with that truth without judgment, practice acceptance around how you’re showing up. When you do that, and you can let go of the judgment, I promise you, there will come a time. When you stop, you get kind of get tired of watching yourself, do that very mean, because not judging yourself and you’re accepting then and only then can you start to create change. So just watch, watch, observe, observe, be a student of yourself. Because I always say, and I say it in “Oh, Shift!”, in order to fine-tune your clock, you need to know what makes it tick. So learn yourself, understand yourself, find compassion and acceptance for yourself, before you even try to make any change.
Justin Stoddart 15:35
It’s almost like coming from a space of curiosity. Like, I wonder why you do that instead of like, I’m so stupid. Why do I do that? I just wasted like, 30 minutes. Like, I don’t have time for this. I write something as you said flog yourself. Like, just be curious, like, How I wonder why I did that. Like what led to that? Now, because you’re right, that self-awareness is so critical in any sort of change, right? To be able to say, Okay, I’m doing this, and I know that I need to be doing that this. Yeah, let’s, let’s try and discover what’s you know, what’s the breakdown here? And it’s a really interesting approach. I haven’t heard it said like that. I love it.
Jennifer Powers 16:06
Well, and that’s what coaching does, right? So like, when someone comes to me and says Jen, I want to stop doing “A” and I want to start doing “B” I’m not going to be like, Wow, you are an idiot, why are you doing “A” right? I’m going to go, Huh?
What’s that about? What do you think it’s about that,
you know, leads you to want to do more of “A” than “B”? I mean, this is just the coach approach. And you can do it for yourself.
Justin Stoddart 16:27
That’s interesting. Like, like, I love that question. And I’ve, I’ve maybe heard it before, but it’s a powerful and like, like, what’s that about? Like, let’s, let’s discover that together. I’m not going to tell you what it is. And you probably don’t know what it is. Yep. So let’s, let’s put it under the table. Now let’s examine it, right, let’s walk around and look at it. Like, why is it that I don’t do that, like, so a big challenge that real estate agents have even to their own personal sphere, right? know that if they contact those people regularly and add value to them from those conversations are going to come? opportunities to buy and sell real estate. Right? People buy real estate yet. So so often, it’s like, yeah, yeah, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, they keep kicking that can down the road. And it’s interesting to say, Gosh, I suck at lead generation, like, I’m just not good at it rather than me like, like your question, right? Which is really an interesting one is like, Huh, what’s like, what about that? Like? Tell me, what was a question that you asked?
Jennifer Powers 17:19
Yeah. What is that about? Or was avoiding? or What am I afraid of? These are all great questions. Um, but I do want to share something with you. I was working with a financial advisor recently, who hated making the calls, the cold calls.
And it didn’t take long through the coach approach for him to realize that I was on the wrong price. Right? Is I was on, like you said, lead generation. And when you realize he could shift away from that as being the objective, and toward servicing people, and helping people get what they need information, for example, in terms of their financial health, only then did we have a new perspective on picking up the phone. So in other words, he didn’t want to pick up the phone to generate leads, but he loved picking up the phone to help people. So aside from just accepting yourself and understanding yourself, the other thing is, what is your intention? What is your goal? If you can create a goal that resonates more with you, then that activity will come more naturally?
And doesn’t that make sense? Really what sense?
Justin Stoddart 18:27
You know, it’s, it’s interesting, it reminds me of a lesson that I had to remind myself of, so I’m not a big fancy speaker like you. But I got my first opportunity to speak at a, it was a commencement address for a small college here in Portland. Yeah, someone reached out to me and seen, you know, the videos that he did. And they said, Would you be willing to do this? And I was like, Yes, I will. I don’t know what I’m doing. I will. And it was interesting, as I started to catch myself getting a little nervous like this is, this is a big day for these graduates. Like, I like I don’t want to mess it up. And it was, I had to remind myself of a lesson again, that was taught to years ago is that anytime I’m like, feeling nervous, it’s because I’m, I’m, I’m afraid of how this might reflect on me that I might mess up. Whereas if I come to that audience, say like, how can I serve you? Which is the same, like psychology, that you’re teaching someone who’s having a hard time making phone calls, which is like, I’m not calling? As for myself, I’m calling for you. I can help people. And I just want to check in on you. How can I serve you today? Right? Even if that’s not what you say, that’s what you intend? Yeah, that’s what you intend. That’s what you think it takes the pressure off? It’s not about me. Who cares? Like if I’m nervous about making that call, I’m thinking about myself, like, forget myself go to work?
Jennifer Powers 19:38
Yeah, yeah, it changes the entire contents of the conversation, the energy of the conversation changes, and the person on the other end of the line feels it, they feel it, and they’ll stay on the line longer with you, I promise, which is really what you need, because you’re just trying to build relationships, it’ll come, it will come, I was just in a speaking and Nashville to an amazing company called Q4 intelligence. And this guy, Kevin, he just his philosophy is, you don’t go from A to B, right? You don’t go from no sale to sale, you go from looking for a prospect of building a relationship and trust and service around that prospect. So that it’s a no brainer, when that prospect needs your services, they come to you. So it’s not a direct consumer or b2b sale. It is a building a relationship and a service-oriented mindset. It’s amazing. And it’s so simple. But that’s what we need to do. circling back to what you were saying earlier about how do we set ourselves apart? Yeah, no computers can do that. Yeah,
now programs and platforms can do that.
