There are several statements I’ve heard from all different types of real estate business owners:

• “Once I close this next deal, I’ll finally feel ahead.”
• “If I could just get to $250k, I’d be able to relax a little.”
• “I hate thinking about money—I’m not in it for the commission.”

But the truth is every decision we make in this business is shaped by money. The pursuit of it. The fear of not having enough of it. The anxiety of what to do with it once we have it.

What I’ve learned, both in my own journey and hearing from others, is this: Your business will only grow to the level of your consciousness around money.

Money is More Than Math

Let’s be honest; the real estate industry doesn’t exactly encourage a healthy relationship with money. Commission checks are big and unpredictable. Expenses feel constant. The pressure to “look successful” is everywhere.

So we often fall into survival mode: hustling for the next check, avoiding looking at our P&L, investing emotionally—into branding, lead gen, etc.—without clarity on ROI.

But the problem isn’t the market. It’s not your broker. It’s not even your clients. It’s the unexamined beliefs you carry about money. Here are some prompts to get you started:

• What did you learn about money growing up?
• What do you believe you have to sacrifice to make it?
• What number would finally make you feel “safe”?
• What would you do differently if you believed there was always enough?

The Three Money Myths That Show Up for Agents

These ideas are inspired by Lynne Twist’s work in The Soul of Money. She calls them money myths—but I call them silent saboteurs.

1. There is never enough.
   So we overbook, overdeliver, overextend. We stay in client relationships long past what’s healthy. We take on one more listing even when our schedule is screaming no.
2. More is better.
   So we chase volume instead of values. We prioritize growth over alignment. We measure success in GCI instead of peace of mind.
3. That’s just the way it is.
   So we accept feast-or-famine cycles as inevitable. We normalize disorganized finances. We resign ourselves to burnout.

Radical Responsibility = Financial Freedom

You cannot coach your clients, lead a team, or scale your business without addressing your money mindset.

That means:

• Feeling the fear of lack and moving forward anyway.
• Tracking your numbers—even the uncomfortable ones.
• Saying no to the wrong fit clients, even if the check is tempting.
• Getting clear on what you’re really working toward.

Ask yourself:

• What are you pretending not to know about your money?
• Where are you still outsourcing financial responsibility (to a partner, to your CPA, to the universe)?
• What would shift if you treated money as a relationship to tend—not a tool to control?

Try This: The Money Inventory

Block 30 minutes this week and do a simple audit.

On one side, list:

• What feels scarce right now?
• What money decisions are you avoiding?
• Where are you over-giving or undercharging?

On the other:

• Where have you experienced sufficiency lately?
• What financial systems (even tiny ones) have helped you feel more grounded?
• What would “enough” look like—not in fantasy, but in real life?

Then ask:
If I were the CFO of my own life, what would I do next?

Final Thought

This work isn’t about spreadsheets. It’s about sovereignty. It’s about reclaiming the power you’ve given away to the housing market, to client drama, to the illusion that one more deal will finally fix it. Your relationship with money is running your business. Make sure it’s a conscious one.