Broken Arrow

 

Who’s Going To Bring You
A Broken Arrow?
By Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, October 8, 2025

If you have never heard the song “Broken Arrow” by Rod Steward, the term “broken arrow” may not mean much to you, especially when watching old time Western Movies which are no longer routinely aired on television.  You can watch/listen to Rod Stewart by going to:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d-BGmHVFa0&list=RD9d-BGmHVFa0&start_radio=1

We can learn a great deal from the American Indians’ way of life and their belief system.  If you look up the meaning behind a “broken arrow” being delivered to  you on ChatGPT, this is how it describes its meaning:

In the context of the song “Broken Arrow”, the line is poetic and symbolic. Here’s what it generally means:

·         “Broken arrow” is a Native American symbol meaning peace — breaking an arrow meant the end of fighting.

·         In the song, it’s used romantically to mean a gesture of love, surrender, and devotion.

·         So, when someone asks, “Who’s gonna bring you his broken arrow?”, they’re really asking:

Who’s going to bring you peace, love, and devotion?

Who’s going to care for you and give you, their heart?

 

In 2025, it is so very obvious that we all need more and more people willing to bring to others, a broken arrow thus ending the vile discord we are witnessing in politics, on the streets, in our schools and the endless shooting and violence being committed. 

 

Another phrase attributed to Indians is:

 

There are too many Chiefs and not enough Indians!

 

As of October 8, 2025 this is exactly what is happening in the U. S. Congress when it shut down the government in what is nothing more than a political attack on a sitting U. S. President, nothing else!  They all want to be the Chief, no one wants to be the Indian.  Everyone thinks they and only they know what is best for everyone else including you and me!  They are wrong!  They are ALL wrong!  They have forgotten who works for whom?  They all work for We The People!  They have forgotten that!  At present, they all are working for their own positions, their own power and their own wealth and their 2 minutes of fame before the TV Cameras whenever they can get it!  That was NEVER the intent of the Founding Fathers!

 

It goes way beyond politics.  Who is going to bring YOU, THEIR broken arrow?  Every one of us needs more peace in their lives, less hassle, zero arguments, less violence and better health.  Everyone is fighting their own battles whether that be financial, relationships, spiritual, or health.  I can vouch for the last one – health!  Without your health, you have very little to fall back on.  I’ll ask you again, who is going to bring you their broken arrow?

 

Here's an even better question, I hope you are sitting down!  To whom have you given YOUR broken arrow(s) to?  How many have you freely given to others?  Do you know of anyone who could use the message of receiving YOUR “broken arrow?”

 

At the time I created my own “personal mission statement,” I never considered the “broken arrow” meaning.  I worked for days creating my statement which is:

 

To help other people to do what they do to do it better!

 

In my own way, I was giving to others, a broken arrow of sorts.  I wanted them to become the best they could be and if I could help; all the better!  That is how I look upon the many Nuggets for the Noggin I have written over the years (easily over 800 of them).  If no one reads them or if some read them and get nothing from them, no harm, no foul.  But if just one person takes the message intended and runs with it, I will have accomplished a small goal of my own personal mission statement. 

 

Why should everyone have such a statement?  I am so glad you asked.  I have a friend and mentor who is also a speaker and author, Joe Tye.  He created what he calls a Direction-Deflection-Question (DDQ).  Using my own personal mission statement as the example, here is how it works. 

 

I was listening to a boat load of music from my past while relaxing on the patio.  I heard Rod Stewart sing Broken Arrow and I immediately went to my Desktop and began writing.  I asked myself the DDQ Question.  Is what I am about to write taking me toward or taking me away from my stated Personal Mission Statement.  If I believed, and I do, that someone might read what I am writing at this very moment and use what I have written to share THEIR Broken Arrow with someone who in need of receiving it, I will have accomplished a small part of my goal would you not agree?  Are you the one reader who will share their broken arrow with someone in need?  I certainly hope so.  If not, try sharing this Nugget with others and just maybe they will share their broken arrow with someone in need.

 

And for God’s sake, “Don’t (ever) stop thinking about tomorrow!”  That’s an order!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hGhl7ki3HM&list=RD0hGhl7ki3HM&start_radio=1

 

Here’s my “virtual broken arrow”, just for you!

Joshua Chamberlain

 

JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN
AND
CHARLIE KIRK
VERY SIMILAR RESULTS!

By Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, September 24, 2025

WHO IS JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN?  This is how ChatGPT defines Chamberlain and the part he played during the American Civil War:

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain is often credited with playing a critical role in the Union’s survival at the Battle of Gettysburg—and by extension, possibly saving the North during the American Civil War. Here’s a summary of why historians see him as so pivotal:

The Context: Gettysburg, July 2, 1863

• Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War.
• On July 2, the second day of battle, Union forces occupied high ground south of town, including Little Round Top, a rocky hill at the extreme left of the Union line.
• If the Confederates captured this hill, they could have flanked the Union army, potentially winning the battle and opening the road to Washington, D.C.  Gymbeaux Note:  It is my understanding that Chamberlain was given the order to defend the end of the line at all costs!

Chamberlain’s 20th Maine Regiment

• Chamberlain, a former college professor with no formal military training before the war, commanded the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
• His unit was ordered to hold Little Round Top, at all costs—essentially, “you are the flank; if you fall, the army falls.”

The Confederate Assault

• Confederate forces under John B. Hood attacked repeatedly.
• Chamberlain’s men fought off multiple charges but eventually ran low on ammunition.
• Instead of retreating, Chamberlain ordered a bayonet charge—a desperate move, but one that surprised the exhausted Confederate attackers.

Gymbeaux Note:  This storyline was repeated in Vietnam and they made a movie of it; We Were Soldiers!

The Impact

• The charge worked. The Confederates were pushed back, and Little Round Top remained in Union hands.
• This prevented a Confederate breakthrough on the Union left flank, preserving the Union army’s position at Gettysburg.

Why This Mattered for the North

• Gettysburg ended as a major Union victory, often considered the “high-water mark” of the Confederacy.
• Had the Confederates won, they might have marched on Washington or secured foreign recognition, potentially forcing the Union into a negotiated peace.
• Chamberlain’s actions helped ensure Gettysburg—and perhaps the Union itself—did not fall.

Gymbeaux Note:  Noted speaker and author Andy Andrews has taken the actions of Chamberlain a bit further.  He noted that had the Union Army been defeated, America probably would have been divided into three sections, the North, the South and the West!  It would therefore be doubtful that America would have become the world power that it became and America would NOT have been powerful enough to make a difference during WWI and WWII and the outcome of those wars might have been entirely different for the entire planet.  It all started with the actions of just ONE MAN – Joshua Chamberlain who instead of surrendering, he took what was left of his troops and attacked without ammunition and only their bayonets and voices.  Watch Andy Andrews tell the story in his own words; everything you do matters – The Butterfly Effect: 

SPECIAL NOTE;  If the links do not automatically work which is not unusual, copy and paste to your browser.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57I2EECFzTA

Even more important is Andy Andrews speaking to a group telling them that every move they make affects everyone forever!  Listen carefully and he could easily have said the same thing about Joshua Chamberlain and Charlie Kirk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo6fBAT8f-s

America was under attack and the Civil War between the States erupted.  That was in the 1860s!  America is still under attack in 2025 by people who prefer that America adopt the Socialist or Marxist form of government where the government is all powerful and the people are totally dependent upon the government to simply exist.  I suggest you all look at The Communist Party USA, yes, they are still alive and active, who established 45 goals to accomplish exactly what I described.  The following two links provide a document that lists the goals and the second link is a video that also describes each of the 45 goals. I strongly encourage you to take the time to either read them or watch them or BOTH! 

COMMUNIST OBJECTIVES:  http://www.rense.com/general32/americ.htm

COMMUNIST OBJECTIVES VIDEO:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fQ4J9tcQ2I

What does the remarkable story about Chamberlain have to do with Charlie Kirk?  I am so glad you asked.  I did not make the comparison at first; it suddenly came to me during the massive tribute given Charlie Kirk in the Arizona Football Stadium. 

Charlie Kirk had several missions that he worked on at the same time.  He also fully understood that the American Dream was under attack in the 2000 until today by forces that wanted to create a one-world-government.  That is another way of saying a Socialist/Marxist/Communist GODLESS style government.  At age 18 with a drive and determination well beyond what you might expect of an 18 year old man/boy, Charlie Kirk envisioned a country where people were spiritual (as compared to religious) and put God first, then family, then country, in that order!  I cannot speak for Charlie Kirk; I truly believe that he was well aware of The Communist Party USA’s desire to take over America without firing a shot.  He believed as I believe that the takeover would begin by taking over the country’s educational system.  He knew and understood what Vladimir Lenin, yes, that Lenin, said when he said:

“Give me four years to teach the children

and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.”

