In episode 20 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Dustin McKibben, the owner and founder of Art Home Photo, as he shares his journey from a side hustle to leading a team of 25, the importance of servant leadership, and how he leverages technology, including AI, to enhance his services.

Tune in for valuable insights on how to stop overthinking and start producing in your career!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:12] Starting a photography business.

[00:05:07] Entrepreneurial mindset and challenges.

[00:10:21] Seamless client experiences in business.

[00:12:01] Passion for real estate marketing.

[00:15:58] Customer service differentiation strategies.

[00:22:11] Business lessons from sports.

[00:25:01] Teaching kids positive habits.

[00:27:42] Parenting lessons from children.

[00:31:13] AI tools for real estate.

[00:35:39] AI as a partner in efficiency.

[00:39:41] AI's role in real estate.

[00:42:12] Custom bedtime stories with AI.

[00:45:35] Coaching and collaboration for success.

QUOTES

• "Entrepreneurship and building something that's your own is it's not for everybody, but for those that it is for, it's all that is for them." -Alex Montagano
• "No one is going to care more about your business than us." -Dustin McKibben
• "Sometimes some of the most beautiful things in life happen in the messy." -Dustin McKibben

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Dustin McKibben

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dustin_mckibben/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-mckibben-b64b4622/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmckibben/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

Dustin McKibben: https://www.dustinmckibben.com/

In episode 19 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Sarah Hubley, a rising star in the real estate industry, as she shares her journey from the adult beverage industry to becoming a top real estate agent, her passion for helping clients, and the importance of building genuine relationships.

Tune in to discover how taking action can lead to momentum and clarity in your real estate career.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:03:18-00:03:28] Career transition during COVID.

[00:05:36] Embracing chaos in real estate.

[00:08:57] Client relationship building strategies.

[00:11:36] Asking for referrals naturally.

[00:14:35] AI integration in business.

[00:18:01] Work-life balance and enjoyment.

[00:23:38] Partnership dynamics in business.

[00:26:40] Importance of showing up daily.

[00:30:04] It's okay to not know.

[00:32:17] Taking action in business.

QUOTES

• "Just show up every single day and love what you do." - Sarah Hubley
• "If you die tomorrow, your to-do list is still there." -Sarah Hubley
• "Don't ever pretend to know it all, and it's better to go find that answer for them." -Sarah Hubley

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Sarah Hubley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homes_by_hubley/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hubley-432bb4123/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

In episode 18 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews real estate powerhouse Emily Stewart, as she shares her incredible journey, including how she skyrocketed her business from $10 million to over $17 million in just one year, all while managing it independently.

Tune in for valuable tips on growing your real estate business and overcoming challenges in the industry!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:08] Organization in real estate success.

[00:06:01] Growing real estate business dynamics.

[00:08:54] Networking over Open Houses.

[00:14:31] Friends as Clients.

[00:16:40] Happy closings and client connections.

[00:19:36] Referral business without asking.

[00:24:08] Understanding contracts in real estate.

[00:27:27] Marketing strategies for real estate.

[00:32:11] Specializing in real estate networks.

[00:33:16] Implementing AI in real estate.

[00:37:15] Personal brand and growth.

QUOTES

• "Taking action for me is just learning and evolving and being the best agent I can be every day." -Emily Stewart
• "I think the people who are foolish enough to try are the people who are going to win big." -Alex Montagano
• "I think there should be a rule. Like, you want to be a realtor? You have to have owned a home because it matters." -Alex Montagano

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Emily Stewart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilystewartrealestate/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

In episode 17 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Jim Wilson from Real Broker, as he shares his insights on the importance of taking action, building relationships, and the value of small businesses in real estate.

Tune in for insights on growth, confidence, and the power of community in achieving your goals.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:34-00:04:08] Starting a real estate career.

[00:06:06] Career transitions and challenges.

[00:10:03] Calculated risk-taking in business.

[00:12:10] Value of small business culture.

[00:16:29] Consistency in real estate success.

[00:20:06] Work-life balance strategies.

[00:25:07] Hard conversations and early actions.

[00:27:16] Managing a small team.

[00:32:12] Doubling net profit strategy.

[00:34:27] Brokerage model evolution.

[00:40:49] Finding joy in sales.

[00:44:18] Career challenges and growth.

[00:46:28] The importance of surrounding yourself.

[00:49:44] Mentorship and team success.

[00:54:19] Taking action in daily life.

[00:56:01] Video communication in real estate.

[00:59:20] The importance of hard work.

QUOTES

• "I want to be around people that are successful, and I can learn from them, or they push me to do more." -Jim Wilson
• "Just be their driver with no pay. And you would learn so much." -Jim Wilson
• "We suffer more imagination than reality." -Alex Montagano

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Jim Wilson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimwilsonjimshomes/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

Jims Homes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimwilsonjimshomes/

In episode 16 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Dan Hubbard from Lockstep Realty, as he shares the realities of starting over in a competitive industry, the systems and habits that helped him gain traction quickly, and why discipline was the key to replacing uncertainty with opportunity.

Tune in to hear how Dan Hubbard turned a bold career change into a fast-moving real estate success story—and what you can learn from his journey.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:01:30] Early success in real estate.

[00:04:28] Career change to real estate.

[00:08:59] Cold calling for real estate success.

[00:12:04] Coaching for real estate success.

[00:16:25] Contribution as a personal why.

