Thursday Thoughts on Leadership: Connecting at Inman Connect

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in San Francisco for Inman Connect (to browse the social coverage from the event, check #ICSF). Inman Connect always proves an amazing opportunity to create and build relationships while brainstorming breakthrough ways to grow a business and this year—with an incredible lineup of speakers and motivated attendees—was no exception. Featured speakers included: Amanda Kahlow, CEO and founder of 6sense; John Thornton, partner lead at Google; Pam Costa, coach at Down To There; Amy Bohutinsky, COO at Zillow Group; Robert Thomson, chief executive at News Corp; Kelly Stonelake, creative at Facebook and Instagram; and social media maestro Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerMedia, who closed the conference with a riveting talk about the importance of social marketing to genuinely connect with clients.

Posted by HomeServices of America

How to Hire the Best Agent to Help You Buy or Sell Your Home

By Phillip MacArthur

There are a number of key elements that allow for a successful real estate transaction. One that is often overlooked is hiring the best agent possible who is most qualified and experienced in your specific type of transaction. Some consumers might, for example, hire an agent because he or she is a friend or family member. It’s always great to support those you know in the business but that agent may not be the best one for the job. Here are a few things to think about as you interview an agent to hire:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thursday Thoughts on Leadership: Halfway Through 2016

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels find me in Northern California for meetings and video filming (you’ll be seeing what I filmed soon!) And in between my busy schedule it struck me that we are smack in the middle of 2016. Can you believe it? Half the year is already over!

Besides being a testament to how very fast time flies—especially when you’re having fun in your job—this halfway mark is also an important reminder to reflect on the goals you set for this year and to check in and see how far you’ve gotten toward accomplishing them. Are you on track? Behind? Ahead? If you gave yourself measurable ways to gauge your success, you’ll be able to easily see how close you’ve come to hitting those goals. Now, if you haven’t achieved your goals, here are two reasons why that might be:

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: In the Spirit of Aloha

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels find me in Maui, HI, splitting time between the Fairmont Kea Lani and the Montage Kapalua Bay. I’m on the island for my annual family vacation and coming off the heels of five days spent in Costa Rica for the Berkshire Elite Circle Conference, I can say I’m definitely in a tropical mindset. (In fact, just this morning I did a meditation class, a breathing class and a yoga class so I’m feeling very zen as I write this today.)

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: A Time to Celebrate

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in Costa Rica at the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, a sprawling, tropical retreat overlooking the Gulf of Papagayo that borders the sandy beaches and pristine waters of the Culebra Bay. I was visiting Costa Rica for the Berkshire Elite Circle Conference, which brought together broker/owners from the top 50 companies in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network for a celebration of their achievements.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Talking Inspiration with Dwight Clark: Preparation and Opportunity

A word from Gino Blefari, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices …

This post is the first in our new “Talking Inspiration” blog series by Dwight Clark, former All-Pro wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. I was lucky enough to be a 49ers fan in the 1980s and watched my pal Dwight play for my favorite team. Dwight is a five-time Super Bowl champion—two as a player and three in management—but who knows if his great run would’ve ever happened if it wasn’t for that incredible Sunday in January of 1982 … that’s when “Too Tall” Jones and what seemed like the entire Dallas Cowboys defense was chasing quarterback Joe Montana and Dwight was trying to lose Cowboys’ defensive back Everson Walls running across the back of Candlestick Park’s end zone. What happened next has been since memorialized in sports history books forevermore: Dwight caught the winning touchdown pass thrown by Montana and the 49ers won the NFC Championship Game that year. Today, “The Catch” is known as the #7 most memorable play in the NFL and #1 for the 49ers. Dwight’s “Talking Inspiration” posts will provide ongoing perspectives about tackling challenges—in sports, business and life—and I hope you enjoy these pieces of wisdom from a great man, a true football legend and my friend. – Gino

By Dwight Clark

When I reflect on my career playing with the San Francisco 49ers, one word comes to mind: fortunate. And fortune, as I define it, is the place where preparation meets opportunity. If you think about your life’s most extraordinary feats—whether it’s winning Super Bowls or winning business—yes, there’s always some measure of luck involved but there’s also a whole lot of training, planning and hard work that has to happen long before luck arrives. Then, if you’re fully prepared at the exact moment luck finally does ring, you can pick up the phone and answer its call.

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: A Franchise Sales Philosophy

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels found me in Denver, CO for the HSF Affiliates Franchise Sales Team Meeting. As it happens, Denver International Airport (DEN) has been named the most on-time airport in the U.S., and the city is known as the most educated in America, boasting the highest percentage of college graduates. What better location could we choose for a conference bringing together our punctual and skilled sales team members?

Posted by HomeServices of America

Thoughts on Leadership: Gateway to the West

By Gino Blefari

This week my travels find me in St. Louis to meet with two fantastic brokerages. First, I visited Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties and members of the company’s leadership team, including Maryann Vitale Alles, president and CEO and Angie Ignatowski, broker/owner/relocation director. Then it was off to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alliance Real Estate to speak with agents and managers, including CEO/Owner Andrea Lawrence, President/Co-Owner Kevin Goffstein and Executive Vice President/Co-Owner Bob Bax. My meeting with Alliance Real Estate was part of a two-day event, the Faster Higher Stronger Conference, which kicked off Wednesday night at the St. Louis Cardinal’s Busch Stadium, for an evening of baseball to benefit the Sunshine Kids. What an incredible experience and it all began with Steven Conner of the Sunshine Kids, who was joined on the field by his family as he threw out the first pitch of the game! Great times for a great cause!