Andrea Blum

Andrea Blum All About Building Your Business
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Wanting to grow a team or partner with someone in business is probably one of the most predominant thought a top produce...
09/07/2026

Wanting to grow a team or partner with someone in business is probably one of the most predominant thought a top producer has

But nobody talks about the fact that once you’ve done enough growing and when you're done healing from your life and work trauma, finding the right business partner becomes almost impossible

Because now you don’t compromise on the things you know will eventually cost you your peace, money, reputation, or your business. You can spot the exact issues that will destroy the partnership in 6 months and you refuse to ignore them just because the opportunity looks good

Remember the old you? the one who saw the warning signs, got excited about the potential, and partnered with them anyway? She’s / he’s gone

You stopped letting temporary excitement hijack your logic. Confusing charisma with character, ambition with integrity, or a good idea with a good partner

And the most exhausting part? You realize how many people out there are completely unhealed and just hunting for givers. How many are looking for someone to fill a gap, carry their weight, validate ideas, or make their life easier. They think their lack of accountability is perfectly fine because they’ve seen success, but they still carry the same ego, communication issues, excuses, and the same emotional toolkit they’ve been using for years to satisfy themselves

But you’ve changed. And once you know what healthy collaboration, accountability, integrity looks like, you can’t unseen it. Healing isn’t just about creating a better life for yourself. It’s about raising the standard for who you’re willing to build with

And once those new criteria become nonnegotiable, something incredible happens, you start recognizing the people who have done the work on themselves too. They show up differently, communicate differently, take accountability. They don’t need to be carried or convinced. They come to the table already having done their own work, ready to build, contribute, grow, and show up as a true partner. And that’s when building TOGETHER finally becomes worth it

Don’t start a team or partnership until you heal yourself, you either going to get hurt or you are going to hurt someone

09/02/2026

Here’s one out of the 6 things I would tell my younger self if I would start a Real Estate Team today.

I would do Become obsessed with human behaviour.

Why do people do what they do? What motivates them? What makes them afraid? What makes them take action? Why do they resist change? Why do they make decisions or avoid making them?

The better you understand people, the better leader you become. And the better leader you become, the better you can help people succeed.

Read all 6 with link in my bio under Substack

Taking a vacation takes discipline. Coming back to work takes even more.We spend so much time talking about how importan...
08/28/2026

Taking a vacation takes discipline. Coming back to work takes even more.

We spend so much time talking about how important it is to unplug and disconnect, but almost nobody talks about what happens when it’s time to switch back on.

For entrepreneurs, that’s often the hardest part.

During vacation, everything changes. You sleep differently. You wake up at different times. Your routine changes. Your meals change. Your family dynamic changes. Your brain slows down.

Then suddenly, it’s Monday. Now what?

If you have a traditional 9-to-5 job, it’s often easier. You put on your work clothes, head into the office, and everyone knows their role. The systems are already running.

Entrepreneurship doesn’t work that way. Nobody hands you an agenda or tells you what to do first, you have to create your own momentum.

Have you ever noticed that some real estate agents take a 1 week vacation that somehow turns into 3 weeks of lost productivity? One week preparing to leave, one week away, and one week trying to get back into the groove. It happens all the time.

That’s why I’ve learned something important:
Your comeback should be planned before your vacation even begins.

Here’s what works for me:

I immerse myself in an environment that reminds me why I love this business. I attend a real estate event, a mastermind, or even an online session that creates energy. I’m not looking to learn a new skill. I’m looking to reconnect with the excitement of the business.

Then I plan my schedule in detail. Not just the month. The first week, the first day, hour by hour. Decision fatigue disappears when the plan is already made.

And finally, I change my inputs.

The relaxing playlist gets replaced with upbeat music. The vacation mindset gets replaced with motivational podcasts or speakers who remind me what’s possible.

Your brain needs a signal that says: “Vacation is over. It’s time to build again.”

Don’t wait for motivation to magically appear. Create it. The quality of your comeback determines the quality of your next quarter. Rest is essential. But so is knowing how to return with purpose.

The greatest privilege of all: seeing your own child grow into the person they were meant to become.
08/22/2026

The greatest privilege of all: seeing your own child grow into the person they were meant to become.

One of the biggest shifts you can make in sales is moving away from permission-based conversations and into contribution...
08/21/2026

One of the biggest shifts you can make in sales is moving away from permission-based conversations and into contribution-based conversations.

Many salespeople unintentionally weaken their position by constantly asking for permission:

“May I have your email address?”
“May I ask you a question?”
“Do you mind if I…?”

While these questions may sound polite, they often put you in a position of asking for approval instead of creating value. They make it easy for the other person to say “no” and shut down the conversation before they understand what you can provide.

The goal is not to be pushy. The goal is to be confident, helpful, and focused on contribution.

A contribution-based conversation starts from the mindset of: “I have something valuable that can help you.”

Instead of: “May I have your email address?”

Try: “I send out a weekly email with valuable market insights and information that helps people make smarter real estate decisions. What’s the best email address for you?”

The difference is subtle, but powerful.

The first question asks for permission. The second communicates value and assumes the conversation is a mutual exchange.

When you focus on understanding people’s needs, providing solutions, and contributing value, you naturally guide the conversation while still being respectful and professional.

