We’re not saying hoop earrings and flower delivery subscriptions will change your business… but we’re also not NOT saying that.

In this episode, Chelsea and Kayla are breaking down their personal “standards” as modern agents, the small but mighty habits that make a big impact. From making your bed and walking outside to showing up local and romanticizing your life like it’s a Nancy Meyers movie, this one’s a love letter to modern agents who want more from their work and their everyday.

You Get to Define Success

Chelsea and Kayla kick things off by talking about what inspired this whole conversation — The Salesgirls and their “Salesgirls Standards,” a set of daily habits that help them be ready to grow their business. And while the hustle is admirable, Chelsea’s not shy about saying it out loud: “I want to work less, but better.”

Success is not one-size-fits-all. For you, success might look like staying home with your kids a few days a week. It might be selling a few homes a year with amazing clients and never missing soccer practice. It might be paying off your student loans or hitting a big financial goal.

You don’t have to be the top producer in your office to be legit. You don’t have to answer your phone 24/7 or say yes to every lead to prove you’re serious. You started this business to create freedom, and you’re allowed to design a version of that that works for your life.

And hey, maybe you’re even in a season where you’re not sure if you want to sell real estate forever — and guess what? That’s okay too. There’s no gold medal at the end of your real estate career. If you pivot, reinvent, or evolve, you’re still doing it right.

This is where being a modern agent begins — with clarity about what you want your business and life to look like. Everything else we talk about in this episode, starts from that.

Having said that, let’s dive in!

Standard 1: Romanticize Your Life and Marketing

Chelsea said it best — she likes to live her life like she’s at a five-star resort, but at home. And when you start thinking about your business that way, your whole experience of it changes.

Maybe it’s fresh flowers on your kitchen island. A candle lit before you open your laptop. A cozy coffee shop with jazz playing instead of your usual spot at the kitchen counter. It might even be upgrading your plain old toaster to one that actually sparks joy, like Kayla who went from a plain two-slice toaster to a cute, yellow, four-slice toaster that brightens up her mornings.

Romanticizing your life is not superficial fluff. It’s choosing beauty, coziness, and intention in the small stuff. It means looking at what you’re already doing — and elevating it. Adding a little beauty, a little comfort, a little personal flair.

In this way, you make your business and your life something you’re excited to show up for every single day.

‘Cuz let’s be honest — when was the last time you felt truly inspired under fluorescent overhead lighting? Nancy Meyers wouldn’t stand for that, and neither should you!

Standard 2: Move Your Body

No, we’re not turning into a fitness podcast. But since moving your body affects everything — your energy, your creativity, your patience, your mood, your confidence — it’s officially a Modern Agent standard.

The lightbulb moment came when Kayla realized that every woman in business she admired had one thing in common: they were intentional about their health. And then she listened to a podcast episode about walking, and it revealed some surprisingly powerful benefits — like how morning sunlight (especially without sunglasses) can boost serotonin, and how walking is so complex that robots still can’t mimic it.

Chelsea chimed in with grounding (bare feet in the grass!) and how sometimes just stepping outside — even for a few minutes — can be a total game-changer.

Moving your body doesn’t have to include scheduling a 60-minute gym session. Donald Miller works out for 15 minutes a day. A guest on The Skinny Confidential podcast explained how simple squats after lunch can extend your life. If you’ve got five minutes between client calls or while your kid is eating a snack — jumping jacks totally count.

So walk your dog, do some stretches while your coffee brews, or have a walking meeting. But whatever you do, move!

Standard 3: Make Your Bed

Okay, we know this sounds like the most basic advice ever, but making your bed is so much more than a chore; it’s starting your day with a win.

Every morning, Chelsea religiously fluffs her pillows, folds her blankets, and opens the blinds to let the light in. And for her, that tiny task sets the tone for the whole day.

There’s even a whole book written about this by a Navy SEAL, and his point is simple: when you make your bed, you start your day by accomplishing something. And that mini success, snowballs. Suddenly you’re getting dressed, taking a walk, tackling your to-do list, sending that follow-up email…

Standard 4: Stack Your Habits

You know how everyone’s always saying, “I wish I had more time”? Habit stacking is how you create timewithout magically adding hours to your day. It’s all about pairing simple actions together so they become second nature.

Going for a walk? Pop in a podcast.

Letting the dog out? Listen to a chapter of a business book.

Chelsea shared how she’s been trying to break up with screen time, and one way she’s doing that is printing out her workouts instead of following them on her phone. And Kayla chimed in with how she’s been bonding with her daughter on the drive to tumbling practice.

The big takeaway: small pockets of time add up. Reading a few pages while waiting in line. Getting in some steps while talking through work ideas. Swapping a mindless scroll for a mini mindset reset. These little combos make your day feel more full and intentional.

Standard 5: Prioritize Friendships

No matter how busy life gets, friendships are the secret sauce to staying grounded and feeling like yourself again.

