Episode 678: 10 Things You Actually Control (Shocking, I Know) - Your Daily Real Estate Podcast with Tristan Ahumada

Summary5 min read

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)
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:

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)
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)
Your Boundaries
- Clarifying what you say yes/no to.
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)
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).
Where You Direct Your Energy
- Setting daily priorities intentionally.
What You Eat
- Mindful about health and daily choices.
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)
How You Think
- Catching negative self-talk or criticism of others; adjusting mindset.
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)
What You Believe In
- Owning your beliefs and questioning what no longer serves you.
How You Treat Yourself
- Linking back to how you treat others; advocating self-grace and forgiveness.
How You React
- Emphasizing self-awareness in responding instead of reacting impulsively.
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

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)
On small daily choices:

“How you treat others. Every day. Whether it’s the agent, the client, the inspector, everybody.” (01:08)
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)
On self-talk:

“How do I talk to myself?... I need to talk to myself better.” (03:10)
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.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:00]
A
With so many things out there that are obviously out of our control. News media, social, clients, not using us. There's a lot out there that can affect you on a daily basis. In fact, some days I find myself being affected here and there. Minutes, sometimes in rare cases, hours. Until I realize, wait a. Wait a second, Tristan. Let's focus on the things that you can't control. So I have a short list of things that you can control. I go over this often, and anytime I'm feeling a little bit like maybe I'm not in the right mind space. So I want to go over this with you. I'm Tristan. This is your daily real estate. It's a podcast. It's a show. It's meant to help you get better at real estate and in fact, get better at being you. So here we go. Today, things I can control. Pay attention if you need this. It's a simple graphic, also in words, quite a few things. Let me know. I'll send this over to you. This is episode. What do we got here? This way you request the right episode, because I always get it wrong. Episode 678, a reminder of things you can control. Number one, how I treat others isn't that important, right? How I treat others every day. Whether it's the agent, the client, the inspector, everybody. My kids, my wife, your spouse, strangers, people you're ordering coffee from. That's probably one of the most important ones. How you treat others. Next, how many times you try, how many times you're like, you know what? I'm going to keep going. I'm just going to tweak this. My boundaries. Things I can control. My boundaries. Like, what do I say yes to? What am I saying no to? Right? Let me just take a sip of this water. What is it? My mood? Surprise. Yes. It's up to you. It's up to us. It's up to me. 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. I'll be like, that's right. Take a deep breath. It's up to me. Nobody's telling. Nobody's controlling me. I'm going to decide what my mood is right now. The people I spend my time with, for the most part, this one can be a challenge sometimes. You've got family, maybe extremely close friends, and you're like, you know, I can't control it all the time, but the people you spend your time with. Meaning also, reading podcasts, webinars, Those are people too. And they're putting a lot of effort and time into giving you the best. So that's an option. Also, people out there, right, where I direct my energy, like, what are you prioritizing? It's up to you, the day. What are you prioritizing when you do get a moment to actually invest in your business, in yourself, in your life, what to eat? What am I eating? What am I putting into my mouth? That's a, that's a big one. How I talk. Yeah, I didn't thought of that one, right? It's like, what tone are you using? And are you condescending? Are you kind, Are you aggressive? How I talk? That one, I have to pay attention to how I think. And when you realize how you think, you're like, wow, I put myself down a lot, man, I need to talk to myself better or, man, I really talk negatively about a lot of people. In your head, how are you thinking? How do you change that? Right. How I spend my free time. On your free time, if you've got any right, as I know, if you don't have any free time, take a step back, let's find some. Where do you have time to spend on yourself to make yourself better, to make yourself happy? Right? Because I've talked to a lot of successful people and they're like, Tristan, I should have paid attention to that free time and done better stuff for myself. Things that I enjoy before I burned out, before my health took a big hit. How do you spend your free time? Things I can control. What I believe in, what do I believe, what do I not believe, what do I doubt, what do I question? How I treat myself. You know, remember the first one, how I treat others, how I treat myself. How do you treat yourself? I'm hard on myself sometimes and sometimes I have to forgive myself and like, be graceful. How do I treat myself? How I react, how I react. Probably the one I need to watch the most for me, how I react and then how I spend my money. Powerful one. How I spend my money. How I spend my money. Agents, listen out there. You've got a. Got a lot to work on. On the things that you can control. I know I certainly do. And I wanted to share this with you because it impacted me. Just reading, reading it, reminding myself is a big one. Hopefully it helps you. Please share this with somebody you think may need this and then subscribe to the weekly newsletter I have. It's somewhere in the description. Have an awesome day.