 

In this regard, I present to you Objective #17 of The Communist Party USA list of objectives.  Read it for yourself and then ask yourself the question, have they already succeeded in achieving this key objective?  If this one objective is met, the other 44 will simply fall into place! 

Get control of the schools.

Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda.

Soften the curriculum.

Get control of teachers' associations.

Put the party line in textbooks. 

Charlie set out to change that!  He knew that to make a positive change, he had to confront the evil that has been planted (seeds being sown) in the minds of the young people of America.  Charlie began debating before live audiences at churches, schools and universities.  He would sit facing the crowds with a microphone.  He would invite anyone who thought they disagreed with him to come to the head of the line and challenge them to “change my mind!”  Instead of arguing with each other and instead of calling each other names, they had an open debate.  The technique that Charlie used was both admirable and very effective.  When he finished the last word he had to say, he would lay down his microphone signaling to the youthful participant that he would NOT interrupt them; they had the mike!  Charlie would let them put forth their side of the discussion.  Charlie changed years of Marxist indoctrination implanted in the minds of the youth by the current educational system.  The effectiveness of his Turning Point movement was never more evident than in the election results of 2024. 

This is how the indoctrination works.  At first, teachers make very subtle suggestions in the early years of education.  As a student progresses through elementary school, then middle or junior high school and then high school, the subtle suggestions become outright indoctrination in the way of Marxism.  The teachers are smart enough to know NOT to call it Marxism, no, they prefer to use terms like the Political Left, Liberalism or Progressive.  They knew that talking about Marxism was a deal breaker for them so they used every term but Marxism or Socialism.  Marxism is what they were teaching.  This may not be true in EVERY school but it was definitely true in most schools.  There was the ONE POSITIVE THING about COVID. Because of “remote learning”, parents cold see on their computer monitors what was being taught and they were shocked. 

Follow the path of just one such student.  They begin to doubt all that their parents have taught them to believe. They doubt what is being taught in any church they have ever attended.  They slowly began to believe what was being taught in the schools and most parents had no clue what WAS being taught to their children.  That student goes on to high school and then college.  The indoctrination gets much worse in college.  Making it even more critical is that the fact that any student who disagreed with the teachings within the classroom, became ostracized among their peers and all but shunned from engaging in any meaningful dialogue.  

Charlie Kirk knew this and much like Joshua Chamberlain he mentally fixed his bayonet and began to charge forward by meeting the evil thoughts in their own back yards.  In their churches, schools, and especially on college campuses.  He met his foe head on and he changed minds to where the young men and women began to want similar things out of life, freedom, free speech, to get married and have children and to openly praise God.  How dare he say such things.  At first the growth of his movement, Turning Point, was slow and then it grew very suddenly.  If the murderer of Charlie Kirk thought that by killing Charlie, the movement would end, just the opposite happened.  To properly describe the growth of Turning Point as of September 2025 would be like describing the results of pouring gasoline onto an already lit fire.  An explosion of interest has developed within days of his death. 

Joshua Chamberlain attacked his enemy with no ammunition and only the fix bayonets and the loud piercing word CHARGE!  CHARGE!  CHARGE!  Down the hill his remaining band of soliders went and the enemy all but disbursed and the battle was won.  Charlie Kirk’s battle still rages on and the number of members of his team have grown and become more public in their pronouncements to where those that stood in the way of a free and prosperous America where everyone can pursue the American Dream and to where the victory of Kirk’s battle, is now within sight! 

Chamberlain was out manned and out gunned; Charlie Kirk was out manned and definitely out gunned.  Chamberlain’s enemy had military weapons, Chamberlain had the outward appearance of superiority and only his words, CHARGE, CHARGE, CHARGE!  Charlie used his words to defeat the enemy of unrestricted compliance.  Charlie showed people the way to freedom, free speech, a happy family and a happy life without the fear of an attack by the academics of the world! 

