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What are Your Thoughts About "By Referral Only" (Joe Stumpf)?

I really don't know how I got on the mailing list for this program, but I watched the 2 and a half hour video last night and am wondering if I should make the investment to buy the 17 CD program. I did some looking around and there's another program (the name of it slips my mind right now but apparently the guy that developed the other program started with By Referral Only) that has been posted about multiple times here in the rain..It doesn't seem like there's been as much emphasis on the By Referral Only Program.

I'd like to ask those of you who have actually used the program, if you think it works? What is so special about this program that I can't figure out on my own? Of course, just as with any of these "special offers" they are vague about what you get other than 17 CDs. Can you give me some insight as to what exactly you are getting content-wise?

Any input you have would be greatly appreciated. I am only asking about "By Referral Only" at this point...I have a feeling this conversation could digress into other programs, but I'd like to keep it to this one for now...

Do you think it's worth it? If so, why?

Chanda Barrick, REALTOR®
1st Choice Real Estate Group
(O)317-889-1111
(C)317-572-7770
(F)317-889-9198
www.chandasellsindy.com

Posted by Chanda Barrick REALTOR (Indianapolis, Avon, Greenwood) on 10/14/2009 11:41 AM

Comments (21)

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21 Comments on What are Your Thoughts About "By Referral Only" (Joe Stumpf)?

OCT

Sorry, I have never even heard of this program. I will have to keep an eye on this thread to see what pops up. Lots of luck!

We interviewed with their "sales person" and told him our objectives...oh yes of course BRO was the answer..we flew to 2 meetings...all the things that they suggested...we had either done or were doing...It's like any other program...there are people who swear by it..we were suggesting more to them than they were to us....not worth the time or the money for us.

It is a good program and Joe is about as honest as they get, what a surpise but he is and Dean Jackson is a member on A/R. But the salesman didn't do right by my broker and added $300. in a couple of extra charges and they have had some issues.

My Broker though is not one to blame others and takes his share of the blame. That is why around the office we affectionally call him the BROKER. You ask him he will guide you straight. Charles Stallions is his name and he is on A/R. While their ask him his opinion of Agent 2000 now that is one that turn on his switches although again he doesn't blame folks.

So are you saying there is more than the $200 (199.00) investment required? This is why I don't easily get caught up in these "programs", it always seems like there are hidden costs... Why can't they just be up front about it?

Gee, I have heard of it but also know nothing about them. I am also interested to hear, so I hope you get the answers will also check back like Brenda above.

I used to belong to an organization that used him as one of their teachers. I didn't find great value, but he does have useful advice. I admit I didn't follow his stuff 100% nor study it religiously. I think maybe the issue isn't is he worth it, but is there anything else out there that is more worth it or better suited for you.

The other guy is Brian Buffini. Honestly, Chanda, this is a no-brainer. It is all about doing what we know we have to do. I went to free seminars by both Referral Only and Buffini. They are excellent models, but you do know them. I used to work for Keller Williams and they use that same model basically. It is all about consistency, asking for the business, following up, and being in touch. You will get the same value out of Gary Keller's book "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent". Don't waste your money to find out you could have done it yourself.

Jane, that's what I figured, but I wondered if anyone had anything to add that would knock your socks off. Like I said, it's hard for me to fall for any of these "special offers" and free seminars that lead to more expensive seminars. I was curious as to what these wonderful tools were that are being offered...Everything always seems to be a big secret and tons of people pay to get the key only to find you have to pay more to get the "real" key...It's like a vicious circle!

Chanda panda

Jane good mention of MREA - that book if one desires can be your entire business model.

I've got the book, I've had it for almost two years...I just haven't gotten around to reading it yet...LOL

OCT

Thanks for the post Chanda. The comments were very helpful to me also. I'll have to look for the book.

OCT

Chanda, I just listened to a 35 minute teleclass on it. It wasn't specific enough to make me want to call. That's why I decided to search out the answers on AR too.

