By Gino Blefari
This week, my travels found me in Florida visiting Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty, Florida Properties Group and tomorrow, the team at Florida Realty. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to meet so many inspiring agents, managers and executives, all leaders in their own right who make me feel at home with their generosity and kindness.
By Jill Griffin
Now that most of the country has officially pulled itself out of the housing recession, we are once again seeing sellers open their minds to selling their home and moving into a new one. Juggling the two deals can be intimidating and stressful. The timing, due diligence, and chaos of scheduling movers; the gap between closing dates, and ultimately, the sellers inheriting the risk of living without a home for some period of time. Figuring out how to ease your sellers’ minds could result in a double sale for you. This is why it is essential as real estate agents that we understand how to guide our sellers through the dual transaction.
Here are my tips:
By Gino Blefari
“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too …”
– Rudyard Kipling, “If”
Stepping off the plane in Seattle Monday, I was overwhelmed by the number of travelers at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport who were sporting Seahawks jerseys, although it made perfect sense. Only one day before, in a thrilling overtime triumph, the Seattle Seahawks had earned their spot in this year’s Super Bowl match-up. Let me explain …
By Gino Blefari
While enjoying the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday night and the dramatic duel between two exceptional quarterbacks—Oregon Duck Marcus Mariota and Ohio State Buckeye Cardale Jones—I was reminded of a Chinese proverb:
“Not the cry, but the flight of a wild duck, leads the flock to fly and follow.”
The Duck pun is somewhat unintentional. The message, of course, is that true leaders through their actions—not necessarily their words—inspire others to achieve.
By Gino Blefari
My thoughts this week are less thoughts than they are a written tribute to someone I’ve forever admired and respected as a titan in the sports-reporting industry, a kind-hearted man who famously prized family above fortune and still rose to the status of a cherished icon in his field. If you haven’t guessed, I’m speaking of renowned sports commentator Stuart Scott, who tragically passed away several days ago at the age of 49, leaving behind a legacy of compassion and strength, and a message any leader can learn from: Even when faced with an opponent as merciless as cancer, there’s always an opportunity to fight.
By Player Murray
The office of the future is a reality these days, and many are embracing the new look, feel and atmosphere of today’s work spaces. But how do you get from where you currently are—the traditional office space you’ve been in for years—to that shiny, new space that’s so different in many ways?
I’m going to be honest (because I just went through it), there are a lot of moving parts. A lot.
By Gino Blefari
In my years of business, I’ve come across some exceptional leaders, men and women who can motivate with a single word, encourage with a single action and inspire without saying anything at all. Still, there’s one leader I’ve yet to meet, someone who I consider the epitome of enthusiasm, leading his employees with cheerful insights and sharing with the public nothing but pure joy.
Who is this amazing person, you ask? Well, the happiest leader of them all … jolly old St. Nick.
By Kyle Rank
Do you remember when real estate was conducted solely through office visits, phone calls and only with pen and paper? Or perhaps you get a feeling of nostalgia thinking about how you couldn’t wait for the next newspaper edition with your newest listing advertisement?
Business looked different not so long ago. Agents would sketch out their negotiations on a scrap piece of paper. Transactions would start and end with a firm handshake agreement. Some people refer to this era as the “good ol’ days.”
By Lisa Schultz
As a real estate agent, acquiring clients is a large portion of your workload.
However, once you’ve found your prospects, obtaining and maintaining those relationships becomes one of your primary responsibilities. Many agents lose clients because they aren’t fully meeting their clients’ needs or expectations. For example, the clients may expect to hear from their agent more frequently than they are being contacted. If they are dissatisfied with the service received or expectations are miscommunicated, the client may choose to do business with someone else.
By Gino Blefari
Last week, I wrote about the physical challenges leaders must face, like General Patton navigating his troops through dangerous battles.
This week, I want to talk about the mental challenges created inside our head. And who better to discuss when matters of the mind are at stake than Albert Einstein?
Thoughts on Leadership 