Month:February 2023

Thoughts on Leadership: Celebrating Black History Month Innovators

By Gino Blefari:

This week my travels found me starting Monday at home with an early morning Berkshire Hathaway Energy call followed by my typical WIG calls with the team. On Tuesday I attended team meetings and on Wednesday I drove the 160 miles from Los Altos to Fresno, California for the Guarantee Real Estate all-company sales meeting at the brokerage’s Fig Garden office. I had lunch with the home office management team then returned north for a total of 320 miles driven within a 12-hour time frame. The enthusiasm and energy of the Guarantee Real Estate agents and leadership team made it worth every mile.

Throughout the month, these Thoughts on Leadership posts have featured Black leaders whose work and wisdom changed the course of history. One of the things I like the most about my blog is getting all the responses and different stories that come back because of the topics I’ve shared. This blog post is a direct result of two of those responses.

Read more: Thoughts on Leadership: Celebrating Black History Month Innovators

After writing about Rosa Parks last week, Rod Messick, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty, responded with a book recommendation: “His Truth Is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Home” by John Meacham.

John Lewis, as Rod explained, was known during the Civil Rights Movement as the “Boy from Troy.” Coincidentally, Rod grew up in Troy, Alabama and didn’t know about Lewis’ connection to his hometown until recently. Rod said he knew of John Lewis as a Civil Rights leader who was attacked on the bridge at Selma, as a congressman from Atlanta but not until the end of Lewis’ life did Rod realize that Lewis grew up mere miles from his own home.

“You see there was no civic pride in the ‘70s and ‘80s around being the home of John Lewis,” Rod told me. “We had a major thoroughfare named after George Wallace but no recognition of John Lewis.”

All that changed in 2020 after Troy University – a school that in 1957 denied John Lewis admission because of the color of his skin – named a building after Lewis.

Soon, the town of Troy began to learn about the amazing life of the human rights activist and advocate for non-violent change. Finally, John Lewis got the long-overdue recognition he deserved. It’s also worth noting that despite his initial rejection by Troy University, Lewis never held any spite or hatred for the school. He chose forgiveness, and even visited the Troy University campus in 1989 to receive an honorary doctorate. He returned in 2006, after Troy University awarded Lewis with the Hall-Waters Prize for his memoir, “Walking with the Wind.”

Gladys West is another Black leader whose legacy was brought to my attention by Helen Cocuzza of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS®. She shared with me that Gladys West developed the GPS technology most of us use daily today.

West was born in rural Virginia on October 27, 1930. As her Britannica biography notes: “In her community the only clear options for a young Black girl’s future were continuing to farm or working at a tobacco-processing plant.”

But West’s penchant for learning took her somewhere new, and after she graduated valedictorian of her high school, West was offered a full scholarship to Virginia State College. She graduated in 1952 with a degree in mathematics then received a master’s degree in mathematics. In 1956, the U.S. Naval Proving Ground hired West to work in the weapons laboratory in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was the fourth Black employee in the entire organization, and she quickly earned a reputation for solving complex mathematical problems by hand. Her work eventually led to a satellite that was programmed to create computer models of the Earth’s surface, and it’s this model (and subsequent updates) that allows GPS systems today to make accurate calculations of any location on the planet.

So, what’s the message? Like Mary W. Jackson, Gladys West was once a “hidden figure” of history, but the more we have these conversations about Black leaders like Jackson, like West, like Lewis, the more we can be sure their stories, contributions and legacies will never, ever be forgotten.

Posted by rethinkcouncil

Thoughts on Leadership: Leadership Lessons from Rosa Parks

By Gino Blefari:

Remember: The tallest oak was once a little nut that stood its ground.

This week my travels find me starting Monday at my home office, conducting WIG calls with our team. On Tuesday, I attended the early Berkshire Hathaway Energy weekly executive team meeting and hosted our monthly HomeServices of America Leadership meeting. On Wednesday morning, I met with Dominic Nicoli at Intero Real Estate Services and delivered a no-nonsense speech on the realities of business and life to his accountability group. This afternoon, I was a virtual guest speaker for a class at the University of Colorado entitled “Real Estate Technology.” Each semester, Mike DelPrete, who teaches the class, invites about 15 different industry guest speakers to provide their insights and share their experiences. As a perpetual student myself, I always love chatting with a room full of people eager to learn. And after class, I sit down to write this post to you.

As part of Black History Month, we’ve been celebrating Black leaders on the blog and for today’s post, I’d like to talk about leadership lessons from Rosa Parks.

Read more: Thoughts on Leadership: Leadership Lessons from Rosa Parks

Parks is credited with helping to initiate the civil rights movement in the U.S. after she famously refused to give up her seat to a white man while riding a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. At the time, African Americans were required by city ordinance to sit in the back half of all city buses and yield their seats to white bus riders should the front half of the bus become full.

According to History.com, on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks – a seamstress from Tuskegee, Alabama and a respected member of the African American community in Montgomery – was sitting in the front row of what was called the “colored section” of the Cleveland Avenue bus. She had just finished a long day of work at the Montgomery Fair department store. When the “white seats” filled up, the bus driver asked four Black riders to give up their seats, as per the existing city ordinance. Three of those riders vacated their seats but the fourth rider – Rosa Parks – wouldn’t budge.

