My 8-year-old taught me two secrets for when clients won't listen...
May 31, 2026
If you're like me, you've given someone real estate advice and they didn't listen.
Cough cough…your clients…cough cough...
There's no frustration quite like the frustration that comes when people don't listen to you - especially when you're right.
Honestly, it feels like we're speaking a foreign language sometimes.
Most people will stay frustrated and waste time saying the same things and getting no results.
It's time to STOP IT. 🙅♂️
We've got to take responsibility, get creative, and try a new approach.
So, with that said, here are two approaches to use when you have clients (or children/spouses/friends) who ask for your help, but won't listen to your advice.
Option #1: Same advice, different person. 🔀
I coach my kids in baseball and softball.
My daughter is especially challenging to coach because she really doesn't want to hear what I have to say.
So, instead of continuing to force the issue I took her to get a lesson from a 20-something lady softball player.
And guess what?
The advice she gave my daughter was the exact same as what I've been saying all along.
But it came from a different person, and my daughter was much more interested in listening to her new coach.
💡 In many cases, it's not about what advice is being given…it's about who's giving it.
So, think about a referral the next time you're stuck with a client who won't listen.
They might just need someone else to say it to them for it to register.
And referring a buyer or seller can easily be the most profitable decision you make when you consider how much time and energy you save while still earning 25-35%.
Option #2: Same advice, different approach. 🤔
Maybe you can't refer them (for whatever reason).
What do we do then?
We've got to stop pushing so hard in the same direction we've been pushing and try something else.
Back to my softball example.
When my kids tell me they don't want to throw the ball or work on technique, I can't just raise my voice and make them do it.
Rather, I have to change gears and turn it into a game.
I'll make it a game, start counting the catches, and add a prize if we get to a certain number.
Now, most people won't do this because it takes more energy and creativity.
The easy answer is to keep going the way you've been going, but you've got to look for alternative ways to approach the situation.
This means resetting and asking more questions to make sure we've got all the information.
It means taking time to put ourselves in their position to see things from their point of view.
And most importantly, it might mean letting go of the outcome you're pushing so hard for and removing the pressure.
Because the moment you quit driving for a specific result is the moment the problem gets room to breathe and starts to work itself out.
So, this week, you'll run into a situation (business or personal) where someone will ask for your help.
Don't wait to see if you need one of these alternative approaches.
Try one of these solutions and watch it work out. 👍
Dr. Alex Stewart
Founder
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