11: Let's Talk About Networking

In this episode, Kim Borcherding and Rebecca Green discuss the significance of continuing education for real estate agents, sharing their experiences from recent conferences and the value of networking. They emphasize the importance of being intentional about attending events, the benefits of collaboration, and strategies for maximizing the learning experience at conferences. The conversation highlights key takeaways from their experiences and encourages agents to seek out educational opportunities that align with their business goals.

Takeaways

• Continuing education is crucial for real estate agents.
• Networking at conferences can lead to valuable referrals.
• Being intentional about attending events enhances learning.
• Smaller mastermind groups can provide targeted education.
• The environment of a conference can energize and inspire agents.
• Booking conferences early can save money and ensure attendance.
• Staying at the preferred hotel fosters networking opportunities.
• Planning ahead for meals and social events is beneficial.
• Sending thank you notes after events strengthens connections.
• Being present and engaged at conferences maximizes the experience.

Chapters

• 0:00 The Importance of Continuing Education in Real Estate
• 3:04 Experiences from Recent Conferences
• 6:04 Networking and Collaboration Opportunities
• 12:03 Strategies for Attending Conferences Effectively
• 17:54 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Transcript

Kim Borcherding (00:01.23)
Hi there, I'm Kim Borcharding and welcome to our podcast, How to Real Estate Today. I'm joined here with my co-host, Rebecca Green, and we have an exciting topic that we are gonna hash out today. And it's talking about real estate conferences, education, essentially. Okay, now you're a real estate agent, what else do do to continue your learning? So pass your continuing education requirements.

You have a lot of opportunities as real estate agents to attend seminars, masterminds, conferences. And we want to discuss the pros and cons of different types of events that you can attend to continue your learning. And also, Rebecca and I just got, both of us got back from our annual conferences for our individual brokerages. So some key takeaways that we learned there. And also I'd love to share my formula for attending events successfully.

I like to be really intentional about the things I go to. So I'll share my formula with you and maybe that'll be helpful in making your future events a success. okay. Okay, Rebecca. So let me ask you, what is your opinion about real estate conferences, seminars, just essentially learning opportunities for real estate agents? What's...

Rebecca (01:10.474)
Great, I love it. Super excited about this one.

Rebecca (01:26.174)
Yeah, I mean, I just couldn't be more excited about continuing education, not the continuing education that's offered through our local associations or requirements for our licensing because I feel like that's super lacking. But we have this wave, I believe, of agents who are so keen on sharing.

their business strategies and sharing their experiences and their knowledge. And I think the agent that continues to thrive in any market is one that is spending probably 30 % of their time on educating themselves and or with coaching or mentoring. Like they're spending 30 % of their working days on bettering themselves. And I just think that's huge.

In fact, it's almost a question I feel like I wish sellers and buyers asked for, like, do you do to advance your career? The market is so dynamic and changing so fast. I don't know how you can effectively keep up without the continuing education or without seeking out a better, more efficient, more service oriented way to do business. And what better way to do that than by seeking out other real estate agents in different markets?

Kim Borcherding (02:50.174)
Absolutely. think that's a good point about, you know, home buyers and sellers asking their agents about, yeah, what do do for continuous? That's a really great point. tell me, Rebecca, so what do you participate in? Yeah, what types of events do you or opportunities you participate in for your growth?

Rebecca (03:04.288)
Yeah.

Rebecca (03:09.0)
Yes. So I've always been super supportive of whatever brokerage I'm at, whatever, you know, their yearly events. This one was my first with Real, the Rise event, and it was by far the best event I think I've ever attended. I was supercharged going in and supercharged coming out. I'm also a big believer on, you know, finding small groups.

So I do a lot of small masterminds and workshops locally and then also with a select group of people on a national level. So yeah, I mean, I think it's for me different each year because each season of my business, I'm looking to expand on my business in different ways. So I am constantly seeking out educational opportunities based on where I am in my business.

Kim Borcherding (04:01.132)
Yeah, that's smart. you expand a little bit on what RISE is, your annual conference that you went to, Reel? Can you share for somebody who has no idea what that means? Explain. Yeah, explain that.

