What was your first job in the realty industry?
I worked for Mark B. Weiss Real Estate. We did mostly small commercial-investment sales, but I received experience in property management, auctions, foreclosed sales, lender representation and other types of property transactions.

Who inspires you?
I would say my father. He is, and always was, a truly hard working man all his life. He showed me that doing the right thing, in many different applications, is the correct choice. He did this via his own examples of decision making, over and over. Also, my three boys inspire me to be my best always.

How did you learn the business?
I learned the business by trial and error. Early on I did a lot of cold-calling and met lots and lots of owners of property. I saw how other agents went about their business, and learned what worked and what didnÕt. Over time I developed my own style of helping people buy and sell property.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job?
I would say the most difficult aspect of the job is the fact that I feel as though I always need to be Òon.Ó Some agents are better than me at turning off the work switch at times, but I just feel this obligation to be ready for that call when it comes. Sometimes, a quick response really helps in keeping a deal moving along in a positive direction.

What was your worst job, and what did you learn from it?
My worst job was delivering newspapers at the age of 12 or 13. It only lasted a couple of weeks. I was trained by the kid who was dropping the route, and never met anyone from the actual newspaper. It wasnÕt that hard, I just didnÕt really know what I was doing and there was no one available for questions. I learned that I needed to get a full understanding of what was expected of me in order to be able to determine whether or not I was succeeding at something.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
My greatest accomplishment is starting a family, building a house and home and realizing a certain level of mutual appreciation amongst my peers in business. I like the fact that I know agents who have been in the business for 15 years or more, and that many of them consider me a good agent. The respect I receive from and give to those other agents who are considered successful means a great deal to me. I feel earning that respect over the long haul by working hard and doing things right is a great accomplishment.

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Chicago?
I love the Tribune Tower. The detail that went into creating the exterior makes me think about the skill level of the people that built it a long time ago.

In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry?
Tell the truth and return calls in a timely manner