Why Learning From “20-Year Agents” Can Hold You Back in 2026

Let’s talk about something uncomfortable, but necessary.A lot of agents believe the people they should be learning from are the ones who’ve been in the business for 20 or 30 years. And while longevity is impressive, the strategies that built those businesses will not help you build one in 2026.The industry, the consumer, and the competition have all changed. What worked in 2005–2019 was a completely different game — fewer agents, less noise, no algorithms, no content, no AI, and far less competition.In this episode, I break down why following an outdated, referral-only playbook creates inconsistency, burnout, and income ceilings, and why outdated knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge at all.We talk about why today’s agents need modern skills: clear positioning, authority content, video visibility, automated nurture, systems, and attraction-based marketing — not chasing or “staying top of mind.”This isn’t about disrespecting experience.It’s about building a business for the market that exists now.If you’ve been trying to model what worked 15–20 years ago, this episode is your permission slip to stop.You deserve strategies built for the business you’re trying to build today.Do you have questions about The Listings Lab or our 7-Figure Agent programs and want to see if we'd be a good fit? Click the link below to book a FREE 15-minute discovery call to chat about your business and how we can help. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thelistingslab.com/apply/