At Metropolist, we believe the brokerage you build around you should give you more than a meeting schedule. It should give you room to grow, to connect, and to shape your business in ways that actually matter.
That’s why every year, at the end of August, we do something most brokerages wouldn’t dream of: we take a summer break.
No Monday Skills class. No Tuesday meeting marathon. No Wednesday accountability session. From mid-August through Labor Day, our usual weekly rhythm pauses. Not because the work stops but because we believe in working differently.
This isn’t a shutdown. It’s a shift. A deliberate moment to step back from structure so that our brokers can step forward into the work that moves their businesses ahead.
Why the Pause Matters
Real estate is relentless. Showings, contracts, negotiations, deadlines all stacked on top of the steady beat of a brokerage calendar. Weekly meetings, training sessions, accountability calls.
It’s valuable, yes. But sometimes, even the best structure can become noise.
That’s why the late-summer pause matters. It’s a chance to reset the pace, to zoom out and ask: Where do I want my business to go in the next 90 days? What deserves more of my time and focus?
When we step away from the standing meetings, the space that opens up is where creativity, strategy, and connection can thrive.
The 90-Day Rule in Action
If you’ve been around Metropolist long enough, you’ve heard us talk about the 90-day rule: what you do today shows up in your business three months from now.
August, then, isn’t just another month. It’s the seedbed for November. For brokers who use this pause with intention, September through the holidays can be their strongest season yet.
So, what does intentional look like?
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Pop-bys: A quick doorstep visit, a favorite coffee, a simple “thinking of you.” These small gestures are remembered long after a flyer or a Facebook ad.
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Note cards: Handwritten notes have power. They cut through digital noise and land with the weight of care.
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Touring: Stepping into properties, even without clients in tow, keeps you sharp. It lets you speak with authority about what’s happening in the market right now.
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Open houses: Still one of the most overlooked business builders. Not because of the walk-ins (though they matter) but because of the conversations you’ll have, the follow-up you’ll practice, and the discipline it demands.
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Sphere calls: Sometimes the best August action is the simplest; picking up the phone, asking about summer plans, and reminding your people that you’re their real estate resource.
Each of these activities compounds. Alone, they look small. Together, they build momentum. That’s the 90-day rule in action.
Feet on the Ground, Eyes on the Future
Here’s the truth: the brokers who show up consistently in August, when many others mentally check out, are the brokers who reap the rewards in the fall.
Clients don’t stop moving in August. In fact, transitions are everywhere. Kids starting school, people relocating before the end of the year, families reevaluating space before the holidays.
Being visible now, being present now, is how you become the broker people call later.
When our business meeting kicks off again in West Seattle on Tuesday, September 2nd, we want our brokers walking in not just with numbers, but with stories. About the conversations they had, the insights they gathered, the neighbors they reconnected with, and the market knowledge they sharpened.
That’s what a brokerage break produces: brokers who are more grounded, more connected, and more prepared to lead.
Culture by Design
The truth is, most brokerages would never allow this. Too much fear that stepping back equals falling behind. Too much reliance on rigid schedules to prove that something is happening.
But we don’t believe in busy for busy’s sake.
At Metropolist, we believe in rhythm. Seasons of learning. Seasons of connecting. And yes, even seasons of pause.
When we step away from the weekly calendar, we’re not abandoning structure. We’re reminding ourselves that structure should serve us, not the other way around. That’s what culture by design looks like.
This pause is one more way we’re building a brokerage that reflects our values: people first, purpose driven, growth minded.
What This Means for You
If you’re already at Metropolist, consider this your invitation: use the next few weeks to be intentional. Don’t coast. Connect. Write the notes. Do the pop-bys. Take the tour. Host the open.
And if you’re not here yet? Ask yourself: Does my brokerage give me this kind of space? Does it encourage me to build, not just grind?
Because the best brokerage isn’t the one that fills your calendar to prove value. It’s the one that gives you the confidence and freedom to build your business your way with the right culture and support around you.
Your Invitation
This summer, while other offices pack their August calendars full, we’ll be leaning into the work that matters most. And when we gather again in September, we’ll bring that clarity and momentum with us.
Because the best kind of brokerage isn’t the one that keeps you on a treadmill.
It’s the one that gives you the freedom to run your own race.
And at Metropolist, you don’t have to run it alone.
