Real Estate Excellence
If rejection is the price of success, how many “no’s” are you willing to endure before you get your breakthrough “yes”? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with powerhouse agent, author, and YouTube influencer Kati Spaniak. From her beginnings in photography and graphic design to building a half-billion-dollar sales career, Kati shares the pivotal moments that shaped her journey—navigating 9/11’s economic crash, re-entering real estate post-divorce, and scaling to become one of the top agents in her market. Her story reveals the...
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What does it really take to thrive in real estate for nearly three decades through every market shift imaginable? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Clay County real estate icon Eden Jordan. With 27 years of experience, over 800 families served, and countless agents mentored, Eden shares a candid look at the grit, adaptability, and strategic thinking needed to not only survive but thrive in the industry’s constant cycles. From the early days of handwritten contracts to the rise of social media marketing, Eden’s story blends hard-earned...
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What happens when a Broadway-bound performer turns her stage presence into real estate success? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits Michele Tremblay. Michelle shares her inspiring journey from center stage to top-producing real estate agent in Northeast Florida. With a rich background in performance, voiceover, and hospitality, Michele brings a rare blend of empathy, creativity, and grit to her clients—earning accolades such as a 2024 Five Star Rising Star award and ranking #55 out of nearly 12,000 agents by the Jacksonville Business Journal. Tracy...
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What if the hardest transaction you face becomes the one that teaches you the most? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with top-producing agent Delaney Henderson to uncover the mindset, grit, and strategies that catapulted her from a burned-out paralegal in DC to one of Northeast Florida’s most respected and relatable real estate mentors. Delaney doesn’t sugarcoat the truth—she opens up about industry misconceptions, failed transactions, emotional burnouts, and the quiet resilience required to succeed in a chaotic market. Delaney shares the...
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What if your biggest limitation became the launchpad for your real estate empire? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Julianne Grant-Johnson, a top-producing real estate agent in Northeast Florida, for her second appearance on the show. This time, they dive deep into the business side of her success, exploring how she built the Grant Johnson Group while on pregnancy bedrest, leveraged her military ties to dominate the VA market, and now leads a thriving, multi-location real estate team. Julianne gets real about the challenges of growing a...
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How can one woman’s mission to stabilize families through homeownership ripple out to transform entire communities—and even the world? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Dana Johnson, a dynamic leader in real estate and economic empowerment. Dana shares her journey from aspiring fighter pilot to real estate mogul, highlighting how owning a home can offer not just wealth but stability, resilience, and generational impact. She delves into her work with the "She's Owning It" Home Buyers Club, a 10-module course that arms women with the tools...
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How do you gain trust and authority in a high-stakes industry when you're young, inexperienced, and just starting out? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Willie Lane—northeast Florida native, luxury real estate expert, and founder of the Willie Lane Group at Compass Realty. Willie reveals how he built a successful real estate business from the ground up starting at just 22, facing skepticism, inexperience, and a tough market. He discusses the power of consistency, networking over coffee (or beer), and the importance of putting your head...
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What happens when decades of tech experience collide with luxury real estate and the power of artificial intelligence? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with real estate powerhouse Mandy Morrow, whose journey spans Fortune 50 leadership, tech innovation at IBM, and top-tier performance in Ponte Vedra’s luxury housing market. Mandy unpacks how her corporate and tech roots uniquely position her to serve high-net-worth clients with precision, authenticity, and deep local knowledge. They explore how Mandy integrates artificial intelligence into...
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What if your smartest, most efficient business partner was already on your laptop — and free? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes dives deep with with 24-year-old trailblazer Bella Taazieh — a rising force in Northeast Florida real estate who’s harnessing AI to build a modern, personal, and wildly productive business. Bella unpacks how she’s blending ChatGPT, Gamma, Notebook LM, and more to save hours, close deals faster, and create lead-gen systems that work for her — even while she’s at the beach. From building her own GPT assistant to turning...
