From door-knocking at 16 to building a career: Jacob’s story at Tate Brownlee Real Estate

On the Tate Brownlee Podcast, Tate sits down with Jackob to talk about leaving school at 16 to chase a career in real estate, the mistakes he made early on, and what it actually takes to build momentum in this industry.

In the latest episode of the Tate Brownlee Podcast, Tate sits down with Jackob, who joined the Tate Brownlee Real Estate (TBRE) team after leaving school at 17 to pursue a career in real estate. It’s an honest conversation about ambition, discipline, and what it really takes to start from the bottom and build your way up.

Leaving school to chase an opportunity

Jacob left school early and reached out to agents from the Gold Coast down to Byron Bay before finding his way into the TBRE team. It wasn’t a straightforward path, and persistence is what got him his first opportunity, not luck or connections.

The reality of starting full-time at 16

Starting full-time work at 16 comes with real nerves, and Jacob is upfront about the early mistakes he made and the mindset shift he needed to go through. Effort mattered more than confidence in those first months, and that’s a message that applies well beyond real estate.

100 calls, 100 door knocks

Jacob’s daily prospecting routine is exactly what it sounds like: up to 100 calls and 100 door knocks a day. That kind of volume is what builds momentum in an industry where results come from consistent activity, not shortcuts.

From a fast car to an investment property

One of the more telling parts of the conversation is how Jacob’s goals have shifted. He started out chasing a fast car. Now he’s thinking about his first investment property and building a portfolio over time. That shift, from short-term reward to long-term thinking, tends to show up in agents who go on to build a real career in this industry.

Why team, mentorship and structure matter

Jacob is clear that he didn’t do this on his own. Team support, mentorship and structure have been a big part of getting to where he is now. At TBRE, that’s part of how the team is built: junior agents get the backing and the routine they need to put the effort in and actually see it pay off.

Saturdays are game day

In real estate, Saturday is when the week’s work gets tested, through open homes, auctions and buyer feedback. Jacob’s take on why Saturdays are “game day” is a good reminder of what the job actually demands week to week.

Watch the full episode

Watch the full conversation between Tate and Jacob on the Tate Brownlee Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9S4JnUz3bI

If Jacob’s story sounds like the kind of career you’re after, get in touch with Tate Brownlee Real Estate about opportunities across the Tweed Shire team.