Uncategorized November 1, 2016

Power 20 at the Stairs

For almost 30 years, a small framed Sport Graphics picture has hung on my wall. The image is that of a 4 man rowing shell going down the race course of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia at the 1988 Dad Vail dad-vailRegatta, which was the national race for smaller programs. That was my boat. It was a fast crew, one of the fastest in the nation as it turned out, and I’ll get to that a bit later.

My older brother had been a coxswain for the Cornell Lightweight crew in the class of 1980 and his boat was amazing. They beat Harvard in a dual race for the first time in 20 years, placed first in the Head of the Charles regatta, and would have raced at Henley in England were it not for an unfortunate washout at the 1980 Easter Sprints. These races are just names to a person unfamiliar with the sport, but to those in the know they are among the Mt Rushmore events of rowing. Following in my brother’s footsteps, I went out for the rowing team my freshman year at Villanova. Unlike Cornell, however, ‘Nova rowing was a modest club sport with limited resources. By the end of my sophomore year I seriously considered quitting and focusing my attention on researching the consumption of alcohol and chasing girls. I didn’t suffer from a lack of focus- rather, a lack of winning. I could stomach some losing but a schism had developed between the athletes and the men’s coach, and it seemed unlikely that we could win under his watch. I spent that summer with my brother in Austin, Texas, rowing for fun and thinking that I might not return to the team.

All that changed when I returned to campus my junior year in 1987. Jon was out; Jack was in. Jack St Clair had been named our new coach, and for those familiar with the Philadelphia rowing scene, it was like hearing that the Yankees had signed Reggie Jackson. Jack had competed on the international level and made his name for well over a decade prior to becoming our coach. I eagerly returned to the team but the season didn’t start out easily. Jack was a fiery, passionate guy with high standards and he wanted to turn around a beleaguered squad that had never tasted real victory. Coaching rowing isn’t easy- you are outdoors, often cold or freezing, and giving directions through a megaphone while riding in a small boat by your charges. Jack broke a few megaphones in frustration. As great as he was, he couldn’t row for us.

The fall season came and went, as did winter training (indoors but brutal), and the spring dual race season began with little fanfare. Most programs have several 8-man boats, but our heavyweight program was one 4 man boat plus the coxswain (me). One of our very first races was at Princeton, and they humiliated us. After the race, Jack’s skiff came along our side and, instead of offering words of encouragement or even scolding, he dispassionately gave us a workout to complete.

We had just finished a race! And now we had to have a practice drill?! Did you ever see a team of any sport do that? I never did.

But this was Jack St Clair giving the orders,and as tired as the guys were, we completed the practice, loaded the shells on the trailer, and returned to Boathouse Row.  Not long after, we lost to the University of Rochester in a dual race.

boathouse-rowBefore I go on, I have to describe the Schuylkill River race course in Philadelphia. Most rivers and lakes have sandy or rocky shores- not much variation. The Schuylkill was different. It was more like a cathedral of rowing, a Roman Colosseum of crew if you will. Much of the course is an ornate wall, with monuments (one is to Jack Kelly, a great Olympian and father of Grace Kelly) and statues along the way, and at the bottom is the famous Boathouse Row in the shadows of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It’s like competing inside a mammoth movie set.

Before the spring season had gotten too old, Jack instructed me to call a power 20 at the stairs near the Canoe Club, at that time part of that ornate wall near the Temple University boathouse about midway between the 1000 meter (halfway) mark and the 500 meter mark. A power stroke is an acceleration of sorts, but it comes at a cost. There is no stroke an oarsman takes that is less than 100% effort, so it is difficult to explain a power 10 or 20. Rowing is an anaerobic sport, and I could best describe it as a set of strokes where the athlete goes further into oxygen debt. It was a counter-intuitive move, one that would tax the guys and possibly have them lose their edge in the final 500 meters of the race. I don’t recall who we were racing, but the move completely caught our opponent off guard. We felt it. “It” is difficult to describe, but it was as if we clicked. The boat felt faster. We leveled up. Whatever nomenclature you want to use, I could have dropped an anchor and we wouldn’t have given up that lead.