Kayla opened up about that season where her husband had all the fun, while she was home with the kids, feeling like she didn’t have anything that was just for her. And she doesn’t blame him. After all, he would’ve supported her doing the same thing in a heartbeat. But she realized she wasn’t prioritizing her own friendships, and that had to change.

Once she started carving out time, even if it was just dinner with a friend every other month, she started to feel like herself again.

Chelsea shared how, even as a homebody, she always walks away from book club or a Zoom wine night feeling recharged. The point is to make room for connection.

Being a modern agent means building a life you actually want to live — one where friendships matter just as much as business plans.

Standard 6: Get Ready, Even If You’re Staying Home

There’s something magical about a fresh outfit, styled hair, and those earrings that make you feel a little extra.

Chelsea broke down how getting ready — even if you’re just staying home — can be the catalyst for a more productive, confident, and all-around better day. It’s the difference between “maybe I’ll record that Reel tomorrow” and “I’m already dressed; let’s do it right now.”

And if you’re thinking, “But I don’t even know what I like to wear anymore,” you’re not alone. Kayla shared her journey from leggings-all-day to discovering the joy of easy summer dresses (yes, they really can be easier than jeans).

They talked capsule wardrobes, style inspo from Natalie Borton, and how trying something as simple as a color you never wear might totally change how you feel.

Standard 7: Tend to Something or Create Something

Whether it’s watering your tulips, kneading your sourdough, or just putting together a really nourishing meal, tending to something or creating something with your hands is seriously underrated. It grounds you, centers you, and brings a kind of joy that has nothing to do with your to-do list.

Kayla did a deep dive on the actual science (because of course she did), and she found out that caring for a plant might be doing more for you than your last multivitamin. Lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, better sleep… who knew?

And of course, Chelsea reminded us that tending to a plant is a lot like tending to your brand. It’s not about some big, dramatic “aha” moment; it’s the micro moves. The slow, steady, sometimes messy work that builds momentum and turns something small into something thriving.

So whatever your version looks like, make space for it. Create, tend, and let those tiny daily rituals pour into your business.

Standard 8: You’re Never Done Learning

This standard is about embracing the mindset that you’re always growing, always evolving, and always learning, whether you’re on day one of your real estate journey or you’ve been in the game for a decade.

Chelsea shared a quote that is way too good not to share here:

Building a business, people often see the wins, the growth, but they rarely see what it really takes to build behind the scenes. It’s not just about strategy, it’s about stamina. It’s not just big moves, it’s the tiny unseen ones that stack over time. They don’t see the late night solving things no one claps for, the self-doubt you push through while still showing up, the pivots, the patience, the pressure, and yes, it’s worth it to build something from nothing, to back yourself fully even when the results take their time. But it’s not always shiny, it’s not always loud. Most days the real work is quiet. So if you’re in that season where it’s hard, but you’re still showing up, you’re not behind. You’re laying the foundation for something that lasts. Here’s to the business owners doing the work no one sees and becoming the one everyone remembers.

I know, we got chills too!

If you’re in a season where the wins feel few and far between, you’re not behind. You’re laying the foundation. Every tiny move you’re making and every lesson you’re learning matters, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.

Standard 9: Build a Community and Be Part of Your Community

Okay, how have we gone this long and not talked about community!?! This standard is a non-negotiable for modern agents.

Being a real estate agent means you’re a local business owner. And if you want people to know, like, and trust you, they’ve gotta see you in your community. That doesn’t mean you have to go to every craft fair or chamber event, but it does mean you make the effort to be involved.

Even something as simple as documenting your coffee run or weekend farmer’s market trip makes a difference — it shows your pride in where you live and makes your brand feel more grounded and relatable.

Chelsea and Kayla talked about everything from choosing a go-to local spot to starting a neighborhood book club (the lazy girl kind where everyone reads a different book and you have a lot of snacks totally counts).

And listen, we get that some of us are homebodies, but building community doesn’t have to translate to being extroverted 24/7. It’s about intention. It’s about consistency. It’s about choosing to be in it, even when it’s easier to stay on the couch.

As Kayla said so perfectly: modern agents don’t make excuses. They show up with purpose — for their families, their clients, and themselves.

Standard 10: Market Like a Modern Agent

Okay, we couldn’t end this list without the ultimate standard: market like a modern agent.

That means you’re not hiding behind “just listed” graphics and hoping for the best. You’re showing up as you — sharing behind-the-scenes moments, putting your face on Stories, and actually connecting with your audience in a way that feels (and is) real.

If you’ve been hanging with us on this podcast for any amount of time, this one’s already in your bones. But consider this your friendly reminder that marketing like a modern agent is a mindset. It’s the choice to show up, to share your story, to create content that resonates and builds trust.

And if you’re ever like, “Wait, what does modern marketing actually look like right now?” That’s what we’re here for. Every single Tuesday.

We’ll see you next time, but until then, keep showing up like the go-to agent you already are.

This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.