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.

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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

What if your exhaustion isn’t a burden — but a blessing? What if being tired means you’re actually living the life you once wished for?

In this episode, Michael Coxen shares a deeply personal reflection on success, purpose, and perspective — a reminder that tiredness isn’t always something to fix; sometimes it’s something to honor. Between being a broker, coach, husband, and friend, Michael opens up about what it really means to live a “full” life — one filled with responsibility, trust, and opportunity.

This isn’t a pep talk. It’s a reset. A simple way to reframe fatigue as gratitude — to see your busy season not as burnout, but as proof that you’re doing the work you once dreamed of doing.

• The powerful difference between burnout and purposeful tiredness
• How gratitude can shift pressure into perspective
• A nightly exercise to reframe exhaustion into appreciation
• Why “I have to” becomes more freeing when replaced with “I get to”

If you’re an agent, entrepreneur, or anyone striving for more — this message will remind you that the life making you tired is often the one you built. And that’s worth celebrating.

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

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

0:15 - The Paradox of Success

0:57 - When Life Feels Full

1:40 - Burnout vs Purposeful Tiredness

2:05 - From “Have To” to “Get To”

2:25 - Gratitude as a Reset

2:40 - The Journaling Exercise

3:25 - Noticing What Drains You

3:50 - Choosing Where Your Energy Goes

4:10 - A Moment of Reflection

4:25 - Success Starts Within

4:55 - Outro

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

There’s a moment every one of us faces in business and in life—the choice between holding back because of fear, or stepping forward even when our stomach is in knots. In this episode of The Mindful Agent, I open up about how I’ve learned to stop waiting until I felt “ready” and instead build confidence by doing the very thing I thought I couldn’t.

The truth is, action reshapes identity. Every phone call, every presentation, every risk we step into becomes proof that we’re more capable than our doubts suggest. And when we start collecting those small wins, we not only grow our business—we grow ourselves.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why “I can’t” is often just a shield we use to avoid discomfort—and how to break through it.
• Why confidence doesn’t come before the action, but is actually built in the act of doing.
• Simple steps I’ve used to lean into action even when my nerves told me to hold back.
• How consistent effort in real estate creates not just results, but a stronger sense of who you are.
• How to see resistance and nerves as signs you’re exactly where you need to be.

Each time we step forward into the work we’ve been avoiding, we prove to ourselves that we’re stronger, braver, and more capable than we imagined. And that’s why—at the end of the day—there really is nothing better than just doing it.

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

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Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:44 – The Voice of “I Can’t”

01:17 – Growth Through Doing Hard Things

02:35 – Real Estate Examples of Fear

03:38 – Practical Steps to Take Action

04:36 – Guided Mindfulness Exercise

05:36 – Closing Reflections & Coaching Teaser

06:14 – Outro

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

Success in real estate and success on the golf course share the same foundation—discipline, mindset, and resilience. In this episode of The Mindful Agent, I sit down with Brandon Bauman, a former professional golfer turned coach and entrepreneur, to explore how the lessons he’s learned in golf carry over into business and life.

Brandon’s story is inspiring, going from chasing the dream of professional golf to coaching some of the best players in Las Vegas, all while building a business grounded in process, presence, and daily habits. His wisdom is a reminder that growth isn’t about chasing outcomes, it’s about showing up with intention every single day.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to build confidence by focusing on process, not results
• Why failure and rejection are essential teachers in growth
• The routines that keep Brandon grounded and consistent
• How to surround yourself with mentors and peers who lift you up
• Why mindset separates those who give up from those who grow

This conversation left me reflecting on how discipline creates freedom—whether you’re playing golf, building a business, or navigating the ups and downs of life.

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

🔔 Hit the bell to be notified of new episodes.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

02:15 – Guest’s Journey & Background

06:48 – Transition Into Coaching

08:00 – Big West Player of the Year

09:23 – Confidence in Golf & Real Estate

11:13 – Mental Preparation & Pressure

17:59 – Daily Routines & Preparation

21:58 – Writing Goals on the Mirror

24:57 – Spotting and Fixing Bad Habits

28:18 – Mentorship & Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

32:03 – Giving Back & Community Involvement

33:05 – Goals for Business and Coaching

34:22 – Why Coaching Brings Joy

36:53 – Spiritual Practice & Finding Faith

40:30 – Final Advice: Don’t Be Afraid to Try

41:08 – Quickfire Wisdom

43:38 – Outro

Links mentioned:

Plain Truth for Golfers by Jim Hardy • Mentioned by Brandon as a book that shaped his perspective on golf. • Amazon link

Faith & Spiritual Practice • Brandon shared how he and his fiancée found faith and became part of City Light Church Las Vegas. • City Light Church Las Vegas

Swing Analysis App (Tool) • Brandon uses a swing analysis app to record golf swings in slow motion, draw lines, and coach with precision. • Hudl Technique Golf Swing Analyzer (App Store)

Community Engagement (Concept) • Brandon highlighted supporting mental health awareness and junior golf charities through his platform. • NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness • First Tee – Youth Golf Development Charity

Brandon Bauman’s Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/coach_bauman/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/@Coach_Bauman

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/