Building a Thriving Real Estate Empire

What does it take to evolve from a top-producing real estate agent to the visionary leader of a multimillion-dollar agency?

 For Ashton Theiss, founder of The Ashton Agency, success came not just from strategy but from deep personal transformation. 

In this episode of Inner Work, Ashton joins host MaryAnn Means-Dufrene to share her journey of leadership development, exploring the emotional challenges, mindset shifts, and bold decisions that helped her scale her business while staying true to her values.

The Disruption

When Ashton launched her own brokerage, she wasn’t just starting a company; she was stepping into a completely new identity. Moving from independent agent to business owner required her to think bigger, hire the right people, and create systems that could support growth. Early on, she faced a hard truth: being an incredible agent didn’t automatically make her a strong leader, and to succeed, she needed to grow as a person, not just as a professional.

The Inner Work

Burnout became Ashton’s turning point. She realized that doing everything herself was unsustainable, both for her business and her well-being. A pivotal piece of advice shaped her new approach: only do what only you can do. With this mindset, Ashton began delegating, trusting her team, and focusing her energy on high-impact leadership, vision casting, and building meaningful relationships.

The Rebuild

As Ashton’s team grew stronger, she turned her attention to innovation. Drawing on her background in marketing, she began helping developers and builders craft projects with fresh, authentic branding that stood out in a traditional industry. Importantly, she stayed fiercely protective of the company culture, ensuring that every new agent and partner aligned with the agency’s values of excellence, versatility, and authentic service.

What I Know Now

Looking back, Ashton credits her success not just to smart business moves but to the personal growth behind them:

• You have to set boundaries to protect your energy
  
• Don’t mistake urgency for importance; not everything is a fire drill
  
• Stay adaptable to change, but hold tight to your core values
  
• Celebrate each win, and never stop dreaming bigger
  
  

Her journey is a powerful reminder that true leadership is not just about growing a business; it is about growing yourself.

🎧 Listen to the full episode now!