Two very different times.  Two very different men!  To very similar situations!  To similar outcomes!  As a retired military officer, I personally salute both of them and consider myself very fortunate to be one of the millions in Charlie’s army of free-thinking Americans!  Better yet, millions upon millions of people around the world!  Just look at what has been happening.  Listen to the cries of those who still believe that Marxism is the only way.  Marxism has NEVER been successful but as they all seem to believe, this time will be different.  NO IT WON’T!  People vote their way into a Marxism but to get out of it, will require the use of violent force as we have seen happen all over the world.  Is that the kind of world YOU want to LEAVE to your next of kin; your children?  Or do you want to leave your next of kind the kind of world that Charlie Kirk spoke of and worked towards achieving.  I have chosen sides, 

I AM CHARLIE KIRK!

Stochastic Terrorism

 

STOCHASTIC TERRORISM
By Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, September 14, 2025

I listened to one of the many talking heads on Television following the murder of Charlie Kirk.  unfortunately, I don’t remember who it was who mentioned the phrase “Stochastic Terrorism.”  I have since heard Dr. Drew Pinsky say the same phrase.  In all honesty, I have ever heard that phrase before.  Rather than just let it pass, I looked it up.  What I found did not surprise me.  In fact, I pretty much expected to find what I found.  This Nugget will explain the term Stochastic Terrorism. 

I am also including a YouTube video link that if you take the 20 minutes or so to watch and more specifically LISTEN TO, you will have many of the dots of today’s violence all connected and the picture is not pretty but if you are honest with yourself, you will admit that you have already thought that there may have been a link just as described.  Now for the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azE7nqqQMmo 

If you have watched and listened to the link, I want you to recall the following events: 

• Murder of Charlie Kirk
• School Shooting at the Catholic Church
• Murder of the politicians in Minnesota
• Attempted murder of the Governor Pennsylvania
• Recent murder of the young lady on the train in North Carolina
• Setting a subway rider in New York on fire

THE LIST IS ENDLESS – IT GOES ON AND ON AND ONE 

There is one aspect in all of these events that goes undiscussed by the media.  If you were to ask why, my best guess is that it does not fit the narrative and agenda that the Media wants you to hear.  Face facts!  The ONLY news we ever hear or see on the National New Medias (all of them) is the news that THEY CHOSE for you to see.  To prove my point, the media ONLY began to cover the murder on the train in North Carolina when social media blew up the story and the media simply could no longer ignore it.  That should be all you need to know to know that the media controls EVERYTHING we see and hear.  There is a word for that process – it’s called BRAINWASHING!    

For the record, the definition of Brainwashing is:

Brainwashing is a systematic process of manipulating someone’s thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors—often against their will—through psychological pressure, coercion, or intense persuasion. It typically involves isolating the individual from outside influences, controlling information, and using techniques like repetition, fear, guilt, and reward/punishment cycles to break down existing beliefs and implant new ones.

Some key characteristics include:

·         Loss of autonomy: The person gradually becomes dependent on the controlling source for approval, information, or identity.

·         Suppression of critical thinking: Doubt and questioning are discouraged, replaced by rigid, unquestioned acceptance.

·         Emotional manipulation: Techniques often target emotions—fear, guilt, or love—to enforce compliance.

·         Isolation from reality: Cutting off ties with friends, family, or alternative viewpoints helps solidify the new belief system.

The term is often used in contexts like cults, political indoctrination, prisoner-of-war camps, or manipulative relationships, though its use can be controversial because not all persuasion qualifies as true "brainwashing."

As an example, how many times do you have to hear that President Trump is a Fascist?  Repetition!    Over and over again for the last 10 years or more, that is all we heard from the most senior members of Congress, Chuck Schumer, and down to the most junior of members, AOC.  You may be mature of enough to write them off as just name calling, but not all people are that mature.  That is why I believe so many of these violent events are conducted by people under the age of 30; young people! 

Do you honestly believe that every person in America just blows vile name calling off or do some people like the murderer of Charlie Kirk. take them far more seriously.  Take yourself back to 1890.  You are in a position to kill Adolph Hitler as a baby, and rid the world of a mass murderer.  Would you take him out?  What makes you think that someone wired with the same sense of preventing someone, just like Hitler, from destroying America and thus decide to take him or her out?  It is called a German “Valkyrie” moment, when German soldiers tried to kill Hitler.   It is also like the story of Chicken Little.  “The Sky is Falling; the sky is falling!”  Everyone heard it, over and over again, some knew it was BS but a few began to take cover.  To them it WAS falling.  To most, it was just someone’s imagination.  It takes ONLY ONE to take action! 