[00:19:56] Pursuing the best version of self.

[00:22:05] Building business for family freedom.

[00:27:11] Abundance mindset in business.

[00:29:19] Community service in real estate.

[00:34:45] Cash machine for financial stability.

[00:39:11] Consistent action solves everything.

[00:39:58] Coaching and collaboration for growth.

QUOTES

• "You have to continue to make that money right now. So you're in a position to do these other things." -Alex Montagano
• "Part of leading folks is like helping people believe that they can do the same type of leadership with their peers around them." -Alex Montagano
• "I have the grind, the hustle. I have all of that, but I need some skills and systems, and processes that I need to build upon." -Dan Hubbard

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Dan Hubbard

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubbsrealestate/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-hubbard/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

https://locksteprealty.com/dan-hubbard-top-indianapolis-realtor-locksteprealty/

In episode 15 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Mark Nottingham, founder of At Properties, as he shares his journey from becoming a realtor during the foreclosure crisis in 2008 to leading a successful brokerage that emphasizes the importance of relationships over transactions.

Tune in for valuable strategies to enhance your skills and grow your real estate career.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:54] First-time homebuyer tax credit.

[00:04:11] Human connection in real estate.

[00:10:11] Business models and client fit.

[00:12:31] Identity and value proposition.

[00:20:09] Independent brokerage growth journey.

[00:22:18] Abundance vs. scarcity in business.

[00:27:24] Abundance in real estate teams.

[00:30:25] Failure and opportunity perspective.

[00:34:35] Tolerance for risk in success.

[00:38:50] Different types of risk.

[00:45:33] Wins and learning experiences.

[00:46:14] The importance of showing up.

[00:50:05] Choosing your hard.

QUOTES

• "Helping somebody see that the opportunity of maybe you and them or me and you or me and that agent working together is not the best fit for them as well." -Alex Montagano
• "All growth is not good. There is a version of growth that isn't healthy, that isn't aligned." -Mark Nottingham
• "There is a superpower in the ability to take risks, to face challenge, to move off what is considered a loss and turn it into a learning experience, and then just keep going for it." -Alex Montagano

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Mark Nottingham

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marknottingham_atprop/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

At Properties: https://www.atproperties.com/agents/11269/mark-nottingham

In episode 14 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Dr. Greg Pursley, a physician-entrepreneur, as he discusses the critical difference between owning a job and truly owning a business, and how he transformed his chiropractic clinic into a thriving regenerative medicine practice.

Tune in to discover how taking action can lead to clarity, momentum, and success in your career!

TIMESTAMPS

[00:02:05] Fixing belief systems in business.

[00:03:39] Transition from job to business.

[00:08:47] The five A's framework.

[00:12:58] Data-driven decision making.

[00:14:51] Decision-making autonomy in management.

[00:20:09] The importance of focus.

[00:24:07] Controlling your emotions effectively.

[00:27:34] Finding joy in experiences.

[00:30:14] Proximity is power.

[00:34:10] Control your emotions with thoughts.

[00:39:54] Taking action creates motivation.

[00:41:38] Cold plunging as identity.

[00:44:20] Discovering your own routine.

QUOTES

• "Focus is the most limited commodity there is today." -Dr. Greg Pursley
• "There are only four things you can actually control: your thoughts, your beliefs, your emotions, and your actions." -Dr. Greg Pursley
• "You can't serve anyone if you're trying to serve everyone. You have to serve yourself first, and that sounds selfish, but it's not." -Dr. Greg Pursley

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Dr. Greg Pursley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgregpursley/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgregpursley1/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/

In episode 13 of Action Solves EVERYTHING, Alex Montagano interviews Lindsey Smalling, founder of the Smalling Group, as she shares how she scaled her diverse, high-performing team and the frameworks that have set them apart in a competitive market.

Tune in for leadership lessons, actionable takeaways, and a playbook for turning ideas into impact.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00:02] Introduction & Meet Lindsey Smalling: Breaking $119 Million

[00:01:31] Building a Diverse, High-Performing Team

[00:03:06] Organic Lead Generation & Google Mastery

[00:05:29] Leadership, Accountability & Avoiding Costly Mistakes

[00:07:05] Game-Changing Advice for New Agents

[00:11:19] The Story Behind Lindsey’s Passion & Career Shift

[00:14:47] Why Starting on a Team Matters

[00:16:52] Office Culture & The Power of Showing Up

[00:18:24] Navigating Major Brokerage Transitions

[00:25:06] Goal-Setting, Stress, and Sustainable Success

[00:27:02] Balancing High Achievement With Family & Values

[00:33:24] The Journey from Producer to Leader

[00:39:03] Championing Collaboration in the Industry

[00:41:53] Taking Action & Building Systems That Last

QUOTES

• "Show up. If my agents show up and they're successful, I'm successful. We're all happy." – Lindsey Smalling
• "You could have the greatest goals in the world, but without the right systems to support them, they're completely unattainable." – Alex Montagano
• "My biggest thing is keeping my pipeline full. If I have a slow month, holidays, whatever, just continuing to follow up with those people." – Lindsey Smalling

SOCIAL MEDIA

Alex Montagano

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmontagano/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-montagano-b6168922/

Lindsey Smalling

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseyksmalling/

https://www.instagram.com/thesmallinggrouprealestate/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindsey.smalling/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-smalling-a725478a/

WEBSITE

Lockstep Realty: https://locksteprealty.com/