There are now 850 Small Brokers in the Minneapolis Board.  With our current market, or in any market for that matter, it is essential that brokers work together.  Isn't it always the case that through mutual efforts and values things usually turn out better than if your were slugging it out on your own?  Take for example two fine REALTORS that took a moment to stop and ask, "What can we do to help our fellow broker?" 

Michael Lynch of EXIT Innovation Realty in Highland Park and Julie Olson of EXIT Lakes Realty in Wayzata , known as advocates for small brokers within the Twin Cities Metro area and at the Minneapolis Board of REALTORS, met informally with other EXIT Brokers for brainstorming sessions in regards to developing resources and brokerage building ideas within their own company.  They decided to offer the same opportunity to other brokerages and approached the Minneapolis Board of REALTORS to implement a formal program available to support all small brokers in the area.

The Minneapolis Board of REALTORS was very enthusiastic. Six sessions scheduled over the course of  6 months gave Michael and Julie to opportunity to achieve their two-fold purpose: they wanted to address the needs and member requests for Broker Support and to develop a future Broker Training Course.  They donated WORKSHOP 301 Course - Building A Brokerage for the foundation for Broker Training for the group to fine tune and ultimately get approval for continuing education.

For the first session, invitations were personally extended to the small brokers in the area and the room was full and quite lively. "It was a beautiful sight to see: 50 competitors, who typically will only interact with one another in the course of a dispute, exchanging business cards, ideas and making plans to get together" was Michaels take on the morning.

The philosophy is simple: successful, supported and educated brokers will attract successful agents which will strengthen our industry and increase professionalism in the market.  It was evident that everyone in the room had the same thought: "there is enough business for everyone, you can never have too many friends and if one entrepreneur fails its bad for everybody, so what can we do to help?"

Sessions range from a discussion of 11 Brokerage Models and Revenue Centers to lead generation, driving sales and profitability, recruiting, retention, agent loyalty, sales meetings, training, and free Broker resources.

"We were also happy that the St. Paul Board of Realtors has decided to support this program" explained Julie.  "Michael and I will duplicate the program and facilitate these sessions which began in July with St. Paul's Broker/Members."

How great is is that once a month the small brokers get together to learn from each other and fill their gas tanks so to speak!  After all, who is going to look out for them when they are looking out for everyone else?   To find out more about EXIT Realty or the Small Broker Support Network contact Julie Olson at 952-697-5888 or Michael Lynch at 651-698-5025.