Commercial Real Estate Leadership (CRE Success)

Darren Krakowiak
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This is the Commercial Real Estate Leadership podcast. The show is hosted by Darren Krakowiak, the Founder of CRE Success. Inside the CRE Success Revenue Accelerator, Darren helps commercial real estate principals to lead their people better, grow their businesses faster and have less stress in their lives. Send an email with 'GROW' in the subject line to hello@cresuccess.co for more information. CRE Success Agent Accelerator is our program for commercial real estate agents who want to upgrade their skills, elevate their mindset and get the accountability they need to grow their production by $100,000 or more. Visit cresuccess.co/waitlist for your invite to join. This podcast was previously known as CRE Success: The Podcast (until episode 158).

  1. 2d ago

    Stop Treating Property Management as the Support Act

    Most commercial real estate principals treat property management as the stable income that keeps the business running between deals, because "sales and leasing is where the real money is made". That belief is costing you more than you realise, so in episode 280 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak looks at why your rent roll deserves more attention.  An agency generating $1 million in GCI may be worth very little to a buyer, because the income depends on the people producing it. Conversely, a rent roll generating $1 million in recurring management income is worth around $3 million at a three-times multiple. In this episode, you'll discover: 🔹 Why sales and leasing revenue and management income have completely different financial and valuation profiles. 🔹 The three reasons principals keep prioritising transactions over deliberate rent roll growth. 🔹 How every sales and leasing transaction can become an opportunity to create a property management relationship. 🔹 Why growing property managements should be treated just like tracking a sales and leasing pipeline. If you are a commercial real estate principal who wants a business with enduring value beyond your own involvement, this episode will change how you think about your rent roll. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/280 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    Stop Treating Property Management as the Support Act

  2. Jul 22

    Why External Capability Lands Differently

    The commercial real estate principals who know why their team isn't performing can't always change their behaviour. In episode 279 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak reports that the gap between knowing the problem and fixing it is almost always due to a lack of time. And why, even when principals do find the time to deliver accountability, agents have often learned how to deflect it. This episode introduces Sales Management as a Service, a structured weekly sales management program built specifically for Australian commercial real estate agencies. You'll discover: 🔹 Why understanding the problem doesn't automatically change agent behaviour 🔹 How external accountability lands differently than accountability from the principal 🔹 Why weekly coaching and support outperforms occasional training for your team 🔹 How principals stay informed without carrying the sales management workload 🔹 The financial case for investing in structured, external sales management If your team isn't prospecting consistently and the sales management process keeps landing back on your desk, this episode reveals what to do about it. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. To find out more about Sales Management as a Service, visit cresuccess.co/sales and register your interest.  Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/279 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    Why External Capability Lands Differently

  3. Jul 15

    Recruit Like You Prospect

    Recruitment is one of the most important tasks facing commercial real estate principals who want to grow their business, but the challenge of getting it done may not be due to a lack of talent.  In episode 278 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explains why many business owners struggle to hire quality people and how a simple but important shift in mindset can dramatically improve hiring outcomes. Rather than treating recruitment as an urgent task when a role needs to be filled, Darren argues it should be approached the same way successful agents approach prospecting: consistently, strategically, and long before a hire is needed. In this episode, we cover: 🔹 Why reactive hiring leads to poor recruitment decisions 🔹 The recruitment score every principal should give themselves 🔹 How to build a warehouse of candidates before vacancies arise 🔹 The overlooked recruitment channels that can produce better hires 🔹 Why recruitment should become part of your weekly business rhythm If you're looking to build a stronger team and reduce costly hiring mistakes, this episode of the show provides a practical framework to improve your recruitment process and attract better people into your business. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. If you're looking for a structured way to think through and upgrade your recruitment process, get your free copy of our 7-step hiring playbook created specifically for commercial real estate principals at cresuccess.co/recruitment Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/278 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    Recruit Like You Prospect

  4. Jul 8

    Are You a Deal Junkie?

    Many commercial real estate principals know they should spend more time on the tools, but what happens when that time gets consumed by managing transactions instead of finding new business? In episode 277 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak gets into a common growth constraint facing commercial agency owners: staying too involved in the deals they have already won. Drawing on the Find, Mind and Grind framework, Darren explains why principals often remain deeply involved in negotiations, paperwork, and transaction management, even when capable team members could take ownership.  He also introduces the concept of the deal junkie mindset and how it can quietly pull leaders away from the highest-value activities that drive revenue growth. You'll discover: 🔹 Why being on the tools doesn't automatically lead to revenue growth 🔹 The three reasons principals stay involved in transactions too long 🔹 How the deal junkie mindset limits scalability 🔹 The difference between finding, minding, and grinding deals 🔹 How to structure your team so more deals can progress without you If you're a commercial real estate principal looking to grow your agency, build leadership capability within your team, and spend more time generating new opportunities, this episode provides a practical framework for making that shift. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/277 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    Are You a Deal Junkie?

