As a REALTOR®, providing a service to others is a natural part of Jason Sanders’ business. It’s also been an inherent part of his life well before he found success in real estate.
For 20 years, Jason served in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant. During that time, he was a trumpet player in the U.S. Army Band, Pershing’s Own, performing “Taps” at the Tomb of the Unknowns as well as during military honors for thousands of funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. He also participated in ceremonies and performances of national and international significance at the White House, the Pentagon, and throughout the Military District of Washington.
Making the Move to Full-Time
For the first part of his real estate career, Jason ran his business alongside his military duties. When he decided to retire from the Army and concentrate on real estate full time, he investigated several coaching programs. Buffini & Company seemed to be a good fit, he said. Soon afterward, he realized it was the right choice.
“I had business [prior to joining Buffini],” he said. “I had clients, I was closing homes, but I’d never used a CRM. I had plenty of drive to succeed but lacked focus. I didn’t know exactly how or where to focus my efforts, didn’t use a CRM, and didn’t know how to set goals for myself.
“I also had no direction on how to set boundaries for work and family life. I had minimal agent-to-agent relationships and very inconsistent marketing, and while I had some good years, I always had the typical fluctuations in business because whatever marketing I was doing stopped when I got busy.”
Jason first signed up for One2One Coaching. Working with his first coach, he quickly saw the value of having a “business coach that listens to and is in tune with me.”
“There are times I ask what feels like the most ridiculous questions, but those moments often deliver the greatest value,” he added. “Nothing surprises [my coach], and that perspective consistently helps me see opportunities I wouldn’t have found on my own.”
That value accelerated, he noted, once he switched to Leadership Coaching, especially as he strove to grow his team.
“My first year in Leadership Coaching has been a year in which I’ve doubled my business, learned how to better lead my team, made an admin hire, grown my team, facilitated the 100 Days to Greatness program for 10 agents, and seen and felt personal growth as a leader.”
The Value of Relationships
While Jason appreciates the financial success he has gained, he is also grateful for the relationships he has built within the Buffini community.
“Agent-to-agent relationships are the real magic of Buffini & Company Membership. I’ve benefited from many agent-to-agent referrals, but just as importantly, these relationships provide solutions, motivation, and innovation,” he explained. “The connections I’ve built with agents across the country have been a major contributor to my success. Once you see what is possible from other agents who are successful with this formula, you realize the path to making it work for you is a reality.”
His perspective on the importance of strong connections was deepened even further, he noted, last summer when a devastating fire destroyed his family’s home. Members of the local community, their church and Buffini Members all reached out to help, he said.
“I realized that everybody needs people, right? When things are hard, you need people. And it also helped me understand that I can be a little more sensitive to the hard things other people are going through,” he said.
“I’m just very grateful for everything that Buffini & Company has provided for me and for my family,” he added. “It’s given us a wonderful lifestyle and a lot of satisfaction in knowing that we are able to help people in the same way.”