The following is the definition of people like the Charlie Kirk murderer (who shall remain nameless, at least in my mind).  Read it for yourself.  It is the definition of the phrase “Stochastic Terrorism.”  See if it does not apply to these mentally deficient individuals: 

ADD A NEW WORD TO YOUR VOCABULARY! This pretty much describes what we have just seen. Words HAVE MEANING! When you constantly call people Hitler, Nazis, Fascists and the like, you are planting seeds through repetition!   Unfortunately, those seeds sometimes take root in weak minds that can't logically handle them: 

STOCHASTIC TERRORISM is the use of mass communication (such as media, speeches, or online platforms) to DEMONIZE or VILIFY a person or group in ways that increase the likelihood that a random individual—an unpredictable actor— WILL COMMIT A VIOLENT ACT AGAINST THEM. 

The idea is that the speaker doesn’t directly order or plan violence. Instead, by consistently portraying a target as dangerous, evil, or deserving of harm, they raise the statistical probability that someone somewhere will interpret the message as a call to action and attack. 

Key aspects: 

Indirect incitement: The speaker usually has plausible deniability (“I never told anyone to act violently”). (Note, we hear comments like this from people like Nancy Pelosi, and a lot of Democrat members of Congress.  Plausible deniability) 

Randomness: You can’t predict who will act or when, but the risk of violence grows as the rhetoric escalates.

Examples often cited: inflammatory political rhetoric, media personalities targeting individuals or groups, or online campaigns framing groups as existential threats.  Note:  How many times have we heard that President Trump and his millions of supporters are “a threat to our Democracy?”  First, the United States is a “Constitutional Republic” it is NOT a Democracy.  You would think that members of Congress and even Presidents like Joe Biden would understand the difference but apparent they do not.  Everyone right of center (or in other words people whose beliefs are counter to the beliefs of those in power) are threats to Democracy!”

I have read articles and books written by people who should know. that it takes about 21 times (days) of a repetitive action on your part for that action to become a repeatable habit.  Now think of the days, weeks, months, years, decade where we heard that President Trump was a Nazi, a Hitler type Dictator and by extension all of his supporters are the same thing.

If you really want to know what has been happening to America, this is it!  Finding a solution that can fix it is way beyond my pay grade, as they so often say.  If I could control the votes in an election, I could readily fix it but that is neither feasible or desirable not to mention illegal. 

Simply put, the voices in Congress and the Legislative Branch who continuously spew these words of hate knowing they are not true, should be immediately voted out of office.  Members of the main stream media who constantly repeat them on air should be immediately fired!  You must remove the source to kill this cancer that is destroying America from within. 

I believe (my opinion) that destroying America has been the goal of an elite group of people from the first days of the Obama Administration.  It was supposed to be 16 years (8 for Obama and 8 for Clinton) giving them the ability to “fundamentally transform America” remember Obama saying that?  Their idea of a transformed America is one of total control.  What form of government requires total control?  Socialism and/or Communism, take your pick!  President Trump disrupted this plan and that is exactly why they have all worked overtime to destroy his first term as President, his bid to be reelected in 2020 and now his current term.  They cannot afford to have him in office because he is not one of “them!”  

As long as Americans realize that their liberty and their freedom is being undermined and the process enhanced by the main stream media, the desire of these elites to create a one-world-government is doomed and they cannot let that happen.  These people KNOW EXACTLY what they have been doing and they know it is illegal if not outright treasonous!  Their days are numbered as long as President Trump is in office. 

There is also a term called “projection.”  This occurs when one person or group “projects” onto another person or group those things and actions that they themselves are doing.  Referring to President Trump as Hiter is just such an example.  The Left, as supported by the main stream media, are working to totally control “we the people.”  They want to take our guns. To suppress/censor our speech and written words.  They want to tax us to death and then give us as little as possible just to keep us appeased while they brandish their new found power.  The irony of all of this is that there are only so many spots in the controlling elites and everyone who has been working to make their agenda come to past think that they will be among the controlling elite group.  That simply will not happen.  They can’t see the forest (the truth) for all of the trees (the lies). 

