From New Realtor to Team Leader | Real Estate Growth, Social Media & Mentorship

What does it really take to build a successful real estate career while working a full-time job and how do you go from being a brand-new agent to leading and mentoring others? In this episode, Eric Gross sits down with Anna Haley, Tampa-area leader and real estate team lead at Epique Realty, to talk about her journey from the veterinary field to becoming a full-time Realtor, building her own team, and supporting other agents throughout the Tampa Bay area. Anna got her real estate license in 2021 after purchasing her first home sparked an interest in the industry. But like many new agents, she quickly discovered that passing the licensing exam and knowing how to actually run a real estate business are two very different things. While continuing to work full time, she spent months learning everything she could, watching training videos, and building the confidence to take action. Her first open house brought her first client, and she went on to complete approximately 10–12 transactions in her first year. Today, Anna's business looks very different. She's transitioned from team member to solo agent, built her own real estate team, and stepped into a leadership role where she helps other agents grow. She's also found that some of her most unexpected business opportunities have come from simply being herself on social media, including a TikTok video that connected her with a military buyer stationed in Japan! In this conversation, we get into the real challenges of building a real estate career, finding the right support, generating business, and learning how to lead without losing sight of your own goals. One of our favorite parts of this conversation is Anna's perspective on leadership. After experiencing what it's like to start on a team, transition to working independently, and eventually lead other agents, she understands how important it is to provide meaningful support without making agents dependent on their team leader. We also talk about something that doesn't get discussed enough in real estate: the people you surround yourself with can make a tremendous difference in your experience. Whether you're choosing your first brokerage, considering a team, thinking about making a change, or stepping into leadership yourself, finding people who genuinely want to see you grow is an important part of the journey. And if you're a new agent feeling overwhelmed, Anna shares a simple reminder: get out of your own way, ask questions, stay disciplined, and don't let discomfort stop you from taking action. Whether you're a brand-new Realtor, a part-time agent preparing to go full time, an experienced agent looking to grow, or a team leader navigating the next stage of your business, this episode offers a candid look at building a real estate career on your own terms. Subscribe for more conversations about real estate careers, entrepreneurship, team building, agent mentorship, lead generation, and the realities of growing a business. If this episode helped you, we'd love to hear your biggest takeaway. Leave a comment below, subscribe to the channel, and join us for more honest conversations about real estate, leadership, business growth, and entrepreneurship. We’re Eric & Katelyn Gross, Team Leaders and Certified Mentors with eXp Realty, passionate about helping agents build scalable, sustainable real estate businesses. 📅 Book a call: https://calendly.com/ericgrossgroup 📲 Call/Text: 513-907-4271 📧 Email: ericgrossgroup@gmail.com 📸 Follow us on social: @EricGrossGroup Eric & Katelyn Gross | Eric Gross Group | eXp Realty