Chirag Shah isn’t just another voice in the crowd. With over 30,000 agents trained across 38 states, he’s cracked the code on what separates the top performers from those stuck on the treadmill of hustle without results. Now, at the helm of Chirag Shah Coaching, he brings battle-tested strategies that don’t just inspire, they transform.
On this episode of the Presence Podcast, host Aaron Grushow pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to lead with intention, scale with confidence, and outpace the competition. If you’re done with generic advice and ready for game-changing insights, these seven takeaways will redefine how you think, operate, and dominate.
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Success doesn’t depend on talent
According to Shah, real estate isn’t won by charisma, charm, or chance; it’s mastered through action. “If you can listen, follow directions, and follow through, you can win,” he said. Talent, in his view, is optional.
He distills winning behavior into three character traits: “Discipline is doing what you said you’re going to do. Consistency is doing it regardless of how you feel. And patience is knowing when you do one and two over time, that you’re going to win bigger than your goals.”
For new and seasoned professionals alike, this perspective reframes the playing field. Anyone can rise, but only if they do the work.
Most coaching focuses on the wrong things
Shah’s approach to coaching emerged from years of frustration with conventional seminars and stale training programs. “I kept finding myself at the same gap all the time,” he recalled. “I don’t want to know what to do because I already know what not to do. I want to know how to do it right.”
The distinction between knowing and executing became his obsession. As a coach, he prioritizes tactical clarity over motivational platitudes. His methods are pragmatic, grounded, and anchored in real-world application.
Systems create freedom, not availability
The promise of real estate is flexibility. The reality, Shah argues, often becomes the opposite. “The dream becomes a nightmare really quickly,” he said. “You see people on the phone at their kids’ soccer games or when they’re dropping them off at school.”
Instead of being perpetually on call, agents should build infrastructure. “No high-end luxury service is available 24 hours a day or seven days a week.”
Structure is what enables freedom. Process empowers presence. The right systems don’t limit relationships — they safeguard them.
A CRM is your only transferable asset
For Shah, one tool stands above the rest: The CRM. “It’s the only tangible asset you have of value,” he said. “It’s the only thing that people will eventually buy from you if you ever want to sell your business.”
He uses a closet analogy to explain its organization. Groups are categories: Shirts, pants, dresses. Tags are subtypes: Polos, jeans, sundresses. This setup allows agents to segment by life stage, neighborhood, or lifestyle.
“The sole purpose of data is being able to make future decisions off of it,” Shah explained. By identifying what matters most to clients, agents can send relevant outreach and stop wasting time on scattershot communication.
AI is the new assistant and a powerful one
Artificial intelligence is no longer a novelty. It’s a necessity. “There are only two types of people left in the world in any industry, especially real estate,” Shah said. “Agents that use AI and agents that don’t.”
He emphasizes the low barrier to entry: “Would you go out to lunch right now and spend $20 on a grilled chicken salad?” If yes, then a ChatGPT subscription is already within reach.
In his words, “Having AI is like having an employee for $20 a month that is approximately 150 IQ in every different job field in the world.” From writing neighborhood reports to tailoring outreach for families with young children, AI enables agents to deliver more and in less time.
He referenced a study by Procter & Gamble and Harvard, where an individual with ChatGPT produced output on par with a full team. The implication is that AI tools make an inevitability.
Generic newsletters are hurting your brand
Agents often default to industry-standard updates, but Shah believes most newsletters miss the mark. “I bought a house. I don’t care about your open house. I don’t care about ‘just listed.’ And the worst email to send is price reduction,” he said.
Instead, personalization is key. By using tags in a CRM and tools like ChatGPT, agents can send content that clients actually care about, like weekend activities for young families or market insights for empty nesters.
“Talk about the things that are important to them, not the things that I want to talk about,” he advised.
Loyalty beats legal agreements
Despite his experience and reach, Shah works exclusively with Compass agents by choice, not by contract. “I don’t believe in my heart that any brokerage offers a homeowner more resources and tools and can create a better outcome than Compass can,” he said.
That alignment underscores a deeper lesson: choosing your partners, your platforms, and your philosophy matters. Loyalty when it’s earned, not enforced, becomes a differentiator all its own.
Building your business with Luxury Presence
In an industry saturated with templates and tactics, Shah’s clarity stands out. He reminds agents that transformation doesn’t require perfection. Courage, consistency, and a commitment to systems that serve both client and agent are what truly bring advancement.
If you’re ready to create a brand powered by strategy, structure, and cutting-edge tools, Luxury Presence is here to help. From AI integrations to custom websites and marketing support, we equip agents to lead with confidence and scale with intention. Reach out today to elevate your presence and reclaim your time.
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