Rebecca (04:12.436)
Yes. Yeah, so Rise is the real brokerage. It's their annual conference. This year there were 1,500 people in attendance. It was held in Las Vegas. It's an opportunity for leadership to share new technology, new systems, new frameworks that are rolling out. also, it was amazing because they had guest speakers from all over.

So we have general session meetings and then breakout sessions. The breakout sessions are fantastic because if you're looking for a smaller group and a more targeted conversation, that's really what the breakout sessions are for. But I always feel like those, the educational opportunity of attending a seminar like that is one thing, but the connection with other agents within your network.

and the opportunity to collaborate with them, share in referrals, that part is huge. And I can say that sitting in one of the breakout sessions, I sat next to an agent from Missouri. Missouri is not necessarily a feeder market into Portland, Oregon. We looked at our tags, she said, my gosh, you're from Portland, Oregon, tell me about your business. I'm actually working with her business partner who's relocating to Portland like right now.

Kim Borcherding (05:36.056)
What? No way. Yeah.

Rebecca (05:36.566)
Yeah, so I mean, you know just putting yourself in these rooms You have no idea what will happen and that is an immediate referral situation That happened I spoke with this particular agent for two minutes before the guest panel started their presentation and Here I am with a buyer that I'm so excited to be working with and and also just helping in our market, right? so

The education is one thing, the networking, the collaboration, and the referral component is another huge benefit of conferences like that.

Kim Borcherding (06:13.964)
Yeah, totally, totally.

Rebecca (06:15.678)
And you just went, so you went to EXPCON, you know, just why don't you share a little bit about what that is and, you know, kind of similar situations, like what are you looking for in those?

Kim Borcherding (06:26.786)
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'd say, this EXPCON is EXP Realty's annual conference and this year it was in Miami. So this is the first time I've attended. So I've been at EXP, think three years. So this is the first year I was actually able to make it. And I would say I've only been to one other large conference like this. Maybe one other time I went to Keller Williams, probably made family. I don't know if family, a big Keller Williams.

event in Las Vegas and many years ago and I really love that and that's one things actually love about Keller Williams. They have a lot of opportunities for things like that in prior to EXP. I was at a smaller brokerage that you know, lots of things I liked about it, but that was one thing we were lacking. We didn't have big these big opportunities for things like retreats or seminars or conferences. So first time at EXP con. Well, I'm not gonna lie.

the fact that it was in Miami. So not terrible. So good job, EXP, picking a location. Next year's Miami as well. Yes.

Rebecca (07:24.758)
It was not terrible.

Rebecca (07:31.51)
And just so everyone knows, we're in Oregon, and so leaving Oregon in late October and going to Miami is definitely a good thing.

Kim Borcherding (07:39.829)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And for me, I'm always, I will anywhere there's sunshine. That is where that is what draws me in. So I love, I love Miami. So that was a big draw. So it's a C's it's a four day conference. Sunday through Wednesday. And I think we have 5,000 agents who attended. So it was, I'd say it was pretty large. similar sounds like kind of what you did at real where we had general sessions and then we had breakout sessions. So

This was interesting. So yeah, so that was Sunday through Wednesday. And I'm a part of this other group at eXp. So they actually had their own kind of one day event, the fast forward group. So they had a one day event that I participated in, general sessions in the morning. So that's where everyone, most everyone attends nine to 12 keynote speakers that actually was one of my favorite parts as far as the conference.

the actual content in the conferences. I love the guest speakers, actually two of them. And that was probably my biggest takeaways were these speakers. So one was Will Guder, I might be saying his name wrong, but he wrote the book, gosh, why can't I think of it now? The hospitality book that I did in book club this year. I'll come to it.

Rebecca (08:55.316)
Yeah.

that on my nightstand.

Kim Borcherding (08:59.982)
Yeah, Undeniable Hospital. It'll come to me in second. Anyway, the yellow book, Hospital, I've loved this book. I've given it away to many people this year. It's been actually a core pillar in my business and how I'm shifting. So he spoke and there were a ton of great takeaways, mostly just about, again, just leveling up in all these ways and looking at every touch point that you have with it. Yes, and that...