Great salespeople don’t chase permission. They create enough value that people want to continue the conversation.

The goal is to move from asking, “Can I?” to confidently explaining, “Here’s how I can help.”

08/20/2026

The first 15 seconds of a phone call will often determine how the rest of the conversation unfolds.

Too many calls fall into a death spiral before they ever get started.

One of the biggest mistakes agents make is opening with, “How are you?” Unless you have an established relationship with the person, it’s an unnecessary speed bump. It creates friction instead of momentum.

Instead, use your first 15 seconds to answer three questions:

* Who’s calling?
* Why are you calling?
* What does it have to do with the customer?

A simple opening sounds like this:

“Michelle, it’s Andrea. The reason for my call is…”

That’s it.

It’s clear. It’s respectful. It gets straight to the point.

People don’t mind receiving calls when they immediately understand why they’re receiving them. What they don’t like is wondering where the conversation is going.

The goal isn’t to sound scripted. The goal is to create clarity.

A strong opening builds trust, earns attention, and dramatically increases the chances that the customer stays engaged.

Remember: you don’t have long to make a first impression.

Master the first 15 seconds, and you’ll improve the outcome of every conversation that follows.

As entrepreneurs, we’re constantly told to say yes.Yes to another networking event, another training, another mastermind...
08/19/2026

As entrepreneurs, we’re constantly told to say yes.

Yes to another networking event, another training, another mastermind, another opportunity, another coffee meeting, another invitation.

At some point, I realized that almost everything is competing for my attention. There is so much noise. Everywhere you turn, someone is selling something. A course. A strategy. A coaching program. A partnership. A product. It often feels like every invitation eventually leads to someone asking you to pull out your credit card.

So I’ve become very comfortable with one simple word: No.

I say no to events that don’t align with where I’m going, business opportunities that don’t move my vision forward, partnerships with agents when I know we’re not the right fit, clients who don’t respect my time and my expertise.

I say no to meetings that could have been emails, to places I don’t want to go, food I don’t want to eat, and activities that don’t bring me joy.

I even say no to friends. Not because I don’t value them, but because I’m either building the next chapter of my business, protecting time with my family, or simply taking the time to rest.

I’ve also learned it’s okay to say no to family traditions or obligations that no longer fit the life I’m intentionally creating. That can be difficult, but creating a life by design often requires making different choices than you did before.

The truth is, every “yes” costs you something.
Usually it’s your time. Your energy. Your focus. Or your peace.

The more I protect those things, the more everything else improves.

Saying no isn’t selfish. It’s a decision to make room for the things that matter most.

Every time you say no to what’s unimportant, you’re saying yes to the life, the business, and the future you’re intentionally creating.

08/18/2026

KILL THE ANTs (Automatic Negative Thoughts.) These thoughts can creep in before our feet even hit the floor, influencing our mood, energy, and outlook for the day.

The good news is that we can take control before they take control of us.

One simple strategy: “Sneakers First.”

Before your mind has a chance to talk you out of a productive day, put on your sneakers and get moving.

Whether it's a walk, a workout, stretching, or simply preparing for the day ahead, taking action helps interrupt negative thinking and creates positive momentum.

Remember, routine sets you free.
Create a list of things you do every morning as soon as you wake up. Keep it simple and consistent.

When you establish a strong morning routine, you reduce decision fatigue and create a foundation for success.

If you own your morning, you own your day. Start with one positive action. Then another. Before long, you've replaced the ANTs with purpose, energy, and confidence.

Wishing you a productive and positive day ahead.

If someone already has all those qualities, they probably wouldn’t be looking to join your team. They’d likely be buildi...
08/17/2026

If someone already has all those qualities, they probably wouldn’t be looking to join your team. They’d likely be building one of their own.

So you really have 2 choices

#1 Hire fast. Fire fast. Keep cycling through people until you find someone who naturally operates the way you do. It can work, but it’s exhausting and creates constant turnover.

#2 Hire slowly. Train deeply. Retain long-term.
This is especially true for salaried team members. They aren’t mind readers. It takes time, requires patience, coaching, and clear processes. That’s why I’m obsessed with systems. When performance isn’t meeting expectations, you don’t want the conversation to become personal.

Instead of: “I’m disappointed in your work.” Say: “Let’s go back to the process. Here’s the standard we agreed to follow.”

The process becomes the coach. Not you.

When there are no documented systems, every performance conversation feels personal. And once someone feels you’re criticizing who they are instead of what they did, it becomes incredibly difficult to rebuild trust and motivation.

Great support staff need 3 things:

Certainty. They need to know exactly what’s expected and feel secure in their role.
Training. They can’t read your mind. Repetition creates confidence. Give them time.
Contribution. They need to feel they’re part of something meaningful and that their work matters.

Remove any one of those, and one of 2 things will happen: you’ll let them go, or they’ll leave you.

Another mistake team leaders make is hiring the smartest, fastest, most entrepreneurial person they can find. Sometimes those people watch your business, see how much money you’re making, get inspired, get licensed…and 6 months later, you’re recruiting all over again.

Instead, look for someone whose career aspirations align with the role, who genuinely enjoys being behind the scenes, who finds fulfillment in supporting others. They may not move as quickly as you. But with enough time they can become exactly what your business needs.

08/16/2026

grateful for these days

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