Thoughts on Leadership: Living the Good Life

By: Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me starting Monday with the Berkshire Hathaway Energy call followed by my typical WIG calls. On Tuesday, I had three succession planning calls and Wednesday began with a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties virtual life planning session, which was attended by five California Properties offices. In the afternoon, I drove to the spectacular Carmel Valley to spend time coaching Intero’s No. 1 team, the TSE Group led by the unstoppable Andy Tse, at the Tse Group Retreat. Today I recorded a presentation for the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance then met virtually with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hawai’i Realty for life/business planning followed by the virtual launch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Area Realty and in the afternoon, I participated in the grand opening event for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Los Cabos Properties.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: The Importance of Grit

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me starting Monday with my typical WIG calls followed by a Berkshire Hathaway Energy meeting in the afternoon. On Tuesday, I traveled to Orange County and had dinner with Martha Mosier, President of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. On Wednesday, I had a meeting with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices perspectives from Dublin, Ireland; Bucharest, Romania; and Prague, Czech Republic. Afterwards, I met with the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties team members at their Irvine office. I then drove to Palm Springs for meetings in the desert. Today, I am finishing up a few more meetings before traveling home.

As I’ve said many times before, real estate operates on a 90-day cycle. What you do today will payout in 90 days. It’s why you have to be so hyper-focused right now in order to kick off 2022 strong. For some, it’s easy. They keep going and going, even as real estate tends to seasonally slow, and while the holiday season keeps us busy with family and friends. For others, it’s more of a challenge but they work through it and keep themselves focused on their goals.

What is it that makes us wake up and put in the effort, giving it 110% even as holiday parties and Thanksgiving dinner plans take us in all directions other than our work?

In a word, grit.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Leadership Lessons from the Italians

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me at home, starting Monday with my typical WIG calls. On Tuesday, I began the morning with a Berkshire Hathaway Energy call then celebrated Italian Day … but more about that later. On Wednesday, I attended the Berkshire Hathaway Energy Sustainability Summit, which began with opening remarks from Greg Abel, Vice Chair of Non-Insurance Operations at Berkshire Hathaway Inc.; and Chair, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Cathy Woollums, Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer for Berkshire Hathaway Energy. I also attended the Long & Foster shareholder meeting then traveled to Orange County. Today, I attended the Berkshire Hathaway Energy Executive Leadership Conference themed “Transforming Our Business” all morning then it was off to beautiful Laguna Beach for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties LUX event, where I introduced my good friend and great coach/speaker Tom Ferry and in the afternoon, participated in a photo op with California Properties luxury agents Cristal Clarke and Nigel Copley. Tomorrow, I’ll attend LUX in the morning then travel home.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Leadership Lessons from Colin Powell

By Gino Blefari

“Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible.” – Colin Powell

This week my travels found me starting Monday with my typical WIG calls, the Berkshire Hathaway Energy weekly call, then traveling to Palm Springs for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Marketing Forum, which I just left today.

Elsewhere in the country, this week we sadly lost Colin Powell. He was the first Black U.S. Secretary of State, the youngest-ever chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, a four-star U.S. Army general with combat duty in Vietnam and a national security advisor, and for decades, his leadership has had a profound impact on our nation’s foreign policy.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Fleet Week

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in Henderson, Nevada, starting Monday with my typical WIG calls, which were hosted at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties headquarters. On Tuesday, I had the Berkshire Hathaway Energy weekly meeting followed by the CEO Leadership Q3 meeting. Yesterday and today, I held four CEO succession planning calls.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to check out San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW), which includes an air show, a parade of ships and even a K9 rescue demonstration. It’s the largest Fleet Week celebration in the country and honors the contributions of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. SFFW also encourages cooperation and knowledge among civilian- and military-based Humanitarian Assistance Personnel.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Leading with Rituals

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in Denver, Colorado at the Mavericks Meeting hosted by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Innovative Real Estate CEO Scott Nordby and his team.

The Mavericks Meetings are regular gatherings with a small, think-tank group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices independently owned and operated franchise CEOs. We meet every six months to exchange ideas and brainstorm. Each meeting is hosted by a different company; this one was hosted by our fantastic brokerage in Denver.

In a sense, the Mavericks Meeting is a twice-yearly ritual. Together, we reignite our collective purpose: to help each other grow.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Guided by Authenticity

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me at home, starting Monday off with my typical WIG calls. On Tuesday, I participated in the Berkshire Hathaway Energy weekly executive team meeting and the monthly CEO Leadership Meeting. On Wednesday, I joined the HomeServices of America monthly corporate team gathering then traveled to Las Vegas to meet with Mark Stark, Gordon Miles and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties leadership team.

If there’s one word that definitely does not describe the city of Las Vegas, it’s authenticity. This is a place for escape, where showstopping entertainment meets extraordinary dining experiences under the glitzy lights of Las Vegas Boulevard. But maybe when we’re confronted with such geographic charisma, we recognize the importance of authenticity even more.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: A Rescue to Remember

By Gino Blefari:

This week my travels found me on Coronado Island, California for the 2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Summit Conference. One highlight of the conference was keynote speaker Jessica Buchanan, a former humanitarian worker turned bestselling author, who shared her story. Of course, the networking and seeing people in person was fantastic (the Global Conference and Meeting team does an incredible job each year), but Jessica’s talk had everyone in the room glued to their seats. It was extraordinary. The standing ovation she received at the end of her speech was undeniably deserved.

Blinded by the hot Somali sun, warmed by the head scarf wrapped around her forehead, Jessica remembers every detail of being in the Land Cruiser. It was October 2011, and she was in Somali teaching, helping children learn how to avoid land mines. It was a day like any other, until it wasn’t.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Leaders as Teachers

By Gino Blefari:

This week my travels find me at home, starting Tuesday with a Berkshire Hathaway Energy meeting and my typical WIG calls. Today I attended an input meeting for the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Sales Convention in Louisville and presented Time Management to the team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, REALTORS®.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Remembering Pappy

By Gino Blefari:

For this week’s Thoughts on Leadership, I want to share the story of my father Paul Blefari (Pappy), who passed away last week. My dad taught me to be a better brother, son, father and really, a better person. Below you’ll find the eulogy that I read today during the services. I know from his life story you’ll find endless leadership inspiration.

Hello, my name is Gino Blefari, and I am the proud and loving son of Paul Frank Blefari.

On behalf of the entire Blefari family, I wish to thank each and every one of you for coming here today to the Church of the Resurrection, to join with us as we honor our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, and most importantly, my mother’s cherished husband for 71 years.

Posted by HomeServices of America

No more posts.

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Share this:

Posted by HomeServices of America