Rebecca (09:22.846)
Expanding your mind. You're expanding your mind. You know, you're listening to things that you're not hearing every day in your day-to-day business, and it's so enriching.

Kim Borcherding (09:32.556)
Yes, so that was great. then Jesse again, I actually really practiced his name. It's there maybe, he's an entrepreneur, he's married to Sarah Blakey, he spoke as well and he was really powerful a lot. And it just, for me, the biggest takeaway is about just putting soul back in your business and that people wanna buy from people with soul or work with them and feel connection who have a soul and that really kind of resonated with me.

And as I'm looking in my business, like how can I put more soul in everything I do? So people feel my energy, feel my passion and have like real connection with me. So bikiniists were great. And then we had breakout sessions similar to yours where you had a very specific topic where you could go to and learn. And I would say, and this was something for me, I'm, know, where for me the breakout sessions,

didn't hit in a way that maybe I was hoping to, but also I'm just in a kind of a transformation in my business right now. and I just, I, just like, I think I was ready to absorb that. I just wasn't a different head space. So that was actually interesting to me is like, okay, what head space am I in? And also what, where am I looking to expand and grow? And like what opportunities that can I lean into that support me in those areas?

Rebecca (10:38.752)
Mm-hmm.

Rebecca (10:46.803)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (10:52.6)
For me, kind of like you, the best part of EXPCON was the content was great. actually, this was really fun. We rented out, not we, I mean, my group rented out of nightclub and they brought in Flowrider and we had an amazing DJ and a dance party and I ended up on stage with Flowrider, which probably was the highlight of my year. I just, fun, I just had so much fun. And that's what was important. Like, wow, this is fun.

Rebecca (11:17.088)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (11:21.102)
And it almost felt like going to real estate conference, but also like a girls weekend, because at this point I've developed a lot of good relationships at EXP. that's since it's a virtual brokerage, I don't get to see these people at my Tuesday meeting, though we meet on Zoom weekly, but seeing people in real life. So and then meeting new people. that was my the biggest thing for me is the relationship building and the people.

that you get to meet or continue to grow relationships with. And that I think it's critical to attend these. And again, you're talking about referral business. I've gotten quite a few referrals through EXP through my network because I've been attending events and people get to know you. So that's really impactful. So yeah, so it's kind of, but they're full days. Like I tell people like really.

Rebecca (11:49.76)
Uh-huh.

Rebecca (12:03.211)
Yeah.

Rebecca (12:11.624)
exhausting

Kim Borcherding (12:12.01)
I mean, they are session starts early, you're going to this, you're going to group dinners. mean, that was the I mean, one of my also favorite parts that we did group dinners every night. And that was really fun and just really getting to know people. And then you come back, you may have a glass of wine in the bar. And then I'm like, I'm just staying for one and then three hours later, I'm still there like, you know, laughing and just having a good time. So

Rebecca (12:22.272)
Yeah.

Rebecca (12:35.094)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (12:37.134)
It was great. So EXPO was great. I will be going back next year, but also from that.

Rebecca (12:42.4)
we are definitely going back as well.

Kim Borcherding (12:45.096)
Now, I'm looking at what other kind of events that I'm going to do. So I will say one of those takeaways. So again, because I'm there, I have a conversation with an agent who's somebody I really respect. She, you know, is in a completely different market. She's been an agent for 20 years. She's attended a ton of events over the years. And then she mentioned a seminar that she's going to this next year.

because she went to one last year and it was the best one she's ever done. She said, I swear this is the most content filled, you know, action items, just like it was a home run. And she said it was the best money she ever spent on a real estate event. So a bunch of us were like, we're in. And then it turns out since Savannah, Georgia, I've never been to Savannah. I'm like, I'm so, and again, that's something. So now I'm signed up for this one in April that I would have never even known about.

Rebecca (13:26.517)
Love it.