In her official autobiography, Parks recalls that pivotal decision. She wrote: “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”

By the time she was sent to jail, everyone in the Montgomery community had heard about Parks’ arrest, including the former head of the Montgomery National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, E.D. Nixon. He’d been waiting for the perfect case that could challenge the segregated bus system in Montgomery … and believed he’d just found it in the unstoppable Rosa Parks.

As Stanford University’s King Institute describes, a group quickly assembled to bail Parks out of jail, including: Park’s close friend Virgina Durr; Virginia’s husband, Clifford Durr; and E.D. Nixon. Virginia Durr played a pivotal role in Parks’ civil rights advocacy; in 1955, Durr organized for Parks to receive a scholarship to attend a two-week workshop at the Highlander Folk School. The workshop focused on the implementation of school desegregation and cultivating local leaders for social change. What Parks learned at that workshop is believed to have (at least in part) inspired her actions on the Cleveland Avenue bus. Durr’s husband, Clifford Durr, was a lawyer who long championed diversity and equal rights.

Back at home, Parks spoke with Nixon about her case and its potential to ignite real change in the Montgomery community and around the country. The following day, when Parks’ trial was set to take place, there’d also be a citywide bus boycott and by midnight, 35,000 flyers were sent out with details about the upcoming event.

On December 5, 1955, History.com describes that about 40,000 Black bus drivers (most of the drivers in the city) participated in what would become known as the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Later in the afternoon, Black organizers also formed the Montgomery Improvement Association and elected a 26-year-old pastor from Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church as the president of the group. His name? Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott continued for 13 months – exactly 381 days – until December 20, 1956 when the Montgomery buses became officially integrated. Several months later, on June 5, 1956 a federal district court in Montgomery ruled that bus segregation was in violation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In November 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision. 

So, what’s the message? One of my father’s favorite quotes was that the tallest oak tree in the forest was just a little nut that held its ground. Stand tall. Fight for what you believe in. Have courage. Be brave. Parks once said: “To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.”

Posted by rethinkcouncil

Thoughts on Leadership: Lessons from the NFL

By Gino Blefari:

This week my travels found me starting Monday with my typical WIG calls. On Tuesday I traveled to Orange County to film some videos with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Beach Properties of Florida CEO Jimmy Burgess at our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices HQ. On Wednesday, I was the guest speaker at the in-person Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices REthink Council 2023 Kick-off Meeting, which took place at the HQ as well, hosted by Jimmy and Vince Leisey, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate. I also attended Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ event, “Secrets, Tips & Tools for Success” featuring California Properties President Martha Mosier and California Properties’ Ronnie Hackett, Chris Lee, and Jill White. Today, I recorded a podcast with Andrew Undem of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty’s Sure Group and sat down to write this post to you.

Read more: Thoughts on Leadership: Lessons from the NFL

With this being the Thursday eve of Super Bowl and Black History Month, I want to give a shout out to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Did you know this is the first Super Bowl ever with both teams starting a Black quarterback? It’s a historic moment for the sport, for our country and for the millions around the world who will be tuning into the game this Sunday.

And while we’re on the topic of football, let’s talk about probably the greatest football player of all time, none other than the GOAT Tom Brady who announced his retirement on February 1 of this year.

If you took Tom Brady’s first 21 seasons and broke them into three distinct periods, every seven years he accomplished enough to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His first seven years match up perfectly with Troy Aikman’s career. His next seven years match up perfectly with Dan Marino’s career, and his last seven years match up with my own 49ers Joe Montana’s career.

Let’s look at the stats:

Troy Aikman Era: Tom Brady’s 2000-2006 Career vs. Troy Aikman’s Career

  • Division Titles: 5 vs. 6
  • Super Bowl Titles: 3 vs. 3
  • Super Bowl MVP: 2 vs. 1
  • Regular Season MVP 0 vs. 0

Dan Marino Era: Tom Brady’s 2007-2013 Career vs. Dan Marino’s Career

  • Division Titles: 6 vs. 5
  • Super Bowl Appearances: 2 vs. 1
  • Regular Season MVP: 2 vs. 1
  • Pass Touchdown Leader: 2 vs. 3

Joe Montana Era: Tom Brady’s 2014-2020 Vs. Joe Montana’s Career

  • Super Bowl Titles: 4 vs. 4
  • Super Bowl MVP: 3 vs. 3
  • Regular Season MVP: 1 vs. 2

So that’s three Hall of Fame careers, and with another Super Bowl win and a passing record in 2021, and another record-setting passing season in 2022, (breaking his own 2021 record) if he played another five years, my money would be on Brady to have a fourth Hall of Fame career.

