This week my travels find me in Boca Raton, FL but instead of talking about my meetings in the Sunshine State, I want to instead share a brilliant marketing idea I discovered on a recent trip to Dallas. The idea brings to light the importance of creative disruption and how in business you must develop, consider, reconsider, refine and modify any proposed solution to a problem in order to achieve sustainable success.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in Northern California, taking a few days off before I get back to work on Friday. (Yes, you read that right!) I know my usual Thursday Thoughts recount how I flew to New York on Monday and was in Arizona on Tuesday but this week, I stayed put and did something that is important, powerful—yet underrated—for all leaders to do: I recharged.
In The Power of Full Engagement, an influential book about leadership by best-selling authors Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, the mindful duo had this to say about sprinters vs. long-distance runners:
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels found me in Northern California where on Monday afternoon I had the opportunity to have lunch with my good friend, Dwight Clark, former All-Pro wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers and five-time Super Bowl champion. We were joined by another friend of mine, best-selling author Carmine Gallo, who wrote some of my all-time favorite business books, including: Talk Like Ted, The Storyteller’s Secret and The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs. Together, we spoke about the challenges and rewards of business, sports and life in general.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels found me in Northern California, Arizona, Southern California and then back to Northern California. While in Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to attend an event honoring recently retired Chairman, president and CEO of Edison International Theodore “Ted” F. Craver, Jr. with the 2016 Western Los Angeles County Council, Boy Scouts of America Americanism Award.
According to WLACC-BSA president Mark D. Carlson, the award “is conferred on individuals who personify the traditions of our country and the Boy Scouts of America.” Other notable recipients include: General Jimmy Doolittle, Gerald R. Ford and Bob Hope.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels found me in Northern California, working from my home office, and on Tuesday afternoon in Los Altos at the Montclaire Elementary School, exercising my right as an American citizen to vote in the 2016 election.
For those reading my words now, holding your breath, don’t worry. This isn’t a political post … per se. I know far better than to talk politics or espouse one person’s opinion as more sound than the next. But my weekly messages are all about leaders and I’d be remiss not to mention that one has just been elected to lead the United States of America as our 45th president.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in Orlando for the National Association of REALTORS® Conference & Expo, a yearly event that brings together real estate professionals from across the country … and the globe. Our HSF Affiliates brands will be proudly represented on the Expo floor—come say hello to our team at Booth No. 1565—as thousands of attendees connect, learn and ultimately build relationships that will help grow their businesses.
In this post, though, I want to focus on the value of connection because I firmly believe it lays the groundwork for all we do, is a major determinant of future success and in many ways, can define who we are. Without real connection we have next to nothing; no authenticity, no substance, no trust and no foundation upon which to build lasting relationships that will propel us forward.
The question often comes up: How do you best connect at large events like the NAR Conference & Expo, when the crowd can sometimes be overwhelming and the opportunities so vast? Here’s my answer (or my five answers), about how to foster meaningful connections at your next meeting—whether it’s at the upcoming NAR convention, an office networking event or holiday party:
This week my travels found me in Las Vegas for the 2016 National Convention of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). From Vegas, it was off to Minneapolis for the monthly board meeting with our HomeServices of America, Inc. team—it’s always great to spend time with Greg Abel, chairman, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Finally, I finished the week in Park City, Utah for a Mavericks meeting.
What is Mavericks? It’s a small think-tank group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CEOs who meet every six months to exchange ideas and help members grow. Each meeting is hosted by a different company; this one was at the offices of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Utah Properties, led by Broker/Owner Steve Roney. Every Mavericks meeting proves even more productive than the last and at the end of our time together, I always walk away with actionable ideas to help our affiliates improve, grow and succeed.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels found me in Palm Springs, CA for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices CFO Conference and just yesterday, in Irvine at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties’ administration center.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels found me in Pittsburgh to meet with the team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty and owner/CEO Ron Croushore. Attendance at the meeting topped more than 450 agents, managers and staff, and I spent five hours—one with managers and four with the agents—talking time management, principles for success, operating a brokerage and more. What an incredible experience and what an energized group! As I stood on stage addressing the crowd, a thought came to mind: This, like all our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices members, is more than a brokerage. It’s a family, a community of like-minded individuals who understand the importance of learning and growing together for the benefit of all.
This week my travels found me first in San Diego, where I was invited by Sam Guillen and John Stenberg of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties to speak to the team. From there, I went to Irvine, CA and end my week in San Jose, CA, where Robert Cruz will be installed as president of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals® (NAHREP) Silicon Valley. This week I also took the opportunity to finish my business plan for 2017 and will have my entire year mapped out by Saturday, Oct. 1.
Some might ask, a business plan in October? Yes, you read that right. Because over the decades I’ve worked in real estate, I’ve learned most real estate agents—and most companies—have a cash flow problem during January and February. The perennial issue makes sense when you understand that real estate works on a 90 day cycle; what you do today will pay off three months from now and concurrently, what you don’t do today will cause suffering and headache three months down the road.
Thoughts on Leadership 