Kim Borcherding (13:39.59)
or heard about and a bunch of us are going together to that one to learn together. you just need to, so I know you and I are really big proponents of just getting in the room and who you surround yourself with matters and trying different spaces, different rooms, because, and depending on where you are in your career, because whether you're a new agent, I would say if I was a brand new agent and I knew nothing about real estate, going to something like this might feel a little overwhelming.

Rebecca (13:44.694)
Amazing.

Rebecca (13:54.314)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (14:07.628)
be honest, like, it's just a lot of content, a lot coming out you what's important, what's not, you know, and so maybe starting off with something smaller. So I've also always liked the graffiti events. I always thought those were have been great. I've never been to a Tom Ferry, but I hear those are great as well. So, yeah, so actually, I'll kind of outline for people again, if there's any newer agents listening, like, so of course, you have your brokerage and any

Rebecca (14:08.052)
Not yet.

Rebecca (14:17.462)
Yeah.

Rebecca (14:24.487)
Those are great.

Kim Borcherding (14:34.4)
events that they might be hosting. But then you can go to other ones like Brian Buffini. He's been a real his company has been a real estate coach for many years and they do a great job. So they do a few events a year seems like I think kind of regionally but going to buffini event Tom fairies also a great real estate coach that I know a lot of people have had success with going to his events, then there's other types of things like an inman conference would be one as well. Right, Rebecca?

Rebecca (14:35.99)
Yeah.

Rebecca (14:44.82)
Mm-hmm.

Kim Borcherding (15:04.226)
that would, and then you have, what, then you probably have like, smaller, yeah.

Rebecca (15:04.34)
Yep.

Rebecca (15:10.454)
Smaller ones. I would also suggest to people, well, there's a couple of things. We've talked on our podcast, and it's something I speak to all the time, this whole concept of being siloed to a local brokerage and agents within that brokerage and a siloed mentality and a siloed educational platform, basically an opportunity, right?

I think that is dangerous for an agent, if I'm being honest, because there's a whole big world out there and people are doing things in all of these different ways. And so, you know, if that brokerage model is what helps you thrive and in your market, you really appreciate that collaboration and that connection, I totally get it. I think that's great. But you should definitely seek out those other conferences like you were saying, because...

You know, we all sometimes A, need reminders, but B, no one can be great at everything and no one knows everything, right? So, you know, getting in the rooms, as you had mentioned. So that was one thing I wanted to touch on. And then also the other thing I was going to say is real estate conferences, amazing, right? There are so many, like you've mentioned, I've mentioned so many great real estate conferences. There are also really good conferences that make sense for a real estate agent to attend that aren't real estate related. Social media.

marketing, business management, tax seminars, right? There are so many things just outside of real estate that are really on the entrepreneur side. And so I would tell people to actually seek those kinds of educational opportunities out as well. Maybe you are interested in investing, attending an investment seminar and

Kim Borcherding (16:40.168)
yeah.

Kim Borcherding (16:54.638)
Mm-hmm.

Rebecca (17:05.264)
listening to what other people that have forged the path in front of you have done, I find that folks that are up there on stage are so willing to share the good, the bad, and the ugly. You know, they didn't just wake up one day and hit the home run. They made a series of mistakes to get there. And sometimes hearing that is refreshing.

you know, maybe you've had a bad run at something that kind of feels soul crushing to hear that somebody else has had trials, tribulations and challenges and how they overcame them and how they hit that home run eventually. Also, I think so, so valuable when you're talking about real estate education, you know, outside of the continuing ed sort of thing.

Kim Borcherding (17:49.294)
Yeah, absolutely. And that's a good point. mean, when you're a real estate agent, you are like a small business owner. There's all these skills that you need to know. And it would definitely be worth your time to like, yeah, attend a seminar on like tax strategies, you like you said, or marketing or all these other things. Like that is really important. So let me ask you, Rebecca. So for you, go on.

Rebecca (17:54.74)
You are!

Rebecca (18:12.246)
was going to say one thing, and also there's still referral opportunity and there's still collaboration opportunity within networks like that that are outside of real estate, right? And that's something to remember, going with intention and purpose, collaborating, engaging in conversations as much as you can so that you're really taking advantage of the time that you're spending and the money that you're investing, right?

