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In the fast-changing world of real estate, one truth stands tall: you either evolve, or you die. That was the central message at the latest LynkMe Mastermind session featuring powerhouse speaker John D. Reyes—a broker, investor, mortgage loan originator, national trainer, and one of the most tech-forward thought leaders in the business.
Over the course of this Mastermind, John shared his personal story, hard-earned insights, and step-by-step strategies that agents can immediately apply to grow their business in today’s market. From building influence on Instagram to leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT, his talk was packed with both inspiration and tactical know-how.
This blog recaps John’s session in full detail—so even if you couldn’t attend live, you’ll walk away with proven strategies to sharpen your skills, modernize your marketing, and close more deals.
John’s journey began humbly. As a college senior at Cal Poly Pomona, he had no idea what he wanted to do in life. A friend suggested he try the mortgage business. His response? “What’s a mortgage?”
Like many, John left college financially unprepared for the real world. He fell into the credit card trap, signing up for a Capital One card just for the free t-shirt, without realizing how crippling 20–30% interest rates could be.
Fast forward 21 years: John is a practicing broker, real estate investor, and mortgage originator who has built the life he once only dreamed of. His story highlights a key principle:
Never think you know it all. The agents who succeed are those who stay humble, hungry, and constantly learning.
Throughout his career, John has built relationships with some of the biggest names in real estate: Christophe Choo in Beverly Hills, who regularly closes multi-million-dollar listings; Michael Ferrante, who closes 500+ transactions annually; and countless other leaders across the country.
His message: put yourself in the room with people who are doing more than you.
It’s not about comparing numbers—it’s about mindset. Top producers aren’t superhuman; they just started earlier, moved faster, or became more efficient. If you want to level up, you need to challenge yourself by being around those who make you uncomfortable.
Iron sharpens iron.
To drive home the importance of evolution, John shared the story of Blockbuster’s missed opportunity to acquire Netflix for $50M. The Blockbuster CEO laughed at the idea. Today, Blockbuster is dead while Netflix is worth over $500B.
The lesson for agents is clear:
John’s warning is blunt: agents who fail to adopt digital tools, social media, and AI are setting themselves up for extinction.
Unlike many agents who separate their personal and business lives online, John runs one Instagram account that showcases his full self: broker, investor, husband, father, and human being.
Why? Because people don’t want to follow a “real estate robot” posting nothing but closings and new listings. They want to connect with someone real.
“My biggest money-maker is my Instagram account. It’s where I connect with clients, friends, family, and sphere—and it drives more referrals than anything else.”
For agents, Instagram isn’t optional. It’s the modern-day Rolodex and referral generator.
One of John’s most powerful tools is his 30–60 second video business card.
In it, he introduces himself, explains the market he serves, and gives three reasons why clients should hire him. His reasons are simple yet compelling:
This short video allows John to “pre-sell” his value to prospects, whether through text follow-ups, open house interactions, or online engagement.
Every agent should have a short video like this ready to share—it’s your modern handshake.
John walked the audience through a real-life open house story where he converted a casual walk-in couple into a $600K closing in less than 30 days—earning a 4-point commission incentive.
The key wasn’t luck; it was process:
This isn’t “winging it”—it’s professional salesmanship.
John emphasized that while AI is all the buzz, most agents overlook how simple video + AI tools can transform their business.
He showcased how to use:
AI isn’t here to replace agents—it’s here to supercharge agents who adopt it.
One of John’s clients recently uploaded photos of their new home to ChatGPT—without his guidance—and used AI to generate paint color and landscaping ideas.
This is the new reality: clients are already using AI. The question is, are you ahead of them—or behind?
John also shared a listing presentation where he uploaded raw iPhone photos into ChatGPT, asked it to virtually renovate and stage them, and showed the results live to the sellers. Their son, a tech professional, was blown away. The listing was signed on the spot.
Sellers may not always follow through with every AI suggestion, but showing them options immediately elevates your value.
John left the Mastermind audience with clear takeaways that any agent—new or experienced—can implement right now:
The LynkMe Mastermind with John D. Reyes wasn’t just another motivational talk. It was a wake-up call.
Blockbuster thought they were untouchable. Netflix ate their lunch.
In real estate, the same is happening. Agents who refuse to evolve with video, social media, and AI will be replaced by those who do.
But the good news? The competition is still soft. Most agents aren’t adapting fast enough. That leaves massive opportunity for those willing to step up.
As John said best:
“We’re all fishing, but it’s about who has the better hook, the better bait, and the better process to land the client.”
The tools are here. The opportunity is here. The only question is: will you evolve—or be left behind?
