PROPERTYSPARK INTERVIEWS: Tina Caul, Real Estate Influencer

I’m a high energy, high impact, community minded professional with a vast knowledge of the real estate industry.

Cary, NC

Caul Group

Tina Caul | caulgroup | Tina Caul – Top Producer – Real Estate Mentor | tinacaullife.com

What inspired you to start in real estate and how did you motivate yourself to keep going?

I bought my first home with my fiance at 19 years old and we flipped it and made $30k 20 years ago. I was hooked 🙂

Comparing your business from back then to now, what has been the main thing that allowed you to expand your business?

Back then, people were patient. Technology was not a focus but in this day and age, it is. Having access to my firm’s virtual community of agents so we can share ideas and the latest technologies have been a game-changer for me. I have always learned my best business practices from my masterminds and now I have a massive mastermind to work via our cloud office.

What’s the most profitable aspect of your business, why do you think this is and how can others apply this to what they are doing?

Social media has become the largest piece of my business that I have been able to leverage. Without it, you don’t have a voice. Grant Cardone says “If they don’t know you, they can’t flow you.” That makes me chuckle because it rhymes but he’s right. You need to create an audience in today’s business world and if you don’t you will be forgotten.

When did you realize you were successful/made it and how did you feel/celebrate?

The first time I felt proud was when I heard our rankings from our firm. There are 9,000+ Realtors in my market. When I found out years ago I was one of the top 5 in the market and top .05% in the nation, I felt like I had made it.

Now success is time freedom. Doing what I want when I want. Success looks different at each stage of your career. I have enjoyed every aspect these last 20 years and have so much gratitude for what this career has given me.

Looking back, what could you have done sooner to get to that point quicker?

I could have created a bigger audience. I could have learned how to invest my money earlier into assets that provide residuals. That’s my advice to every single person on the planet. Invest in what you are selling and learn to make money in your sleep. You will appreciate your job and life more.

What should other real estate entrepreneurs reading this be focusing on to expand their own business?

They need to learn leverage. I have never read about a successful organization with one person in it. You need people around you to help you grow. Focus on what you are good at and hire out everything that you hate. You will be a much better leader for it.

How has social media and online marketing affected your real estate business? How much more success have you had now after implementing social media and online marketing efforts?

It’s a game-changer! Now people recognize me in the grocery store and other agents feel like they know me which helps build relationships. Of course, I want to have more buyers and sellers reach out to me but I also love building relationships with the agents in the community as we are constantly working side by side to serve our community together.

How did you build your team?

I moved to NC 11 years ago and sold 38 homes my first year, 55 my second, 80+ my third, and over 120 homes my fourth year. The wheels were falling off. I couldn’t do one more transaction so I built my team out of necessity. I was nervous to lead others. I didn’t know if I would be good at it. I failed forward often and pushed through that fear. The key is taking action and just doing it. Forget about it being perfect. Nothing is perfect and you have to test things out and then decide if they are working or if you can make them better. It’s a process. Respect the process and know it takes time.

How did you become a good leader?

I read many books mainly by Tony Robbins, Lencioni, Jay Abraham, Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Darren Hardy, and more. Most leaders read a LOT of books. I am constantly reading and growing my knowledge so I can help others get what they want. Others have walked the same path and they literally are giving us a lifetime of knowledge in a bible and so many try to do this on their own. Makes no sense. Leading can be taught and I’m still in training mode. 🙂

Did You Experience Failures? If So, What Did You Learn From Them?

Many, many, many failures. I learned that I failed over and over but therefore I ultimately won. If you learn to take risks, you sometimes get the reward. That may be just leaving corporate America to become an entrepreneur or building a team or opening a store or restaurant. You always learn what you could have done better with each failure which allows you to get better and better with each decision you make in life. I try to follow my gut first when I hear about something and THEN I ask others but ultimately go back to my own gut. I don’t know what experiences those people I’m asking have been through. Have they done the work, have they studied their craft like me? If you ask someone who is not where you want to be, you should not take their advice.

What do you consider the main differences between those people who have been successful in your industry and those who have failed?

One word. Action. They took action before everything was perfect. They figured things out as they went along. They took risks, they plugged into learning and growing each and every day, they surrounded themselves with big thinking people. The people that fail usually do not show up, do not plug in and stay small in their thinking. They usually don’t take risks and don’t do the things that scare them to be able to have breakthroughs.

What’s Your Approach To Marketing?

I believe video is Queen (or King if you are a male reading this…ha). You must create video to survive this new world. You also need leverage so building a great team around you is key to a successful business!

Final Thoughts