Kim Borcherding (18:39.49)
Yeah, I mean, and I think that's important, it's being very intentional. If you're going to go, do it well. Do you have anything on your calendar in the next year that you're attending, Rebecca?

Rebecca (18:43.477)
Yes.

Rebecca (18:51.956)
I don't have anything on my calendar yet because part of what I'm working on is creating events locally and bringing people in. So, you know, more on that to follow, but I don't have anything on the calendar yet. I know that I will attend any of the Rise conferences. It was just unbelievable, the takeaways and, you the learning. And you mentioned, you know, it is full on. I will say my brain absolutely was.

Kim Borcherding (18:57.984)
You

Kim Borcherding (19:02.325)
Yeah.

Rebecca (19:19.008)
fried on the last day because I felt like I was taking so much in and I was thinking, dear God, how am going to process and shuffle through all of this? But yeah, nothing yet. What do you have on your schedule?

Kim Borcherding (19:32.654)
So I am signed up. So I'll go to EXP con again next fall. I am actually hosting a real estate conference or seminar, probably retreat is a better word for clever collective this winter. So I will be actually, I've now, this will be the third year I've done one. So the last two years I've done one. So I'm gonna do it again. And again, that's something I'm really enjoying.

Rebecca (19:46.496)
Retreat. That's right.

Kim Borcherding (20:00.34)
I'm attending and one of the reasons I'm attending this specific one is Girls With Grit. It's a group, kind of a coaching group, real estate specific, yes. So Girls With Grit, it's like a coaching group. don't know, I'm in their Facebook community, but that's the one that my friend said was the best thing that she did ever in her career. So I'm going to that in Savannah, Georgia.

Rebecca (20:07.978)
Is that real estate specific? Okay.

Kim Borcherding (20:26.222)
And then so this is, you were speaking about doing other things and this is this has been kind of woven into my career or, you know, I'd over the last decade and I was supposed to go. Actually, I guess it's this coming week, but I decided not to because I was in I just it was too much travel right now. But Tony Robbins, so Tony Robbins is not.

Rebecca (20:49.014)
unbelievable. It's amazing. Yes, great example.

Kim Borcherding (20:49.946)
is not a real estate conference, but it's it's a mindset conference. And I've gone to several of his events over the years, and I was supposed to be I was supposed to be going now. But but so I'll be doing that again next year. Because that again, that's a mindset one. So that is really tremendous and beneficial in many ways. And absolutely in your business.

Rebecca (20:59.082)
I have as well.

Rebecca (21:09.408)
Totally.

Rebecca (21:13.814)
And he's outstanding. He is an outstanding speaker and motive, mean, from a motivation standpoint, yeah, that's an excellent example of outside of real estate and how it could translate to your business without a doubt. Well, one thing I was thinking of when you were talking about all of these different events, I know some people like don't love big crowds, you know, so there can be an overwhelming component when you go to these, you know, bigger conferences.

You know, like an EXP con or like the real rise. I've attended a number of Sotheby's events over the years and way, way back in the day, Coldwell Coldwell banker events also. So I've been to a lot of those brokerage specific conferences over the last 30 plus years. You know, and big crowds could be overwhelming for some people. I would say still go because you will find somehow some way a smaller group of people.

that you kind of end up, you know, traveling through the events with, right? You know, and one other thing I would counsel, if you're going to these kinds of events and you're going with say, people from your local market or your local office, don't spend your time with those people, right? You know, be intentional about making new connections. That's definitely something I've seen happen at the larger brokerage events.

Kim Borcherding (22:17.656)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (22:30.798)
I'm like, a total...

Rebecca (22:40.138)
where you go with the people that are in your, all the Portland people and the Portland people spend all their time together. That's not the reason to go, right? That's not the reason to go. At the Rise Conference, for example, I had dinner two nights with 12, 18 people one night, nine people the other night. I didn't know a single, I knew one of them the first night who I had just recently sent a referral to.

and he and somebody else he knew kind of pulled all these people together. It was unbelievable. The conversation was unbelievable and it led to all of these things post-conference. And then the other night was a smaller group, didn't know any of them, didn't Didn't know, but we had all gotten, one person, I had started talking to them in a lunch line, I'm pretty sure.