One of the nicer things about growing old as I have, is that I can say anything I want to say and just do not care what others may think of what I have said or written; you should all be so lucky.  That goes to friends, family and foes alike.  I am comfortable in my knowledge of what has been happening because I no longer listen to the main stream media and all but disregard anything a politician says.  I do my own research and form my own informed opinions.  I believe what I have written.  As Charlie Kirk would say: 

PROVE ME WRONG!

Since I first published this, I have come across a video that explains a great deal of what I have written:

https://www.facebook.com/LorraineSicotte1/videos/768839209447276/?fs=e&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=ljwZghFM3c58dGBN#

If the link does not work, copy and paste to your browser.

Blast From The Past: Real Estate Commissions, UPDATED

 

REAL E$TATE COMMI$$ION$
By Jim “Gymbeaux” Brown, October 22, 2013, updated August 2025 

Disclaimer:  I was first licensed in real estate in 1980 as a Salesman and as a Broker in 1982 and have been continuously licensed by the State of Louisiana through January 1, 2013 when I officially retired from real estate sales.  During that period, I was also licensed as a Broker by the State of Mississippi on two different occasions.  That represents approximately 33 years of real estate experience mostly as the Designated Broker for the companies at which I worked.  During that period, I worked for small independent companies, a large independent company and 5 major franchise companies.  Special note, most company changes were the result of one company buying out another.  I believe this experience provides me a unique perspective on what would be important for real estate agents to consider in regards to being able to take advantage of the best a real estate company has to offer that will provide the best opportunities for individual success.  Contact Information:  email:  JimBrown@gymbeaux.com; Cell Phone:  985-640-3564. 

This is the first Nugget for the Noggin in a series written especially for real estate agents.  I awoke this morning with a nagging question as to what would be important for a real estate agent to consider when selecting a company at which to place his or her license or for an agent to consider when transferring a license to another real estate company.  As stated in the above disclaimer, I believe I have a unique experience level that enables me to address this subject based on my knowledge of how most if not all real estate companies are organized and therefore how that organization can help or hinder the success of a real estate agent, especially one new to the business.  This same unique perspective can also assist those agents considering transferring to another company.  The following are some of the subjects that will be covered in this and subsequent Nuggets for the Noggins: 

• ·         Real Estate Commissions
  
• ·         Probable Customer Calls/Inquiries
  
• ·         Training
  
• ·         Individual Support
  
• ·         Group Support
  
• ·         Individual Brand Name
  
• ·         Company Brand Name
  
• ·         Selling Broker/Manager
  
• ·         Who Makes Decisions
  
• ·         Internal Dispute Resolution
  
• ·         A Company of Individuals or a Company of Teammates
  
• ·         National Name vs. Local Name
  
• ·         Reputation(s) Matter
  
• ·         Others to follow 

On the subject of real estate commissions, this is not about how much commission to charge a customer but rather how much of the commissions you earn that you get to keep. 

 How do you make money selling real estate?  That is simple; you close a sale involving real estate.  In most states, at the closing, your COMPANY where your license is held earns a commission on the sale.  Once the COMPANY receives the commission an internal pre-determined commission split between the COMPANY and the SELLING/LISTING AGENT is applied to the total commission earned.  The importance of that “pre-determined commission split arrangement” cannot be over emphasized.  That is what this Nugget refers to. 

As a real estate agent, you can only make MORE money in one or more of the following methods: 

• ·   Charge higher commission percentages for the sales you make
• · Have a higher commission split arrangement with your sponsoring Broker/Company
• · Learn to keep more of what you earn by learning how to take advantage of tax regulations
• ·  Lower your cost of doing business meaning lower your operating expenses
• ·  A combination of all of the above 

It starts with the commission split you agree to with your sponsoring company.  There is no set rule for companies and agents.  In fact, real estate commission split arrangements are truly negotiable between the agent and the Broker/Company.  Agents new to the business are typically not aware of this and usually accept whatever commission split is initially offered. 

Most conventional real estate companies will tell the agent that there is an approved commission split.  The approved split may start at one calculation, example, 50% to the Company, 50% to the Agent.  This split may be graduated to where it increases during any given year as the Agent closes more and more sales.  Given enough sales the 50/50 split may actually increase to a full 100% commission but that is rare.  Therefore, at most real estate companies, agents within the company are rarely all on the same split at any given time.  Agents new to the business usually start at the lowest split whereas the more experienced agents are usually on another schedule entirely.  The commission splits within the company typically restart either at the beginning of each year, or restart based on the company’s fiscal year which could start at any time or on the anniversary of the agent’s start with the company. 