The power 20 at the stairs worked.

Winning, like all things sweet, is not something you easily let go of. And it builds confidence.
We wanted to win. We wanted to win for the program, for pride, for Jack, but mostly ourselves.
We wanted to win.
We wanted to fucking win.

It reflected in our practices, our drills,and how we took instructions from the coach.

Throughout that Spring season, on our home course or at the closest approximation of such on other courses, we took that power 20 at the stairs (It worked so well that I whispered it so we didn’t give it away to the opponents), and it worked every time. We just kept getting better and faster every week. We didn’t come in first every race as I recall-we lost to the University of Rochester a second time, but it was a far closer race- but we set a goal to make the finals and win at the Dad Vail Regatta that May on the Schuylkill. Like track and field, rowing has heats, and we ended up beating everyone we had lost to earlier in the season to qualify for the finals, including the University of Rochester, which was incredibly gratifying. The finals were the fastest six heavyweight fours in the country among small and medium programs, and we faced awesome competition. The race was a photo finish for the Bronze 3rd place medal, which we lost by a few hundredths of a second. It was a bitter pill to swallow, as we had graduated two guys whom I wanted to send off with some hardware.

I spent the next summer before senior year rowing. I wanted to win more in my senior year. Unfortunately, Jack put me into the lightweight 8 that year, which performed with merit, but didn’t make the Dad Vail finals. There was no magic that season, and while the comparison to the lame team my sophomore year that had almost driven me to quitting was so incredible that it was absurd, I carried that disappointment for years. I respected Jack’s decision, because his focus was on the overall program and not my personal goal. But it still stung. One thing that helped me cope was the movie Field of Dreams, which I saw shortly after graduation. The character Archie “Moonlight” Graham said it best:

You know we just don’t recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they’re happening. Back then I thought, well, there’ll be other days. I didn’t realize that paul-faranda-shellthat was the only day.

I had my moment in the sun at the 1988 Dad Vail, and 1989 came and went with no championship or medal. My brother had a similar regret, but his was at a far higher caliber of competition. He cherished the experience, and when he died at age 47, his crewmates dedicated a racing shell in his name to the Cornell program. I valued my experience every bit as much. Tim O’Connor who rowed in the bow of the 1988 crew, ran into me at an event years after we both graduated, and he grinned and asked me what it was like to be in a boat that got faster every week. It was a rhetorical question- I haven’t seen Tim in 20 years but if I did the time would disappear-as would a few beers.

This past weekend, Melissa and I went back to campus to a gathering to honor Jack after his recent retirement from coaching. He had built the program to a Dad Vail champion, and his crews competed at the IRA reunionand Henley Regattas. In the mid 90’s he switched to coaching the womens’ crew, and they had become a varsity sport. 3 of my 4 teammates from that 1988 boat also attended, and I was 20 again for a few hours. It’s difficult to describe that kind of bliss.

The University president spoke, as did the athletic director among others, and Jack deserved every accolade given that night. One tribute really struck me. One of my mates and a truly great oarsmen that Jack coached gave a toast that explained how Jack had opened his home to him and given him some summer work in between rowing workouts. He explained that his parents had an acrimonious split (I recall this) but what he saw in Jack that summer was how to be a good father, husband and man. What a profoundly important example for a young man to see.
Wow.
The room was filled with people whose lives the coach had touched, all of whom had a story of the difference he had made as their coach. There were some pretty spectacular achievers present, so that is saying an awful lot.

Everyone has their own version of a power 20 at the stairs that Jack gave them. I have built my business and brand with almost that very philosophy- to find a vulnerability, a counter-intuitive means to advance on my competition. That ethos sustained my independent firm through the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression despite the economy and brutal competition. But this isn’t about me, it’s about Jack St Clair, and it would be trite to reduce his gift to a mere strategy. I’ve broken a few megaphones along the way myself because, like Jack, it starts with wanting to win very, very badly. Jack believed that we could put on the jets at the stairs without losing our wind at the end of the race. Without that confidence, we would have gone nowhere. Culture always beats strategy, and Jack made Villanova a winner after many years of losing. Without him, there are no championships, and, worse, countless dozens of athletes would not have benefited from him. So I tip my cap (and glass) to Jack St Clair, a great coach, a winner, a maker of champions, but above all, a fine human being. I will forever be grateful for his contribution.