Jen, I hadn't heard anyone give them a glowing review so I've decided against spending money on the program for now...If anyone can convince me otherwise (that isn't a sales rep), I'm open to it...

OCT

Chanda,

I am a member of By Referral Only and have been since 2005. I am not a sales person, I am a real estate broker/owner in the Sacramento, CA area. There are tremendous opportunities to us as a member of the community. You can call and get a tour of the website that we are provided with our monthly membership of $199 a month. We have a client management system, an 800 number for the call capture system, an online referral broadcast network, newsletters, monthly mailers, there is just too much to list.

I joined and then quit because, at the time, I spent more than the $199 a month and didn't feel I was using it enough to justify the monthly payments. I was out for only 6 months and had to join because I was missing the materials and the people in the community. Joe and his team continuously change, implement and improve the program for us daily! The agent networking is also a benefit.

The CD's were released due to the fact that the 3 day Live Main Events were no longer being offered. I am not sure if you could get same level of understanding or excitement that you feel at the conferences, of which I attended 6! But, I do believe you will get out of it what you put into it. It is only $199 with a money back guarantee so you really don't have anything to loose! It is cheaper that the $798 I paid to see it live!!

Feel free to contact me if you have questions. I am passionate about the program because I use the value of the tools that are provided for me. I don't have to "re-invent" the wheel for advertising, marketing, customer retention and referrals.

Yes, the CD's cost you and there is the monthly membership if you decide to join. One referral from another By Referral Only member a year is all it takes for me to more than pay for my monthly commitments!

Debbie@DebbieBaldes.com

Hi Chanda,

I thought of this post below that I posted on the By Referral Only message board shortly after joining 7 years ago.

It may not answer your question exactly as you've requested, but I hope it helps : )

PS - Before I joined BRO 7 years ago, I was guilty of the “I Get It” Reflex. Be real careful with this “I Get It” Reflex. Keep your eyes on your “I Get It” meter because if you start to feel like, “Oh yeah, I’ve heard this before.” Stop, and say to yourself, “I choose to stay open to a much bigger possibility, maybe there’s more for me to get.”

PSS - The fact that I posted this YEARS ago and the membership content is now so much deeper is a true testament to the value of your memberships.

To rise, fall, and rise again

I tell this story with the hope that it might help other lenders or realtors.

Mark Fidgett, Mortgage Consultant

It was January 1990. I’d been married six months and had just opened a printing business. By 1992, I was enjoying some success in the business and my wife had just given birth to our second child. I wasn’t rich, but life was good. Bills were being paid, food was on the table, and we managed the odd vacation.

A sudden dip on the road to success
Fast-forward 10 years to 2002 - our kids were growing up and the printing business was changing. What with email, colour printers, and PDFs, I found myself struggling from month to month.

Bills were no longer getting paid and life had changed. The good times were over. My confidence was low. I needed a plan and I needed to act quickly.

I recalled a realtor friend's suggestion about the benefits of having a mortgage license. For next year, I split my time between my printing business and studying for my mortgage license.

My new career has a hiccup
In late 2003, I secured my licence. I spoke with several mortgage companies. Each was extremely receptive. It was nice to be wanted. I reviewed each prospect and made my decision.

To this day, I have vivid recollections of that Monday morning. I arrived at the office well scrubbed, sporting my best tie, and anxious to begin the process of becoming a successful mortgage broker.

I had to stop myself from running up the steps I was so excited. The manager congratulated me on selecting his company, spent all of 20 minutes with me, and then suggested I go out and call all my friends and drop some rate sheets.

I mumbled a few words of thanks and then shuffled out the door. The direction and specific advice I was counting on were absent. I'm not sure if the sky really turned grey about that time, but my bright new world had suddenly changed. I felt hurt, let down, and more than a little frightened.

A link of luck
I was lost. I didn’t know what to do, where to go, or who to speak with. One day, as I sat at home in front of my computer, I stumbled upon Dean Jackson's website.

