Million Dollar Listings & Million Dollar Lessons: The 4 W’s That Will Define Your 2026
Thursday, October 09, 2025
Million Dollar Listings & Million Dollar Lessons
So here I am in Gatlinburg this week...
No alarms screaming at me.
No loan files stacked to the ceiling.
Just me, some mountain air, decent coffee, and — don’t judge me — reruns of Million Dollar Listing New York.
I’ve probably seen every episode twice (maybe three times), but I STILL get sucked in every time Ryan Serhant walks into some disaster of a listing and somehow…
Boom.
Turns complete chaos into pure confidence.
The guy could sell a submarine in the Sahara Desert — and I mean that as the highest compliment possible.
But it’s not just his energy or charisma.
It’s that everything Ryan does is intentional.
His videos? Planned.
His brand? Planned.
His systems? Planned.
Even his morning routine fits into the larger strategy.
And while I was watching from a cozy cabin, I realized — most business owners drift into a new year without a plan, hoping things “just work out.”
We’re heading into Q4.
The holidays are coming fast.
2025 is about to turn the corner.
So what’s your plan for 2026?
Because here’s the truth: most people will stumble into next year with the same scattered habits they’ve always had.
But not you — not if you take a page from Ryan’s playbook.
The 4 W’s That Build a Real Foundation
In Ryan’s recent Sell It training, he breaks the Build phase into four simple yet powerful questions — the same ones he used to scale his own business from chaos to empire.
1. WHY – Your Reason to Build
You can’t build anything meaningful unless you know why you’re doing it.
Money isn’t a why — it’s a result.
Ryan admitted his first “why” was revenge. Eventually, it became legacy, empowerment, and happiness.
What about you?
What are the 3 things that keep you in the game when it’s hard?
Because when motivation fades, your why is what keeps you moving.
2. WORK – What’s Actually Working Now
Most people are busy — few are productive.
Ryan calls this phase getting real about your numbers.
Where did your last five deals come from?
What’s your ROI on your time?
What lead sources actually generate results — and which just keep you “looking busy”?
If you don’t know what’s working, you can’t scale it.
3. WALL – What’s Blocking You
Everyone has internal and external walls.
Internal: fear, procrastination, self-doubt.
External: the market, rates, inventory, or simply lack of time.
You can’t fix what you won’t face.
Write them down. Name them.
That’s how you start breaking through them.
4. WIN – Your North Star
Finally, define what winning actually looks like for you in 2026.
Ryan calls it the Serhant Star — your clear statement of success.
Try this formula:
“In 2026, I will ___ by focusing on ___ while overcoming ___ to create lasting impact through ___.”
That’s not just a goal — it’s a filter. Every decision runs through it.
Ryan’s 5 Pillars for Scaling Your Business
Once your 4 W’s are clear, you layer them into his Five Pillars of Success:
Build. Brand. Amplify. Connect. Simplify.
Together, they turn “busy” into scalable.
And this is where the 2026 Starter Blueprint comes in — it gives you the worksheets, questions, and frameworks to make it real.
Ready to Build Your 2026 Plan?
If you want the same workbook Ryan uses to run his business and coaching sessions, I’ve got you covered.
📲 DM me or text me at (615) 955-0461 and I’ll send you the 2026 Starter Blueprint — the same plan I’m using to map my year.
No opt-in. No gatekeeping. Just the real thing.
This week, I’m keeping it simple:
Good views.
Good shows.
Good planning.
If you do one thing before this year ends, take an hour to write down your 2026 North Star.
Because, as Ryan said — the best way to predict the future is to define it.
Roll up your sleeves and start getting more referrals
Get the free weekly newsletters inspiring business owners and sales people to up their referral game.
📌 Want More?
Here are a few past newsletters you’ll want to keep in your swipe file:
📌 I Lost $47 Million in Mortgage Volume by Ignoring CRM Tags—Here’s How You Can Dodge That Bullet → Learn why CRM tagging is critical for business success.
📌 Forget Cameras and Crews… This AI Makes Video Magic in Minutes! → See how AI is revolutionizing video content creation.
📌 Master CONNECT: Build Authentic Referral Relationships with a Blackberry Twist → Unlock strategies for real referral relationships.
📌 Is Your Website Just Sitting There? Discover How to Make It Work for You! → Convert your website into a lead-gen machine.
📌 The Secret to Getting Clients to Pay What You’re Worth: How to Create an Offer They Can’t Resist → Craft offers that clients want to say yes to.
