6: Rocking It As a Solo Agent with Toni Mikel

Kim Borcharding and Rebecca Green interview Toni Mikel, a real estate broker in Portland, Oregon. Toni was Kim's mentor when she first started in real estate, and they discuss the importance of having a mentor and finding what works for you in the industry. They also talk about Toni's background in real estate, her experience as a 30 under 30 recipient, and the value of building relationships in the business. Toni emphasizes the importance of doing what's best for the client and finding efficiency in your business. The conversation touches on topics such as the importance of understanding ROI, the value of working with the right clients, the benefits of owning a brokerage, and the challenges of training and mentoring new agents. They also discuss the current market conditions and the role of NAR in the industry. Toni shares her philosophy of staying focused on her clients and providing exceptional service, rather than relying on online presence or marketing tactics.

Takeaways

• Having a mentor in real estate can be invaluable in guiding your career and helping you succeed.
• There are many different paths to success in real estate, and what works for one person may not work for another.
• Doing what's best for the client should always be the top priority in real estate.
• Building relationships and networking with other professionals in the industry can lead to opportunities and growth.
• Finding efficiency in your business can help you maximize your time and focus on what truly matters. Understanding the ROI on every hour spent is crucial in the real estate industry.
• Working with the right clients who value realtors is more important than chasing every deal.
• Owning a brokerage can provide more control and efficiency in the business.
• Training and mentoring new agents is essential, but it's important to find the right balance and focus on personal strengths.
• Market conditions may fluctuate, but adapting and providing exceptional service to clients remains key.
• NAR plays a vital role in maintaining ethical standards in the industry.
• Building strong relationships with clients and being a trusted advisor is more valuable than online presence or marketing tactics.

✨ Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
We’re all about building rooms where agents can grow, collaborate, and thrive.

Rebecca brings 33+ years of real estate experience into RebeccaGreen.co
where she coaches agents on the four pillars of success: Health + Wellness, Operations + Systems, Community + Collaboration, Marketing + Branding. Inside the CEO Agent Community, you’ll find coaching, courses, done-for-you marketing tools, media days, implementation sessions, and the strategies that help agents scale smarter—not busier. You can also connect with her local Oregon + Washington team at SellingPortlandRealEstate.com
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Kim is the founder of Hey Clever Collective —a community designed to help agents build businesses they actually love. She’s all about collaboration, creativity, and showing agents how to tap into their unique strengths.

Together, we’re creating conversations, sharing strategies, and opening doors for agents who want more—more balance, more profitability, and more community. Come hang out with us, learn with us, and let’s build something bigger than a business… let’s build a life you love.