Host Amanda Divito Parle sits down with longtime friend, real estate veteran, and industry thought leader Sean Moudry of Keller Williams Advantage Realty for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about longevity, leadership, brokerage models, and what it really means to build a meaningful career in real estate over decades—not just cycles.
With more than 30 years in the business, Sean reflects on his journey from getting licensed at 21, selling 72 homes his first year, and becoming a REMAX Hall of Fame producer, to building teams, launching brokerages, navigating the recession, and ultimately returning to sales with a clearer sense of purpose. Together, Amanda and Sean unpack the realities behind brokerage ownership, recruiting, profit-share and rev-share models, technology costs, and the myth of the “perfect” real estate company. They explore why most brokerages fail, why most agents don’t last, and how ego, curiosity, and risk tolerance shape the paths entrepreneurs choose.
The conversation also turns personal—touching on burnout, loneliness in the business, the power of mentorship, and the responsibility that comes with influence. From analogies about trains, hunters, and hawks to reflections on legacy, contribution, and paying wisdom forward, this episode is a thoughtful examination of where the real estate industry has been—and where it’s headed. Insightful, candid, and deeply human, it’s a masterclass in staying relevant, grounded, and generous over the long haul. 🚆🦅
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Topics Discussed 🔑
• Starting Young & Scaling Fast Sean’s early years in real estate, cutting his teeth on tough deals, and massive early production.
• From Sales to Teaching & Leadership Why Sean felt called to move beyond day-to-day brokerage into training, coaching, and influence.
• Building Teams vs. Building Brokerages What works, what doesn’t, and the costly lessons learned along the way.
• Why Most Brokerages Fail Recruiting challenges, technology costs, profitability myths, and structural realities.
• Franchise Models, Rev Share & Profit Share A candid breakdown of Keller Williams, EXP, Real, Compass, and Redfin models.
• Technology as Both Opportunity & Burden Why backend systems are essential—and wildly expensive.
• Ego, Burnout & Knowing When to Pivot How pride, exhaustion, and capacity limits shape big career decisions.
• Sales as a Return, Not a Regression Why coming back to sales can be grounding, rewarding, and sustainable.
• Loneliness in a People-Driven Business Why real estate can be isolating—and how teams and culture combat that.
• Mentorship, Legacy & Paying It Forward The lasting impact of mentors and the responsibility to contribute knowledge.
• Writing, Teaching & Knowledge Transfer Why clarity comes from writing—and how ideas become legacy.
• The Long Game Why there is no perfect company, no perfect model—only the right fit at the right time.
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Practical Takeaways for Entrepreneurs & Leaders 🛠️
• There is no perfect business model—only one you understand and can sustain.
• Brokerage ownership is harder and less profitable than it appears.
• Technology can scale you—or sink you.
• Recruiting is about vision, not headcount.
• Sales skills never expire—and returning to them isn’t failure.
• Mentorship compounds across generations.
• Writing clarifies thinking and preserves wisdom.
• Legacy is built through people, not production numbers.