From there I clicked a link to the By Referral Only (BRO) site. I quickly applied for the free consultation and website access.

Truthfully, I was sold simply on the content of the website, but I waited for the call. Well, it was just what the doctor had ordered. Although I couldn’t afford to join, I couldn’t afford not to. Much to my wife’s resentment, I put the membership on my credit card.

Two weeks later I noticed that BRO was holding a Main Event in Seattle, a 2 ½-hour drive south across the border. Financially, I could barely afford a trip to the gas station let alone a three-day trip to Seattle, but I hadn't lost my ability to be creative. I uncovered some trade dollars earned in my printing business and, with some digging, found a hotel in Seattle that would accept this currency.

The skeptic goes to town
I remember listening to Joe on the first day of the conference and thinking I can’t ask for mortgage referrals. I didn't think friends and future contacts would like this approach. I had always believed that if people liked what I did, they would refer me on their own.

By day three, I'd thrown this thinking out the window. In fact, I was so convinced about the benefits of the referral process, I plopped down my credit card for weekly coaching. I wanted to learned the how-to steps and get started as quickly and efficiently as I could.

I might add that the fee for this assistance didn’t go through every month, but eventually with BRO’s understanding, I completed the coaching in good standing.

The first steps
I left the Main Event rich in enthusiasm and information. At home, my arrival was a little more muted. I was greeted by an apprehensive wife, still questioning my financial investment, and a maxed out credit card.

There was much to be done. My family's financial future was in jeopardy and I needed to show my wife and myself that my decision to take the BRO training was a good one.

My first task was to set up the coaching dates. The following week I spoke with my coach. She broke everything down. We started with baby steps and began to implement the BRO strategies one at a time.

It didn’t happen right away, but I never wavered. I was determined to give it my best shot.

First results
Week after week, I could feel things starting to move. I posted my Ugly Yellow Signs near busy intersections where traffic came to a stop.

At first, I thought the only calls I’d get would be from buyers burdened with debt. Much to my surprise, I received a range of calls: first time buyers, current homeowners, business owners, and wealthy investors. The more signs I put out, the busier I got. As it turned out, the majority of my calls were clients with a down payment.

As my business started to grow, I moved into the next stage – the During Unit. With the help of my coach, I began to implement the systems and the referral dialogues. It was like magic; referrals started to mount.

As my database started to grow, I moved to the After Unit and started to focus my energies on the newsletter. The BRO newsletter is unique, a real change from what I was used to seeing in the industry.

Though I was guarded in my expectations about the strategy, I was amazed at the response to the first issue. In addition to generating more business, a number of people called simply to comment on the content.

To my mind, the combination of the newsletter and the Evidence of Success Cards was a winning formula. I began to notice the metaphor BRO uses about the volume knob on a radio as I found myself turning down the Before Unit and simply focusing on the During and After part of my business.

Joining By Referral Only was the best decision I’ve ever made. It gave me the tools I needed to be successful. Today, thanks to BRO, my business is set. I’m in the top production percentile, debt free, and financially independent.
If you have any questions, I’d be happy to assist you in any way that I can.

Sincerely,

Mark Fidgett

PS - It's amazing what you can do when you set your mind to it. You'll be surprised how many transactions you can do when you have no alternative except to succeed!

PSS - My wife has always been my #1 advocate. At first, she just wasn't a believer in BRO. Now she is a tremendous fan.

Take care.

Mark Fidgett

T 604.273.2002 | F 604.522.2072
B http://www.notapennydown.com
F http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Fidgett/1131578457
T http://www.twitter.com/mortgagemark

An independent Mortgage Specialist associated with the Verico Mortgage Network.

OCT

Sorry for the long post…but it’s everything that hasn’t been said…

Hi Chanda,

Your love for architecture and informational posts brought me to your AR blog (so yes - that’s working for me). Whenever I travel I look up the historical buildings for the area to go visit. I enjoy the structural expression and diverse designs for homes especially. Anyway, then I saw your questions about our Main Event Live CD’s product.