Beyond all the amazing numbers, he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time because of the high standards he sets for leadership excellence. His career is proof that with hard work, perseverance, and a selfless, put-your-team-before-everything mentality, you can achieve anything. These are some of his incredible traits that make him such an outstanding leader on and off the field:

  1       The power of preparation: Brady is known for his meticulous preparation, both on and off the field. He spent countless hours studying game film and working on his technique, which allowed him to perform at a high level consistently. Brady went to sleep at 8:30 every night to get proper rest and maintained a strict diet to be in top form for every game. This attention to detail serves as a reminder that preparation is key to success in any field. And his preparation started early; even in high school, Brady would invite his teammates to his house to review tapes while his mom made them lunch.

        2       The importance of teamwork: Despite being one of the best players in the NFL, Brady has always emphasized the importance of teamwork. He recognizes that success in football, or any sport, is the result of everyone working together towards a common goal. This lesson can be applied to any organization or team, where the collective effort of everyone is more important than individual achievement.

        3       Mental toughness: Brady has faced numerous challenges throughout his career, including injuries, controversies, and more. However, he has always remained mentally tough, focusing on what he can control and not getting discouraged by setbacks. This level of mental toughness is a key attribute of great leaders, who must be able to remain calm and focused even in the face of adversity.

        4       Adaptability: Brady has had to adapt to new systems, coaches, and players throughout his career. He has shown that he is capable of quickly adjusting to new situations and that he is open to new ideas and approaches. Leaders who are adaptable and open to change are more likely to be successful in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

        5       Passion for excellence: Brady has a relentless drive to be the best and to win. He is always striving for excellence and pushing himself and his team to perform at their highest level. This level of passion for excellence is infectious and inspires others to strive for their own personal best. During the 2021 Super Bowl, Brady texted the team on a nightly basis: “We will win.” Those three words reinforced Brady’s confidence in his teammates and drive for excellence.

So, what’s the message? Tom Brady is a successful quarterback and a great leader who sets high standards. Tom Brady yelled when his teammates weren’t meeting his expectations. Tom Brady barked at coaches and was allegedly tough during practice. “Let’s go! Do it again! Line up and do it again!” He’d say. But all that proves he not only holds his teammates to a higher standard of accomplishment but also demands they achieve it.

Posted by rethinkcouncil

Thoughts on Leadership: Celebrating Black History Month

By Gino Bleafri:

This week my travels find me starting Monday at home, conducting my typical WIG calls. On Tuesday, I had an early morning Berkshire Hathaway Energy call, and in total this week, I had 20 appointments with the mission to help team members achieve their goals faster than they would in my absence. Today, I attended Iowa Realty’s 70th Anniversary and Agent Award Ceremony.

One of my Wildly Important Goals this week was to attend and participate in our “Diversity Meets” monthly meeting, which just so happens to coincide with the start of Black History Month this February.

All month long (but really, all year long) we celebrate the leadership of incredible Black leaders whose wisdom and insights challenged and changed our world in extraordinary ways. For this post, I’d like to focus on my pal Johnnie Johnson.

A fearless leader, advocate, good friend, and former All-Pro defensive back for the Los Angeles Rams, today Johnnie is president and CEO of World Class Coaches. He’s also the author of a must-read book, From Athletics to Engineering: 8 Ways to Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

In the book, Johnnie outlines 8 tactics for creating a more diverse and inclusive environment at work, at home and in every facet of your life. Here are his 8 ways:

  1. It starts with each of us. Johnnie says the first step to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion is deciding that you will. If you wait around for someone else to do it, it’ll never happen in the way it should. A more inclusive approach must always start with you.
  2. Love your neighbor. But don’t just love them, says Johnnie, take the time to really get to know and appreciate who they are as human beings. This removes barriers that inhibit the flow of a diverse, inclusive society.
  3. Talk about it. Engage in constructive conversations, Johnnie writes. Be sure to create a safe environment where tough questions can be asked without fear of recrimination. There is always more knowledge to gain.
  4. Check your biases and blind spots. Identifying the places where you have bias allows you to correct and eliminate them.
  5. Expand your comfort zone. Johnnie defines a comfort zone as the place where we can be productive and operate with confidence. When we operate outside of it, our performance suffers. Therefore, it’s critical to expand our comfort zone, so we can perform comfortably at a high level in a variety of circumstances.
  6. Build diverse teams. Diversity inherently brings varying perspectives to a company, which helps teams perform better. A McKinsey & Company study cited in the book found that “the most diverse companies outperform less diverse companies on key indicators, such as profitability.”
  7. Collaborate. Creating a team with diverse backgrounds is what Johnnie calls “a good start.” Next comes the actual collaboration to ensure the team performs. When you collaborate, you must not only acknowledge the differences among the team but also celebrate them.
  8. Align actions with goals and values. Johnnie says goals must be in alignment with personal values, and we should take time to define and articulate our core values. Then, we must ensure that we’re following them with everything we say and do.

So, what’s the message? At HomeServices of America, diversity is who we are and who we’ll forever strive to be. It’s a perpetual journey, adding new perspectives and fresh ideas as we travel this diverse, inclusive, and equitable road together. Johnnie Johnson is an example of a leader who does just that … and in sharing his strategies this Black History Month, we find inspiration to create a better world for all.

Posted by rethinkcouncil

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