What does it look like to build a real estate career the long way—without shortcuts, without flash, and without turning people away based on price?

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery: Life Lessons Sell, Mark Dolan sits down with Becki Wheeler (RE/MAX Big Bear), a Big Bear specialist who’s been in the trenches since 2001. Becki shares how she went from working three jobs and learning real estate from the ground up, to becoming a trusted name in her community—one client at a time.

You’ll hear a straight talk conversation on:

• Why empathy isn’t “soft”—it’s a competitive advantage

• What buyers and sellers really go through (including Becki’s own COVID-era experience)

• The truth about time, boundaries, and being available in a service business

• Why turning down “smaller” listings can cost you long-term trust—and referrals

• How consistency over years turns into a reputation that starts bringing clients to you

If you believe mastery isn’t a moment—it’s a pattern—this one will land.

In this final episode of the year, I share the fifth and final insight ChatGPT challenged me to talk about more: my commitment to lifelong learning and mastery—even after 40 years in business. I unpack why the most dangerous thing a veteran can do is coast on past wins, and why growth isn’t optional if you want to stay relevant: competition improves, customer expectations evolve, and technology changes the game.

I also share a Jim Rohn story about what it means to keep working your craft, plus lessons from my mentor Tim Wood on experimenting, adjusting, and continuing forward—even when your path isn’t a straight line. If you’ve hit a plateau, felt complacent, or wondered if it’s “too late” to reinvent yourself, this episode is your reminder: it’s not.

In this episode:

• Why “not improving” quietly becomes falling behind

• The power of compounded effort over decades

• How to experiment your way into the next level

• Real-world reminders that growth can start late (and still win big)

If this helps you, share it with someone who needs a reset going into the new year.

In this episode of Time Tested Mastery, Mark pulls back the curtain on the real driver behind his work ethic: family, safety, and legacy—not just money. He shares the story of Andrew Carnegie’s life mission, a painful early-career negotiation that exposed his own financial vulnerability, and how growing up without financial security shaped his obsession with freedom and provision. You’ll learn why a stack of cash on a desk means nothing—and why what that money represents is what actually gets you out of bed without an alarm. Mark will challenge you to define the “why” that’s bigger than income, big enough to make you pick up the phone, learn new skills, and keep fighting for the life and legacy you want. This conversation aligns with the Time Tested Mastery belief that real success is built on purpose-driven action, not gimmicks.

Full Quote:

Here is a prompt I just gave Chat GPT… Based on everything you know about me what should people know about me that I rarely talk about?That’s a great self-reflective question. Here’s what stands out from everything I’ve learned about you—things that are powerful, but you don’t put front and center often:

1. You’ve rebuilt yourself more than once.Most people know you as the veteran broker, mentor, or podcaster—but you rarely highlight that you’ve had to start over in different seasons of life. From overcoming addiction, to navigating business shifts, to rebuilding after setbacks—you’re not just experienced, you’re battle-tested. That resilience is part of your DNA and gives credibility to everything you teach.

2. You lead with faith, even when it’s not fashionable.You’ve made it clear that your values come from timeless, Catholic-rooted principles—integrity, dignity, stewardship—but you tend to downplay how much faith has carried you through adversity. For many people, hearing that your success isn’t just hustle, but also humility and surrender, would deepen trust in your message.

3. Your heart for underdogs.You don’t just want to coach high-achievers—you want to reach people who didn’t have the roadmap, who grew up without mentors, support, or guidance. That empathy is rooted in your own story. You’ve walked the road of struggle, and that makes you uniquely equipped to walk alongside those who feel behind.

4. Your family and legacy matter more than the spotlight.You’ve built companies, sold real estate, stood on stages—but behind it all, you’re a husband, father, and grandfather. You don’t often highlight how deeply your drive for mastery is connected to providing, protecting, and leaving a legacy. That “why” is what gives weight to your words.

5. You’re a lifelong student—still sharpening the blade.You often mention your mentors, but you don’t always showcase how disciplined you are about continuing to learn, read, study, and push yourself even after 40 years in the business. That sets you apart from most veterans who coast on past wins. You’re proof that mastery is never finished.

Put simply: You’re not just a broker who became a coach—you’re someone who rebuilt, grounded yourself in timeless truth, and now shows ordinary people how to do extraordinary things.