I'd like to get objective reviews of coaching programs currently available for real estate agents. I've never had a coach, but am seriously thinking about getting one soon. I take that back. We have accountability at our market center which I am a part of, but I don't think I'm into "group" accountability as much as I used to be. I'm seeking personal business coaching now.

I need to change my thinking first. The money put into a coaching program (many charge "x" dollars per month) should be held accountable and should result in an increase of production. I just don't want to spend the money. Holy crap, I'm cheap!

But seriously - anyone used a coach or currently in coaching that they enjoy? Let's try not to make this a bashing thread.

Note: Thank you webmaster and Wayne for popping coaching back in my mind.

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Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

Hi Steve, I just started coaching with Rob Tucker two weeks ago so it is a work in progress and I will keep you posted if you wish. However I did alot of research ( for several months) and looked closely at Tom Ferry, Brian Rodgers and Bob Corchoran as well as Dirk Zeller. I also have spent a couple of years in Craig Proctors Q.L.P. but did not do his coaching. My point is if you wish to get my humble opinion on what I liked and didn't about some of these coaches as well as why I chose Rob Tucker then pm me your Contact info and we can talk if you wish. All of these people have something to offer I believe but they are different in at least a few ways if not many for some. Cheers

Steve. I think any coach worth his salt will tell you, that making statements like that would likely prevent them from working with you. Here's why

At the end of the day, a coach, a teacher, a mentor can know and be the best in the world at what they do, but if they do not have a student with an open mind, or their suggestions or actions are not followed perfectly and without question, the accountability in terms of increased production can't exist.

Also there are many intangibles (Like improvements in how you think and interact with people) that are not necessarily measurable in dollars and cents after x amount of time, but the best student will step back and look at what they have "become" or how the have "grown" for the better as a result of their training, and realize the value in the service and advice they have received

Arrogantly, I look at myself as a coach - here at REW (Although I don't get paid for it)

There are those that listen to me, and follow my advice to a tee and benefit from better websites, higher conversion, better rankings blah blah blah

There are those that I can tell a thousand times (Here is how you do it) and then they go off and do the opposite, or do a poor job with what I have suggested, and always come back with "Hey it didn't work" or "It's your fault"
Those people really tend to bug me

Yes I do make $ indirectly by establishing a reputation as a service provider via the work I do here, but if I didn't, I think I would still do it, and this is because of the intangibles (On the coaching side) it feels really damn good when you help someone else succeed, or especially when they come back and surprise you by exceeding your expectations (And sometimes your own acheivements)

If I am a good student, then a good coach should be able to help you improve production, that much I agree with, but I think my long winded point is that the onus is not ALL on the coach

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Want to save up to 50% off Real estate webmasters product websites & common upgrades? Check out my latest blog post regarding our end of the year sale.

Words well taken; thank you for taking the time to express them. An open mind is something I am not too sure if I have; it's something that I really can't take an objective approach on. I may consider myself open minded, but others may not.

I think as long as the expectations are established prior to the commencment of the coaching program, no one is entitled to upset when the relationship isn't working; expectations were established from the get-go.

What I take from your post is that not only should expectations be set for the mentor/coach, but also expectations from the person coached as well. The way a person thinks is vital; else the coaching process is doomed to fail through repeated attempts to sway from the advice of the coach.

So my first step is to change the way I think. Why does it always come back to that? (Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill) .

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Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

Spot on Steve!

You know what is funny, I interviewed a coach recently (business development) and although I am sure he had a lot to offer me, so much of what he had to say was common sense, or things I felt I already knew - this was a problem with me, and not the coach - I sometimes feel that I already know everything, or that I am smarter than someone, and in reality, your coach does not have to be smarter than you, I just have to be able to get over that, I realized in the interview process that I myself am not coachable (At this point and time) because I do not have the kind of open mind (I am quite set in my ways) to be able to follow advice that likely in the long run will benefit me. I am stubborn and need to get over myself.

It is not easy, and I really think that coaching is a waste of time "until" you meet that one special person that can communicate with you in that certain way, that does not trigger any of your defences

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Want to save up to 50% off Real estate webmasters product websites & common upgrades? Check out my latest blog post regarding our end of the year sale.

Question, do you find yourself being able to give great advice but not able to follow any of it?

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Want to save up to 50% off Real estate webmasters product websites & common upgrades? Check out my latest blog post regarding our end of the year sale.

Heck yes; all the time. I'm on the leadership council here and do personal coaching with many of the fresh real estate agents at our market center. I coach my team members as well, and provide the tools they need to succeed.

Sometimes I sit back and think - I should be way ahead of the game with the advice I give. You'd think I would know it already! It's like I know what to do, but being my own boss, it's tough sometimes to convince myself to do it.

One thing I realized this year was that I have all the tools to succeed. My biggest enemy is myself, and is really why I wanted to see if a coach could break that.

My ex-broker sold the company about 1.5 years ago, and he's directly responsible for teaching me everything I know with real estate. Perhaps I should go to him and ask if he'd be interested in helping me (for payment). It could work - he's the only guy I would ever listen to.

Edit: I've even heard that your coach may not even have to know a spit about your profession. He/she just needs to know your goals, what it takes to get there, and be tough to hold you accountable for results with the deadlines prescribed.

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Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

So Steve what did you decide?

Well I'm still on the fence. I think I'm working to find a good coach for the time being. I actually left for the holidays so I didn't get a chance to get in touch with my old broker but I'm planning on calling sometime this week.

Someone needs to hold me accountable to get a coach.

__________________
Steve Castaneda, Realtor
Keller Williams Realty
The MyHomeHouston Team

Specializing in Houston Real Estate. Feel free to visit my Houston Real Estate Blog or read about Real Estate Technology for agents.

Someone needs to hold me accountable to get a coach. [/quote]

Now that is funny, well my offer still stands if you wish to find out what I have learned over the past few months. Pm me and I will give you a toll free # to call on sometime. I am hesitant to post publicly as these are only my opinions and I do not wish to negatively hurt someones business when they are not nescisarily bad...just not for me.