Ninja Selling Podcast

In this episode, Eric Thompson interviews John Zickert about how he has grown his real estate team while staying true to Ninja Selling principles. John shares how his team increased production from $55.6M and 120 transactions in 2024 to $66.6M and 151 transactions in 2025, not by chasing new tactics, but by becoming more consistent with the Ninja Nine, improving team alignment, and deepening their commitment to value-driven relationships.
John explains the structure of his team, the role clarity within it, and the "definitive purpose" that guides everything they do: to create value for others. He walks through their flow systems, including newsletters, postcards, local business highlights, client appreciation events, personal notes, and a thoughtful weekly team meeting rhythm. He also discusses how coaching, business planning, mindset habits, and consistency have helped him become more purposeful as a leader.
The episode is ultimately about building a team the Ninja way: with strong mindset, simple but consistent actions, community focus, and a commitment to people over shiny objects.
Key Takeaways 
A strong team starts with a clear purpose. John's team filters decisions through one simple idea: Does this create value? That clarity helps them stay aligned and avoid distractions.Growth often comes from consistency, not reinvention.Their 20% year-over-year growth did not come from a major new initiative. It came from doing the fundamentals more consistently over time.
Flow works best when it is both personal and valuable. Their newsletters, postcards, local-love features, Z Crew events, and handwritten notes are all designed to genuinely serve clients and community, not just market to them.

Great team meetings are intentional. John's weekly team meeting includes gratitude, word-of-the-year reflection, pipeline review, marketing updates, Ninja teaching, idea sharing, and a positive close. It is designed to build both culture and clarity.

Mindset is still the foundation. John credits much of his success to a disciplined morning routine built around gratitudes, affirmations, life-list review, reading, exercise, and meditation. For him, mindset is non-negotiable.

Memorable Quotes
"If we focus on creating value, we'll have all the business we need."

"Anything we do in our business meetings—if it's not going to create value, we're not doing it."

"We'd rather do the Ninja Nine 85% of the time than try to do it 100% of the time and only hit 50%."

"We're very careful not to look for the new shiny object."

"That morning mindset is so critical. It just keeps me focused."\

Links:
Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-254-1650
Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling
Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public
Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/
John Zickert: https://jonzickert.realestateone.com/vp/AgentServlet?SITE=REO&tp_Usage=AgentPersonalWeb&context=AGENT_PAGE&cd_Agent=289214&cd_Web=jonzickert&REQUEST_HOST=jonzickert.realestateone.com

Rob Nelson and Eric Thompson break down one of the most repeated phrases in Ninja Selling: "Flow fixes everything." The discussion begins with a question from a new Ninja who wondered what Auto-Flow really is and where to start. Rob and Eric use that question to explain how flow works and why it is essential to becoming the Realtor of choice.
Flow simply means frequency of interaction. In Ninja there are two types: Live Flow and Auto-Flow. Live Flow is two-way communication, such as conversations, calls, meetings, and personal interactions. Auto-Flow is one-way communication, such as emails, newsletters, postcards, social media posts, or gifts that go out automatically. Both play different but complementary roles. Live Flow deepens relationships and builds trust, while auto flow maintains visibility and demonstrates expertise when you are busy or not actively connecting.
They also explain the concept of the decision window. People often think about buying or selling real estate for 9 to 21 months, but they typically choose their agent in just 1 to 3 days. The agent who has been most consistently in flow during that period becomes the natural choice. Because most people know multiple Realtors, consistent flow is what separates the professional who gets the call from the one who is forgotten.
The episode closes with a simple framework for implementing Auto-Flow. Three value-add touches per month, typically two digital and one print, mixing both art (heart-focused touches) and science (market expertise). When combined with Live Flow, this system keeps you top of mind and reinforces both your relationship and your professional credibility.
Key Takeaways
Flow means frequency of interaction and is the mechanism that keeps you top of mind
Live Flow builds relationships while Auto-Flow maintains visibility and expertise
The real estate decision window is extremely short even though the buying process is long
Three value-add touches per month, combining art and science, create a simple auto flow system
Auto-Flow should support relationships rather than replace live interactions
Authentic communication always works better than generic marketing
Real Estate Reviews are a powerful tool because they convert Auto-Flow into Live Flow conversations
Only 6% of agents consistently stay in flow after a transaction.
Memorable Quotes
"Flow fixes everything."
"People on average know twelve realtors."
"Live Flow builds the relationship. Auto-Flow maintains the presence."
"You're either visible or invisible."
Links:
Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-254-1650
Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling
Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public
Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/