Everyone is so very helpful on AR and you have some great input from your peers here. Unfortunately no one commenting actually has the product you asked about. Some have attended The Main Event but have the product. And, nobody really answered your specific questions either. So hopefully this can help clarify some questions that have been raised in this thread.

From your original post and follow-up comments this is what I heard you ask…

Q - What’s all included with the program?

A – The Main Event Live includes: 17 Audio CD’s recorded at the last 3-Day Main Event conducted in Seattle 2008. The most current edition of the 234 page Main Event workbook from the 3-Day conference. Then as bonus items we include; An Audio CD with 13 “Super Servant” interviews with some of our community member’s, 6 Video discs filmed live in Seattle. Also you get access to our 30-Day JumpStart program web site and a One-on-One Business Planning Session with one of our team. It’s conducted on the phone with internet access behind the log-in to our members site. NOTE: The bonus items change from time to time and this is what is offered today. There are no extra charges of any kind unless you decide to join the By Referral Only Community.

Q – What’s the content?

A – It’s the exact same content that was covered in our 3-Day Main Event plus other bonus trainings. Our company is By Referral Only and Joe Stumpf teaches how to create a system to generate more referrals from your current and past clients.

And you, like Sally & David Hanson, may already know everything that is covered in the program. On the other hand you may learn a couple of new ideas that you could use in your business. We offered a money-back guarantee with the Main Event 3-Day conference and we offer the same guarantee with this product.

Jane Peters is right-on the MREA is among the best books written for success in this business. Steve Kappre said it too this book alone IS a business model. It’s a good size book at 368 pages.

In your last post you said…

“…I hadn't heard anyone give them a glowing review so I've decided against spending money on the program for now...If anyone can convince me otherwise (that isn't a sales rep), I'm open to it...”

I’m not going to try to convince you of anything. I just wanted to provide you with the facts. Our company is focused on providing information so you can decide for yourself. We don't sell - we consult. After all, someone else’s recommendation - either for or against anything is just their opinion. This is a business decision – not a movie suggestion. Your opinion is the most valuable opinion and the only one that really matters.

YOU are the only one that can decide the worth of value of anything – for YOU.

Let me know if you have any other questions you can call me direct at 760-707-1335.

Thanks for your blog your post and comments, hope this helps!

Curt Conant

Sales Guy ;-)

www.ByReferralOnly.com

O: (760) 707-1335

Joe Stumpf’s Member Blog www.myByReferralOnly.com

Main Event Live CD’s www.BankableResults.com

Joe’s Magic Words Blog www.MagicWordsThatMakeYouMoney.com

Free Video Training www.RealEstateMarketingWorkshop.com

More Free Training www.3ExtraTransactions.com

Member Videos www.YouTube.com/ByReferralOnly

P.S. If you use the promo code; Lucky7 at check-out you can break it up into 3 payments over 60 days.

NOV

Thanks for your input Debbie, Mark, and Curt. Hopefully it will be beneficial for those that have questions regarding the product. I may consider it in the future, but 200 a month is a tough one for me to swing at this point.

NOV

Hi Chandra,

I would like to add my own experience to Mark's and Debbie's. I, too, am a member of By Referral Only. I am coming up on my 2nd year anniversary in January. I was also at the live Main Event in Seattle last year where these cd's were taped. When I joined BRO, I really didn't have the money to join as the local market had all but stopped. I was on the verge of going out of business, to be honest. I knew I had to do something different. I implemented a few of the strategies, and faithfully worked those systems. I have never regretted for a minute joining By Referral Only. This year will be my best year ever in Real Estate. I have seen my business double the last year, and expect to see it keep improving, as I already have many listings coming up in the new year from just one of the programs that I have been doing consistently.

That being said, you have to be willing to do the work. If you are willing to do that, then you will have good results. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

Warm regards,

Mel

NOV

Chanda,

I am not a member of By Referral Only - not yet, anyway. I purchased the CDs in the spring, and went through the entire Jump Start program that Curt mentions above. The Jump Start program alone is worth the $199.

