Blog Open House Be Yourself on Purpose with Jacob Weigel | Open House Podcast - Everday Excellence

Be Yourself on Purpose with Jacob Weigel | Open House Podcast – Everday Excellence

By Jenelle Etzel, May 12, 2026

Showing Up Fully in Every Room

In real estate, it is easy to feel pressure to adjust who you are depending on the client, the setting, or the deal. But for Jacob Weigel, that approach never made sense.

In this episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence, Jacob shares how he has built a referral-based business by staying grounded in authenticity. Whether he is working with rural land development clients or high-end urban buyers, he brings the same presence, curiosity, and clarity into every interaction.

His perspective is simple. You do not need to become someone different to build trust. You need to become more fully yourself.

Moving Between Worlds Without Losing Yourself

Jacob grew up in McMinnville, Oregon in a blue collar family, later building a career in Portland real estate while moving through very different social and professional environments. That range, he explains, is not something he tries to smooth out. It is something he leans into.

Rather than code switching to fit in, Jacob focuses on staying consistent in how he shows up. The result is not uniformity in his clients, but consistency in his approach.

He describes it as a kind of clarity. You either feel aligned with someone, or you do not. There is no performance required to bridge the gap.

Connection Over Division

Much of today’s culture, Jacob notes, is focused on what separates people. Background, identity, geography, and belief systems are often framed as barriers.

In his work, he takes a different approach. He looks for shared ground first.

Sometimes that is a conversation about cars, sometimes it is family, and sometimes it is something as small as a passing comment that opens the door to trust. These moments, while subtle, are often where relationships begin.

For Jacob, rapport is not built through persuasion. It is built through attention.

Authenticity as a Form of Leadership

One of the central ideas in this conversation is that authenticity is not passive. It is a decision.

Jacob talks about choosing not to be defensive, even in high-pressure conversations. He stays steady, even when challenged, and allows clarity to guide his response rather than reaction.

In a business where emotional intensity is common, that steadiness becomes part of his value. Clients are not just responding to information. They are responding to presence.

Building a Business That Does Not Burn You Out

A recurring theme in Jacob’s perspective is sustainability. He is clear that building a business that requires you to perform a version of yourself will eventually wear you down.

Instead, he encourages agents to build relationships with people who already align with who they are. Not everyone will. And that is the point.

A business built on authenticity does not require constant adaptation. It requires consistency.

The Takeaway

Success in real estate is often framed around strategy, negotiation, and market knowledge. Those matter. But Jacob Weigel adds another layer.

Trust is built when people feel they are meeting the real you, not a version of you shaped for the moment.

When agents lead with curiosity, stay grounded in who they are, and look for common ground instead of difference, the work becomes simpler. And often, more sustainable.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jenelle Etzel

President & Owner, Licensed Broker OR

She/Her

What does being lead singer and guitar player in a female punk band have in common with starting a real estate company in the middle of a recession? Not many people can answer that question. But when you ask Jenelle Isaacson Etzel founder and CEO of Living Room Realty, there’s no hesitation; where most would see a chasm, she sees a bridge. For Jenelle, it’s all been about finding a voice—the singular and irrepressible expression of self. Once a quiet, studious, high-school girl growing up in Portland, Jenelle started a punk band after college. She played guitar, wrote cathartic songs, performed, and traveled across country while living out of a van. All that seems light years from the present moment--owning a successful, growing company; serving on boards of civic and philanthropic organizations; enjoying family life with her two young daughters and long-time partner. Still, she uses the same voice now that began to emerge on stage years ago. Whether it’s business or music, “It’s important to know what your voice is. If it’s true, it will resonate.” Jenelle’s voice, her truth, is about being brave enough to take action without apology, being heard without being exploited, to be energized, constantly problem-solving and refining her skills in the pursuit of building a purpose-driven company. All this requires risk-taking. She’s learned the hard way that she can’t fix everything and that not everyone will share her vision. But even as she explains the difficult choices she’s faced, Jenelle radiates joy. “It’s never okay to play small,” she says with conviction. And this, more than anything, is what she strives to impart to other women, empowering them to pursue their passion whole-heartedly and to be leaders who speak with their own unique, unapologetic voice. Living Room Realty, founded in 2009, offers residential, commercial, and property management services. Living Room ranks in the top 15 real estate companies in Oregon, with more than 110 affiliated broker-agents. For more information, visit www.livingroomre.com. Noted Achievements: First west coast real estate office to receive B Corp status • Top Workplaces, 2014-2016 • 100 Best Workplaces in Oregon 2017 • 100 Best Green Companies 2017 • Oregon Business in Ethics Awards in 2014 • Jenelle has been featured in The Portland Monthly, Oregon Business, and REALTOR® Magazine • Portland Business Journal 40 under 40 Business Leaders • Board of Directors, Rock n Roll Camp for Girls, receiving 2015 award for creative philanthropy • Board Member, Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Network, Portland chapter • Orchid Award recipient for Business and Civic Contributions • Guest speaker: OPB’s Think Out Loud, Investor Beat, Cascadia Green Building Council • Advocate speaking on behalf of Benefit Corporation legislation with Oregon Secretary of State, Kate Brown
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