Every licensed agent SHOULD be required to sign an Independent Contractor Agreement with the sponsoring broker and that agreement SHOULD define exactly what the agent’s commission structure/schedule is with the company.  If you take nothing else from this Nugget, you can take this next bit of advice to the bank:  IN REAL ESTATE YOU WANT EVERY AGREEMENT, EITHER BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR BROKER/COMPANY OR BETWEEN ALL PARTIES TO A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION; OR BETWEEN AGENTS TO BE IN WRITING!   NO EXCEPTIONS!  Therefore, get your commission split agreement IN WRITING!  If a FORM is used to accomplish this, absolutely and positively make sure there are no blank spaces left on the form. If something does not apply, enter N/A or Non-Applicable in the space!  THIS GOES FOR EVERY CONTRACT YOU WRITE OR SIGN NO MATTER WHAT THE SUBJECT MATTER! 

Obviously, you want to “think” in terms of earning 100% of the commission on a sale of real estate; why wouldn't you?  There are companies where that can happen such as national franchise companies (e.g., Keller Williams Realty®, RE/MAX® and others) and local independent companies (you will have to check with your local companies for examples).  I have seen splits as low as 40% to the Agent/60% to the Company for agents new to the business and as high as 100%.  The 100% companies usually require the agent to pay a monthly fee to the company. a pre-determined amount for the agent to conduct their business regardless of the number of sales they make (RE/MAX®) or there may be some form of graduated rate they pay (Keller Williams Realty®).  The latter involves starting at one rate and once a pre-determined amount is paid to the company the split is changed to the 100% level.  In the first example there is great risk to the agent because the agent incurs the monthly expense to the company even if no sales are closed.  In the second the risk has been negated or reduced because the cost to work at the company is very low but the company retains a percentage of commissions earned UNTIL a pre-determined amount is paid to the company, has been reached.  In other words, the agent has “capped” the amount paid to the company during any given year.  At the start of the next year the agent typically reverts to the original agreement; the cap is terminated and the agent starts over.  Having worked at both types of companies, I personally prefer the second method (Keller Williams Realty®) as it significantly reduces the risk to the agent while at the same time provides the agent the ability to earn 100% of the commission.  In both cases, you should determine how much you are going to pay to the company to be able to enjoy earning 100% of the commissions; get this agreement IN WRITING. 

It has been my experience that agents new to the business typically DO NOT research the various commission split options available in their specific area and go with the first company they interview with.  There are options and these options should be researched but I would caution everyone that commission splits are only one part of the decision process, especially for new agents.  For example. Training should be a HUGE issue if I were new to the business.  What type of training am I going to receive and is there any costs associated with that training.  For example, a company may state they put all new agents on a 50/50 commission split schedule and have a great training program but fail to explain that there may be a cost for that training.  Other companies may start agents out on a 40/60 split and then have no cost for the training provided.    These are only examples; there is no set or specific split for agents.  Learn to see “the BIG picture” before making any decision regarding which company to join. 

If your plan is to make a career out of selling real estate, my recommendation would be to join a company that has a plan to get you to the 100% commission program as quickly as possible and without a great deal of financial risk to you to achieve this status.  You do not want to join one company for one reason and then be required to transfer to a different company to fulfill your goal or desire to reach the 100% level.  Changing real estate companies is usually not a good thing because it confuses your database of customers who have come to know you by the company you keep – the company you work at.  And you may NOT be permitted to take your pending business with you!  This is exactly what a great many agents experience.  They start out with no sales and then work their way up to making a lot of sales and suddenly realize they would make more money at a different company doing the same amount of work.  If that situation turns out to be the case, that would be an excellent reason to transfer to the company that enables you to make more money.  Having said that, wouldn’t it make more sense to research the industry and go with “that” company when you start your career? 

Here are some questions to ask your potential Broker/Company during your interview process;  the answers to these questions should enable you to make a prudent business decision as to which company to join.  In fact, I would strongly suggest using the Ben Franklin method of decision making.  Place a large capital "T" on the paper.  On one side of the "T" write PROS and on the other side write CONS.  They as you research the various company choices you can write down the Pros on one side and the Cons on the other.  When completed, one side will usually be longer than the other and that should help you with your decision. 

