Why I Ditched the News—and How It Skyrocketed My Real Estate Career

Back in 2008, my real estate business was humming along. My team was selling around 100 homes a year, which sounds great on paper—but we had hit a plateau. For the past 10 years, I felt like I was stuck in cruise control, and I knew I was capable of more. That’s when I decided to hire a coach.

My coach wasn’t just any coach—this guy was running a team that sold over 600 homes a year. He was where I wanted to be, so I figured he must have the secret sauce. And, oh, did he ever. But it wasn’t what I expected.

"Why Do You Watch the News?"

During one of our early coaching sessions, I casually mentioned watching the news, and he cut me off mid-sentence. He looked at me (well, through the Zoom screen) and asked, “Why do you watch the news?”

I paused. Good question. I stammered something about civic duty, needing to stay informed, and blah, blah, blah. He wasn’t buying it.

He told me he had stopped watching the news years earlier and saw a massive improvement in his attitude and outlook. “The news,” he explained, “is full of negativity—most of it about things you can’t control anyway. Why let that into your life?”

The 30-Day Challenge

Then came the challenge: “Go 30 days without watching the news or reading the newspaper.”

I decided to give it a shot. What did I have to lose? Spoiler alert: that was the last time I voluntarily watched the news.

Within days, I felt lighter—like a weight I didn’t even know I was carrying had been lifted. Instead of spending my evenings glued to depressing headlines about car crashes and chaos, I filled that time with positive, productive activities. I started listening to audiobooks—business strategies, mindset tips, personal development. I was programming myself instead of letting the media do it for me.

The Impact on My Business and Life

The change was almost immediate. Without the negativity clouding my thoughts, I had more energy, more focus, and, frankly, more optimism. My business began to grow, and so did my overall happiness.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, my wife (girlfriend at the time) had the news on constantly, trying to stay informed about the virus. I hadn’t watched the news in 12 years, and I wasn’t about to start. It sparked one of our first big arguments, but eventually, I convinced her to turn it off, too. (Happy to report: we’re still married!)

Who’s Really Controlling the News?


Here’s a little fact that might surprise you: 40 years ago, over 50 companies delivered the news. Today? Six corporations control 90% of the mainstream media. That’s Disney, Paramount, Comcast, Sony, Warner Brothers, and Amazon.

These corporations decide what you see, hear, and read. They control the narrative, whether to influence your opinions, sell you something, or keep you watching. Remember those “fact-checkers” on social media during the pandemic? Same idea.

Why You Should Turn It Off

Turning off the news was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I didn’t just eliminate negativity—I replaced it with positivity and productivity. My mindset shifted, my energy improved, and my business broke through that plateau I had been stuck on for a decade.

Want to know the best part? You can try this, too. Take the 30-day no-news challenge. What do you have to lose? At worst, you miss a few headlines. At best, you gain a more positive outlook and a clearer focus on what really matters: growing your business and living your best life.

Give it a shot—your future self (and your business) will thank you.


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