What was your first job in the realty industry?
Leasing apartments for an apartment locator
Who inspires you?
Talented stand-up comics, I’m a wannabe comedian at heart
What is your favorite free-time activity? Playing guitar
How did you learn the business?
I learned by studying what other top agents and companies were doing. I read everything I could and talked to as many people as I could.
What was your most difficult sale, and how did you succeed?
It was a beautiful single-family home with a “finished basement” the sellers re-did very nicely. The problem was the ceiling height was five-feet-four-inches tall. I had to convince them even though they put a great deal of money into the basement it really held little to no value as most people couldn’t even stand up straight. It sold immediately after reducing the home to it’s market value price.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Balancing between being a sales agent and a broker/owner
What was your worst job, and what did you learn from it?
Working as a production assistant on a now-canceled Fox TV show, I learned what hard work for no pay was and that teen actors are really overpaid
Where do you go to network and meet new clients?
I do a lot of business in neighborhood bars (i.e. my conference room). I will also simply pick up the phone, introduce myself and work to arrange meetings with new residents and builders in the neighborhood.
What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Winning three new developments of 118 total units in the same month
Where would you like to be in five years, professionally?
Working as a true brokerage owner, pitching new development projects and overseeing the operations of the brokerage as well as having a film production arm
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read?
“King of California”
What is your favorite restaurant?
Club Lucky
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago?
The Wrigley Building
What kind of car do you drive? A luxury ‘97 Ford Explorer with 120,000 miles, I’m a simple man
BlackBerry, Palm or paper?
[I prefer] a combination of BlackBerry and paper…but mostly BlackBerry. I resisted purchasing a BlackBerry for as long as I could, but it really is an essential tool for real estate. I’m now enrolled in B.A. (BlackBerryaholics Anonymous).
What is your favorite city after Chicago?
Park City, Utah
What is your personal motto?
All goals are achievable.
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?
Get rid of any fears and join Second City Realty.