Crabs in a Barrel: The Mindset Keeping You From Earning More
Release Date: 07/01/2025
Social Selling Made Simple
These days, it’s harder than ever for marginalized buyers to break into the market. Prices are high, lending rules are tighter, and misinformation is everywhere. The path to homeownership can feel impossible. Agents aren’t off the hook either. With all the changes to buyer representation and compensation, agents are being asked to prove their value in every single deal, while trying to serve clients who need more help than ever. That’s where Midwest Home M@tch comes in. We built an AI-powered referral network that connects agents with pre-approved, ready-to-go buyers. Especially those...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
In real estate, we’re expected to connect with every personality type under the sun. That usually means working really hard to match how someone else communicates. Most of us are doing it on the fly. Winging it. Pivoting mid-conversation and crossing our fingers that our style clicks with theirs. That might have cut it back in the day, but now it’s a liability. What if you could walk into every client meeting already knowing how to win them over? That’s exactly what myYenta gives you: the blueprint to connect, build trust, and close the deal, by aligning with your client’s psychology...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
If you think success is about hoarding your secrets, side-eyeing your peers, and treating everyone like the enemy, you're already losing. I see it all the time in real estate: agents wrapped up in rivalries, clinging to titles, licenses, and tasks that no longer serve them, all because they’re afraid to let go or let someone else shine. That “crabs in a barrel” mindset will keep you small, stuck, and exhausted. Here’s the truth: in today’s market, collaboration is the competitive edge. Instead of competing with other agents, we need to be around people who lift us...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
A real estate license isn’t just for selling homes. It’s a whole launchpad…if you know how to use it right. If you’re a great agent, you’re doing way more than unlocking doors and writing offers. You’ve got skills that can help you stand out and stack your income. In today’s market, the old playbook won’t cut it. Inventory is tight, interest rates are still high, and the NAR settlement changed the game. Agents who stick to business-as-usual are getting left behind. It’s not just about closing deals anymore. It’s about thinking bigger, leveraging your...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
In today’s real estate landscape, agents aren’t just competing for clients. We’re being forced to justify why we deserve to be paid. With buyer broker agreements now front and center, it’s no longer enough to open doors and write offers. We have to demonstrate value. And what’s more valuable than walking into a buyer consultation armed with solutions that literally fund the deal? I’m talking about gift funds, employer-assisted housing, and stacked grant programs. Money that helps your clients buy and ensures you get paid. That’s how top agents are winning right...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
Every agent is out here fighting for more listings, but what if the key to dominating your market isn’t just about pricing, marketing, or staging, but about money that’s already sitting on the table? What most agents overlook is that some listings come with built-in financial power: I’m talking about reverse down payment assistance. This is money that can be layered to cover buyer agent compensation without your seller having to give up a dime. In today’s market, where buyers are hesitant and sellers want to net top dollar, this strategy is an absolute game-changer. In this...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
On November 30th, 2022, everything changed. ChatGPT hit the streets and instantly began reshaping how we live, work, and run our real estate businesses. From digital marketing to image creation and even coding, AI has been a total game-changer. And the crazy part? We’re only getting started. AI is evolving daily. Tools like ChatGPT, Canva, and Descript are moving at lightning speed—what seemed impossible 30 or 60 days ago is now totally within reach. So what can AI actually do for us right now? How can we use it to multiply our time, streamline our workflows, and make our businesses...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
Real estate pros, if you’re not using LinkedIn to post content, flex your industry expertise, and generate high-quality B2B leads, you’re leaving money on the table. It’s one of the best platforms to grow your brand, so why are so many agents still sleeping on it? Maybe it feels intimidating. Maybe you’re not sure what to say. But here’s the thing: thanks to AI, creating content and making the right connections has never been easier. And yet, so many real estate professionals are still dragging their feet when it comes to using AI, missing out on massive opportunities. Combining...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
It’s no secret that real estate commissions have been in the danger zone for a while now. And with moves like Rocket Mortgage snatching up Redfin, it’s clear that real estate professionals need to fight fire with fire. Well thanks to a new dual-licensing program, we might just have the ultimate weapon to turn up the volume on our production! Most real estate agents have to pass their clients off to a mortgage officer and watch them take a piece of the pie. What if you could handle the whole process yourself, and keep more of the money…all with one simple link? Here’s the...
info_outlineSocial Selling Made Simple
Posting every day…multiple times a day…carousels…sharing your deepest personal stories. If you're trying to boost engagement, impressions, and reel in those real estate leads via social media, you've probably tried it all. And when it doesn’t work, you’re probably left thinking the algorithm is out to get you. But hold up – it’s not. No strategy will ever work if it’s not backed by cold, hard data. If you’re not tracking what’s already working and turning up the volume on that, you’re just throwing spaghetti at the wall. Social media without analytics is just a bunch of...
info_outlineIf you think success is about hoarding your secrets, side-eyeing your peers, and treating everyone like the enemy, you're already losing.
I see it all the time in real estate: agents wrapped up in rivalries, clinging to titles, licenses, and tasks that no longer serve them, all because they’re afraid to let go or let someone else shine.
That “crabs in a barrel” mindset will keep you small, stuck, and exhausted.
Here’s the truth: in today’s market, collaboration is the competitive edge. Instead of competing with other agents, we need to be around people who lift us up.
You need allies, a clear niche, and a no-BS understanding of what drives your business forward.
In this very special 200th episode of Social Selling Made Simple, I’m getting real about what helped me level up.
I’m sharing the legacy of entrepreneurship I inherited from my grandfather, how I went from overworked instructor to highly paid keynote speaker, and why choosing collaboration over competition changed everything.
The more I let go, the more I get, and what I’m getting is better than anything I ever let go. -Marki Lemons Ryhal
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- The "crabs in a barrel" trap
Clinging to our ideas and treating peers as threats sabotages our growth. How do we break free from this scarcity mindset?
- Competition vs. contribution
How did I turn what other people saw as a real estate rivalry into a powerful collaboration opportunity?
- Why focus pays more than hustle
How did I increase my hourly rate, free up more time, and lean into the parts of the business I love most?
About Your Host
Marki Lemons Ryhal is a Licensed Managing Broker, REALTOR® and avid volunteer.
She is a dynamic keynote speaker and workshop facilitator, both on-site and virtual; she's the go-to expert for artificial Intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social media in real estate. Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate, and with 25+ years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars. Marki’s expertise has been featured in Forbes, Washington Post, http://Homes.com , and REALTOR® Magazine.
Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!