The newest book from Jay Papasan and KellerINK has finally hit bookstore shelves, but the work behind Rookie Real Estate Agent: Launch a Limitless Career That Lasts started nearly 10 years ago as a single question:
What do the most successful real estate agents do in their first year that others don’t?
So we started asking that question of more and more people. Their answers were the foundation we needed to create the ultimate guide for agents who are starting out in the business or wanting to improve their success rate.
Insider Strategies: Powerful Moves for a Lasting Real Estate Career
Agents shared all kinds of insights. Some recommended new agents throw a “business launch” party and invite all of their friends. Others advised that they ask established agents for the opportunity to host their open houses. Every interview showed us that not only are agents passionate about helping others learn from their experiences, but that there are a lot of powerful moves that could have a meaningful impact on the trajectory of someone’s real estate career.
The advice we heard was diverse, but the amazing thing is that when you ask hundreds of people the same question, and listen closely, you’ll start to hear the same answers. Those answers are the first hint of models and systems, and with enough of those, you can build a book.
The Blueprint for Success: Mindset, Value, Lead Generation, and Service
Jay and the writing team had to think deeply about how these models needed to be contextualized. That meant trying to map out the important things a new agent would need to know. As with all of Jay and Gary Keller’s books, we knew we needed to start with mindset. After that, we explored how an agent’s value proposition is the cornerstone of their success. Then, we wanted to establish the importance of solid lead generation and database habits, and discuss how agents can develop the skills they need to provide remarkable service.
Once the outline was set, it was time to draft. And revise. And draft. And research. And revise again.
Designing an Icon: The Art and Science of the Book Cover
Once the book was mostly written, it was time to figure out what it would look like. They say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the truth is, a book’s cover is pretty important.
The goal was to have a cover that showed that this book would be giving people insider plays, that it would be a trusty guide. We also needed it to catch a reader’s eye, so we tested designs and how they looked in digital search results.
But even as we were closing in on the design of the book (it took us five design rounds), we wanted to make sure that everything was the best it could be.
Rookie Real Estate Agent had at least four rounds of copyediting and proofing, during which the writing and research team were still reaching out to agents to find actionable insights.
Building on Rookie: Empowering Agents With Training and Resources
In early 2025, Jay and the team decided Rookie was ready. It was time to send the book off to print. During the roughly six months it would take for the thousands of copies to print and arrive at the warehouse, the team turned to making the resources that would build on the book’s models and systems and make them trainable.
The KellerINK team partnered with KW LABS to run a beta test for a book club that teams and market centers could use to teach the book.
For six weeks, the writing team taught the book and gathered feedback. The resulting slide decks, instructor notes, and worksheets were posted to the KellerINK resource page, where they are free and available to download.
Rookie Real Estate Agent: Launch a Career That Lasts was officially released in early September 2025. By late September, those learning resources had already been downloaded over 5,000 times — and the book had found its way to over 8,000 readers. With more resources and training in the works, our hope is that this book will help agents across the world feel inspired and empowered to create a real estate career that brings them the life and business of their dreams.
It’s been an incredible journey watching this book come together. Here’s to the next one!