  5. Jul 1

    The Two Jobs Every Commercial Real Estate Principal Has

    Many commercial real estate principals start a new financial year with ambitious growth targets, only to discover their revenue looks remarkably similar to previous years. In episode 276 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak investigates one of the most common causes of stagnant revenue growth: the principal becoming the bottleneck. While many agency owners blame market conditions, lead flow, team performance, or their competition, Darren explains why the real constraint is often how a principal spends their time.  When business owners divide their week between generating revenue and managing day-to-day operations, they can unintentionally limit the business's growth potential. This episode examines the difference between working on the tools and running the business, and why reallocating responsibilities can unlock higher revenue without increasing hours worked. You'll discover: 🔹 Why commercial agency revenue often plateaus despite increased effort 🔹 The difference between revenue-generating work and operational work 🔹 Why principals can become the biggest constraint to business growth 🔹 How leadership structure can create more capacity for growth 🔹 Practical ways to reduce operational dependency on the principal If your commercial real estate agency has hit a revenue plateau, this episode will help you identify if the limit really exists and what you can do about it. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/276 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    The Two Jobs Every Commercial Real Estate Principal Has

  6. Jun 24

    The Prospecting Problem You Created

    Many commercial real estate principals find themselves carrying the prospecting burden for their team, even when they have capable agents in the business. In episode 275 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explains why prospecting often breaks down at the team level and why the problem is rarely a lack of motivation. To explain this, he introduces two powerful concepts: the Buffer Effect and the Pipeline Dependency Loop. Darren explores how commercial real estate principals unintentionally create an environment where their agents learn they can rely on them to generate new business whenever the pipeline slows down. Over time, this creates a structural dependency that accountability measures alone cannot solve. You'll discover: 🔹 Why prospecting failures are usually a structural problem, not a motivation problem 🔹 How the Buffer Effect prevents agents from feeling the consequences of poor prospecting habits 🔹 Why accountability systems often produce only temporary improvements 🔹 The two changes required to build genuine prospecting ownership 🔹 How to break the Pipeline Dependency Loop and create a more self-sufficient team If you're tired of being the primary source of new business, this episode provides a practical framework for developing a team that takes responsibility for prospecting and pipeline growth. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/275 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    The Prospecting Problem You Created

  7. Jun 17

    Spotting Red Flags Before Employees Leave

    Employee retention starts long before a resignation lands on your desk. In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explores what he calls the Departure Window: the critical period between the first warning signs of disengagement and an employee's eventual departure. Many commercial real estate principals recognise red flags, like subtle shifts in performance, attitude, momentum, or engagement, but then delay action because the evidence feels inconclusive. Darren explains why this happens, how leadership psychology influences decision-making, and what to do instead. Rather than waiting and hoping a situation resolves itself, principals can use this window to strengthen their business, protect client relationships, and create greater operational resilience. This episode covers: •        How to identify early warning signs before key people leave  •        Why principals often ignore red flags despite seeing them  •        Four practical actions to take during the Departure Window  •        How to protect client relationships and institutional knowledge  •        Why defining the role properly before rehiring improves recruitment outcomes  This is essential listening for commercial real estate principals who want to build a stronger business, retain momentum, and reduce the disruption caused by unexpected departures. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/274 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    Spotting Red Flags Before Employees Leave

  8. Jun 10

    Three Questions Every Commercial Real Estate Principal Should Answer

    Many commercial real estate principals know something needs to change in their business, yet months or even years can pass before they do something about it. In episode 273 of Commercial Real Estate Leadership, Darren Krakowiak explores what he calls the holding pattern. It's the state where business owners recognise a problem but continue delaying meaningful change. Rather than focusing on missed opportunities, Darren examines the hidden costs that continue to accumulate while principals wait. From misallocated time and stalled team development to reduced enterprise value and declining energy, the holding pattern can quietly become one of the most expensive places to operate. Darren also unpacks the three underlying reasons many commercial real estate principals delay making changes, and shares three powerful questions – or tests – that can help determine whether the current business structure is supporting future goals. The Replacement Test Could your business generate broadly the same revenue for three weeks if you were not available? The Trajectory Test Is the gap between where your business is and where you want it to be getting smaller or larger? The Energy Test Are you more or less energised by your business than you were two years ago? If you've recognised recurring patterns in your agency but haven't acted on them yet, this episode provides a framework to help you evaluate the true cost of staying where you are. --- Email hello@cresuccess.co and put the word "GROW" in the subject line to take the first step towards accelerating revenue growth in your commercial real estate agency with the right people on your team, serving ideal clients inside a business that just works. Visit the CRE Success website: cresuccess.co Read the episode anecdote, get the transcript and watch the video recording of the podcast here: cresuccess.co/blog/273 To share this episode or your thoughts on it, tag us on socials: @cresuccess or use our hashtag: #cresuccess If you enjoy the show, leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Connect with Darren Krakowiak on LinkedIn Podcast music sourced from audioblocks.com

    Three Questions Every Commercial Real Estate Principal Should Answer
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This is the Commercial Real Estate Leadership podcast. The show is hosted by Darren Krakowiak, the Founder of CRE Success. Inside the CRE Success Revenue Accelerator, Darren helps commercial real estate principals to lead their people better, grow their businesses faster and have less stress in their lives. Send an email with 'GROW' in the subject line to hello@cresuccess.co for more information. CRE Success Agent Accelerator is our program for commercial real estate agents who want to upgrade their skills, elevate their mindset and get the accountability they need to grow their production by $100,000 or more. Visit cresuccess.co/waitlist for your invite to join. This podcast was previously known as CRE Success: The Podcast (until episode 158).

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