What comes to mind when you think of the term, mentorship? If you begin to think of one who receives guidance from someone who’s more experienced, then you are correct! Whether it’s in your personal life, or professional life, aligning with a mentor can be extremely beneficial. Some benefits can include: developing new skills, overcoming weaknesses, or perhaps, a deeper development of one’s strengths. 

What if we told you that our guests in episode 10 of The Relentless, believe that mentorship doesn’t just require effort on the part of the receiver but, there’s an equal effort for the one who’s giving? Mentorship can be considered a two-way street and as Dr. Gurner and our guests discussed in this episode, can come with its own set of challenges.

Enter Gavin Kaysen and Chris Nye. Gavin is a two-time award-winning chef and the Owner of Minnesota restaurants Spoon and Stable, Bellecour, and Demi. Chris is the Executive Chef for Gavin at Spoon and Stable. They first connected while Chris worked in the kitchen of a restaurant in New York, and Gavin joined as the chef. 

Their relationship took some time to develop, and as they tell it, there were many factors that came into play that helped their mentor/mentee relationship become a meaningful one.

Key Takeaways

Whether you’re on the mentorship side of the relationship, or the mentee, this episode is full of meaningful takeaways. Here are our top three favorites:

1. Vulnerability builds trust- Going through challenges together can help strengthen the mentorship/mentee relationship. Chris shared that it was going through tough times with Gavin, that helped show them they could depend on one another. Their vulnerability helped build a trust that strengthened their relationship. 
2. Communicate with each other- Gavin mentioned, “…be willing to hear what is going to be said on both sides of the aisle. You cannot give all of it and then expect nothing to come back.” Like any relationship, there can be conflict. Working through those differences and being willing to listen, can help build a strong line of communication. There may also be times where you may have to have the “hard conversations.” While navigating through those conversations may not be easy, they are necessary for both sides of the relationship.
3. Be willing to commit your time- Building relationships can take time. There is also time involved for the gleaning and learning component from both parties. Whether it’s face to face time, or responding to a phone call, being intentional is key building and maintaining the relationship. The time commitment may be a sacrifice, but can help build the groundwork of a long-lasting friendship. 

We asked Gavin and Chris how they define relentless. They both believe being relentless is more of a posture or attitude that’s disciplined or unwavering. It’s seizing every opportunity, and not cutting any corners. 

Whether learning new skills in your professional life, or if you’re looking to further develop your current strengths, this episode can help define how a mentor/mentee relationship can be meaningful for both sides. Listen to episode 10, of The Relentless, to learn more on the two sides of mentorship, and #jointheconversation.

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When helping clients with the biggest financial decision of their lives, Edna doesn’t just see her role as a real estate agent. Even with her 16 years of experience and a growing list of satisfied clients, there’s something more that gives Edna the drive and passion to give it 121%, day in and day out.

Who is Edna Kimble? She’s one of the winners of the Relentless Agent Awards and there’s one thing that’s for certain. She loves her community and she spends a lot of her time serving those who are a part of it. Whether she’s volunteering at a local shelter for women or working with an organization that helps people with disabilities, Edna see’s her role as helping to build a strong community, vital. For her, “giving back” gives her a sense of purpose and value. Bringing new families into the community, building lasting relationships with her current and previous clients, while serving those in need are the ways she remains driven. This, Edna believes, takes the process of buying or selling a home from transactional to relational.

Her relentless mindset has shown true with one of her previous clients. She was working with a veteran to help him sell his home. Edna and her client encountered numerous obstacles, including her losing contact with the him, only days before his home would go up for auction. Edna made up in her mind that she would stop at nothing to make sure her client not only sold his home, but that his every need would be taken care of in the process. It took Edna (and the help of the agents at Century 21 Wright Real Estate) days to locate her missing client, and when they finally did, they had only minutes to obtain the client’s signature on the necessary documents in order to sell his home before it went to auction. 

What makes Edna’s story so remarkable was that for her, it wasn’t about the sale. It was about going above and beyond to help someone that was in need. Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture of how helping buyers and sellers impacts the community, is how Edna sees herself building the place she loves so much. Learn more about Edna’s story, by visiting the Relentless Agent Awards website. #jointheconversation

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When you believe helping others is a personal responsibility, you won’t stop short of finding ways to lend a hand. Since her childhood, Lori has been known for going out of her way to make a difference.

Lori Adams is a winner of the Relentless Agent Awards and when she talks about why she loves real estate, it paints the bigger picture of what makes her relentless.

“Real estate is perfect for me because I get to help people achieve one of their lifelong goals.” 

Lori Adams

Lori’s unique perspective has helped her become known for an out of the box, solution-oriented way of thinking that goes above and beyond in meeting the needs of her clients.  From hosting fundraisers, in the time of need, to offering her assistance to the town she lives in when the unthinkable happened, there is no limit to Lori’s compassion and caring nature. 

Becoming a connector in her local community and within her sphere of influence is something that Lori takes pride in. For her, it’s not just about building a network for her business. Lori has built, what she calls, a lifetime of connections she can depend on to help her meet the needs of her clients. 

Lori believes it’s the behind the scenes work that goes into connecting her community and helping others that serve as her ‘why.’ Learn more about Lori and her relentless story by visiting the Relentless Agent Awards website. #jointheconversation

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Before he began his career in real estate, Joe Eletto served in the U.S. military and if you ask him, those three years have helped shape the man he’s become today.