Jack St Clair

Company News July 28, 2016

Tragedy in the J Philip Family and How You Can Help

A tad over a year ago, our firm welcomed Brittany Alvarez to our growing team of professionals. While new to the industry, we had a great feeling that she’d be successful.

AlvarezfamilyShe was.

Brittany was the company’s 2015 Rookie of the Year, a million dollar plus producer, and among our finest agents right out of the gate. A hard worker, relentless advocate and caring teammate, her humor, ethics and contagious positive attitude elevated the space. Just as she completed her first year in the industry, tragedy struck. This past Friday, July 22nd, Brittany’s 29 year old husband Brandon tragically and suddenly passed away, leaving three children.

Brittany had a great first year but absorbing such a sudden loss is a daunting mountain for anyone to climb. Facing being a single mom in the blink of an eye, grieving her husband, handling expenses (mortgage, kids, funeral, real estate agent overhead, you name it), replacing his income even for a brief period, and other challenges are all huge concerns.

To address that, this past week we put together a GoFundMe project to help Brittany and her family rebuild their lives and ease at least the financial urgency of the equation. We are asking all of our friends, colleagues, acquaintances and any other caring soul willing to help to contribute to Thomas, J.J. & Fiona’s Fund and share the link with their friends as well. We have made some progress but I’m still working toward a goal to help our dear friend.

If you can help, please use the link below.

https://www.gofundme.com/BrittanyAid

Share and contribute what you can and with whom you can. You’d be helping some awesome, dear people and making this world a better place in the wake of an unthinkable loss.

We will continue to support Brittany in the progress of building her real estate practice, and I remain committed to her family’s well being going forward.

 

Company News June 3, 2016

Gloria Hernandez Named as Pelham Manager for J Philip Real Estate

It is with great pride that I introduce my esteemed colleague Gloria Hernandez as the branch manager for the firm’s Pelham Market Center. Gloria has been licensed for over 15 years and brings a wide range of experience to the position, but what I love most about her is her dry wit- few people can make me really laugh with a subtle reference to an arcane bit of culture or art, but in this she is a virtuoso. Gloria Hernandez of J Philip Real Estate

I first met Gloria when she was a manager at another firm in a difficult short sale transaction. She was supremely professional, patient to the point of existential serenity, and on top of things. It is times like these that it never enters your imagination that you’d be lucky enough to play for the same team, but that’s exactly what happened about a year later when she joined us as an associate broker. In her first year she won the Leadership Award for 2014, and exemplified a commitment to her fellow team members that was selfless.

A few weeks ago, I decided the firm needed a leadership board of experienced agents (more on that another time) to help advise me on matters, and Gloria was a natural fit. Never one to let grass grow under her feet, she immediately called a meeting to run some ideas past me. About a half hour into some really substantial brain food, we both had an epiphany that she’d be perfect to be the full time manager of the Pelham branch. We started that office in late 2014 but I had been the acting manager, with respectable results I suppose, but I’m certain that with Gloria in charge the market center there will flourish.

It was also the shortest tenure of any agent on the Leadership Board ever, as managers are excluded: one meeting! Progress like that is no surprise to Gloria, as she holds a Masters from Purdue University, and possesses experience in clinical psychology and nutrition. Gloria lives in Sleepy Hollow with her husband and cat. She is also bilingual.

The Pelham market center is our firm’s present in the southern Westchester County market. It serves the Sound Shore to Yonkers, the Bronx, and all communities south of the I-287 corridor. You can reach Gloria at gloria@jphilip.com or call her directly at 914.4410980. If you prefer to press the flesh, stop by the office for coffee at 134A Fifth Avenue, Pelham NY 10803.

