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 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 wisdom with relatable humor.
Listeners will hear Eden’s journey from Disney College Program graduate to top-producing Realtor, her creative grassroots networking in playgrounds and ballfields, and her no-nonsense take on market trends, government influence, and the “greed factor” in housing. She opens up about setbacks, including lawsuits and the 2008 crash, and reveals the key systems, relationships, and mindset shifts that keep her business strong year after year.
If you’re an agent looking for longevity and growth in your business, take a page from Eden’s playbook—listen in, take notes, and start applying these timeless strategies today. Subscribe to Real Estate Excellence for more top-tier insights from the best in the business.
Highlights:
00:00 – 09:15 Eden’s Market Perspective and the “Greed Factor”
- No housing shortage in Florida? Eden’s take on supply and demand
- The role of Airbnb in shifting inventory
- How government intervention impacts housing cycles
- Why affordable housing is a moving target
- Builders, pricing jumps, and the COVID-era market
09:16 – 18:42 From Disney to Real Estate – Eden’s Early Career Path
- Disney College Program lessons in customer experience
- Trade show sales success and discovering her sales talent
- Transitioning from national events to local real estate
- Learning the ropes from seasoned agents at RE/MAX
- Starting in real estate before social media
18:43 – 28:10 Pre-Social Media Networking Tactics
- Viral email marketing before Facebook
- Leveraging MySpace for community engagement
- Playground and sports field networking strategies
- Building reputation through knowledge, not sales pitches
- Early career advantages as a young agent in an older industry
28:11 – 38:05 Thriving in Changing Markets
- Why some agents excel in tough conditions
- The danger of hibernating instead of staying visible
- Power of collaboration and peer support
- Mentoring new agents to overcome stagnation
- Lessons from working with top-performing peers
38:06 – 49:20 Setbacks, Lawsuits, and Lessons Learned
- The voluntary HOA lawsuit over $100
- Emotional toll of feeling exposed in business
- Learning resilience from legal challenges
- Separating personal identity from the Realtor role
- Building a strong support team to handle business operations
49:21 – 1:21:55 Longevity, Leverage, and Consistency
- Hiring assistants early to focus on strengths
- Knowing when to scale with help or partners
- Social media’s growing workload for agents
- Advice for agents approaching growth limits
- Balancing business drive with family priorities
Quotes:
“There is no shortage of housing in this state—that’s what I believe.” – Eden Jordan
“I was an overnight success, but the best thing that happened to me was 2008 because my ego got back in check.” – Eden Jordan
“The problem now is nobody’s sitting there talking—they’re just in their phones.” – Eden Jordan
“If you’re doing more than 10 or 12 deals a year, I don’t know how people are doing it without help.” – Eden Jordan
To contact Eden Jordan, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Connect with Eden Jordan!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edenjordan_/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@micheletremblayrealestate3200
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edenjordan/
Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com
Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com
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