One proven way to enjoy a long-term career in real estate is to make a habit of helping other people, and to help other people without any expectation of receiving anything in return. 

So, if someone I know wants to know what their home is worth, even though they have no plans to sell, I help them. If another person wants to know how much they can rent their home for, I help them, too. And if another person I know wants help finding a trusted contractor to remodel their bathroom, I help them find a good contractor. 

I gladly help all of these people even though they have no plans to sell. 

If I only help people when I hope to receive something in return, that's not helping. That's transacting. 

It's the agents who transact who often struggle throughout their real estate careers. The helpers, on the other hand, tend to thrive over the long run.