Fourth Time’s a Charm

Just over 20 years ago, Mike Alley was a top-producing agent at an independent company when he first encountered EXIT Realty at a NAR® Midyear Conference in Washington, D.C. This is where the company’s unique residual Formula made quite an impression on him and his dreams of ownership.

For many professionals in the industry, real estate is often a second career choice. For Alley, it was his fourth.

“I started out as a geological engineer but left after five years to be my own boss in small business, which unfortunately did not go well,” he recalled. “At age 41 I was invited into real estate by a friend. I was immediately successful and was a top producer for 10 years before purchasing my EXIT Realty Black Hills franchise in December 2004.”

Alley knew from the start that he wanted a franchise system with guidance, resources, and training. His early operation consisted of himself, one full-time agent and a part-time agent who also handled administration. At the time EXIT wasn’t a well-known company name in Rapid City, South Dakota so recruiting was tough. He credits the dogged practice of affirming for over 15 years, which he learned from EXIT’s Founder and Chairman, Steve Morris, for keeping him on task and focused on growing his office to a successful 23-agent team.

Ironically, in 2012 he would acquire the very independent office where he first began his real estate career, and would finally understand the power of the business model that drew him to EXIT in the first place.

“As a broker who has gone through slow times, having sponsored most of the agents in my office provides me with residuals that I’ve utilized for my income when times are slow and as a travel bonus when times are good,” Alley explains. “I have another agent, Perry Grosz, who has also brought in three agents and I truly believe sponsoring keeps agents connected to EXIT for the long term, while others without this vision bounce around seeking the immediate reward.”

Now with two EXIT Realty Black Hills locations, Alley goes to work each day with Zig Ziglar’s advice reminding him that if he helps enough people get what they want, he will get what he wants as well. So, he connects with his community through volunteer outreach, park cleanups and by donating 2% of the office’s share of commissions each month to the Black Hills Area Habitat for Humanity.

Alley believes his success is not in managing, but rather in modeling a business style that’s been successful for him for 30 years. That’s not to say he doesn’t look to improve or change in the future. He hopes to be considered a “wise sage” over the next few years while possibly passing the torch over to a more management conscious, tech savvy owner. For now, however, he says, “I enjoy leading, teaching and watching my young agents grow to success.”