All Forum Posts by: Kristi Kandel

 @Kimberly Parmelee Agreed on finding a commercial broker ideally in Islamorada or Miami who understands development and development in the keys. I help developers all the time and most don't actually know what they are doing BUT if they hire the right team members it works out. 

@Keith Lanier FYI if I'm not @ mentioned I won't see the comments based on my notification settings. 

We work with communities to obtain TIF for our projects and our students projects in towns as small as 3000 people. We are by no means the experts as that is a program the jurisdictions coordinate so if your city doesn't understand it you would need to work with them to work with neighboring communities who do so they can learn how to do it. Development is not easy or linear and you typically need to do a lot problem solving to make a deal happen. 

 @Jesse Johnson Check out Beth Azor (google her). She's in South FL. 

 @Jaycee Greene exactly that. Those are the stories we spotlight on our podcast Local Real Estate Developers. They are longer holds in smaller communities but the impact and purpose are the driving factors instead of profit only. Then the locals watching step up and start taking on other projects and the ones with capital reach out to the people doing the things and help with the equity on the deals. It's awesome to watch and sharing the stories helps to inspire locals in other communities to do it too. Main Street > Wall Street. 

I thought I was pretty dialed but I walked away from today’s webinar with a handful of new technics to implement and I’m stoked to see the results!

Watch the full recording: https://localdeveloper.kartra.com/videopage/mindsetshifts

Summary

Kristi Kandel from Local Real Estate Development hosted Christine Knapp, a mindset coach, who discussed the importance of mindset, positive focus, and clear vision for aspiring real estate developers. Christine Knapp detailed brain priming techniques, embodying successful developer traits, goal setting strategies, the value of celebration, and the role of accountability in achieving success. Participants learned practical methods to cultivate a success-oriented mindset and overcome obstacles in their development journeys.

Details

• Webinar Introduction Kristi Kandel, founder of Local Real Estate Development, welcomed attendees to a webinar focused on mindset shifts for aspiring developers. Kristi introduced Christine Knapp, a transformational mindset coach, as the guest speaker for the session.
• Christine Knapp's Background Christine Knapp shared their background, explaining how their experience developing franchise owners for a magazine led them to focus on mindset coaching. Christine discovered that having the necessary tools for success wasn't enough; a proper mindset was crucial for taking action. This realization prompted them to obtain coaching certifications and utilize a neuroscience-based approach to help people overcome obstacles and act on their goals.
• Mindset and Focus Christine Knapp emphasized that success in real estate development starts with one's mindset, illustrating this with the example of noticing a specific car model everywhere after considering purchasing it. This highlights the reticular activating system in the brain, which focuses on what we consciously pay attention to. Christine cautioned against the brain's negative bias, which can lead to focusing on past failures and hinder future action.
• The Power of Positive Focus Christine Knapp stressed the importance of pausing negative thoughts and intentionally imagining positive outcomes. They asserted that individuals have the power to influence their success by controlling their thoughts. Christine normalized the experience of getting stuck and encouraged attendees to consciously shut down automatic negative thoughts.
• Creating a Clear Vision Christine Knapp underscored the necessity of having a clear vision, comparing it to a map for the brain. Just as a map guides a driver, a clear vision activates the reticular activating system to find the necessary pathways to achieve goals. Christine announced a handout would be shared to help attendees craft their "why," their core motivation.
• Understanding Your "Why" Christine Knapp explained that people are often motivated by purpose beyond just money. They encouraged attendees to consider what money will create for their family and the positive impact their projects will have on the community. Getting clear on these "whys" is the first step in overcoming negative self-talk. Kristi Kandel agreed, noting the resilience a strong "why" provides during challenging long-term development projects.
• Brain Priming Techniques Christine Knapp introduced the concept of a "brain prime," a way to wire neural pathways to support one's vision. This involves writing out the vision like a movie script, engaging all five senses and describing it in the present tense. Recording and listening to this vision in the morning and at night can help the brain believe the desired outcome is a reality.
• Embodying Developer Traits Christine Knapp discussed the importance of embodying the traits of a successful local developer, such as being vision-driven, resourceful, and persistent. She recommended creating "I am" statements that describe both existing strengths and areas for development to reinforce a success-oriented mindset. Christine explained the "be, do, have" philosophy, encouraging individuals to first adopt the mindset of a successful developer.
• Overcoming Obstacles with Brain Priming Christine Knapp addressed common obstacles like lack of experience or fear of failure. She advised creating positive "I am" statements to counter these negative thoughts and build confidence. Kristi Kandel highlighted the transformative power of these simple yet effective techniques. Christine noted that the field of neuroscience, which supports these methods, is relatively new.
• Goal Setting and Action Planning Christine Knapp emphasized the need for goal setting, breaking down annual goals into quarterly, monthly, and ultimately weekly and daily actions. She shared a "sticky note method" for tracking weekly actions, providing a visual representation of progress and creating a sense of accomplishment. This method helps shift focus from the tasks yet to be done to the progress already made.
• The Importance of Celebration Christine Knapp stressed the significance of celebrating every win, no matter how small. Celebration reinforces to the brain that stepping outside the comfort zone is positive. Kristi Kandel related this to the common fear of looking stupid, and Christine suggested using brain priming to build confidence in such situations. Kristi shared a personal anecdote about using a smile to reframe feelings of nervousness into excitement for growth. Christine explained the neurological connection between smiling and feelings of happiness.
• Accountability and Community Support Christine Knapp highlighted the crucial role of accountability in achieving goals. She suggested finding accountability partners or groups to share goals and progress. Kristi Kandel emphasized the value of the Local Real Estate Development community for sharing challenges and successes, normalizing the learning process, and providing mutual support. Kristi also mentioned their podcast as another resource for learning from others' journeys.
• Motivational Quotes and Next Steps Christine Knapp shared several inspiring quotes about success. Kristi Kandel affirmed the power of belief and consistent action in creating one's future. Christine then briefly discussed their coaching programs and offered a free 30-minute session to webinar attendees. Kristi Kandel encouraged attendees to ask questions and thanked Christine for their insightful presentation .

🚨 New Webinar: Build What Matters 🚨

Got an idea that could transform your town, but not sure how to make it happen?

Join us for 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 with special guest Christine Knapp, Transformational Mindset Coach.

🧠 This isn’t your typical real estate training. It’s about shifting how you think, what you believe is possible, and how you show up to build what your community truly needs.

✨ In just 45 minutes, you’ll learn:
✅ Why your 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘺 is the key to lasting impact
✅ How to think like a developer (even if you’re just starting out)
✅ Simple steps to move from idea to real momentum

This is for the builders, visionaries, and changemakers ready to take that first bold step without drowning in overwhelm.

📅 May 15, 2025 | 3:00 PM EST
🔗 Save your spot and start building what matters! https://www.linkedin.com/events/buildwhatmatters-mindsetshif...

 @Lee Johnson Hey Lee! I've been a developer for nearly 20 years. Happy to connect if you'd like and discuss your project idea! 

 @Scott Blake hey fellow developer here. Happy to connect and see if anything is a fit! 

 @Account Closed I'd recommend a combination of connecting with a commercial broker to get their insights, talking with the city officials (planning + economic development), and maybe an architect to see what could actually fit on the property (aka what size building with setbacks and height). It's a lot of discovery phase right now. 

 @Ian Motta Hey! A fellow developer here over in Fort Myers Beach. Happy to connect as well!