If you’re a real estate agent thinking about leaving a salary, building a team, or breaking through a production plateau — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Realty Resilience, Dave Nations sits down with Adam Bundren to unpack the real journey from union laborer and corporate executive to high-producing real estate leader. Adam shares exactly what it took to earn the right to quit his job, survive the early grind of commission-only income, and build a business that scales without burning out.

They dive into the realities most agents don’t talk about: fear, imposter syndrome, plateau cycles, hiring mistakes, partnerships, leadership communication, and why clarity beats hustle every time. Adam also shares how he transitioned from building his own team into a high-growth partnership, what makes teams actually work, and the mindset shifts that accelerated his momentum.

You’ll also hear one of the wildest real estate stories you’ve ever heard — a referral listing that turned into a full renovation, multiple dumpsters, and a massive win-win deal.

Whether you’re a brand new agent, solo producer, team leader, or entrepreneur, this conversation will help you think differently about growth, leadership, and long-term success in real estate.

👇 Topics Covered:

• How to transition from a salaried job to commission real estate

• Earning the right to quit and building a financial safety net

• Breaking through production plateaus

• Overcoming fear and imposter syndrome

• Hiring and team building lessons

• Partnerships and leadership communication

• Why trust beats being liked in sales

• Creating clarity in business decisions

• A crazy real estate deal story you won’t believe

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Looking for more ways to elevate your real estate career? Connect with us today and follow along with our socials!

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In this episode of Realty Resilience, host Dave Nations breaks down what it actually looks like to build multiple real estate businesses at the same time without dropping the ball on any of them. As the founder of Nations Network in St. Louis, co owner of Nations Brothers Renovations, and investor in 50+ rental units, Dave pulls back the curtain on the decisions, structure, and systems that made simultaneous growth possible.

Dave shares how his team expanded to 22 members closing 235+ transactions a year, while scaling a rental portfolio and a flipping company that could operate with its own momentum. The conversation dives into timing key hires, treating each business as its own profit center, and why running a business like a business beats trying to do everything yourself.

This episode highlights the mindset shifts that pushed Dave to take action before feeling “ready,” the leverage that protected him from burnout, and the common blind spots agents hit when scaling too fast without a foundation. Dave also touches on opportunity cost, staying consistent across different income streams, and why stability starts long before expansion.

Tips from Today:
• Build each arm of your business with clear ownership and accountability
• Make hires early that create leverage, not dependency
• Track numbers separately to measure what works and what drains momentum
• Long term income beats short term hustle when building stability
• Systems make growth sustainable, clarity makes it scalable

Looking for more ways to elevate your real estate career? Connect with us today and follow along with our socials!

Connect With Heartwood Coaching:
Heartwood-Coaching.com
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Instagram
Realty Resilience Facebook Group (Join Now)
YouTube Channel (Watch This Episode Video)

In this wrap up episode of Realty Resilience, Dave Nations brings Jim and Kat into the studio to close out the year with a real look at what happened in the 2025 market. They talk through what worked, what did not, and the biggest surprises that shaped the way agents moved through the year. The conversation covers rising inventory, shifting expectations, and why consistent experience matters more than how long you have been licensed.

They also look ahead to 2026 and share what they are watching most closely, how stronger communication between agents is becoming a true advantage, and why real estate is settling back into a more traditional market cycle. They dig into the rise of AI, how it is helping agents improve their skills, and why relationships and negotiation will always stay at the center of this business.

From reflections to predictions to a few unforgettable stories, this episode gives the kind of insight that only comes from agents who have lived every side of the industry.

Tips from Today:
• Experience comes from the number of reps you do
• Higher inventory requires stronger communication with sellers
• Better questions lead to better negotiations
• AI can sharpen your skills but cannot replace real connection
• Confidence grows when you understand the rhythm of market cycles

Looking for more ways to elevate your real estate career? Connect with us today and follow along with our socials!

Connect With Heartwood Coaching:
Heartwood-Coaching.com
Facebook
Instagram
Realty Resilience Facebook Group (Join Now)
YouTube Channel (Watch This Episode Video)