In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan interviews Rachael Smith-Meadors, Broker Associate at RE/MAX Big Bear, on her journey from Kentucky to California, cutting her teeth in vacation rentals, spending a decade on a top team—then making the leap solo and thriving. Rachael breaks down the real drivers of growth: relentless follow-up, clear systems, creative social media, a disciplined morning routine, and coaching that fits your market (not generic one-size-fits-all “training”).
You’ll learn:
How to transition from a team to independent producer without dropping the ball
The exact early activities that created momentum: follow-up, old “dead” leads, listing checklists
Why coaching > training (custom strategy beats canned scripts)
The pillars approach to marketing: master a few channels, then add more
Social media that stands out (borrow ideas across industries, don’t copy agents)
Time-blocking and weekly planning to balance high production with family life
Mindset for scary changes: plan tomorrow before you go to bed
Chapters (suggested):
0:00 Rachael’s backstory: KY → Big Bear
3:50 First deals, mentorship, and early lead gen
10:45 Ten years on a team—then the leap
18:20 Surprises of going solo (volume, systems, help)
24:40 Coaching vs. training: what actually works
28:50 Marketing pillars & creative content
33:40 Visibility, brand, and YouTube wins
36:30 Calendars, checklists, and family balance
41:50 What’s next: smart growth without losing quality
Connect with Rachael
Website: buyinbigbearlake.com (and rachelsmith.remax.com)
YouTube: Rachael Smith Real Estate — Living in Big Bear
IG/FB/LinkedIn: Rachael Smith Real Estate
Connect with Mark / Time Tested Mastery
Website: TimeTestedMastery.com
Podcast: Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell
Social: @TimeTestedMastery
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