·         Do you have a printed commission scheduled that I may look at and keep?  I would be skeptical if a company could NOT provide such a printed schedule.

·         Is the commission schedule part of your company’s Policy and Procedure Manual?  This is another way of asking if the company has a Policy and Procedure Manual.  If the answer is no, I would recommend interviewing with another company.  A company that does not have defined policies and procedures can change their policies and procedures on the spur of the moment; you do not want to work at such a company.

· Are ALL agents within the company on this scheduled or does the company make exceptions for “special” agents?  As an example, a special agent may be a highly productive agent, an agent transferring from one company to another who has a track record of producing sales, or an agent with a special trait such as computer technology who is agreeable to teaching technology within the company, etc.  If all agents are NOT on the same schedule you want to know why all agents are not treated the same and how can you be given or earn this “special” treatment.  The real question is why you would want to work at a company where all agents are NOT treated equally and fairly.  Ideally the differences should be included on the commission split printed schedule and would therefore be available to everyone including you.

· What additional costs will I incur such as training costs, office fees, insurance premiums above and beyond the commission split schedule?  What you may earn with a higher commission rate you may lose by being required to pay additional costs for Training or other miscellaneous expenses within the company.  Make absolutely certain you are fully aware of all company costs you are expected to pay.  In fact, ask the person who interviews you to give you an example of exactly how the commission is handled in the company and how much you would earn on an average sale.

·  If I join the company and it turns out that it is not working out for me, would I be able to take my current listings, my pending sales, and my customer database with me to a different company that I join?  Some companies WILL authorize you to take your business with you, some (actually a lot of companies) will NOT.  In my opinion I would avoid working at a company that would NOT permit you to take your business with you.  That, at least to me, would indicate they have something to hide from you and you do not want to start a business relationship based on mis-trust.  If the company indicates you CAN take your business with you, make absolutely certain that you get this agreement IN WRITING.

·  If I decide to join your company at (enter the commission split) what do I have to do to get to the 100% level?  If they have a plan, they will tell you.  If they do have a plan, make certain you get the plan they have in writing.  If they do NOT have a plan, you may want to continue your research for the best opportunity available to you at a different company. 

VERY IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION:  If it is your goal to sell real estate on a part-time basis, earning 100% commissions may not be your initial goal or even possible for you.  But…it has been my experience that a lot of agents “think” they are going to sell real estate part-time and then discover that a career in real estate is an outstanding choice and then decide to do it full time only to discover they made a poor decision regarding the company they joined at the outset.  Don’t make this mistake.  Make certain you engage in a due diligence period of researching the various real estate companies in your area and then decide which offers you the best opportunity to soar! 

TRAINING:  In my state, Louisiana, you take real estate courses approved by the State and then take the State Exam to become licensed.  Unfortunately, the courses you take typically do not have much information on actually listing and selling real estate.  Therefore. the education you receive AFTER you become licensed is critical to your eventual success, or not.  Therefore, in your due diligence period of researching the various opportunities available to you, make absolutely certain you also ask about the training available to you and how much that training will cost you. 

Since I originally wrote this in 2013, a great deal has changed within the industry and you should make changes to your search accordingly.  The ONE THING that has NOT changed is the absolute need to insure you either partake of the company’s training program OR, in the absence of a satisfactory company training program, you establish a self-education program!  You can either Read for a CHANGE, or your can READ for a Change!  Very few professionals in any profession continue reading to improve their skills at what they do.  That is just dumb!  You can’t possibly know it all, it is impossible.  As Anthony Robbins repeatedly suggests, SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES!  Find out what successful agents have already done to succeed and use their skill set and knowledge as leverage to improve your success.  

Much to my surprise, Lou Vickery, an author of 25 books at the time, asked me to co-author his newest book, Where Are You Going?  It is a book that could be used in any profession but I can assure you that it definitely applies to anyone seeking to become successful in real estate sales.  You can find it on Amazon in Paperback and as a Kindle Read.  YOU WON’T REGRET READING IT IF YOU FOLLOW SOME OF THE TRIED AND PROVEN TECHNIQUES DISCUSSED IN THE BOOK! 

NEXT NUGGET:  How does your company handle incoming probable customer calls or Internet Inquiries?  How they do it can either enhance your ability to make more commissions or hinder it.  You will want to read this Nugget when available.