Podcast
Take Flight Weekly | Jim Miller
Hosted by Jim Miller · EN
Jim Miller is a success mentor and life coach who guides top real estate brokers from around the country while managing 2.3B+ in sales production as Designated Managing Broker with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in Chicago, Illinois. He is also recognized as a top real estate coach to top Sotheby's International Realty brokers in 35 luxury markets.
20episodes
Episodes
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#327: It's the Time of Year to Reflect
4d ago00:27:21Tap to summarizeSummaryRecorded early on the last Sunday of May after a month of travel, a wild Chicago market, and the kids finishing school, this is a reflection episode. Jim steps back and shares what the month and YTD validated. One phrase anchors the whole hour. "Seven figure earners master the basics that six figure earners are too advanced to do."Inside this episode:Why the business exists to serve the network, and why 85%-90% of top-producer business comes from it.The shift from “know you, like you, trust you” to being the one call your network makes.Boundaries as decisions made before the question is ever asked.What winning looks like, and how knowing it filters the noise.The three phases every advisor moves through, producer, operator, and the business that fits into a life.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Reflections on May06:31 The Importance of Mastering the Basics16:12 Building Strong Networks for Success24:51 Phases of Business Development and Operational Excellence ResourcesFind me on Instagram -@askjimmiller and at askjimmiller.com
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#326: If I had to Rebuild my CRM, I Would Do This!
3w ago00:21:43Tap to summarizeSummaryFive tries. Five abandoned attempts. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. Episode 326 of Take Flight Weekly is built for the roughly 90% of real estate brokers, agents, and advisors who have tried to build a CRM and never gotten one off the ground.The episode opens with a moment from earlier this month at a leadership event for top advisors. At the event, Jim got tapped on the shoulder by a advisor with the same question he hears from his clients constantly: I've tried five times, how do you do it? The answer is a full teaching session, and Jim names the real obstacle in the first few minutes. The CRM is just the technology. The mindset is what gets in the way. From there, he walks through a complete 13-week rebuild plan that runs on a simple spreadsheet, requires no perfect platform, and produces a clean Top 100 contact list by the end of September. The system is two names a day, ten names a week. No Saturday-afternoon import marathons. No more starting over.Inside the episode, Jim breaks down the 15 columns every CRM spreadsheet needs, from contact rank through neighborhood or building, source of origination, last touch, next touch, and three customizable tag fields. He covers where to mine the names from, including MLS sold data, your phone, your email marketing list, school rosters, and vendor partners. He stays CRM-agnostic on the platform question, because the right tool is always the one you'll actually use. By the end, listeners have a system, a 13-week runway, and the one decision that determines whether any of it gets built.This is Pillar 3 of the Take Flight coaching framework, CRM and Relationship Management, and Jim makes the case that this pillar sits at the foundation of every successful real estate business he has built or coached. The episode closes on the only question that matters for anyone who has been stuck: are you committed, or are you interested? The answer shows up in what you do this week, not what you say. This is a longer teaching episode worth bookmarking and re-listening. There will be no Episode 327 over Memorial Day weekend; the next episode drops May 31, 2026.Chapters00:00 Introduction to CRM Challenges02:54 The Importance of Mindset in CRM Implementation06:00 Starting Your CRM: The Spreadsheet Approach09:07 Building Your Contact List: Key Columns to Include11:57 Organizing Your Contacts: Strategies for Success14:53 Commitment to CRM: The Path Forward ResourcesJim Miller on Instagram - @askjimmillerEmail Jim Miller - mailto:jim@askjimmiller.com
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#325: The Math that Created Take Flight
4w ago00:25:20Tap to summarizeSummaryIn this episode, Jim kicks off a new pillar of the Take Flight framework: CRM and Relationship Management. He explains why, in an AI‑accelerated world, your network is more valuable than ever.“We are moving at light speed when it comes to technology… If you use it the right way to support your business, it is exciting.”Jim shares the story of how a 2011 conversation with CEO Chris Feurer sparked the very first Take Flight class and how doubling down on building a real database transformed his business.You’ll learn:Why the future workforce splits into two groups — tech operators and high‑touch professionalsWhy real estate advisors must master relationships to stay competitiveThe true capacity of a human advisor: your Top 100The math that drives predictable growth:“Your income equals the number of people you serve times the value you deliver.”Jim challenges you to make this the summer you finally build, nurture, and protect your network — before the stakes get even higher. TakeawaysBuilding and maintaining a database is crucial for long-term success.The ideal network size for effective relationship management is around 100 people.Consistent engagement with your network yields 85-90% of your business.Using AI and technology enhances efficiency but personal relationships remain vital.Focusing on a smaller, high-quality network improves performance and results.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Take Flight and CRM07:08 The Importance of Technology in CRM13:01 Building and Nurturing Your Network21:09 Commitment to Relationship Management ResourcesThe Go-Giver by Bob Burg - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A7U7U4QClaude Cowork AI Platform - https://claude.ai/Jim Miller's Website - https://jimmiller.com/Follow Jim Miller on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/askjimmiller/
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#324: If you see Consistency, Look for This!