Market March 2, 2016

What $705,000 Buys in Briarcliff Manor

If you like a brick Tudor in the Chilmark area, $705,000 just bought your dream home. This 4 bedroom, 3 bath stately house is a stunner- we were honored to list it for the sellers.

As described in the MLS:
The most peerless property in sought after Chilmark. Restored brick Tudor set on a quiet wooded lane with exceptional appointments. Phenomenal curb appeal is only the beginning. Slate roof, large, professionally updated cook’s kitchen with skylight and island, an amazing flow for entertaining, family room/den with built ins and doors to private patio, and a sunken living room with lots of light and stately fireplace mantle. Two car garage connect to home by an open porch/slate patio, fenced rear yard with outdoor fireplace, and ample parking. Finished basement with legal 4th bedroom, full bath and rec room. Minutes to all village conveniences. Unbeatable lifestyle in this space!

We’d love to help you find one for yourself. Our team is the best at that very thing.

CommentaryIndustry News January 30, 2016

The SWOT of the 2016 Real Estate Industry

ICNY16I was incredibly honored this past week to be asked by my colleague Joe Rand to be a late addition to a panel he was moderating at the Inman Connect Conference on the “SWOT” of the real estate industry. My fellow panelists were Pam O’Connor, CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, and Don Mowery, a very successful broker with Remax in California. SWOT is an acronym for strength, weakness, opportunity and threat; the thrust of the panel was for us to identify the SWOT characteristics of the current industry as a whole as if we were hired as consultants.

I shared the stage with some considerable brain power. It would be difficult to summarize all the answers from each of the participants, but I’ll share my own answers to the question.

Strength: The industry’s best asset is the political clout it wields, chiefly through RPAC but also at the state and local level to preserve consumer interests in real property ownership. The real estate industry has successfully supported the preservation of the mortgage interest tax deduction, kept the banking industry out of the brokerage business, and very recently supported the extension of the mortgage forgiveness debt relief act. There are cynics who would state that the industry’s political strength is chiefly for self preservation, but an honest investigation would yield an overwhelming help to consumers. That is, of course, unless you think that the largest transaction of your life is safe to have as a do it yourself project.

Weakness: I answered this question with a question: In what industry can a person be hired for a position, not produce for 6 months or more, and still keep their job? This is where brokers are their own worst enemy. In their zeal to fill their rosters with bodies in the mistaken belief that more people equals more transactions, brokers have developed an unwitting fetish for dead wood. As snappy as the line was, it is true. Brokers have abrogated being leaders for their troupes in technology, training and accountability and instead become cheerleaders. The result is a vast, inconsistent range in professionalism that consumers do not recognize until it is, unfortunately all too often, too late to do anything about it.

Opportunity: This could be restated as our biggest headache, but I see the industry’s biggest opportunity as educating the public as to what we actually do for them. A good real estate agent isn’t a glorified door unlocker who sucks a percentage of profit out of a transaction due to their superior cartel position from an unsuspecting public. A good agent is an advocate for a consumer in what is typically not only the largest transaction of most lives, but also a complicated, multi-layered process that has the competing interests of lenders, lawyers, title companies (and often municipalities) and principals operating in separate ecosystems with both statutory and industrial roadblocks to congruency or streamlining the red tape. We negotiate, we interpret data, we provide local knowledge, and we know what questions to ask, and that is the tip of the iceberg. Of the hundreds of distressed property transactions I have closed, almost all were either under-brokered or un-brokered prior to my client hiring me. Consumers needs brokers in a transaction, and smart consumers hire a good broker early.

Threat: Contrary to popular sentiment in the industry, I don’t view portals like Zillow or Trulia a threat, nor do I consider “disruptive” technologies or alternate business models a huge danger. The biggest threat to the real estate industry, by far in my view, is the big banking lobby. Real estate is too agile and adaptive to be replaced by a website or new technology; our embrace and utilization of the Internet is a good example of this. The example of travel agents being put out of business by travel websites is a common example of what I see as a red herring. The same Internet that killed my travel agent built my company. But we are vulnerable to being legislated into obscurity, to the detriment of the consumer.

