I want to talk about something that comes up every January, and honestly, something I’ve stopped buying into over the years. New Year’s resolutions.

Not because growth doesn’t matter. It does. But because tying real change to a calendar date quietly gives us permission to wait. And waiting is usually where momentum dies.

In this episode of The Mindful Agent, I share why I don’t set goals the way most people do, and what’s actually helped me create lasting change in my health, my business, and my mindset. This isn’t about motivation. It’s about identity, decision, and standards you live by every day.

• Why waiting until you feel ready keeps you stuck
• The difference between goals and standards, and why standards last
• How fear disguises itself as procrastination
• Why clarity comes from decision, not overplanning
• How to move forward even when discomfort is guaranteed

The shift for me happened when I stopped asking, “What do I want to achieve?” and started asking, “Who do I refuse not to be anymore?” That one question changes everything.

This conversation applies whether you are building a real estate career, growing a business, or simply trying to become healthier and more aligned in your life. The moment you decide is the moment things actually begin to move.

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Links Mentioned:

Be Here Now by Ram Dass

A foundational book on mindfulness, presence, and awareness that explores how stepping out of ego and into observation creates clarity and freedom.

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Here-Now-Ram-Dass/dp/0517543052

Timestamps:

0:01 – Why I Don’t Believe in New Year’s Resolutions

0:40 – How Real Change Actually Happens

1:31 – You’ll Never Feel Ready (And That’s Okay)

2:16 – Fear Isn’t the Problem, Avoiding It Is

2:27 – Letting Love Lead Instead of Fear

2:54 – Why Fixating on Goals Makes Life Brittle

3:35 – Living in Neutrality and Self-Awareness

4:03 – Don’t Set Goals, Set Standards

4:30 – Identity Over Motivation

4:40 – The Moment You Decide, Everything Changes

Let’s Connect!:

Websites

COACHING https://www.michaelcoxen.com

REAL ESTATE SALES https://www.coxengroup.com/

REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE https://magenta.realestate/

JOIN OUR BROKERAGE https://www.joinmagenta.realestate/

Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindful-agent/id1782575763

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/coxengroup/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/michaelcoxen/

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcoxen/

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelcoxen

Real estate isn’t just about deals, doors, or dollar signs — it’s about who you become while you’re building it. In this episode of The Mindful Agent, I sit down with my friend and fellow entrepreneur, Cory Jacobson, for a conversation that blends mindset, partnership, house-hacking, growth, fitness, and the realities of building a business from the ground up.

Cory’s story is one that so many agents, investors, and new entrepreneurs will relate to — starting with roommates in a two-bedroom house, learning from mistakes, navigating fear, and slowly stacking wins until everything compounds. What makes his perspective powerful is how grounded it is: no hype, no shortcuts, just discipline, clarity, and a willingness to take the next step even when it’s uncomfortable.

We talk about the moves that matter — the small ones you make daily that quietly transform you into someone who can handle bigger opportunities later. And we talk about the moments where most people quit, and why those moments are actually the doorway into your next level.

• How Cory went from renting rooms to owning multiple properties
• The power of starting small and taking imperfect action
• Why fear, doubt, and discomfort are signs you’re on the right path
• How social media can amplify your business when used with purpose
• What every new agent or investor should focus on in their first 12 months

If you’re an agent or investor trying to build wealth, grow your business, create more peace, or simply build a life you’re proud of, this conversation is one you’ll feel in your bones.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of real estate and self-mastery.

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Links Mentioned:

Mentioned as a foundational mindset book that influenced Michael’s approach to stress, clarity, and presence. https://amzn.to/3RrZn8H

Referenced during Cory’s discussion about discipline, daily habits, and fitness. Overview: https://andyfrisella.com/pages/75hard-info

Cory references Monarch, a personal finance app he uses to track money and manage budgeting. https://www.monarchmoney.com/

Cory uses Asana for task management and organizing his business workflow. https://asana.com/

Cory references Brandon Turner and David Greene from BiggerPockets, who appeared as early guests on his show and influenced his trajectory. https://www.biggerpockets.com/podcast

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Cory Jacobson

03:58 — How Cory Got Started in Real Estate

06:21 — The Power of Partnership

09:12 — Sharing Failures & Building Trust

11:24 — Why Most People Never Start

17:40 — Information vs. Action

22:05 — Conservative Investing & Protecting Capital

29:06 — The 48-Hour Phone Detox

32:24 — Balancing Work, Life & Seasons

36:37 — Fitness, Discipline & Mental Clarity

44:37 — Why Persistence Wins

50:48 — Closing Thoughts

Let’s Connect!:

Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindful-agent/id1782575763

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/coxengroup/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/michaelcoxen/

Website

https://www.coxengroup.com/ / https://magenta.realestate/ / https://www.joinmagenta.realestate/

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcoxen/

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelcoxen

Cory Jacobson

Referenced as the educational and content brand Cory runs with his partner Ryan. https://www.instagram.com/wealthjuicepod/

There’s a moment in every real estate career — and honestly, in every life — where you realize that reacting your way through the day is the fastest path to burnout. In this episode, I share the mindset shift that changed everything for me, inspired by a single line from Ram Dass's Be Here Now:

“You’re standing on a bridge watching yourself go by.”

It sounds poetic… until you actually try it. Then it becomes a blueprint for emotional freedom.

In real estate, where pressure comes from every angle — clients, deadlines, lenders, negotiations, expectations — learning how to step out of the river and onto the bridge may be the most valuable skill you ever build. Today, we break down exactly how to do it.

• Why your reactions feel so personal — and how to create space from them
• How “the bridge” helps you make clearer, calmer decisions
• Why top agents regulate themselves instead of reacting
• A guided visualization to shift out of stress in seconds
• How presence makes you more effective in business and in life

This episode is your reminder that you are not your stress, not your thoughts, and not your conditioning. You can watch it, understand it, and choose a better response.

That shift is where business excellence and personal well-being finally meet.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of real estate and self-mastery.

🔔 Hit the bell to be notified of new episodes.

Timestamps:

0:00 — The Stress-Reducing Mindset Shift

0:39 — The Ram Dass Lesson That Changes Everything

1:20 — Life on the Bridge vs. Life in the River

2:14 — How Awareness Creates Clarity

2:57 — Real Estate Stress & Daily Triggers

3:33 — Guided Bridge Visualization

4:34 — Returning to Presence & Choice

5:02 — Coaching & Next Steps

Links mentioned:

• Be Here Now — Ram Dass

A foundational spiritual text that explores presence, awareness, and the separation between the “self” and the “observer.”

https://www.ramdass.org/be-here-now/

Let’s Connect!:

Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindful-agent/id1782575763

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/coxengroup/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/michaelcoxen/

Website

https://www.coxengroup.com/ / https://magenta.realestate/ / https://www.joinmagenta.realestate/

Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcoxen/

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelcoxen