Podcast Summary: Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada
Episode 678: 10 Things You Actually Control (Shocking, I Know)
Date: October 8, 2025
Host: Tristan Ahumada
Episode Overview
In this quick and motivational episode, Tristan Ahumada takes a step back from the fast pace and uncertainty of real estate to focus on what truly lies within our control. Drawing from personal experience and a list he often revisits, Tristan outlines key actions and attitudes that agents, teams, and brokers (and anyone, really) can consciously manage, despite the chaos that may exist in the industry or in their lives. The episode offers a blend of practical reminders and reflective encouragement for anyone feeling overwhelmed or out of sync with their priorities.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Realization of What’s Out of Our Control
- Tristan honestly shares the frequent frustration of dealing with uncontrollable external factors: the news, social media, client choices, or market fluctuations.
- Quote:
“With so many things out there that are obviously out of our control… There’s a lot out there that can affect you on a daily basis.” (00:00)
- Quote:
- He admits personally falling into this trap at times, sometimes for “minutes, sometimes... hours,” but always brings himself back by reviewing his own list of controllables.
2. The Controllable List: What You Actually Control
Tristan breaks down his running list (also visualized as a graphic for listeners who request it), making each point relatable and actionable:
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How I Treat Others
- Applies to everyone: agents, clients, inspectors, family, even strangers and service staff.
- Quote:
“How I treat others isn’t that important, right?... That’s probably one of the most important ones.” (01:05)
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How Many Times You Try
- The importance of persistence and iteration.
- Quote:
“How many times you’re like, you know what? I’m going to keep going. I’m just going to tweak this.” (01:25)
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Your Boundaries
- Clarifying what you say yes/no to.
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Your Mood
- Mood is self-governed, even if only after catching yourself in a negative spiral.
- Quote:
“Am I going to control how I react to something going not the way I planned? Am I going to be angry? Probably for the first second, and then I catch myself.” (02:00)
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People You Spend Time With
- Tristan acknowledges you may not always have full choice, but emphasizes you have power over much of your environment, including digital influences (podcasts, webinars).
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Where You Direct Your Energy
- Setting daily priorities intentionally.
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What You Eat
- Mindful about health and daily choices.
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How You Talk
- Paying attention not just to what you say, but tone and delivery.
- Quote:
“Are you condescending? Are you kind? Are you aggressive? How I talk... I have to pay attention to.” (03:00)
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How You Think
- Catching negative self-talk or criticism of others; adjusting mindset.
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How You Spend Free Time
- Noting that many successful people regret not being more intentional with their downtime before burning out.
- Quote:
“Tristan, I should have paid attention to that free time and done better stuff for myself… before my health took a big hit.” (03:35)
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What You Believe In
- Owning your beliefs and questioning what no longer serves you.
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How You Treat Yourself
- Linking back to how you treat others; advocating self-grace and forgiveness.
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How You React
- Emphasizing self-awareness in responding instead of reacting impulsively.
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How You Spend Money
- Especially relevant for agents and entrepreneurs.
- Quote:
“How I spend my money... Agents, listen out there. You’ve got a lot to work on on the things that you can control.” (04:25)
3. Personal Reflection and Motivation
- Tristan admits he still works on these areas himself and finds them impactful.
- The act of regular self-reminder is as valuable as the list itself.
- Encourages sharing the message and supporting each other in staying grounded.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the illusion of control:
“Seconds, sometimes in rare cases, hours. Until I realize, wait a second, Tristan. Let's focus on the things that you can control.” (00:40)
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On small daily choices:
“How you treat others. Every day. Whether it’s the agent, the client, the inspector, everybody.” (01:08)
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On the value of intentionality:
“Where I direct my energy… what are you prioritizing when you do get a moment to actually invest in your business, in yourself?” (02:31)
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On self-talk:
“How do I talk to myself?... I need to talk to myself better.” (03:10)
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On burnout and free time:
“I should have paid attention to that free time and done better stuff for myself… before my health took a big hit.” (03:35)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00 – Opening thoughts on external factors
- 01:05 – Beginning the list: How I treat others
- 01:25 – Persistence: How many times you try
- 02:00 – Mood and reactions
- 02:31 – Redirecting energy and setting priorities
- 03:00 – Communication and self-talk
- 03:35 – Importance of free time, burnout
- 04:25 – Money management for agents
- 04:50 – Closing encouragement and call-to-action
Summary Tone & Final Impression
The episode is warm, encouraging, and direct—exactly as if Tristan is having a supportive coaching session with each listener personally. His candid sharing of his own struggles makes the list relatable, and his focus on actionable, personal steps reminds listeners that no matter what happens in real estate or beyond, there is always a center of control to return to.
For deeper engagement:
Tristan invites listeners to reach out for the graphic, share the episode, and subscribe to his newsletter for ongoing support and insights.
A concise, empowering episode worth revisiting whenever you need to reset or regain focus on what’s truly within your control.