Kim Borcherding (23:24.642)
god.

Rebecca (23:35.516)
about team building and they had questions about how they were building their team. so bit by bit throughout the day, we had found other people that were having similar, you know, that were in need of similar conversations for the season of business that they were in. And so this dinner, it was like a round table. I mean, it was amazing. It was just amazing. And something, I'm a better person for...

what I listened to and what I took in at that conference, not just from the real estate element, but the humanity component of my company, right? Who they are as, know, who leadership, what they really stand for, who they are. You know, it was enriching on all different levels, but you have to make sure you're going there for that reason, right? You have to make sure you're there to take that in.

I know a lot of these conferences have been plagued with lots of drinking and partying and don't get me wrong, I've definitely done that too at a lot of conferences, but I really was focused on going and having a good time and coming away with as much education as I possibly could.

Kim Borcherding (24:50.69)
Yeah, totally. Well, I will share my formula, Rebecca. So I was thinking about this as we knew, I knew we were gonna discuss this for me. I think I have some advice or guidance on a formula on how to do real estate conferences. I'm saying it's conference well. So I'd love to share that with somebody. for me, if I was looking, so right now, know,

Rebecca (24:56.598)
Yes.

Rebecca (25:10.75)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (25:16.95)
end of the year, you should be booking your conferences for next year. And also if you want to write that off, if you're paying for it this year, so that could be on your write-off. So that's something to keep in mind. know my, my countenance always like book it this year for next year. So you want to be booking it now people. So you want to be booking it now for what you're doing next year. Get those on your calendar. And this is the other thing, get those on your calendar now, because in real estate, like again,

Rebecca (25:25.642)
Good tip.

Kim Borcherding (25:41.102)
In April, I'm gonna be like, what am I doing going to Savannah, Georgia? I'm gonna tell you, I'm happy. got a trip to the sunshine in Savannah, Georgia in April. And I booked my ticket in advance because that's probably not easy. So just get on your, so my number one tip is getting, making your, booking your things in advance, getting on the calendar, though it's near, you know, come hell or high water, you are going, making arrangements in your business, get coverage. That's the other thing with real estate agents, you know, that you get busy and you don't want to step away from work.

then you have your flame of responsibility. So getting out on the counter, number one. Also, if you do book early, sometimes you have like early bird pricing. I would say that just happened with this conference I just booked. Booking at the first day, I got $100 off. that's, you know, just get it. And then the other, and I'll probably back up. Before you even making a choice, just checking in with yourself. Where are you in your business? What do you need? So like, for me, I'm building...

Clever Collective and that is like room building. putting, I want to put on really good intentional, just like heart filled kind of connected events. And so I want to go to the Girls with Grit because it sounds like that's what that is. So I want to experience it as a guest so I can pick little, find little nuggets and then put them in my event. So that's, so that's like one of the choices why I'm doing this because I'm hoping I can learn from

Rebecca (26:48.342)
Really?

Kim Borcherding (27:05.322)
a smaller event that somebody is putting on that I could then replicate and kind of make my own. So that's it. Checking in, where are you in your business? What do you need? Okay, gosh, this is what I need. Finding events that might that booking early and then also booking, I really strongly recommend booking the preferred hotel. So if the event is at a hotel and that's it where the room block is, but it's so, I think it's really important to stay at the preferred hotel. And if you don't get on that early,

Rebecca (27:10.026)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (27:34.526)
often it does sell out and then you're at like the, you know, the tier two hotel. And the reason why is often again, maybe there's a savings, but more so it's that it's easier to get there. So if it's there, it's closer if they're there choice hotel, but most importantly, that's where the most people are going to be staying and so much about attending events is relationship building and getting to know people. And when you're staying there, you're easy. It's easier to meet somebody in the coffee line.

or they're grabbing lunch or elevator or yes, or grabbing a glass of wine at the end of the day, whatever it is. But when you stay on site at the preferred hotel, you have so many more opportunities to meet people and that is really important. So.