Rather than the travel agent example, we should look at what happened to mortgage brokers. Banks couldn’t beat brokers in the marketplace, so when the crash hit, they used the crisis to back legislation that outlawed how mortgage brokers made money: they outlawed the yield spread premium. Banks want to get into brokerage. Badly. They already have their hands in insurance and securities. And they have a powerful lobby. We are vulnerable to backdoor legislation that could affect how we earn our income, and marginalize us the same way that mortgage brokers were sent into obscurity almost overnight. Ironically, mortgage brokers didn’t cause the crash. They simply didn’t have the resources to fend off an opportunistic attack from their competitors in the halls of government.

“If you can’t beat them in the marketplace, disqualify them in court.” It’s the American way, right? The takeaway here is for our industry to stop wringing our hands about the portal and tech bogey men, roll up our sleeves, and do good professional work.

 

Community NewsCompany NewsIndustry News December 31, 2015

State of J. Philip Real Estate 2015 Edition

A year ago at this time I was happy to share how 2014 had been, by far, the best year in the history of the firm. We had opened 3 new branch offices, expanded our team to almost 70 agents, and set records for sales production. It would be a tough act to follow. 

New digs

Our New Putnam Market Center location, opening January 2016

2015 did not see us open any new offices (although one is in the process of relocating to better digs), and our roster still has not cracked 70 agents. 

But what we did do was significant.

I am ecstatic to report that our closed transaction total skyrocketed from 110 in 2014 to 175 in 2015, and our closed dollar volume went from $34 million to $54 million. That is a 59% increase in closed transactions for our clients and a 59% increase in closed dollar volume. 

59%. 

2015 also saw 14 of our professional team exceed $1 million in personal sales. Prior to this year, we never had more than 7 million dollar producers. 

Overall, out of over 1000 firms in our marketplace, J Philip Real Estate ranked 33rd in closed transactions. Moreover, no Westchester or Putnam based independent firm outsold us. We are no longer a mom and pop or boutique. We are a growing, medium sized independent that is gaining market share month by month. For me as the broker, 2015 was about managing the growth, training, implementing better systems and giving my team the best tools possible to serve the clients. This caused some growing pains and technological challenges, but overall I am immensely proud of the commitment, agility and focus that the J. Philip family of producers demonstrated.

Typically, I have a shout out to the award winners among our ranks, but this year’s annual party is January 14th, so I’ll release that list in two weeks. Suffice to say we had some fantastic achievements by our associates in 2015. 

revampPersonally, I sold over $11.4 million worth of property, a $2.5 million increase over 2014, and I was selected as Realtor of the Year by the Revamp organization, a local concern committed to agent education. I made my share of media appearances, including a radio interview on WFAS on the “Real Estate RIValution” program. My travel schedule was intense at times, as I was still active on the Hudson Gateway MLS executive board, the Zillow Agent Advisory Board, and I bopped between 4 offices (including a very productive trip to Buffalo in the summer). 

Going into 2016, we have close to 80 transactions under contract as I type this. I have hired two specialized consultants to assist me in managing our growth properly, for the best interests of our growing clientèle and to give our agents the best resources possible to do their jobs with excellence. I have every reason to believe that we can do 250 transactions in 2016, and exceed $100 million in closed sales volume. For the first time ever, I will institute an active campaign to attract more and better professionals to join our firm. I have set a few other goals, some of which will be revealed on these very pages going forward, and among them will be to improve our value to the consumer; I want our clients to have the very best professional experience possible. Looking at the team of amazing people in this brokerage, I feel very good about that happening.

  

Uncategorized September 22, 2015

Ossining Schools Area Classic Homes

Uncategorized July 24, 2015

Zillow Acquires Ashley Madison

SEATTLE In the very same week that the Zillow Group set social media in the real estate space on fire with their purchase of software firm Dotloop, CEO Spencer Rascoff has announced the purchase of website AshleyMadison.com.

It is unknown how the dating platform for cheating spouses fits into Zillow’s model, but industry insider comments were all over the map.

Zillow’s own Jay Thompson, Director of Industry Outreach, asked “who is Ashley Madison? Is she a premier agent? Is she Canadian or something?” when contacted about the move. In a rambling, impromptu statement, realtor.com parent company NewsCorp. CEO Rupert Murdoch went on record as saying, “Bravo, Spencer! I really like that chap.” Murdoch publicly praised Rascoff for the very first time, wiping perspiration from his upper lip and popping nitroglycerine pills like Mike & Ikes, as he spoke for 17 minutes without interruption or the aid of any additional oxygen.

“We see this as a natural extension of Zillow’s commitment to our Premier Agents,” Rascoff, himself, said, as he opened a silver bucket filled with roasted kittens and broke off a suffering drumstick.

“Even though we have more listings for sale than any other website, we want to do our part to increase the inventory of motivated sellers. Just like we opened up pre-foreclosures, the divorce market was just sitting there, unstimulated. I just see it as being proactive. This is simply transparency.  Free the data!” He then took a long chug from a dark bottle labeled “tears of enemies.”

Other industry voices were more measured, with Sebastian Winnow, Association Executive of the Metropolitan Board of New York, saying it was “probably a smart move,” because “Agents use software and stuff, so Zillow offering their customers more tools might make more sense.”

There were, of course, naysayers viewing the move with suspicion. In the National Association of Realtors Facebook group, New Jersey agent Maude Gladstone posted (sic) “DON’T U GET IT? THEIR GOING TO UPLOAD ALL THE CHEATERS ONTO DOTLOOP AND INTERGRATE IT INTO THE NATIONAL MLS THEY ARE CREATING ONCE THEY ARE BROKERS IN ALL 50 STATES! WAKE UP, PEOPLE, #TAKEBACKOURDATA THESE BASTARDS ARE VAMPIRES AND WE ARE DINNER!”

Scoffing at the last reference, Rascoff, whose own home is on the market, denied accusations that he is actually a 15th century vampire named Nosferatu, and categorically denied last Spring’s rumor that he was a daemon from antiquity with an unpronounceable name. He did, however, acknowledge  that his home was off market temporarily while workers removed some contents from the home’s attic, reportedly including a painting of a really, really old guy.

Company News July 23, 2015

J. Philip Real Estate Welcomes Brittany Alvarez

Brittany AlvarezJennifer Maher, the manager of our Mahopac office, has done it again and hired another renaissance woman. She and I are  excited to announce the affiliation of Licensed Salesperson Brittany Alvarez with the firm.

Want to hear glowing praise? Check this out:

“Ms. Alvarez’s reputation in Putnam County precedes her. Brittany is known as a force to be reckoned with and someone whose work ethic is the stuff of legend. I’ve worked with Brittany—on the other side of the table, of course—on many projects in Putnam County, and know first-hand of her tenacity and commitment to her work. Having her as a part of the J. Philip team is a huge asset and I look forward to being in business with her,”
– Jennifer Maher, Manager, Mahopac office and co-owner/ Broker of the J. Philip Commercial Group.

Our Putnam County group is not big, but their collective power is awesome. I know a thing or two about small, growing teams that produce more than their number might suggest, and people like Brittany make that happen. Jenn attracts talent. Period.

Brittany has experience in both the public and private sectors, and brings a polished and well-honed resumé to the J Philip Team. Her flexibility, amiability, and ability to adapt to any situation or work environment make her a perfect fit for our industry. She’s got game: unparalleled organizational skills, a can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and every exchange I’ve had with her has been pleasant, upbeat and productive. To say that she’s raring to go is an understatement. I like that. And I predict big things. 

