By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in Southern California for meetings at our Irvine HQ. For my message today, please watch the below video and remember that strong leadership is great to have when things are going well but it’s an absolute necessity when faced with overwhelming challenges. In fact, it’s one of the only ways to overcome them.
This week my travels took me to Chicago and then on to Southern California but let’s talk about Chicago and the 2017 REALTORS® Conference & Expo. My conference experience actually began in a very unusual way. Let me explain …
At exactly 7:22 a.m. –5:22 a.m. my time—I headed down to Starbucks for coffee, just as I do every morning to begin my usual routine. I was just waking up and had on a t-shirt and a bit of bed head when I arrived at Starbucks. (Hey, we’re always honest on this blog.) Anyway, there I am in line to get coffee when I recognized Michael Phelps was waiting right in front of me.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in San Antonio, TX for 2018 Sales Convention planning. As you know, I’m a huge proponent of planning. Last year during my keynote onstage at Sales Convention, I even quoted one of my all-time favorite sayings by Dwight D. Eisenhower: “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.”
Also, for those who haven’t read it, I wrote a post all about business planning here.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels took me to Asheville, North Carolina for the annual CFO Conference, which brings together CFOs from among the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network to share ideas and economics trends. Also during the conference, we discussed best practices for how the CFO can better serve his or her company as not only the financial steward of the organization but also as the trusted partner to the CEO and leadership team.
I was excited to be among the CFO community at such a picturesque location though while I spend time on the East Coast, my thoughts remain with those in West, particularly in Northern California where devastating wild fires still rage, one of the worst fires to hit the Golden State, ever. We all send prayers to those affected by this awful disaster, and hope the winds cease soon and the flames are able to be extinguished so recovery can begin. Stay strong, California, we are with you!
Applications are now officially open for the national re_think Council 2018 term! We’re looking for stellar, top-producing millennial agents in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network to apply. Our vision is to be the premier member-driven think tank in the real estate industry, focused on sustainable success for current and future real estate agents.
Would you or someone you know be a good fit for the Council? Please email rethink@hsfranchise.com and we’ll send you the 2018 charter and application today! Applications are due Nov. 3.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in Washington, D.C. for the National Association of REALTORS® RES Advisory Group Meeting and next in San Diego to attend the 2017 AREAA National Convention (but more on that next week). I’ve long embraced the virtues of our industry’s leaders working closely alongside lawmakers to ensure not only the synergy of current legislation with our business practices but also to ensure our nation’s laws promote and encourage homeownership for all.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels unexpectedly find me working from home, and not, as originally planned, meeting with our network members in Miami for the 2017 Summit Conference. The event was canceled due to Hurricane Irma and its impending destruction and my thoughts are with those in Florida currently dealing with the terrible aftermath of the storm. On behalf of our entire organization, our prayers go out to all of you.
The unanticipated change in schedule did afford me days to fall back into my usual routine, which starts with a 5 a.m. visit to Starbucks, my dog Kona by my feet, writing in my journal and doing my meditation and prayers.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in New York City, in particular at the prestigious Harvard Club for RISMedia’s Real Estate CEO Exchange, which brings together more than 225 powerhouse real estate leaders from all brands and all sectors of the industry to strategize on how best to meet the needs of today’s consumer.
I’ve been attending this event for more than 20 years and you might ask yourself why I go back to the same conference year after year … Well, here’s why …
By Susan Ireland
One of the biggest drivers to profit in a real estate company is high-caliber leaders. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is hyper-focused on the development and training of stellar agents but knows it’s important to foster great leadership, too.
For years, the business consultant team has used the Operations Review tool to help network members measure certain benchmarks tied to profitability. One key component of this review is the Sales Associate Survey, which includes expectations of leadership, associate satisfaction levels and associate engagement in company tools and resources. Other benchmarks include expense management, agent recruiting/retention and sales associate productivity. In nearly every Operations Review, there was a direct correlation between profitability and strong leadership.
By Gino Blefari
This week my travels find me in St. Charles, MO at the Whitmoor Country Club for the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alliance Real Estate Golf Tournament benefitting the Sunshine Kids. Before we hit the green, I met with the Alliance Real Estate team to talk about 8 principles of success and the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX). I’ve visited the brokerage many times before and each time I’m reminded that Alliance Real Estate has forward-thinking leaders at its helm: CEO/Owner Andrea Lawrence; President/Co-Owner Kevin Goffstein; and Executive Vice President/Co-Owner Bob Bax. It was evident from this meeting that the company is poised for even greater success in the St. Louis marketplace.
After our meeting it was off to a day of golf, and everyone—including actor and Sunshine Kids Executive Director G.W. Bailey who was in attendance for the event—had one goal in mind: Raise money for the Sunshine Kids.
Thoughts on Leadership 