\Aubrey Linville | President & Founding Partner, Linville Team Partners & Xpand
Running a business—especially one that’s built on relationships—teaches you a lot.
Some lessons hit you fast. Others take years to fully sink in. A few you have to learn more than once.
At Linville Team Partners & Xpand, we’ve grown from a two-person idea to two brands and a team working across multiple markets. Along the way, I’ve collected a handful of lessons—about leadership, client service, and doing business in a way that actually feels good.
Here are 10 lessons that continue to shape how I work and how we operate.
1. The most powerful thing you can build is trust.
You can have the best market data, the sharpest strategy, the flashiest branding. But if people don’t trust you, none of it matters. Trust is built slowly—by doing what you say you’ll do.
2. No one wants to be sold to—but everyone wants to be understood.
Whether we’re helping someone find their next location or advising on a long-term investment, the real work starts with listening. You can’t solve problems you don’t understand.
3. Your team is your first client.
The way we treat each other internally shows up in how we serve our clients externally. Culture isn’t fluff—it’s everything.
4. There’s clarity in constraints.
Sometimes the best ideas come from the tightest boxes. Budget limitations, tough timelines, zoning hiccups—those challenges often push us to think smarter and serve better.
5. Momentum beats perfection.
We don’t always get it exactly right the first time. But we move forward. We iterate. We stay in motion. Progress compounds when you’re willing to take action and refine as you go.
6. Clients can tell when you care.
It’s in the details. The quick follow-up. The extra check-in. The thought you put into a recommendation. You can’t fake genuine interest—and when it’s real, people feel it.
7. Every deal has a story.
Real estate isn’t just about properties—it’s about people and timing and risk and dreams. Understanding the story behind a deal helps us give better advice and make better decisions.
8. Simplicity is a competitive advantage.
Complicated doesn’t mean smarter. Whether it’s a proposal, a strategy, or a phone call, we aim to make things clearer—not more confusing.
9. You don’t grow by accident.
Growth—personally, professionally, organizationally—takes intention. We try to build in time to reflect, challenge ourselves, and stay uncomfortable (in the good way).
10. Be in it for the long game.
We’ve turned down opportunities that weren’t the right fit. We’ve invested time where it wasn’t immediately “profitable.” But playing the long game always pays off—especially in a relationship business.
We talk a lot at LTP about doing business the right way—not just the fast way. These lessons don’t just shape how I lead. They influence how we serve, how we collaborate, and how we grow. They’re not just good ideas—they’re the foundation of the kind of business we want to be part of every day.
Shoot me a note if any of this hits home. I’d love to hear what lessons you’re learning in your corner of the business world.