May 300:15:05Tap to summarizeSummary:Jim Miller recaps the second pillar of the Take Flight framework, emphasizing the importance of habits, routines, and systems in business success. He shares insights from past episodes, focusing on designing, executing, and maintaining consistency in real estate entrepreneurship.Design before execution sets the destination. Consistency as cadence, habit stacking, the Weekly Planning Session, and daily rhythm build the engine. Choose Wisely points the engine at the right clients, because a great engine pointed at the wrong work breaks the operator. Seasonality and the Farmer Framework decide which projects deserve which months. The Ideal Week becomes the bridge from quarterly Rocks to weekly execution. The dress rehearsal each night protects the whole structure with analog discipline. Nine moves. Standalone, they are a curriculum. Integrated, they are an operating system. ELP's do not run more habits than the 97%. They run a tighter system.Here is the truth to carry this week. A great habit, in the wrong system, breaks the system. If you have been adding habits and still feel like the week is leaking, you do not have a habit problem. You have a structure problem. The fix is an audit, not another book. One page. Nine rows, one per episode in the arc. Three columns: installed, partial, missing. Score yourself honestly. What you find missing is what is putting unnecessary stress on your week. Install the system once and the output compounds for years. Key Takeaways from this review of Habits, Routines, Rituals and Rhythms.Design before execution. Pillar 1 sets the destination before Pillar builds the path. (EP315)Consistency as cadence, not intensity. Stop restarting takeoff. Build habits, routines, rituals and rhythms . (EP316)Habit stacking. After [X], I will [Y]. Identity drives the stack. (EP317)The Weekly Planning Session. 60 to 90 minutes. The anchor habit that runs every other habit. (EP318)Win the day, win the week. Morning ritual, arena work, evening wind-down. The compound effect is daily. (EP319)Choose Wisely. Client selection is the highest-leverage decision an advisor makes. (EP320)Calendar architecture. Seasonality, the Ideal Week, and the dress rehearsal. Right project, right season, rehearsed each night. (EP321 / EP322 / EP323)Chapters00:00 Introduction to Take Flight Framework02:29 Recap of Pillar Number Two03:01 Key Principles of Execution10:14 Choosing Wisely: Client Selection12:09 The Importance of Planning14:18 Looking Ahead: CRM and Relationship ManagementFollow Jim:Instagram @askjimmillerWebsite: AskJimMiller.com
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323: Your Planner is Your Daily Dress Rehearsal
Apr 2600:13:18Tap to summarizeSummaryThis week's episode starts with a confession: some of the highest performing advisors and entrepreneurs I coach use a physical planner as their most important high-performance tool, and they have been quietly wondering if they should apologize for it. The story underneath is personal: I tried going all digital after years of building my business with a daily planner, and I lost the clarity that made this analog approach work in the first place. My thoughts around this approach changed when I reframed this analog approach as my "dress rehearsal" for the day and the week. Until I built the dress rehearsal, a practice of transferring the day's plan from screen to paper that I have done every day since 2011. The principle is plain: the planner is not a backup plan, it is the dress rehearsal, and the neuroscience says your brain knows the difference.What you will walk away with from this episode:• Why the highest performing advisors and entrepreneurs I coach use a physical planner as their most important tool, and why you should stop apologizing if you are one of them• The story of going all digital and what broke: I had access to every piece of information and clarity about none of it, until I went back to the planner and built the dress rehearsal• The neuroscience: a 2023 study found handwriting activates far more brain networks than typing, particularly in the parietal regions tied to memory and processing, while typing puts the brain on autopilot• The goal data: people who write their goals by hand are 33% more successful at achieving them than people who only think about them, because writing forces a different level of encoding• Why the $5.2 billion planner market is growing, not shrinking: professionals are returning to analog after discovering that all-digital does not produce the clarity they need• The dress rehearsal defined: the daily practice of reviewing the day's digital calendar and writing the plan by hand with three priorities, the time blocks that matter, and nothing else. This practice can be in the morning or at the end of your day. • One challenge: do the dress rehearsal today and every day for seven days then notice what changes about how you start your mornings.Chapters00:00 Introduction: The High-Performance Tool01:00 Why a Physical Planner is Essential01:56 The Power of Writing vs. Typing02:56 Personal Experience with Digital and Analog03:52 Research on Brain Activation During Handwriting04:51 The Concept of the Dress Rehearsal05:48 Neuroscience Findings on Handwriting07:13 Goals and Handwriting Success Rates08:09 The Growing Market for Analog Planners09:11 The Trend Toward Hybrid Planning10:09 Your Planner as a Dress Rehearsal10:53 Embracing the Analog Approach11:52 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionJim Miller's Email: jim@askjimmiller.com to sign up for newsletter.
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#322: Plan the Quarter. Execute the Week.
Apr 1900:14:55Tap to summarizeSummaryJim Miller discusses the importance of aligning quarterly execution with long-term vision, emphasizing the concept of periodization and strategic planning to stay focused and achieve goals efficiently.Key TopicsQuarterly goal executionPeriodization of goalsStrategic planning and focusTime blocking and calendar managementChapters00:00 Vision vs. Execution: The Quarterly Challenge10:14 The Importance of Time Management in Achieving Goals ResourcesThe 12 Week Year by Brian Moran - https://www.amazon.com/12-Week-Year-Get-More/dp/1118509234Traction by Gina Wickman - https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-What-Your-Business/dp/1936661837Follow Me:Instagram: @askjimmillerWebsite: AskJimMiller.com
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#321: The Right Project at the Right Time
Apr 1200:20:25Tap to summarizeSummaryIn this episode, Jim Miller discusses the importance of focusing on the right projects at the right time, emphasizing seasonality in business and the use of the 10-10-10 framework for prioritization. He shares practical strategies for managing projects, optimizing productivity, and aligning efforts with business seasons to maximize success.As we dive into the essentials of managing your projects effectively, it’s crucial to ask: Are you focusing on the right projects at the right time? In this post, we’ll explore the importance of timing in your business endeavors and how to utilize a helpful framework for prioritizing your projects. With insights from Jim Miller, a seasoned entrepreneur and coach, you’ll learn actionable strategies to boost your productivity and ensure that your efforts align with your business goals. Key TopicsBusiness seasonality and its impact on project focusThe 10-10-10 prioritization frameworkStress testing and evaluating business challengesPlanning Q3 and Q4 projects for growthThe importance of rest and downtime in business cyclesChapters00:00 Introduction and personal update01:01 The importance of focusing on harvest season02:23 Jim's professional purpose and coaching philosophy03:20 Understanding business seasonality: harvest, preparation, and reflection04:47 Stress testing your business during harvest season07:38 Deep work and project planning for Q3 and Q408:09 The 10-10-10 framework for project prioritization09:08 Impact, ease, and cost of project evaluation10:07 Prioritizing quick wins and high-value initiatives12:33 Using seasons to build a healthy business rhythm14:00 Avoiding unfinished projects with strategic timing15:33 Actionable steps: scoring and planning projects16:29 Planning downtime and seasonal breaks18:02 The importance of execution and timing in business growth19:02 Challenge to start prioritizing projects now20:02 Closing remarks and encouragement for listeners ResourcesBuy Back Your Time by Dan Martell - https://www.amazon.com/Buy-Back-Your-Time-Entrepreneurs/dp/1119872784Follow Jim on Instagram at @askjimmiller
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#320: Choose Wisely
Apr 500:23:31Tap to summarizeSummary Episode 320 closes out the 315–320 arc with the question that determines whether everything built over the last five episodes — consistency, habit stacking, weekly planning, daily rhythm — is actually pointed in the right direction: Who do you choose to serve?The 80/20 of Joy Jim opens with a question every advisor knows the answer to immediately: which clients would you take again without hesitation, and which ones made your stomach drop when their name appeared on your phone? The uncomfortable truth is that roughly 20% of your clients are responsible for 80% of your stress, wasted time, and lost joy. The wrong client doesn't just cost a commission — they displace the capacity to serve the clients who actually deserve you.The 100-Hour Commitment Test Every client relationship represents a minimum 50-hour investment, often closer to 100 hours or more. Before signing any agreement, that risk has to be evaluated consciously. Most advisors never do this math. The 3% do.The Ferriss Framework Tim Ferriss applied the 80/20 principle to his supplement business and discovered that 95% of his revenue came from just 5% of his customers. He stopped contacting 95% of his client base, let the most disruptive 2% go, and kept only the top 3%. Income doubled. Workload collapsed. The lesson for advisors: being selective isn't leaving money on the table — it is the business strategy.The Three Strikes Rule — Favorite or Fool? The episode introduces a repeatable qualification process centered on one critical question before every listing agreement: are you the favorite, or are you the fool? Three red flags — unrealistic pricing expectations, dismissal of your expertise, and disrespect for your time — are the framework for making that call clearly and professionally. The goal isn't to be rigid; it's to walk into every client relationship from a position of strength.The Championship Roster Close Jim closes the arc with a reframe: elite producers don't accumulate clients — they curate them. Building your client roster like a general manager — carefully, intentionally, and without apology — is what makes a sustainable career possible. Happy advisors produce more. You can't be happy serving clients who drain youChapters00:00 Choosing Clients Wisely07:13 The 100 Hour Commitment Test14:35 Interviewing Clients Effectively20:53 Protecting Your Time and EnergyFollow Jim on Instagram at @askjimmiller
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#319: Win the Day. Win the Week.
Mar 2900:22:09Tap to summarizeSummaryJim Miller shares his insights on winning the day by winning the night before, establishing daily rhythms, and building habits for success. Learn practical strategies to enhance productivity, fulfillment, and long-term achievement. Key TopicsWinning the night beforeDaily rhythms and habitsWeekly and daily planningTime management and productivityFulfillment and long-term successChapters00:00 Introduction to Winning the Day04:18 The Importance of Nighttime Preparation09:23 Establishing a Morning Routine13:27 Understanding Arena Time16:17 Creating Daily Rhythms for Success20:21 The Strategy for Achieving Your GoalsTo sign up for my Weekly Coaching Content, visit my profile on Instagram at @askjimmiller and sign up for my weekly newsletter.
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#318: The Most Important Meeting of the Week
Mar 2200:23:12Tap to summarizeSummaryJim Miller emphasizes the critical importance of weekly planning sessions for productivity and fulfillment in business. He shares practical tips on how to establish and maintain this habit, highlighting its role as the anchor for all other routines and strategies. Key TopicsThe importance of weekly planning sessionsHow to schedule and protect your planning timeThe role of planning as the anchor for habitsReviewing past week and preparing for the nextPipeline management and prospecting planning Take AwaysWeekly planning is the most important meeting of the week and should be protected.Schedule 60-90 minutes for your weekly planning session and make it recurring.Review the previous week and sweep all communication forward.Plan your upcoming week, including calendar, pipeline, and projects.Consistent planning creates rhythm, reduces stress, and improves performance.Chapters00:00 The Importance of Weekly Planning04:24 Creating a Consistent Planning Habit09:30 Structuring Your Weekly Planning Session17:39 Connecting Weekly Plans to Long-Term Goals21:41 Implementing and Protecting Your Planning TimeVisit me at Ask Jim Miller • Happy Advisors Sell More Real Estateor on Instagram @askjimmiller
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