Rob Nelson and Peter Parnegg explore the idea that fun should not be the reward for success but the fuel for it. The conversation begins with Peter sharing a 30 year life list goal he is about to achieve, a father son heli skiing trip in British Columbia. That story opens a broader discussion about how many professionals postpone joy until "someday" while building businesses that quietly consume their lives.
Rob and Peter suggest that fun requires intention and planning. If it is not scheduled, work will always take its place. They contrast bucket list thinking, which often waits until later in life, with life list thinking, which prioritizes meaningful experiences now. The episode also connects fun to productivity, arguing that energy, presence, and joy improve performance rather than distract from it. Whether through small daily moments or major life list experiences, the message is clear: success should include a life you are actively enjoying, not just building.
Key Takeaways
Fun should be treated as fuel for success rather than something postponed until later
Meaningful experiences require intention and scheduling or work will consume the time
Small joyful moments can be just as powerful as big life list events
Energy and consciousness are the most important professional tools and fun helps renew both
Memorable Quotes
"What if fun is actually the fuel for success?"
"Fun requires intention."
"Happiness is not the result of a sale. A sale is a result of happiness."
"When there's that moment of should we do it or not, the answer is yes."
Links:
Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-254-1650
Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling
Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public
Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/

In this episode, Eric Thompson interviews Ryan Craig of Traverse City, Michigan, along with his Ninja Coach Mark Johnson, to explore a powerful transformation: pivoting from a cold lead centric business to a relationship based Ninja business. Ryan previously ran a high pressure lead generation operation with a large team and roughly 35,000 dollars per month in overhead, including about 10,000 dollars per month spent on cold internet leads. The model produced transactions, but it also created constant stress, fragmented attention, and a life where Ryan was physically present with his family but mentally tied to the phone.
After discovering Ninja Selling while listening to the book with his wife, Ryan realized there was a different way to build a real estate career, one centered on relationships rather than relentless lead conversion. In 2025 he fully committed to the Ninja approach with coaching support from Mark Johnson. The result was dramatic: Ryan produced 722,000 dollars in gross commission income from 47 transactions and 34 million in volume, while simultaneously reducing his monthly overhead by about 25,000 dollars.
Ryan credits the transformation to mindset, structure, and consistent implementation of the Ninja Nine habits. Instead of chasing cold leads, he began focusing on handwritten notes, proactive relationship calls, gratitude, and intentional conversations with people who already knew and trusted him. Mark helped him slow down, eliminate unnecessary commitments, and prioritize meaningful interactions over constant activity. The shift not only improved his income but restored balance in his life, allowing him to be present with his wife and five children. Ryan's story illustrates how focusing on relationships, consistency, and purpose can produce both better business results and a better life.
Key Takeaways
Cold lead generation can create a false sense of productivity while increasing stress and reducing meaningful relationships
High overhead business models often hide the true cost of lead driven systems
Pivoting to a sphere based business dramatically increases income per hour and reduces overhead
Relationship calls feel very different from cold lead calls because the trust already exists
Handwritten notes and proactive conversations create compounding opportunities
Consistent Ninja Nine habits create momentum and confidence
Coaching provides clarity, accountability, and perspective during major business transitions
Slowing down can actually accelerate growth by focusing energy on the right activities
Addition through subtraction is often the fastest way to improve both life and business
Fragmentation and constant responsiveness create anxiety, while proactive systems restore control
Real estate success does not require working constantly, it requires working intentionally
Relationships that already exist are often the most overlooked source of business
Memorable Quotes
"I bought the book for my wife and it turned out to be mine."
"The cold lead style of business is an illusion."
"You can only go so far before you run out of gas."
"I felt like a robot being told where to go and what to do."
"My kids would try to tell me about their day and I'd hold up one finger and say one more minute."
"I realized 87 percent of my business had always come from people I knew."
"My phone used to ring nonstop. Now it hardly rings at all."
"I used to feel fragmented. Now everything feels intentional."
"Addition through subtraction changed everything."
"The more things I cut out, the more the right things showed up."
"Doing the work consistently is what made the difference."
Links:
Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-254-1650
Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling
Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public
Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/
Ryan Craig: https://www.christiesrealestate.com/us/real-estate-agents/ryan-craig/32877/

In this bonus episode, we're sharing a recording from our live Ninja Sales Meeting, held the first Monday of every month, after many of you asked to hear these sessions on the podcast.
Peter Parnegg delivers an energizing and practical message focused on one core idea: if you want to quickly build your business, master the subtle skills that create real connection.
Drawing on insights from Sarah Blakely and the Ninja principles, Peter explores how entrepreneurship exposes our fears and how many of us avoid live conversations because of discomfort, guilt, or fear of "feeling salesy." In reality, marketing creates awareness, but relationships create business. And relationships are built through consistent flow.
This episode is a reminder that nothing happens until something moves and that authentic, emotionally intelligent outreach will always outperform sales pressure.
If you're ready to overcome hesitation, reconnect with your people, and create opportunities, this conversation will give you practical tools you can implement immediately.
And if you'd like to join us live for future Ninja Sales Meetings, tune in on the first Monday of each month at 9:00 a.m. Mountain Time on the Ninja Selling YouTube channel.
Links:
Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-800-254-1650
Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling
Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public
Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/