Month:December 2014

#11 Thoughts on Leadership: Goals for the New Year

By Gino Blefari

“When it comes to setting goals, the law of diminishing returns is as real as the law of gravity.” – The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling

It’s an age-old tradition: The clock strikes midnight. It’s Jan. 1 and we mentally run through our list of resolutions for the new year, ready to conquer all of them. And by New Year’s Eve of the following year, we celebrate our accomplishments, satisfied with the fact that we’ve achieved every single goal we set out to attain, right? Well, maybe.

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#10 Thoughts on Leadership: A Holiday Message

By Gino Blefari

In my years of business, I’ve come across some exceptional leaders, men and women who can motivate with a single word, encourage with a single action and inspire without saying anything at all. Still, there’s one leader I’ve yet to meet, someone who I consider the epitome of enthusiasm, leading his employees with cheerful insights and sharing with the public nothing but pure joy.

Who is this amazing person, you ask? Well, the happiest leader of them all … jolly old St. Nick.

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#Technology: How Much Is too Much?

By Kyle Rank

Do you remember when real estate was conducted solely through office visits, phone calls and only with pen and paper? Or perhaps you get a feeling of nostalgia thinking about how you couldn’t wait for the next newspaper edition with your newest listing advertisement?

Business looked different not so long ago. Agents would sketch out their negotiations on a scrap piece of paper. Transactions would start and end with a firm handshake agreement. Some people refer to this era as the “good ol’ days.”

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Build Relationships By Getting to Know Your Clients

By Lisa Schultz

As a real estate agent, acquiring clients is a large portion of your workload.

However, once you’ve found your prospects, obtaining and maintaining those relationships becomes one of your primary responsibilities. Many agents lose clients because they aren’t fully meeting their clients’ needs or expectations. For example, the clients may expect to hear from their agent more frequently than they are being contacted. If they are dissatisfied with the service received or expectations are miscommunicated, the client may choose to do business with someone else.

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#09 Thoughts on Leadership: Never See Failure as Failure

By Gino Blefari 

This week I was in Washington, D.C. to help celebrate the launch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. For those who have never been, Washington, D.C. is a beautiful city steeped in American history; you practically feel like a Founding Father walking the cobblestone streets. It’s also the place where you’ll find one extraordinary 132-room, 35-bathroom, six-story home, designed in the neoclassical style and painted white. (Once a real estate agent, always a real estate agent, right?) Inside this white house, some of the country’s—and world’s—greatest leaders lived and prospered, changing the course of history through their actions and words.

One of its most inspirational residents was arguably Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president. Most people know Lincoln for his incredible triumphs for civil rights and basic freedom but did you know that these accomplishments only arrived after years of failure and rejection? Observe:

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#08: Thoughts on Leadership: A Meal to Remember

By Gino Blefari

My travels this week took me to Charleston, SC, to attend the Real Living Connection conference with the outstanding Real Living Real Estate brokers. After I landed in Charleston, I asked the concierge at my hotel for a few good dinner recommendations. She kindly offered her favorite local spots, among them a steakhouse called Halls Chophouse. Now, if any of you know me well, you know I like my steak; the decision was simple.

So, off I went to find this restaurant, walking along the historic streets of Charleston, lined by little shops and restaurants steeped in good old Southern charm. As I made my way to Halls, I noticed most restaurants were empty but it didn’t catch me off guard because it was, after all, a Tuesday night. I didn’t expect much of a crowd, or even a wait, as I turned the corner onto King Street and spotted Halls up ahead. However, when I walked in, I was surprised to see it was completely packed.

“What’s going on here?”

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