#08 Thoughts on Leadership: Prepare for Success

By Gino Blefari

“Achievement is talent plus preparation.” – Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success

This week, my travels took me to Minneapolis, Dallas and St. Louis. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting all three cities but for today’s post, I want to focus on Dallas and what exactly brought me to the Lone Star State. As many of you know, the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Sales Convention is fast approaching and during the event, I’ll have a chance to address a crowd of agents and affiliates from the stage at the Mirage in Las Vegas, explaining my vision for our company and our future.

While in Dallas, I stood in front of a green screen rehearsing my presentation, making changes and deciding how best to convey my thoughts … and even after leaving rehearsals, the process of preparation is far from over.

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#07 Thoughts On Leadership: Trust from the Source

By Gino Blefari

Last week, I wrote about former Navy SEAL Mark Divine and how his book, Unbeatable Mind, has recently inspired me in my career. At the same time my post was published, an email from Mark came in, which might seem like a coincidence but we all know it’s the universe at work.

Mark’s email delved deeper into the topic of trustworthiness, a cornerstone of any successful real estate operation and a character trait every great leader must possess. In light of the importance we, as leaders, should place on trust, I found Mark’s comments particularly insightful and would like to share them with you now:

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#05 Thoughts On Leadership: Leadership Springs from Nowhere

By Gino Blefari

Leadership can spring from unexpected people in unexpected places. I was struck by this fact Sunday watching the Seahawks and Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. This incredible game matched all the hype, with lead changes, hard-hitting and dramatic plays.

Both teams’ stars came out to play with quarterbacks Tom Brady (the game’s eventual MVP) and Russell Wilson orchestrating scoring drives involving key players; and the defenses flexing their might at important junctures.

This was pro football’s biggest stage in front of more than 70,000 screaming fans and the largest audience in American television history (114.4 million) – certainly no place for the meek.

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#04 Thoughts on Leadership: No Place Like Home

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.

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#03 Thoughts on Leadership: A Fourth Quarter Win

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 …

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#02 Thoughts on Leadership – Soaring with Ducks and Buckeyes

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.

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#10 Thoughts on Leadership: A Holiday Message

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.

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#09 Thoughts on Leadership: Never See Failure as Failure

By Gino Blefari

This week I was in Washington, D.C. to help celebrate the launch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty. For those who have never been, Washington, D.C. is a beautiful city steeped in American history; you practically feel like a Founding Father walking the cobblestone streets. It’s also the place where you’ll find one extraordinary 132-room, 35-bathroom, six-story home, designed in the neoclassical style and painted white. (Once a real estate agent, always a real estate agent, right?) Inside this white house, some of the country’s—and world’s—greatest leaders lived and prospered, changing the course of history through their actions and words.

One of its most inspirational residents was arguably Abraham Lincoln, the 16^th U.S. president. Most people know Lincoln for his incredible triumphs for civil rights and basic freedom but did you know that these accomplishments only arrived after years of failure and rejection? Observe:

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#08: Thoughts on Leadership: A Meal to Remember

By Gino Blefari

My travels this week took me to Charleston, SC, to attend the Real Living Connection conference with the outstanding Real Living Real Estate brokers. After I landed in Charleston, I asked the concierge at my hotel for a few good dinner recommendations. She kindly offered her favorite local spots, among them a steakhouse called Halls Chophouse. Now, if any of you know me well, you know I like my steak; the decision was simple.

So, off I went to find this restaurant, walking along the historic streets of Charleston, lined by little shops and restaurants steeped in good old Southern charm. As I made my way to Halls, I noticed most restaurants were empty but it didn’t catch me off guard because it was, after all, a Tuesday night. I didn’t expect much of a crowd, or even a wait, as I turned the corner onto King Street and spotted Halls up ahead. However, when I walked in, I was surprised to see it was completely packed.

“What’s going on here?”

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#07: Thoughts on Leadership: Texas Travels

By Gino Blefari

This week, I was in Dallas for the launch of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty Texas.

As the saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas, and this event was no exception. Held at the 80,000-seat, 2.3-million-sq.-ft. AT&T Stadium, the event was an incredible opportunity to meet new agents and celebrate an important milestone for the PenFed Realty Texas team.

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