You really have to be dedicated to following what Joe Stumpf and Dean Jackson tell you in all of the training. I have been setting up my own systems, based upon By Referral Only, but without the monthly fee. The downside of setting up your own systems to mimic what BRO provides as part of the monthly fee is how long it takes to set everything up. If you join, you will have a turnkey system in place.

Yes, I will eventually join BRO, but I need to get my sales numbers up in order to justify the monthly cost. I am looking forward to:

800 number that comes with membership (I have my own already, but only 5 extensions. BRO has up to 100).
Contact management system
Monthly written newsletters
Postcard verbiage (many, many versions, depending on your target market)
Magic Words (dialogues for nearly any circumstance you may encounter)

You actually need an 800 number, with multiple extensions to implement the systems. You can get an 800 number from a number of companies (I use RingCentral currently), or you can get it from BRO.

I send out a monthly newsletter that I write myself. I am looking forward to being able to use content from BRO after I join.

So, YES! I highly recommend the CDs. They are well worth it. But, you must be committed to dedicate the time for one month to go through the Jump Start program, and finish it within 30 days. If you can't make that committment, then don't purchase the CDs until you can.

DEC

Hey Chanda! I don't know how I missed this post back in October! But it sure caught my attention now! I love By Referral Only and Joe Stumpf! You asked for thoughts and those are my thoughts! I am sorry to hear some of the above didn't give you much to go on. But the latter ones who are actual members gave you great advice!

I've been in the real estate biz for 14 years now. I had heard about B.R.O. from the get-go from a colleague of mine who had joined. But how could I join? (I thought to myself) I just started in the biz and couldn't afford any kind of coaching program. She had at least been in real estate for a few years. So I did not join when I first started real estate. But I watched her as she grew her business and knew I wanted to model my business in that way. I didn't actually join By Referral Only until just about 3 years ago. I am so happy I did that and will never look back!

As someone above said (I believe it was Mark), you can't afford not to! How true that is! I wished I would have joined sooner! I think back at all those years and what I missed out on. And then I look at now and realize how much I've grown since I joined! I was foolish to have not joined sooner! I let fear get in the way unfortunately.

You see, Chanda, I couldn't help but to post. My first immediate reaction to some of the above posts was Ooooo Noooo! Those people above don't even know! Some of those posts just about broke my heart! Like when you see a kid just about to run out into the street after his ball and you see a car coming. Without even thinking, the immediate reaction is to just run after that kid and grab his hand to keep him from running out into that street! To pull him back to safety! But I don't want to do that to you. I don't want to try to make you join BRO. You see, here's just a little tiny piece of my story.

I am so proud of the fact that I went from a person who thought she was not a morning person. And now after going through Joe's Power Productivity (which is part of what you pay for when you're a member), I now AM a morning person! I love it! I pinch myself everyday to see if this is real. You see, I could not have done it without Joe, without Power Productivity, without my Do Group (which are some other BRO members), without the support of many members like some of the ones above and many many many other members!!!

In all actuality, Chanda, I feel I don't pay enough for my membership. I am grateful everyday it's not more! It's nice that it is affordable. But I really feel it's worth waaaayyy more! I know that might sound crazy to some people! But I would pay Joe way more for this membership! And he knows that. That's how strongly I feel about this amazing amazing community and wouldn't give it up for anything!

I'm not going to tell you to join By Referral Only. You already know I want you to do that. But what I will tell you to do is to think about all that Joe and the BRO community have to offer. And to see if it adds value to you and to your life and to the lives of those you touch.

I'm happy to talk more about it with you if you'd like so you can make an intelligent decision.

Your ActiveRain friend,

~Nyssa

DEC

Thanks to all of you for providing additional info. Hopefully it will benefit those thinking about ordering the main event or actually joining the service. I can't realistically spend 200/month on the service right now, but for those that can, I hope they get all the added benefits.

Chanda panda

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