From $30 in the Bank to $25M in Real Estate Sales | Jacob McLaughlin
Release Date: 03/23/2026
From Receptionist to $3.8B CEO: The Mindset That Changed Everything | DeAnn Golden
Stay Paid Podcast
What does it take to go from answering phones as a receptionist to leading one of Georgia's top real estate companies to $3.8 billion in annual sales? DeAnn Golden — President & CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties — joins Josh and Luke on Stay Paid to share the leadership principles, agent productivity strategies, and mindset shifts that built her empire. In this episode: • Why coaching transforms people when training only transfers knowledge • How to position yourself as a real estate...
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📞 LIVE CALL-INS: 30 Years in Real Estate & STILL Leaving Money on the Table - Here's the Fix
Stay Paid Podcast
Two real business owners call in — and one of their stories is probably yours. In this live call-in episode of Stay Paid, hosts Luke Acree and Josh Stike take real questions from real business owners and deliver straight-talk frameworks on building referral-based businesses, re-engaging your database, and turning everyday connections into consistent growth. Whether you’re just starting to build your referral network, trying to unlock the goldmine in your existing database, or looking for the right systems to take your business to the next level — this episode gives you the...
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The ONE Strategy Every Top Agent Uses (And You’re Probably Ignoring It) | Matthew Ferrara
Stay Paid Podcast
What does a 35-year veteran of real estate think about AI, private listings, and what it really takes to succeed today? Matthew Ferrara — real estate’s industry whisperer — joins Josh and Luke on Stay Paid with zero fluff and total clarity. In this episode: • Why “list to last” is more relevant today than ever • How to use AI correctly — and the mistakes killing your authenticity • The truth about private listing networks and what they really mean for consumers ...
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📞 LIVE CALL-INS: Is Print Dead? The Marketing Truth Nobody Talks About
Stay Paid Podcast
Think print is dead? Think again. In this live call-in episode, Luke Acree and Josh Stike answer real questions from listeners — covering why print marketing still outperforms digital on emotional connection and ad recall, how to recruit and retain a team of 50, and how to actually know if your marketing spend is working. Whether you're in real estate, insurance, or any service-based business, this episode is packed with actionable frameworks you can use today. Topics Covered: • Why print marketing still delivers near-100% open rates ...
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The Buyer Agent Strategy Nobody Is Teaching | Adam Boxman
Stay Paid Podcast
Most agents avoid working with buyers—but Adam Boxman built his entire business around them. With over 500 families served and 90% of his business coming from repeat clients and referrals, Adam has cracked the code: fewer showings, stronger systems, and a better client experience. In this episode, he breaks down how to create a “client machine” that filters out wasted time, builds trust fast, and turns every buyer into a lifelong referral source. 🔑 Key Takeaways Adam built a 90% referral-based business by focusing exclusively on buyers The average client sees only 4.5...
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From Marine to CEO: How Mary Kennedy Thompson Built Billion-Dollar Teams
Stay Paid Podcast
Mary Kennedy Thompson, CEO of BNI, reveals the networking system responsible for generating over $27 billion in member-driven business. With a background in the Marine Corps and decades of leadership in franchising, Mary shares how “Givers Gain,” discipline, and consistent relationship-building drive real growth. From scaling companies to billions in revenue to leading one of the world’s largest business networks, this episode is a masterclass in leadership, networking, and entrepreneurship. Learn how to: Build a referral-based business that scales Use networking as a...
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From $30 in the Bank to $25M in Real Estate Sales | Jacob McLaughlin
Stay Paid Podcast
The comeback story every agent needs to hear. Jacob McLaughlin went from having $30 in his bank account to closing $25M in real estate sales—and building one of the fastest-growing referral platforms for agents. In this episode of Stay Paid, Jacob shares the raw story behind his journey: cold calling through tax records, driving five hours for showings, walking dogs to survive financially, and ultimately launching ReferralMate, a platform now connecting over 12,000 agents nationwide. Learn about Jacob’s journey: Jacob started real estate with no connections, no marketing budget,...
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📞 LIVE CALL-INS: Why Most Agents Stay Stuck at $4M (And How to Break Through)
Stay Paid Podcast
What’s the difference between agents who stay stuck and agents who scale? In this Stay Paid Q&A episode, we break down real-world questions from agents about generating better leads, farming the right neighborhoods, building a referral database, and hitting a $6M goal. The answer isn’t flashy marketing—it’s math, tracking, and intentional action. 🔥 Key Takeaways: You can’t improve what you don’t track—know your database size, referral rate, and conversion numbers. $6M in volume isn’t complicated—it’s 24 transactions at $250K average price. ...
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61% of Buyers Use AI to Choose Their Agent (Are You Showing Up?) | Rajeev Sajja
Stay Paid Podcast
AI isn’t the future — it’s the present. In this episode, Rajeev Sajja, Chief AI Officer at BrightMLS, reveals that 61% of consumers are already using AI to evaluate agents — and nearly all of them find it helpful. He breaks down exactly how agents can show up in AI search by optimizing their bio, reviews, and content for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). You’ll also learn practical use cases for AI in listing prep, marketing, and data analysis — plus a simple 30-day challenge to build real AI skill fast. If you’re not adapting to AI, you’re falling behind....
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📞 LIVE CALL-INS: The 26-Touch Rule: How to Stay Top of Mind ALL YEAR
Stay Paid Podcast
If you feel invisible, you may not be touching your database enough. On this live call-in episode of Stay Paid, we tackle three powerful business challenges: burnout from doing everything yourself, why listings aren’t selling (hint: it’s not your marketing), and how to stay top of mind in a competitive market. From the “treadmill stage” of business to the hard pricing conversations most agents avoid, this episode breaks down practical strategies for leverage, buyer generation, and building referral momentum. If you want to grow without burning out, price listings...
info_outlineThe comeback story every agent needs to hear.
Jacob McLaughlin went from having $30 in his bank account to closing $25M in real estate sales—and building one of the fastest-growing referral platforms for agents.
In this episode of Stay Paid, Jacob shares the raw story behind his journey: cold calling through tax records, driving five hours for showings, walking dogs to survive financially, and ultimately launching ReferralMate, a platform now connecting over 12,000 agents nationwide.
Learn about Jacob’s journey:
- Jacob started real estate with no connections, no marketing budget, and only cold calling from tax records.
- After early success, a failed business venture left him with just $30 to his name.
- He rebuilt his career by doing everything possible—cold calls, social media, referrals, and long commutes for showings.
- Referrals became a key opportunity, which inspired him to build ReferralMate, now used by 12,000+ agents.
- The platform helps agents post referrals, apply for them, and manage agreements in one place.
- Successful referrals come from matching the right personality and expertise with the client.
- His advice for agents today: build referral networks, invest in social media, and take massive action.
🔗 Join ReferralMate: https://referralmate.co