TheUPside Podcast

Episode: Pass The Pig: Priorities, Pressure, and Deescalating Drama with Anne Lakusta
Host: Theresa Flood
Guest: Anne Lakusta
Date: September 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and insightful episode of TheUPside Podcast, host Theresa Flood sits down with Anne Lakusta, broker and author of Pass The Pig, to discuss priorities, pressure, and the art of de-escalating drama in business and life. Anne shares stories from her extensive leadership journey—from school board politics to managing 4,000 independent-minded realtors—offering wisdom on conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and what it really means to enjoy the journey. This episode serves up practical strategies, memorable stories (including the infamous pig tale!), and actionable advice for anyone navigating high-pressure roles or looking to lead with more impact and joy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Anne’s Story and Leadership Background

• Personal Overview (00:27–02:40):
  • Married for 45 years; advocates for trust in relationships.

    “We trust each other. That he’s the first person I want to tell things to...you keep it to yourself. You don’t gossip about it.” (Anne, 00:39)

  • Two accomplished sons: One a Navy F35 pilot, another a former Googler and current novelist.
  • Real estate agent for 15 years, transitioned to leadership at Keller Williams, moved into franchise-wide brokerage, and served on the local school board.
  • Leadership evolved across family, church, community, and business, culminating in writing a book on leadership.

The Challenge of Leading Independent Entrepreneurs

• Managing Independent Real Estate Agents (03:36–04:22):
  • Anne oversees 4,000 realtors across 13 offices, each an independent entrepreneur who “don’t have to do what people tell them to do.”
  • Navigates the most escalated issues—lawsuits, angry clients, disciplinary matters.

    “You are in the middle of the most tense situations that we have to deal with in our company, and you handle it with so much grace under pressure.” (Theresa, 03:57)

De-escalating Drama: Principles & Techniques

• Handling Crisis (04:54–06:58):
  • Cites COVID as an unprecedented case study in crisis leadership, where daily stress was global and ever-present.

    “People were escalated just when they woke up in the morning…their livelihood came from figuring out how to proceed. If they could not proceed, they did not get paid.” (Anne, 05:30)

  • A simple question can lower the temperature:

    “The best thing I can say to people when they are high stressed is: ‘How can I help?’...That tends to just lower the temperature.” (Anne, 06:29)

• Empathy & the Trust Triangle (11:18–12:01):
  • Empathy, listening, and asking for facts (preferably in bullet-point written form) helps cut through emotion and set a path to problem-solving.
  • Building trust is essential—people won’t care what you say unless you first care about them.

Regulating Emotions & Maintaining Perspective

• Managing Personal Emotions (13:30–14:30):
  • Leans on a strong support system—peers, calm colleagues, and family.
  • Perspective is everything:

    “When you have the perspective of family and friends outside of work...it just creates this idea that it’s more to life than just this moment.” (Theresa, 14:30)

Proactive Problem-Solving & Lifelong Learning

• Time Management and Preparedness (15:28–16:53):
  • Prepares for “fierce conversations”—makes sure workspace is clean and mind is clear to handle the day’s (often reactive) challenges.
  • Time-blocks several days each week to reflect and anticipate patterns that could become the next major issue.

    “I want to continue to be that person, because by having our own forms...we are thinking ahead so that we’re avoiding some of the problems.” (Anne, 17:43)

  • Proactivity and being an early adopter (e.g., AI, form changes, anticipating commission shifts) is key to leadership influence.

Memorable Stories & Quotes

The Pig Story: A Lesson in Priorities (21:09–25:32)

• Context: On Anne’s first day as a team leader at Keller Williams, she spent the day tracking down a $40,000 designer pig that escaped during a house showing.
  • Hilariously, this “crisis” hijacked her entire day and became a metaphor for misplaced priorities.
  • Quote:

    “I sat back and went, why did I spend my entire first day on the job worrying about a pig when clearly I’m not going to do anything good about the pig?” (Anne, 23:16)

  • Lesson:

    “How do you focus on what you want most, as opposed to what you want now?” (Anne, 25:00)

Leadership, Influence & Enjoying the Journey

• Enjoy the Journey (26:07–26:48):

  “I don’t look forward to a day when I’m finished. I’m not even sure I know what that means...Goals are a part of the journey, not the end.” (Anne, 26:07)

• On Defining Success (26:47–26:59):
  • “If you do not determine your own definition of success, and you chase somebody else’s, you’re going to end up wildly unhappy.” (Theresa, 26:47)

The Learning Mindset & Influence

• On Lifelong Learning and Influence (19:43):

  “That’s how you maintain your influence. If leadership is largely influence, one way you keep that is to make sure you are a lifelong learner...” (Anne, 19:43)

• On Change and Fear—embracing technology & the future (20:46):

  “I don’t feel fear about learning new things. I’d rather step right in front of it and figure out, okay, how’s this going to work for me?” (Anne, 20:46)

Practical Tools & Takeaways

De-escalation & Conflict Resolution

• Listen for Blame: When an agent blames others, it signals leadership or relationship is breaking down. First empathize, then gently redirect.
• Ask: “How can I help?” This small question diffuses tension and focuses on solutions, not blame or emotion. (06:29)
• Get Details in Writing: Asking for a bulleted, written summary of the issue helps remove emotion and makes solutions easier to identify. (10:49)

Leadership Mindsets

• Proactive Not Reactive: Anticipate patterns and issues. Time-block for thinking and learning to stay ahead of industry changes.
• Regulate Emotions: Use trusted colleagues or family as sounding boards. Maintain perspective by focusing on what really matters beyond work.
• Define Your Own Success: Avoid chasing someone else’s definition of success; set goals as milestones, not destinations.

Personal Resilience & Enjoyment

• Enjoy the Journey: Embrace every step, not just achievements. Continue growing, learning, and bringing joy—and music!—into daily life.
• Final Advice for Handling Change (31:30–32:04):

  “The best advice I can give is to breathe. Change doesn’t happen to you, really. If you just breathe, you’re able to get help, you’re able to slow down.” (Anne, 31:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:27–02:40: Anne’s personal and professional background
• 03:36–04:22: Overview of broker role, leading independent agents
• 04:54–06:58: Strategies for de-escalating high-pressure situations
• 10:49–12:01: Using writing to de-escalate and seek clarity
• 15:28–16:53: Routine & workspace tips for handling a reactive role
• 21:09–25:32: The pig story—misplaced priorities and leadership lessons
• 26:07–26:48: On goals and enjoying the journey
• 31:30–32:04: Anne’s advice for navigating change and pressure

Closing Notes

Anne Lakusta embodies "grace under pressure" and champions leadership by attraction and influence, not authority. Her approach centers on empathy, proactive problem-solving, and never losing sight of the human journey behind career milestones. For more wisdom and plenty of humor (and pigs!), check out her book Pass the Pig, available on Amazon.

Quote to Remember:

“How do you focus on what you want most, as opposed to what you want now?” (Anne, 25:00)

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