As a winner of the Relentless Agent Award, Joe says he’s willing to do whatever it takes so clients won’t feel a bump throughout the entire homebuying and selling process. He takes his service seriously, and he says there isn’t much he won’t do to go above and beyond, ensuring his client’s satisfaction.

When Joe’s not working on helping a client find a home, you’ll find him actively volunteering in his community, serving military veterans. Tampa, Florida has an active veteran community and because of his previous service, Joe has developed what he’s called a “soft spot” for taking care of other vets, of whom he also refers to as his friends.

One of Joe’s clients encountered challenges while listing his home with a previous agent. When Joe learned his fellow vet needed assistance, he didn’t hesitate to defy and deliver. There were multiple issues with the property and the client was unable to remedy them. To make matters more challenging, the property also had an HOA lien. 

While working on the property to get it ready for showing, all Joe says he could think about, in the 90-degree Florida heat and humidity, was how his client spent time in Iraq, in the desert heat, serving our country. This, Joe says, gave him a better perspective on what he was doing and why.

“I did what I had to do to get the property sold, and the HOA lien lifted.” Joe said.

When you consider serving others as an honor, rising to the occasion and giving 121% becomes second nature. To learn more about Joe and his relentless nature, visit the Relentless Agent Awards website. #jointheconversation

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When a relentless mindset is a part of your DNA, you become a go-getter in everything you do. Make no mistake, Nancy Andreason is as relentless as they come, and she is one of the winners of the Relentless Agent Awards. 

At the age of 18, Nancy spent three years in the Philippines, serving on a missions trip. Those years were life changing and she’s taken a lot of what she’s learned into her career in real estate. She described herself as being shy and lacking confidence but, when her missions team was tasked with knocking on doors each day, Nancy found the drive to overcome her fears. Nancy explains, “Living in a foreign country and serving others, made you become selfless. You had to spend a great deal of time talking to people and sacrificing the comforts of home.” Finding the confidence to talk to strangers, despite the language barrier was only the beginning of Nancy’s persistence. 

Nancy’s motivation and drive are what left a lasting impression on one client, in particular. When Nancy learned of a probate listing in her market, she did some research of her own, and reached out to the point of contact. As the contact and Nancy began discussing the listing, it was very apparent that Nancy had gone above and beyond to familiarize herself with the details of the home. Not only was this a display of Nancy’s relentless make-up, but it immediately put her, now, client at ease.

Whether it’s being a mom or managing the business side of her husband’s dental practice, Nancy says, the source of her drive is her family. Carrying this drive into everything she does is what makes Nancy one of our most relentless. Learn more about Nancy by visiting the Relentless Agent Awards website and #jointheconversation.

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When asked “what’s your motto?” Relentless Agent Award winner, Leigh A. Saunders’ response was simple. 

“I’m a straight shooter. I honor you with my honesty.”

Leigh A. Saunders

Her professional background is in the restaurant industry, and Leigh says, she’s learned some key things that have impacted her career in real estate. Her focus, however, isn’t on the numbers. It’s on building relationships with a foundation of honest communication. Leigh is a firm believer that if you focus on the people, everything else will fall into place. This has proven true, in her business, as Leigh has built a proven track record of satisfied clients.

For Leigh, showing someone you respect and value them with honesty, is key in showing them honor. After only four years in real estate, she’s become one of the top agents in her office. Leigh credits a lot of her success to the trust she’s built with her clients and industry professionals she’s worked with, along the way.

When it came down to helping a client sell her family’s cottage during one of the toughest times of her life, Leigh knew exactly what she needed to do. Leigh was consistent in her communication, attentive to her client’s needs, and honest about her client’s best interest. Her client experienced the tragic loss of her sibling, and Leigh became more than just her real estate agent. Leigh’s helpfulness and understanding nature rose to the occasion as she helped her client make tough decisions during that time. This was more than just a sale, to Leigh. It was about helping her client sell a part of her family’s history and ensuring every point of the experience would be in her best interest, even in the midst of her grief.

Learn more about Leigh and her extraordinary story by visiting the Relentless Agent Awards website. #jointheconversation

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When you take the homebuying and selling process from transactional to experiential, each memorable moment can last a lifetime. Simone has not only found a way to capture those moments for her clients, but she also cheers them on, along the way.

Simone Plush is one of the winners of the Relentless Agent Awards and has a knack for capturing memories. Before she made the career change into real estate, Simone worked in admissions, helping others make life-lasting career choices. It was during that time, her compassion to empower others grew and she became an advocate for those she helped by holding them accountable in achieving their goals and dreams. 

Simone recognized, very early on, the value of documenting life’s journeys. She believes if you intentionally capture memories, you’ll remain motivated and focused on your ‘why.’ Simone’s passion for helping others celebrate milestones, and not allowing them to forget each victory has also left a lasting impression with her clients. She surprises them with a keepsake video, at the end of each closing, so they will have moments to remember and cherish for a lifetime.

When contacted by a family looking to purchase their dream home, Simone immediately began capturing photos and videos of their journey. Her clients had a less than memorable experience with their previous realtor and Simone did everything she could to put her new clients at ease. Without warning, there was a leak discovered in the basement of their prospective home and the family was devastated. Simone reminded them of their ‘why’ and encouraged them to remain positive. She not only reminded them of their dream of home ownership, but she made sure she took care of the situation, ensuring their every need was met. On closing day, she provided the family with the keepsake video that, in their words, was just the icing on the cake. 

Read more about Simone by visiting the Relentless Agent Awards website and #jointheconversation.

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