#756: State of Business 2026 with Gogo Bethke

Episode Overview In this episode, John Kitchens is joined by Gogo Bethke for a high-level, real-world conversation on where real estate, leadership, and technology are heading next. Fresh off one of the fastest-moving years the industry has ever seen, John and Gogo break down how AI, automation, and social media are fundamentally changing how agents work, market, and scale. Gogo shares how she's leveraged technology to reduce her workload to 15 hours a week while increasing revenue—and why the agents who embrace AI without losing the human connection will dominate in 2026 and beyond. This episode is a masterclass on CEO thinking, time leverage, social media strategy, and building a business that funds your life instead of consuming it. Key Topics Covered AI, Automation & Working Less While Making More Why AI is collapsing time and accelerating opportunity How Gogo reduced her workweek to 15 hours without sacrificing growth Using AI as leverage—not a replacement for leadership The danger of trading hours for dollars in a scalable world Knowing Your Hourly Worth as a CEO How to calculate your real hourly rate Why saying "yes" to the wrong activities steals from your future The difference between good ideas and great ideas Creating decision filters that protect your time and energy Social Media Strategy for 2026 Why social media will be the easiest lead-generation channel moving forward Short-form vs. long-form content and how each plays a role Using stories for daily connection and feeds as your digital storefront Why consistency—not luck—wins the algorithm AI-Powered Content & Marketing Creating content without being on camera Using AI to clone voice, style, and messaging Turning social media into a shoppable asset How to create once and distribute everywhere Community, Leadership & Human Connection Why human connection becomes more valuable as AI scales Building culture and community inside large organizations Celebrating agents, gifting, and creating belonging at scale Why unreasonable hospitality is the new competitive advantage The Future of Real Estate Agents Why lead generation will get easier—but closing will matter more The agents who will struggle vs. the ones who will thrive Why professionalism, negotiation skills, and trust are non-negotiable Adapting faster than the market instead of fighting it Resources & Mentions Expert Mentors Live 2026 Go High Level – CRM & automation platform ChatGPT & AI Content Tools Giftology by John Ruhlin Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara The GoGet Community by Gogo Bethke Final Takeaway The future doesn't belong to the busiest agents—it belongs to the most leveraged ones. AI will not replace great agents, but it will expose average ones. The agents who win in 2026 and beyond will be those who understand their value, protect their time, embrace technology, and double down on human connection. As Gogo Bethke puts it: work smarter, lead intentionally, and build a business that gives you your life back. Connect with Us: Instagram: @johnkitchenscoach LinkedIn: @johnkitchenscoach Facebook: @johnkitchenscoach If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for more insights and strategies from the top minds. See you next time! 🔥