To reach Brittany, email her at brittany@jphilip.com or call/text 914.879.2616. You can also log onto www.BrittanyAlvarez.com

 

 

Company NewsPimpage March 24, 2015

Q Branch

Angela at the Peham office grand opening

Angela at the Peham office grand opening

I am biased, but I think I have the best people on my firm’s team. That’s why the company has grown through an era in the industry when many other firms disappeared. One of the very best examples is Angela Johnson. In August, 2012 when Angela joined the brokerage I wrote this:

…”it is with immense pride that I introduce Angela Johnson as J. Philip Real Estate’s first Vice President. She will be in charge of development, recruiting, and helping our growing team of 30+ licensees to become better in all facets of the business. They could not be in better hands, and I could not have gotten a better first officer.”

Two and a half years later Angela’s desk remains right next to mine in the firm’s home office in Briarcliff, and the team of 30 agents has grown to over 60 in 4 separate offices from the Hudson Valley to Buffalo. Interestingly, not long after she joined us, the state of New York passed a law requiring that anyone in a real estate firm with a corporate title like VP or director actually be a principal in the enterprise. You can still be a vice president in other industries and have a clip on tie, but for real estate brokers, thousands of business cards had to be reprinted. I gave Angela’s title quite a bit of thought, and half jokingly came up with “Q-Branch,” a James Bond reference to the late Desmond Llewelyn’s role as master of all 007’s techno-gizmos. It was actually quite an apt description of her role as steward of the company’s technology, and the reference has stuck. 

We were not out of the woods in yet in 2012, and it wouldn’t be until 2013 that anyone even whispered the word “recovery.” Someone coined the term “pre-covery” early that year, but the early part of Angela’s tenure here was still in the thick of  the slow market. She made a difference. As much as I had a reputation for being a tech forward broker, many of the neat things I had incorporated in 2006 and 2007 were essentially unchanged and stale. Our company website was a template piece of crap. Our back office transaction and client relationship management was nonexistent. There was no plan. Worst of all, I was a reaction machine who was running around putting out metaphorical fires instead of working with the Big Picture in mind. It happens- the E-Myth books are all about it. I needed help, and Angela’s skill set was crucial to the leap forward we made. 

Madam Q’s roles are varied and challenging. She remains an associate broker with a book of past business she manages. She recruited our first REO broker, and the bank-owned department I always wanted was finally a reality. She is in charge of on-boarding all new agents, no small task if you were ever to take a peak at the to-do list for a new agent with the firm. She has also become the go-to ass kicker for projects I could not assign to anyone else. Recently, I was asked by the State Association to make a presentation at the Winter Conference on the latest trends in real estate technology. I asked Angela to help put together the slides. In typical fashion, she didn’t just make a nice slides, she researched the hell out of the subject and created a truly impressive graphic presentation. And when the hotel’s AV equipment had a catastrophic failure and my material was lost, she scored a three pointer from mid court by getting me a Dropbox link remotely from 100 miles away. New York State Association of Realtors Tech Forums are serious business; what could have been an embarrassing failure ended up a huge success. 

Among the other hats she wears with aplomb are being my office first officer in Briarcliff, a frequent consigliere in personnel and organizational strategy, and just kind of being like Spock to a severely ADD broker (I hate to mix the Star Trek metaphor with James Bond, but the shoe fits). When we represented our first builder, her experience in new construction was a huge assist in getting our developer his first contract quickly with a very qualified buyer. She lives in an inquiry as to how to best market our listings, and has put in considerable overtime on maintaining our superior tech edge. 

I think you’re getting the picture. 

I am not an easy guy to work with. I am demanding, forgetful, disorganized, distracted, hyperactive, jumpy, sarcastic, occasionally tone deaf, and stubborn. She navigates it all, and on that last part,  has distinguished herself uniquely, with a rare talent for informing me in March that something I finally did was precisely what she advised me to do back in July. Along with the rest of my foibles, she still gets the job done and has never sugarcoated me or glossed over the truth. Few companies our size have a department devoted strictly to tech, let alone someone who actually gets the translation to a sales organization. It is no coincidence that we have grown. None at all. 

Salud, Q , nessuno lo fa meglio