About the author:
Ben Brooks
I'm Benjamin Brooks. Most people call me Ben. A few call me "Chinos." (Along with a long list of variations.) And if you've ever second-guessed yourself mid-move while stress-eating carbs in the pantry... we'd probably get along.
Before real estate,
I was a junior high teacher.
Your voice:
Every high school teacher I meet either asks, "Why?" or "How did you survive?" Taught everything but math-because even I have boundaries. I was the guy launching Coke bottle rockets in the parking lot, making history feel like something you could actually enjoy. And language arts? That wasn't just grammar drills and red pens. That was your voice, your story-your power.
Picture it:
Me in a high-up director's chair, coffee in hand, guiding debates like courtroom dramas, breaking down big ideas like we were philosophers in sneakers. Those were some of my favorite moments-helping kids realize they weren't just writing papers... they were learning how to be heard.
One of those schools had three gangs.
It was gritty, wild, and one of the most meaningful jobs of my life. I still remember my first day. In social studies, a gang member chucked a piece of chalk at my head while I was writing on the board. It exploded against the blackboard-right next to my face. A hush fell over the class. No one moved.
I reached down, picked up another piece of chalk, walked slowly over to his desk, locked eyes with him... and said "You missed." That moment? That kid became one of my favorite students. Hard ass. Worth it.
Then the housing crash hit.
Fun fact:
My wife and I got fired on the same day.
No joke. Same day. Different jobs.
That's when we decided to bet on something new-and ourselves. We started a real estate business when schools weren't hiring. Got a crash course in how to fail forward while foreclosure signs lined the streets. Flipped homes. Wholesaled. Walked into slammed doors and figured it out anyway.
Eventually, I pivoted again from starting a restaurant to becoming a marketing executive.
One of my favorite roles?
Insights manager. Because it was all about decoding human behavior:
Why we act.
Why we wait.
Why we buy.
I didn't set out to be here. But here we are. Not to impress the industry. Not to go viral. But because I saw too many sellers losing their peace in the middle of a process that was supposed to move them forward.
I remember having this thought early on: "Sellers go through an emotional rollercoaster behind the scenes while navigating a checklist-like they're supposed to hold it all together." So what you're holding It's my Jerry Maguire manifesto-minus the fish in a bag. A guide that doesn't just explain the mechanics... it helps you hold your power without losing your mind.
I live in Illinois with my wife and kids. (Yes, we're Cubs fans.) Adoption's part of our beautiful story. And if there's one thing I know for sure, it's this: "You don't shake up the world by whispering. Deliver ridiculous value. Make it weird enough to remember. Be the story they tell later."
Okay, confession time.
Let's be honest-we're all friends here by now, right? That restaurant I opened? I thought maybe that was the dream. Two years later, I walked away-no shame, no drama. Turns out, finding your calling doesn't mean never missing. It means recognizing the gift you're here to give - and going all in on that.
And yeah... I'm no longer a formal teacher, restaurant owner, or marketer. But I never stopped teaching. Never stopped serving. Never stopped reaching out and connecting with people. Because once you know your gift-you don't retire it.
You just find bigger rooms to give it away in. I also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2023-with one of my best friends. (19,341 feet-which is higher than Everest Basecamp.) And yes, it happened to land on Valentine's Day. No, that wasn't planned. Yes-he still reminds me whenever he gets the chance.
I share that to say this:
Never let fear stop you from climbing your mountains. Keep going - even if your knees are shaking... or give out. Next on our list? Cotopaxi. (In case you forgot-I'm afraid of heights.)
And if you're still wondering... yes, I fully believe Ryan Reynolds would be inspired to narrate the audiobook. BECAUSE CLARITY CAN BE SIMPLE. AND HILARIOUS. AND UNFORGETTABLE.
