When it comes to prioritizing a client’s goal, no one takes a more literal approach than Jarek Jastrzebski. “We always start with establishing, in writing, my client’s end goal,” the Realtor at eXp Realty explains. Next, he prepares a three- to four-step plan based on that input. He says this process helps him understand the client’s preferences so he can tailor the partnership to fit both their desired level of participation and their lifestyle.

And just as he adapts his approach based on who he’s collaborating with, he’s also capable of adjusting to changes in market trends. This combination of awareness and flexibility has earned him intense loyalty from clients, as 92% of his current business comes from referrals. Those who’ve worked with Jastrzebski and his team also value his honesty and confidence.

Arriving in Chicago from Poland in 1994, Jastrzebski was astounded by the concept of purchasing real estate with a minimum down payment. In the beginning, though, his focus was on any job to survive and to support his wife and son. He wanted to spend more time with his family, though, so he quit those jobs to pursue a career in real estate. “What motivated me was the idea of doing something that I like, generating passive income, having freedom of time, being your own boss and building something that I will be proud of,” he explains.

Family is still important to Jastrzebski, and he enjoys travelling with his wife and proudly watching his son start his own law firm. In his free time, he reads business and physiology books, plays in an amateur soccer league and supports community initiatives such as school-supply and food drives.