Rebecca (28:05.248)
Elevator, elevator. Yeah.

Yes.

Rebecca (28:20.319)
Agreed.

Kim Borcherding (28:21.292)
That's it. And then also getting good flights. I would tell you, like I had a friend who did a red eye to and she was exhausted. And for me, I would be booking reasonable flights that get me there with plenty of time to get rested, unpacked. I also, I like to organize my clothes in advance. would say what have I, you know, I'm somewhat organized that organ, one of the gals in our group who was at EXP and she had a mood board for her different outfits each day, which I was so impressed by.

Rebecca (28:29.206)
Mm-hmm.

Kim Borcherding (28:50.414)
Here's her purse, her shoes, her earrings. And she likes to be really organized. And that's great. But I'm pretty intentional about the clothes. like comfortable shoes. That's really important tip. Because I knew I was going be walking a lot. So I'm intentional about how I want to dress. I want to feel good. I want to look good. I also, some people share rooms. Some people don't. If you're an introvert, you might want to get your own room because it's a lot of people and energy.

Rebecca (29:03.647)
Yep.

Kim Borcherding (29:16.94)
and you might need that downtime. I'm an extrovert, so I shared my room with a really fun extrovert. So that was fun for me. So kind of whatever your vibe is, getting there and then looking at the agenda and planning out your day and really like looking like what do I need and what's the session or what's the, and making sure that you're getting there early. So for me, even I like to get the best seats. Like it's not a big deal to show up 30 minutes before the doors open and get the best seat. I do not want to be standing in the back.

Rebecca (29:24.81)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (29:46.958)
That's a small thing. Get up early, get a good seat. I like to have snacks with me. I mean, this is like, I know overboard, but this is how I do 10 things. So I have snacks with me. I have like beef sticks. bring nuts because again, I don't want to be hungry. And then, yeah.

Rebecca (30:02.792)
Yeah, yeah, you don't want to be distracted. I mean, what you're saying is you don't want to be distracted. You want to be all in while you're there, which is just so, so important. You've spent time, you've spent money, you you've taken time away from your family, from your job. Like really, you know, the Rise Conference started with, you know, be where your feet are. You know, that was one of the openings, you know, that was one of the opening parts that I remember. Be where your feet are.

Kim Borcherding (30:10.771)
Yeah.

Rebecca (30:32.295)
so important in everything we do. And that's what you're saying. Like just be present.

Kim Borcherding (30:35.65)
Yeah, totally, just there. No distractions. then, and for me, just take an opportunity to meet people, as many people as you can, you know, in line at the bathroom, sharing contacts, making conversation. And then also, I think this is another key point, like again, making super small, but be the one that makes dinner reservations.

two months in advance for the great places and then you can be the one to extend the invite. Hey, do you have any plans for dinner? I got a table at XYZ tonight at seven o'clock. Be that person. Again, one of the girls, we had the reservations at the best restaurants in Miami because somebody was on top of it and organize that. So that is really a money move is be the one to figure out where is the cool place to eat. Let me tell you, you're gonna vape. Yes, I knew.

Rebecca (31:06.87)
Amazing. Yeah.

Rebecca (31:15.072)
Nah.

Rebecca (31:24.822)
I was the recipient of other people who were totally prepared. like, thank you, thank you. And that's funny that you say that because one of the things I said was, my gosh, thank you so much for making these reservations. And they were like, we had no idea how many people were coming. So we booked it for like 12. We booked, you know I mean? Like, and we ended up with 18 and they accommodated, but that is such a great tip.

Kim Borcherding (31:43.554)
Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (31:48.974)
No, seriously, if you were going to Vegas, like, let me tell you, if somebody has a great reservation, I want to be at that table. And then make the reservation, fill the table. I love the cross pollinations from different areas, different businesses. So build the table. I mean, people just love to be invited. And I know for some people, that's kind of a hard thing to do. But take the initiative, make the reservation and extend the invitations. And then be also mindful of your energy because it could be draining.

Rebecca (32:01.696)
Yeah.

Rebecca (32:08.822)
Mm-hmm.

