Meet Brent Mitchell — a seasoned Texas real estate agent and career consultant for Keller Williams Realty in Austin, Texas. Brent, who is also an affiliate partner of The CE Shop, has discovered that success in real estate isn't just about closing deals. It's about opening doors for others. And in his case, he’s opened quite a few for those looking to launch a rewarding career in real estate. We sat down with Brent to learn more about his real estate journey and his partnership with The CE Shop. Q: Tell us about yourself and your real estate career. A: I'm a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty and the founder of YouDriveTheSuccess, a career consulting company that helps people curious about a career in real estate explore whether it’s the right move for them. If it is, we show them how to get started with their education, earn their real estate license, and join a brokerage. I've been in real estate since 2005, and I actually got into real estate because I was selling a commercial building where I had been running a furniture business. Let's just say I drove that furniture business right into the ground. But the smartest thing I did was buy the real estate. I made a killer profit on that property and then thought, I'm going to do something else. I’m going to get my real estate license. Q: Would you share your insights on real estate education today? A: When you take real estate courses, you learn about the rules, principles, ethics, contracts, and agency (among many other concepts) that drive the practice of real estate. But you don't really learn how to run a real estate business. That's where training from brokerages like Keller Williams and coaching from companies like YouDriveTheSuccess can help you. Combine your education with Continuing Education and Professional Development courses from The CE Shop and you'll become even better prepared to run a successful real estate business. Q: How did your partnership with The CE Shop begin? A: It started with a cold call! I got a call from a sales representative, and I hadn't worked with The CE Shop before. I was partnered with another real estate school and thought everything was great. But they didn't have tracking capabilities that could show me student progress throughout their courses. The model was more like: Here's your partner link. Good luck. We hope you make it. Now, go out and sell some courses for us. The CE Shop, on the other hand, provided student-tracking insights and really helped me understand my marketing strategy, not just for Pre-Licensing courses, but for Continuing Education, too. We'd traditionally been pushing just Pre-Licensing, but with the help of my rep, I learned how to market CE courses to students as well. That's been a huge game-changer. Q: What makes The CE Shop different from other real estate education providers? A: Three things stand out for me. First, it's the ease of use — I continue using The CE Shop for my own CE because the learning platform is so simple and streamlined. Second, The CE Shop is in almost every state. Since our company operates nationwide, having that consistent geographical coverage was extremely important. But what really distinguishes The CE Shop is the student-tracking capabilities. Other platforms give you a link and wish you the best. The CE Shop gives you visibility into how your students and recruits are progressing through their education. You know when someone signs up, where they are in the education process, and when they finish their course. That insider info is rare in this industry. Q: What other benefits have you seen from your partnership with The CE Shop? A: The most significant advantage is that it's allowed me to scale my business. Instead of focusing on recruiting new agents in just a few markets in the U.S., I can market to the entire country. And no matter how many people I have in school, I have a system to keep track of their education. Before partnering with The CE Shop, I was flying blind. I didn’t have a lot of information about student progress. Now, I have a student’s enrollment date, completion date, and if they don't complete the course, their expiration date. This means I can stay in touch and provide value throughout their licensing journey, whether they need encouragement, help staying motivated, or advice choosing a brokerage. We give students the best opportunity for success. Q: Why would you recommend The CE Shop to others looking for an education partner? A: That’s simple — it’s student satisfaction. The CE Shop is one of the best real estate schools out there with a 96% satisfaction rating. As partners, we get value, affordability, and ease of use. Most importantly, we get the student-tracking capability most real estate schools don't offer. At the end of the day, our goal isn't just getting people signed up for real estate courses. Our goal is to help them through the courses and onward to build the career they want to build. The CE Shop helps us do that. Keep up with Brent on social media: - Join Brent’s Facebook Group: Starting a Real Estate Career - Follow Brent on Instagram: @YouDriveTheSuccess Looking for a Real Estate Education Partner to Help You Grow? Are you looking for an education partner that can help you recruit new agents and give you proactive insights to keep your prospects engaged? The CE Shop is ready to join forces! When you partner with The CE Shop, you’ll have access to the same powerful student tracking system that helped Brent scale his business and support students nationwide. You’ll also receive insider tips and thought leadership content to help your brokerage, school, or association grow — like our latest resource: 6 Ways a Real Estate Education Partner Helps Grow Your Recruiting Pipeline. We also proudly partner with mortgage brokerages, appraisal firms, and home inspection companies. Learn more about our real estate partner programs and let’s explore how we can band together for your success.
