As you can imagine, I have a lot of conversations with agents. We talk about what makes them successful, how they got their last listing, what’s working, and what’s not. But there’s one thing we don’t talk about enough: fulfillment. Not production, GCI, or units—but that feeling that says, this matters.

It’s easy to get caught up in the mechanics of the business—checking boxes, chasing the next deal, staying busy. And don’t get me wrong, helping people buy and sell homes is meaningful work. It matters. But sometimes that alone doesn’t fill the whole cup. When I sit down with agents who want to get to the next level, the challenge isn’t always about more tactics or activities. More often, it’s that they feel stuck, disconnected, or oddly alone in a people business.

So I ask a simple question: what do you do to give back outside of work? What groups are you involved in? What causes matter to you? Where do you show up when there’s no commission check attached? Some of you are incredible at this. You give back quietly or loudly, behind the scenes or front and center. All of it counts. All of it matters.

And if you’re not doing anything yet, here’s the exercise I give agents. Close your eyes and think about what actually pulls at your heart. Is it children, homelessness, your church, your kid’s school, animals, or veterans? If nothing comes to mind right away, it’s a sign you need to go find it.

Because here’s what I’ve seen over and over again: the agents who give back are the ones who thrive. Yes, they meet more people. Yes, they build deeper relationships. Yes, it helps their business. But more importantly, they feel fulfilled. And don’t overthink this. I’m not telling you to add another full-time job to your plate. This doesn’t have to consume your life or your calendar. Just do something. Our business is built on working with people who know, like, and trust us—and there’s no better way to build that trust than showing up in a way that fills your heart first.

Sometimes the fastest way forward is remembering why you started in the first place.