Kim Borcherding (32:17.966)
They could be long days. if you get good rest, we'll get check in with yourself whatever you need, but whatever you need to sleep well, you know, is it like my my room buddy had a sound machine, you know, like whatever it is that you need to get good rest so you can really be energized every day you're there. And then if I'm if I have the opportunity, I actually really also love to book

Rebecca (32:18.388)
Yeah.

Rebecca (32:38.582)
Great tips.

Kim Borcherding (32:43.086)
an extra day on the back end. I did it this time because it was Halloween and I had to get back for my kids. book an extra day so you really don't transition to that work that you just kind of ignored for the last four or five days, what have you. Now you're stepping into your business and you're to be so, and you're going be like, and it's going to be like a week before you can think about the conference. So you again, you invested this time and money. Take an extra day so you can really decompress and really just have a transition day.

Rebecca (32:46.176)
Me too.

Kim Borcherding (33:12.864)
where you can write out. And again, I just, tell people if you just had three takeaways, three big takeaways and like one thing you can implement in the next 30, just one, one thing in the next 30, like that is a homerun. And then this is a small money move right now. And then we listened to it, who I met at EXP. You may be like, we should talk about that. I will send thank you cards out this week to people that I had really just a nice connection with.

Rebecca (33:35.637)
Yeah.

Rebecca (33:39.198)
in full conversations.

Kim Borcherding (33:40.514)
Totally. I'm just going to say, it so nice spending time with you. I'm going to like, guys, these are real estate people. You can find their address. It's not that freaking hard. And you know, I mean, do you know, actually I'm going to tell you, I would love for somebody to do that to me because I do that after events I attend. I send them a handwritten note. Just nice meeting you. Do you know how good that makes people feel to get a surprise? Somebody looked up your address or where to mail you something and they just sent you a handwritten card. So,

Again, just building relationships, so.

Rebecca (34:10.272)
So yeah, so I will say I've been the recipient of your lovely handwritten cards and they do feel great because we don't get that kind of stuff in the mail anymore. So that is a great, great tip. Okay, in closing, just quickly, do you have one or two major takeaways that you got from EXPCON that you want to share? And then I'll share mine.

Kim Borcherding (34:15.124)
No.

Kim Borcherding (34:19.48)
Yeah. Yeah.

Kim Borcherding (34:33.55)
Okay. I think I kind of touched on, but number one is just go, just go, just take action. Just go. Just, I know a million excuses not to go, million reasons why, but absolutely just go. That's my, that's probably my number one takeaway. And then just number two, back to the relationship is go and just go, go 110%. Like be present.

Rebecca (34:38.11)
Okay, just go.

Kim Borcherding (34:58.24)
and every moment you're there. That's my biggest thing. The people, the content of this is just really be present and focus where you're at. You invested this time and energy. be present. Go and be present.

Rebecca (35:07.902)
Right. Good. Okay. So my takeaways from Rise, there were lots, but one of the reoccurring themes or one of the things that I heard over and over again was just be specific in what you're doing. know, be intentional, be specific in everything you do in your business. And I heard that from the folks that were talking about finances and, you know, the guru who was there talking to us about energy and

And from leadership, be specific. And then the other key takeaway for me was, I think as real estate agents, we might forget how important our community is and how energizing or how depleting it can be, right? And so for me, the entire environment was so enriching and so...

like filled my soul in so many ways and filled my mind in so many ways. If you're in a space and you don't feel that, I would definitely counsel you to seek that out, whether it's a small networking group or a different brokerage, because I'm 33 years in in the business and I can confidently say this is the most excited I've been about my business in 15 years.

Kim Borcherding (36:32.824)
That's tremendous. That's tremendous, yeah.

Rebecca (36:33.224)
That's really cool. That's really cool. Yeah. Yeah, that's really cool. Okay, everyone, we're gonna wrap it up. That's how to real estate today. I'm talking about the importance of education and conferences and putting yourself in the right room, in the right rooms, which is something that Kim and I talk about a lot because we believe so much in it. So have a great rest of your day and we will catch you the next time.