GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

The AI competition has intensified recently with new releases from DeepSeek, OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

Which AI tool do you prefer—ChatGPT, Claude, or another option? Join the Spark Community and discover who's using what here.

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 25 seconds.

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PRODUCTIVITY

Does your real estate experience help you or hold you back?

Ever caught yourself saying "I've been doing this for 20 years" as both a badge of honour and an excuse? You're not alone.

Here's a mind-bending thought: Experience and baggage are exactly the same thing - everything in your past that makes you who you are today. The only difference? When it serves us well, we call it experience. When it holds us back, we call it baggage.

This framing reveals why some industry veterans thrive in disruption while others get left behind. It's not about how long you've been in the game - it's about how you use your past to shape your future.

Research from McKinsey's Most Innovative Companies survey reveals a startling insight: The businesses best adapting to new technologies like AI aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets or the most experience. They're the ones most willing to challenge their assumptions and change their behaviour.

Three ways to transform your experience into growth

1. Audit your "that's how we've always done it" reactions

Next time you find yourself resistant to change, pause and ask: Is this really experience talking, or is it baggage weighing you down?

The most successful businesses regularly examine their processes to determine which parts of their experience truly serve their current market - and which parts are just comfortable habits preventing growth.

2. Use selective experience activation

Think of your experience like a toolbox - not everything needs to be used on every job. Just because a technique worked brilliantly in 2019 doesn't mean it's the best approach for 2024.

Smart professionals actively choose which parts of their experience to apply based on current circumstances rather than defaulting to familiar patterns.

3. Transform baggage into bridges

Instead of viewing past failures as baggage, view them as bridges to innovation. Every misstep contains valuable data about what doesn't work - and often points the way to what might.

Consider how Amazon turned their failed Amazon Fire Phone into learning, which eventually led to the wildly successful Alexa platform. Or how Netflix transformed their DVD-by-mail service into a streaming powerhouse... or even how Apple's early Newton PDA failure informed the revolutionary design of the iPhone.

The key is understanding that your past is neither a purely asset nor a purely liability - it's raw material waiting to be shaped by how you choose to use it today. In times of rapid change, your experience is only as valuable as your willingness to reexamine it.

Remember: The question isn't whether you have experience or baggage - you have both. The real question is: Which one are you choosing to make it today?

Listen to more on disruptive thinking (including why you can only innovate your way to good!) from Dom Thurbon on The Elevate Podcast here.

ICYMI, last week we learned how your marketing Is overcomplicated.

TOGETHER WITH READY25

Olympic great Simone Biles is coming to Ready25

REA Group’s Ready25 event is back, and this year, it’s bringing a global superstar. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, will headline the event live in Sydney this August.

She’ll be joined by an impressive lineup of speakers, including Cathy Freeman, Saya Sakakibara, Dom Price, Rohit Bhargava and Nedd Brockmann, plus a lot more.

Ready25 is more than a property conference. It’s an opportunity to be inspired by the world’s best.

Secure your tickets now.

SMART SNIPPETS

South Australia leads in housing policy reforms
South Australia has topped the HIA Housing Policy Scoreboard, ranking highest in housing supply initiatives over the past two years. "South Australia, closely followed by Western Australia, have been the best at understanding the problem and initiating actions," said HIA Senior Economist Matt King. The report calls for faster planning approvals and broader policy reforms to address ongoing housing shortages.

How to wear all the hats and not go crazy
Want to make smarter business decisions? Edward De Bono’s Six Thinking Hats method helps you evaluate decisions from all angles - fact-based, emotional, critical, optimistic, creative, and procedural. AI tools like ChatGPT enhance this process by systematically exploring each perspective, leading to sharper insights and better outcomes in real estate. Sam shows you how here.

“The sooner they yell, the sooner they sell…”
Managing vendor expectations in a challenging market can be tricky. Caroline Bolderston advises agents to set clear expectations, avoid shielding clients from reality, and shift decisions back to vendors. This keeps deals on track while maintaining professionalism. More here.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Audrey Hepburn’s former estate listed for $33.3M AUD
The Swiss retreat where Audrey Hepburn lived for 30 years is on the market for US$20.8 million (approx. AUD$33.3 million). Located in Tolochenaz, Switzerland, the 12-bedroom estate features historic charm, lush gardens, and a Givenchy-gifted rose garden. Knight Frank is handling the sale, calling it a rare investment opportunity.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

RE/MAX expands on Sunshine Coast.
Kyle Mian and Gus Da Silva are launching RE/MAX Sunshine in Maroochydore bringing their commercial and residential expertise to the region. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
Get the latest on top agent and agency moves every Sunday with our weekly roundup in Movers & Shakers. Subscribe now.

SOUNDWAVES

Ditch these 5 outdated sales tactics today

Real estate is all about building trust, not just making sales. If you're still relying on pushy, old-school tactics, you might be driving clients away. Forget the hard sell - modern buyers respond to genuine conversations, problem-solving, and collaboration. This curated listen outlines five outdated sales techniques to avoid.

Dive straight into the listen below or the deeper dive here.

Read the article from Phone Burner here

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

You’re grinding the phones for listings, while your boss is perfecting his Insta Reel spin. You’re both chasing leads, just in very different ways. Who wins? Only the algorithm knows. 📞📹

Seen an Agent On Social we should include? Let us know here (email link)

Wishing you a productive day

Elite Agent is crewed by Mark Edwards, Catherine Nikas-Boulos, Rowan Crosby, Charmagne Arrubio and Samantha McLean. We aim to uplift the real estate industry by delivering forward-thinking, hype-free news and education that fosters knowledge and fuels ambition.

Stories marked with * are sponsored, including 'Together With' and the weekday 'Movers & Shakers' sections. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at eliteagent.com/advertise.

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