From Grief to Growth: How Video and Vulnerability Rebuilt My Real Estate Business

This isn’t a blog about Instagram tips.
It’s not a three-step formula to land more real estate leads.
It’s the hardest talk I’ve ever given—and the one I’m most proud of.

In this keynote, I share how I rebuilt my real estate business after the unimaginable: losing my infant son, Sawyer.
No script. No filter. Just the truth of what it means to start over—alone, unknown, and with nothing but a phone and the will to keep going.

From Grief to Growth – How Video and Vulnerability Rebuilt My Real Estate Business

What This Talk Covers:

• The reality of rebuilding a real estate business from scratch in a brand-new city.

• How grief stripped away perfectionism and taught me how to truly show up—in life and online.

• The early days of social media video—before it was trendy, before everyone was trying to be an influencer.

• Why authenticity outperforms algorithms—and how real estate agents can use it to build trust.

• The exact three types of videos every real estate agent should be making right now.

This isn’t just my story—it’s a reminder that what we do matters.
And how we show up matters even more.

Why This Talk Is Resonating:
Real estate agents are overwhelmed.
They're being told to post more, edit better, go viral.
But behind the highlight reels, most are quietly wondering if they’re doing enough—or if they’re doing it right at all.

This talk is a pause.
It’s a realignment.
It’s for the real estate agent who’s tired of chasing trends and ready to show up with heart, clarity, and purpose.

What Happened When I Chose to Get Real:
When I moved to Naples, I didn’t have a marketing budget or a local network.
All I had was a phone—and the skill to record and edit a video.

I started going Live every Friday at 1PM. The lighting was bad. The internet glitched.
I cried off-camera more than once.
But I kept showing up.

That first year? I made $25K in GCI. That’s not a business—it’s a hobby.

But over time, that commitment to video and value led to a 1900% increase in my business.
And it brought my husband—who once told me I might need a “real job”—into real estate full-time as my business partner.

The 3 Most Important Videos Every Real Estate Agent Should Be Making:

1. The Walkthrough Video
   Let the home shine. No face required—just your voice guiding the experience.

2. The CMA Video
   Sent privately to sellers, this video explains the ‘why’ behind your pricing. It’s the most powerful listing tool I use.

3. The Social Media Explainer
   Talk directly to your audience. Don’t perform—educate. Answer the questions they’re too afraid to ask out loud.

And if this message resonated…
I also teach agents how to bring that same realness into the videos they create for their business.
(Psst: I’ve got full presentations on those three types of videos too—reach out if you’re planning an event.)

To Be Clear:
Sharing this talk is not something I take lightly.
It’s deeply personal. But I believe there’s power in sharing the hard things—especially when they help others find the courage to keep going.

If you're a real estate industry leader, conference organizer, or brokerage looking to inspire your agents with something real,
I’d love to bring this talk to your stage.

You can connect with me by clicking here

In Closing:
This isn’t a story about going viral.
It’s about choosing to show up when everything feels broken—and doing it anyway.
It’s about knowing that our value as real estate professionals doesn’t come from views, but from our voice.

It’s for every real estate agent who’s still showing up—even when life hits hard.
Let’s help more of them hear it.

💕 your Naples real estate bestie, Pinky 

Yes—add a short bio at the end. It’s not only smart branding but also serves three key purposes:

Why You Should Include a Short Bio:

1. Establishes credibility – Especially for new visitors who don’t know you.

2. Supports SEO – Including your name, location, and role helps search engines associate you with real estate and speaking.

3. Creates a CTA moment – You can lightly guide people to follow, connect, or book you without sounding salesy.

Sue “Pinky” Benson is a nationally recognized real estate agent, keynote speaker, and social media coach based in Naples, Florida. After rebuilding her business through video and authenticity, she now helps other agents do the same. Follow her @PinkyKnowsNaples or learn more at PinkyPresents.com.

Would you like that in first person instead if the rest of your blog is written that way?