loader from loading.io

How To Be a Resort Market Ninja

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Release Date: 06/16/2025

How to Build a Ninja Company: A Blueprint from Jenny Usaj show art How to Build a Ninja Company: A Blueprint from Jenny Usaj

The Ninja Selling Podcast

  How do you build a real estate brokerage where 81% of your agents increase their business by an average of 65% in a single year, especially when the overall market is down? You build a Ninja company. Join Eric Thompson as he sits down with Jenny Usaj, the innovative owner of Usaj Realty in Denver, Colorado, and a new addition to the Ninja Coaching team. Jenny provides a masterclass on how she has intentionally and systematically infused the Ninja Selling philosophy into every aspect of her brokerage, creating a culture of incredible support, accountability, and success. Jenny pulls back...

info_outline
Frictionless Referrals: Introducing Referral Flow and the New Find a Ninja show art Frictionless Referrals: Introducing Referral Flow and the New Find a Ninja

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Welcome back to the Ninja Selling Podcast! Today, Rob Nelson sits down with Joseph Chiavatti – Ninja, brokerage owner, and tech entrepreneur – to discuss a common challenge in the real estate industry: the friction involved in sending and receiving referrals. Joseph Chiavatti shares his personal experience of struggling to connect with qualified Ninja agents for outbound referrals, a frustration that led him to develop a groundbreaking solution. This episode unveils Referral Flow, a new platform designed to streamline the entire referral process for all real estate agents, and its...

info_outline
How To Be a Resort Market Ninja show art How To Be a Resort Market Ninja

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Join Eric Thompson on the Ninja Selling Podcast as he sits down with "Ninja Jack" Affleck, a top-producing real estate broker with Slifer, Smith & Frampton in beautiful Vail, Colorado. Recorded on location in Vail, this episode explores how to successfully apply Ninja principles in a unique resort market. Jack shares his inspiring journey, from his previous career as the iconic resort photographer for Vail Resorts to becoming a leading real estate professional, and how he's achieved his best year ever and best start to a year by embracing authentic Ninja practices. Discover how Jack...

info_outline
The Return of the Sales Meeting: Announcing the Monthly Ninja Sales Meeting with Larry Kendall show art The Return of the Sales Meeting: Announcing the Monthly Ninja Sales Meeting with Larry Kendall

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Get ready for an exciting new chapter in the Ninja Selling community! Rob Nelson welcomes the founder of Ninja Selling, Larry Kendall, to the podcast for a special episode. They reminisce about the legendary sales meetings at The Group Real Estate, which were instrumental in building its high-performance culture and achieving remarkable productivity (averaging 52 transactions per associate!). Larry shares the core principles behind those impactful meetings – ethos, logos, and pathos – and how they fostered energy, collaboration, and real business results for attendees. The conversation...

info_outline
Create More, Work Less show art Create More, Work Less

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Is it possible to achieve your biggest results yet while actually working less? Absolutely! Join Eric Thompson on the Ninja Selling Podcast as he welcomes Deanna Foreman of Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty in Jacksonville, Florida, and her Ninja Coach, Jon Hill. Deanna shares her inspiring journey of how she achieved her best first quarter ever (17 closings!) and is on pace for her best second quarter, all while reclaiming her time and creating better work-life harmony. Deanna, a dedicated Ninja who has attended six installations and Ninja Now, discusses the pivotal decision to "level up"...

info_outline
Navigating Seller Risk: A Modern Approach to Pricing Conversations show art Navigating Seller Risk: A Modern Approach to Pricing Conversations

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Join Rob Nelson and Peter Parnegg  on this "intellectual safari" as they explore a timely and crucial topic: how to effectively discuss pricing with sellers by understanding and addressing their inherent risk tolerance. Moving beyond traditional, often adversarial, pricing conversations, Peter introduces a Ninja-inspired approach that positions the agent as a trusted advisor and partner, helping sellers navigate their two primary fears: leaving money on the table and the property not selling at all. Triggered by observations during the pandemic and the current market shift where price...

info_outline
The Heart of a Ninja: Building a Thriving Team and Business with John Newman show art The Heart of a Ninja: Building a Thriving Team and Business with John Newman

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Join Eric Thompson on the Ninja Selling Podcast as he welcomes John Newman, a dynamic Ninja from Greensboro, North Carolina, and his Ninja Leadership Coach, Tracy Peterson-Nienaber. Recorded while John was in the Dominican Republic for his daughter's wedding, this episode is a testament to dedication and offers a deep dive into building a successful real estate business and team with "The Heart of a Ninja." Discover how John's 37 years of experience, combined with a passion for teamwork honed through a lifetime in sports, has shaped his approach to leadership and client service. John shares...

info_outline
How to Go From Earning $8,000 a Year to $308,000 a Year in Five Years show art How to Go From Earning $8,000 a Year to $308,000 a Year in Five Years

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Get ready for an inspiring story of transformation! Eric Thompson is joined on the Ninja Selling Podcast by Mike DePalma of DePalma Realty in South Jersey, and his Ninja Coach, Mark Johnson. This episode dives deep into Mike's incredible journey from earning $8,000 a year to over $308,000 in just five years – all while maintaining control of his schedule and prioritizing family time. Discover how Mike, initially hesitant about real estate despite his family's legacy in the business, found his path and built a thriving, referral-based business through the Ninja Selling system. Mike shares his...

info_outline
Your Ninja Nine Challenge with Julianne Rawlins show art Your Ninja Nine Challenge with Julianne Rawlins

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Eric Thompson hosts Julianne Rawlins, a Sotheby's agent from Southern Oregon, who recounts her discovery of Ninja Selling after a poor initial real estate experience, calling it a perfect fit. Hear about her "Ninja 9 Challenge" from Nov '24, where, seeking a strong start to the year, she gamified a 3-week push for herself and colleagues, focusing intensely on Ninja 9 tasks. The result? An incredible 700% business increase in Q1 2025!  Julianne discusses pushing past comfort zones (like hitting 50+ weekly calls), shifting her mindset from obligation to the joy of service, and her powerful...

info_outline
A Community of Raving Fans show art A Community of Raving Fans

The Ninja Selling Podcast

Want to know how to build an engaged community of raving fan clients who feel truly connected to your business? You're in the right place! Eric Thompson welcomes Michigan Ninja extraordinaire, Jon Zickert, and his Ninja Leadership Coach, Tracy Peterson-Nienaber, to the Ninja Selling Podcast. Jon shares the innovative strategies that have not only fueled impressive business growth (increasing volume by 38% in one year!) but have also fostered a vibrant team culture and a loyal client following. Dive deep into the concept of the "Z Crew," Jon's exclusive client community designed to maintain...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Join Eric Thompson on the Ninja Selling Podcast as he sits down with "Ninja Jack" Affleck, a top-producing real estate broker with Slifer, Smith & Frampton in beautiful Vail, Colorado. Recorded on location in Vail, this episode explores how to successfully apply Ninja principles in a unique resort market. Jack shares his inspiring journey, from his previous career as the iconic resort photographer for Vail Resorts to becoming a leading real estate professional, and how he's achieved his best year ever and best start to a year by embracing authentic Ninja practices.

Discover how Jack leverages his stunning photography in his marketing, creating a genuine connection with clients who love Vail. Learn about his creative "hospitality satchels" – fun, personalized gifts for people he meets on the ski lift or golf course – and how these simple gestures build rapport and open doors. Jack also discusses the challenges and strategies for staying in flow with clients who are often not in town, emphasizing the importance of consistent, authentic communication and sharing his passion for the Vail lifestyle.

This episode delves into Jack's evolution with real estate reviews, from initial apprehension to a breakthrough approach of asking for feedback and focusing on providing value without immediate valuation. He also highlights the critical role of Ninja Coaching with Lisa Connors in his success, focusing on accountability, support, and refining his systems. Whether you're in a resort market or not, Jack's story is packed with actionable takeaways on building genuine relationships, leveraging your unique strengths, and finding joy and success in your real estate business.

Join the community of 16,000+ Ninjas on the Ninja Selling Podcast Facebook Group for more valuable insights, collaboration, and networking opportunities! Leave a voicemail at 208-MY-NINJA if you’d like to offer more direct feedback. Be sure to check out Ninja Selling Events for upcoming installations and other events, and if you’d like personalized help in achieving your goals, visit Ninja Coaching to connect with one of our fantastic coaches.

Episode Highlights:

  • Introducing "Ninja Jack" Affleck from Slifer, Smith & Frampton in Vail, Colorado

  • Jack's Record-Breaking Success: Best Year Ever and Best Start to a Year

  • The Power of Authentic Flow: Connecting Genuinely with Clients

  • Jack's Unique Background: From Vail Resorts Photographer to Top Real Estate Broker

  • Leveraging Personal Brand: Using Iconic Vail Photography in Marketing

  • Creative Connection: "Hospitality Satchels" for Ski Lifts and "Birdie Bags" for Golfers

  • Staying in Flow in a Resort Market: Connecting with Part-Time Residents

  • The Hot & Warm List Business Tracker: Maintaining a Realistic Dashboard and Motivation

  • Jack's Evolution with Real Estate Reviews: From RPRs to Value-Focused Market Updates

  • The Breakthrough: Asking for Feedback on Real Estate Reviews

  • The Importance of Personalized, Authentic Marketing (vs. "Canned" Content)

  • The Value of Ninja Coaching: Accountability, Support, and System Refinement

  • Jack's Commitment to Ninja: Multiple Installations and Ninja Now Attendee

Key Takeaways:

  • "The thing that I began much, much more of is to become more and more in flow with my people because they're not in town."

  • "[Lisa Connors] has encouraged me to really be me with my people and share who I am with them and be genuine."

  • "If it's gonna be a postcard, if it's gonna be something that's gonna be in their inbox, it has a piece of me. It's with my voice, and it's not something that's canned."

  • "I really enjoy my clients become my friends. And they enjoy hearing from me and I enjoy reaching out and sharing my life with them..."

  • "[The hospitality satchel is] basically a survival kit if you fall in a tree well... everything you need to survive is right here and oh, so there may be a need for my card as well."

  • "When you think about somebody, call them. Write something, text them. Let them know that you're thinking about them."

  • "By looking at the business tracker, what it does is it helps me find out where they are in their mindset and help me understand how I can best serve them."

  • "[The breakthrough with real estate reviews was] asking them for their opinion on it... I need you to help me to be better."

  • "If you have the opportunity to make something that is truly genuine to you... that is what your people want."

  • "Accountability is so, so critical because we think that we're doing all the things that we are."

 

Links: