The Millionaire Real Estate Agent Podcast

Episode 68: Leading Through Natural Disasters With Colette Ching and Molly de Mattos
Host: Jason Abrams (Keller Podcast Network)
Guests: Colette Ching (Hawaii/California) and Molly d’Amato (Asheville, NC)
Date: February 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the profound impact and challenges real estate professionals face when leading through natural disasters. Jason Abrams welcomes Molly d’Amato and Colette Ching, industry leaders who navigated their teams and communities through catastrophic events—Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and the Lahaina fires in Hawaii. The discussion explores not only practical steps and systems to manage crisis but also the human side of leadership—serving clients, supporting teams, and building resiliency amid tragedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Backgrounds (02:44–15:46)

• Molly d’Amato’s Start in Real Estate (02:44–07:25)

  • Entered real estate after a disappointing career shift prompted by a bad boss.
  • Motivated by her family background in real estate.
  • Experienced “accidental success”: $125,000 in her first year, far surpassing her previous $18,000 salary.
  • Key Early Insight: “I discovered that relationships was where it was at.” (04:28)
  • Founded “Matt and Molly Team” on aligned values—never letting money get in the way.
  • Maintains a highly productive team (200+ transactions/year with five agents), mainly fueled by personal sphere/community and agent referrals.

• Colette Ching’s Real Estate Journey (07:43–15:46)

  • Inspired by seeing a dancer with independence and success: “She drove this great car. She had such a great attitude... I said, ‘Margie, what do you do?’” (08:02)
  • Became rookie of the year, quickly transitioning from three jobs to a six-figure real estate income.
  • Moved from Hawaii to California to expand her horizons, built business from scratch through “prospering” (not just prospecting).
  • Managed being a single mom and maintains her business via strict systems and time blocking.
  • System Tip: Hired a licensed administrative assistant to handle afternoons/evenings, freeing her to focus on business and family.
  • Empowered her team and herself through accountability partnerships: “If you ever walk in and see me like messing around... you need to call me on it.” (14:32)

2. Natural Disasters—Stories of Leadership (16:51–47:17)

A. Hurricane Helene & Asheville Floods – Molly d’Amato (16:51–31:05)

• Event Recap (16:51–18:40):
  • Hurrican Helene brings 32 inches of rain, floods all communication and utilities, devastates communities.
  • Asheville loses water for 6 weeks; some areas completely cut off; “You can’t imagine what you’re going to see when this happens.” (19:53)
• Crisis Playbook:
  1. Find Your Think Zone:
     • “Step one, find your think zone. Give yourself some space.” (18:51)
     • Reflection and “organized thought helps move everything forward.”
  2. Communicate with Immediate Surroundings:
     • Begin with neighbors; identify what’s within control.
  3. Action and Organization:
     • Ensure every team member is safe: “Number one... making sure everyone on my team was alive.” (22:29)
     • Gather for group support, find a “gathering spot.”
  4. Expand Care to Community:
     • Begin calling clients, making ‘care calls’ just to check in, not to sell: “We just got to work making these care calls and doing them together...” (26:08)
     • Emphasized “instinct to reach out and check on our people” was conditioned through culture.
     • Team Motto: “We bring the lasagna.” — Don’t ask, just show up and help. (27:15)
  5. Structure Ongoing Support:
     • Daily check-ins allow adaptability and self-care; “What today am I willing to do and how can I help?” (28:08)
     • Accept help yourself: “Step number five might be accept the lasagna yourself.” (30:23)
• Business Impact & Reflection (28:50–31:05)
  • Culture of service strengthened; adversity galvanizes team spirit and trust.
  • Clients and database relationships deepened—community truly comes together in crisis.
  • Perspective Shift: “Letting the stuff go there too. What are we focusing on that really doesn’t matter?” (45:37)

B. Lahaina Fires – Colette Ching (31:05–47:17)

• Event Recap (31:30–36:45):
  • Fires erupt with little warning, no sirens, and evacuations become chaotic.
  • 37 agents under her charge; communication and accountability become first priorities.
  • Immediate need: “Call them now and make sure that everyone’s evacuating and figure out where everybody is.” (33:09)
  • Loss: One young agent, Allen, perished trying to save his mother; several agents displaced.
• Crisis Playbook:
  1. Crisis Communication:
     • “Get the list of everybody... call down the roster and text... as soon as possible.” (33:09–34:29)
     • Create an information hub—central office as gathering place.
  2. Immediate Needs Support:
     • Provided shelter, clothing, food, water; coordinated with hotels and community for resources.
     • “The immediate need is to get them stabilized...” (37:20)
  3. Longer-Term Support:
     • Housing critical: Leveraged client relationships for rentals and vacation homes—”go find rentals, go find hotels, see who would house.”
     • Anticipated housing crisis due to destroyed inventory and limited capacity on an island.
  4. Emotional and Community Leadership:
     • Grace and space—help agents process trauma and loss one step at a time.
     • “They were all looking to me as like, what’s next? What do we do now?” (39:45)
  5. Legacy and Change:
     • Agents now better equipped to educate clients on preparedness—insurance, documentation, fire safety.
     • “They can now prepare their clients for things... they’re now able to share their tragedy with other people.” (42:18)
• Business Impact & Reflection
  • Team becomes “much stronger. And they’re very connected because they’ve gone through this tragedy and crisis together.” (42:18)
  • Agency’s personalized support leaves a lasting impression—community-first real estate.

3. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Molly d’Amato (on crisis leadership):

  “You can always control your thoughts and your actions. So what are the thoughts that are gonna move me into a space of next, and what are the actions I can take?” (19:22)

  “On our team, we have this saying—We bring the lasagna... just take the thing... They just might not be thinking to ask for it.” (27:15)

  “Step number five might be accept the lasagna yourself.” (30:23)

• Colette Ching (on time and relationships):

  “It’s not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it… For me, it’s about time… People matter the most. Things don’t matter. They come and go.” (46:29 – quoting Seneca)

• Jason Abrams (on the unique role of real estate agents in disaster):

  “It seems to me that there is a group of humans out there who just happen to have real estate licenses, by and large, who wake up in the morning to answer the call when people need them most. They are there.” (47:51)

• Reflection on Loss:

  “The attachment to things is something that oftentimes we don’t even give a second thought... I have friends and clients and colleagues that all their things are gone. Like, all of their things. Right. And the gratitude around not caring anymore that they have.” (44:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:44–07:25]: Molly d’Amato’s entry into real estate
• [07:43–12:09]: Colette Ching’s path and building a business as a single mom
• [16:51–18:40]: Hurricane Helene’s impact in Asheville
• [18:51–31:05]: Molly’s leadership steps during the disaster
• [31:30–36:45]: Lahaina fires—first hours and tragic losses
• [37:19–42:18]: Colette’s systems for supporting agents and clients
• [44:01–46:29]: Reflections on personal change and the value of time and relationships
• [47:51]: Host’s conclusion on the hope and humanity within the real estate industry

Tone & Language

The episode is carried by a candid, empathetic, and practical tone. The speakers share their stories with humility and clarity, emphasizing actionable lessons and the importance of community. There is a palpable sense of urgency, purpose, and compassion as they discuss both professional systems and human stories.

Key Takeaways

• Systems Matter: Time blocking, CRM, and purposeful organization are crucial in crisis—not just in business-as-usual.
• First, Think: Find quiet, organize thoughts, and then act.
• Lead With Care: Immediate, direct outreach to team and clients—calling just for well-being, not business.
• Culture Wins: A team’s ingrained culture and values dictate real actions in crisis (“bring the lasagna”).
• Accept & Give Help: It’s as vital to accept support as it is to give it.
• Aftermath Brings Growth: Teams and communities come out stronger, bonds deepen, and priorities refocus on people and experiences.

Closing Reflections

Both Molly and Colette highlight that, when disaster strikes, real estate agents are uniquely positioned to step up, lead, and serve—not only because of their business systems, but because of the depth of care and community they cultivate. The ultimate lesson: In the hardest times, leadership is about presence, action, and steadfast humanity.

For listeners seeking actionable inspiration, this episode delivers both heart and how-to—guiding agents, leaders, and entrepreneurs through the darkest days and toward rebuilding, together.