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Can mastering storytelling and creative production turn you into a top-performing real estate agent? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Sharon Alters—one of Northeast Florida’s most respected and dynamic real estate agents. With a unique background in advertising and film production, Sharon shares how her creative roots shaped her customer-first philosophy in the competitive real estate landscape. Through storytelling, staging, and strategic mindset work, she has transformed hundreds of lives and homes, becoming a community pillar in...
info_outlineWhat if the key to long-term success in real estate isn’t sales skills—but mentorship, purpose, and adaptability?
In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes welcomes Sarah Olson, a powerhouse broker and mentor with over two decades of experience in Northeast Florida. From leading First Coast Collective at RE/MAX Unlimited to launching her own Real Estate Agent Success Academy, Sarah shares her journey of transformation—from a tax accountant to a top-tier agent and educator. With an innate ability to connect, teach, and inspire, she reveals the secrets behind her longevity in the business: personalized mentorship, entrepreneurial thinking, and building relationships that last decades.
Sarah opens up about why most agents fail, the crucial mistakes they make when choosing brokerages, and how she’s leveraging both data and AI to coach her team effectively. Whether discussing the perils of kids on e-bikes in Nocatee or explaining the logic behind her successful lead tracker, Sarah offers a masterclass in running a real estate business like a business. Her passion for helping agents succeed shines through every story.
If you’re an agent looking to level up your career or someone considering diving into the real estate world, follow Sarah Olson and dive into the Real Estate Agent Success Academy.
Subscribe to the Real Estate Excellence Podcast and leave us a 5-star review if you’re inspired by Sarah’s story!
Highlights:
00:00 – 07:59 From Burnout to Breakthrough: Knowing When to Delegate
- Understanding personal capacity and time limits
- Tracy’s AI-powered podcast intro strategy
- Tiffany’s take on ChatGPT in bios and branding
- How AI is reshaping home search and buyer interactions
- The future of conversational real estate websites
08:00 – 17:59 From Real Estate Legacy to Reluctant Heir
- Growing up in a small-town real estate family
- Why Tiffany originally rejected the real estate path
- How military life shifted her career vision
- Meeting Debbie Tufts and finding mentorship
- The early admin years and learning the business backend
18:00 – 26:59 Beacon Born: Building a Business Behind the Scenes
- Launching a transaction coordination company
- Supporting agents with scale and efficiency
- Tiffany’s behind-the-scenes role in 2,000+ transactions
- The value of TC systems and training
- Why she eventually shut down Beacon
27:00 – 38:59 Tools of the Trade: TC Systems and Outsourcing Smarts
- What to look for when hiring a TC
- The power of Open to Close software
- TCs vs. assistants—what agents should know
- Personality matching with transaction partners
- Vacation coverage, communication, and expectations
39:00 – 01:00:59 Growth Gaps: Breaking Through the Agent Ceiling
- Why so many agents plateau at $6–9M
- How TCs can free agents to grow
- Real client experiences and better service
- Overcoming the mental block of paying for help
- Transitioning from TC to front-end sales
01:01:00 – 01:29:52 Scaling with Intention: Teams, Tools & Real Talk
- Breaking income ceilings through delegation
- Hiring a marketing manager: Sarah’s first leap after 20+ years
- The difference a great TC can make
- Building systems that support consistent referral flow
- Choosing the right brokerage and leadership mindset
- Conclusion
Quotes:
“You’ve got to have a pillar—what you wake up in the morning and what you do.” – Sarah Olson
“I have never sold a house in my life. I service my clients, and that’s why they refer me.” – Sarah Olson
“It’s not about the sale; it’s about the story. The lifestyle. What’s your weekend look like?” – Sarah Olson
“Be so good they never forget you—and track you down 15 years later.” – Sarah Olson
To contact Sarah Olson, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Connect with Sarah Olson!
Website: https://www.firstcoastcollective.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reagentsuccessacademy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realestateagentsuccessacademy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraholiviaolson/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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