Justin Stoddart 20:47
I’ve got a friend of mine, here that says, while the world is focusing on artificial intelligence, I’m doubling down on human intelligence. But I thought, Oh, that’s brilliant. I love that is that great like, like, trying to be more like the computer by automating everything be like what they can never become, which is really, really human, really, really compassionate, really, really caring and service oriented to people. And people feel that Now granted, your service has to be, you know, an all-time high. But rather than try and compete in their space come to space where they can’t compete, right? Which is being human.
Jennifer Powers 21:19
Brilliant, and we’re really good at that.
Justin Stoddart 21:22
Yeah, no kidding. Tell me really quick here, as we wrap up your book, what would people like? Tell me the intent behind why you wrote it? Like, what problem does it solve? Or what can people expect? Why should they go find kind of that, you know, an E-version of it, and then even go to your website, which I’ll put up here on the screen?
Jennifer Powers 21:42
Yeah, yeah. So “Oh, Shift!” is really about helping people recognize that they have a choice. So many people feel like they don’t have any options. And it’s the furthest thing from the truth. So “Oh, Shift” reminds people because everyone knows his stuff. It’s just it needs a gentle reminder that you can choose your words, to create the reality, more of the reality to draw and more of what you want, you can create the role that you want to play, you can choose the role, whether you want to play the victim role or the victor role. And you get to choose how you react to things so that you can create more of the reality that you want. So it’s all about the power of choice. I mean, its inherent in the title, you can say, oh, shift with the F versus without the F, you can share with your language, right? So, um, it really is a reminder that people can create more what they want by exercising your awesome power of choice.
It’s a super funny and fun book.
Justin Stoddart 22:42
I’ll bet it I with you as the author, I’m sure there’s lots of energy and good times included. So thank you for sharing that. And I would encourage anybody who’s listening to this, go to her website OhShift.com. And what a different perspective rather than like like yelling obscenities at life, right? Look at life to currently. Yeah, take control and and and an act upon life rather than letting life act upon us. Right?
Jennifer Powers 23:06
Or, or Justin I like to just remember that you have the choice to control you know, to you don’t even if you don’t do it, it doesn’t matter. But ownership reminds you that you have that choice. Look, it’s totally up to you whether you want to make it which choice you make, right? So I’m not shoving down a particular choice. And I just want you to remember that you have a choice you have. And that one place will get you one result in the other choice will get you another result, right.
Justin Stoddart 23:32
Yeah, powerful. I can’t wait to read it. Jennifer, I’m actually really, really excited as you kind of describe what it’s about. Last question, which is the signature question of this show, which is what Jennifer Powers somebody who’s inspired people, really around the globe. What do you do on a regular basis that allows you to be a big thinker that constantly expands your possibilities, right, like some practice or something that you do where it’s like because I do this, I’m constantly growing and expanding and, and
Jennifer Powers 24:07
You kind of threw a lefty at me there. But the first thing that comes to mind, and it’s very simple as most things that I say, stop working, stop working when work is done. And I think I know real estate agents that can have a challenging time with this, but there’s got to be an off button. Because just sleep, you know, when we sleep, we regenerate, right? I don’t know, the technicality of it, but we regenerate stuff. without sleep, we can’t function well, without downtime from work. We can’t function and by function, I’m talking about the creativity that you’re thinking about the dreaming the seeing the visioning, you’ve got to turn it off people, I don’t care how you do it. But give yourself that gift because you need a break. And maybe you already are taking a break, but maybe you need to take more of a break.
Justin Stoddart 25:00
You know, it’s it’s interesting, because some of the most productive agents I know have business hours, right. And it’s not 24/7. Yeah. And I think some people do it simply because I’m doing it because I like I want to stay married or actually want to be a decent parent. But what you pointed out is interesting that if you want to grow as a person, there’s got to be which like we were designed, not for marathons but for like short Sprint’s and there’s got to be a time where we stop and recover before we can sprint again.
Jennifer Powers 25:28
Definitely, definitely. And that’s where everything starts to regenerate. And that’s where you have your most aha moments of what to do next, or who you really are. I’m hearing time and time again. I just heard from a girlfriend yesterday. She’s like, Oh, my gosh, I got away. She went to Maine for like, three or four days. And she came back completely repurposed in terms of her career and how she wants to maneuver it. There wasn’t it? She wasn’t thinking about work and me about nature and lobster learning that
she had her A-ha. So yeah.
Justin Stoddart 25:59
Yeah. And she’ll come back a better, more powerful person. Yeah. Right. better able to serve her clients at a higher level. And she may have lost one. But right, well, like, but I don’t know that that would have been a good client that had the expectation that they work around the clock, right? Yeah.
Jennifer Powers 26:13
Yeah, exactly.
Justin Stoddart 26:14
Yeah. What are you building just a business or a business that is designed to fund an ideal life? And I think that’s it. That’s a big distinction. So awesome point, Jennifer. So fun to have you here. Again, I’m going to encourage the audience to go to OhShift.com. And then like, we’re going to give a little sneak preview of the book in the think bigger Real Estate Group. So can’t wait to get that from Jennifer and post that for everybody. So I want to thank you for your time. I’m a fan. And I’m super grateful for you contributing to this audience as you have. It’s been a total pleasure. So thank you so much.
Jennifer Powers 26:48
Thank you. I appreciate it, Justin. Take care.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai