When I started commercial real estate brokerage, my mentor told me I had entered the “big leagues.” At the time, I thought he was talking about the breadth of knowledge required to do the job: marketing, sales, finance, etc. Years later I discovered what he actually meant: that you better know what you’re doing or prepare to get ripped apart.
There were days when I felt ripped apart. Boneheaded mistakes and sleepless nights. Experiences that not only made me lose confidence in myself, but sometimes in the entirety of American capitalism.
But for every heartbreak, there were breakthroughs and, eventually…
“Do What You Love.”
WeWork’s famed slogan used to pull people away from their boring corporate jobs and follow their passion. An effective message no doubt! It basically simplified the American dream: have the courage to follow your passion, and the rest is sunshine and rainbows.
The advice worked for Tiger Woods, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk. Why wouldn’t it work for you too?
But we all know the truth, chasing your passion does not guarantee success, it doesn’t guarantee anything.
Passion is a guide, but not the journey itself. …
I screwed up big time a few years ago.
Let me explain.
I soared my first year in brokerage. I was making money, closing deals, and winning awards for excellent sales revenue — not bad for a recent college grad. The company even flew me to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic, a nice way of saying, “just stick with us, kid.”
I finally made it, or so I thought.
Instead of being smart with my newfound success, my ego got the better of me and I chose to live like an Instagram influencer. I spent that money on…
I’m not a born salesperson. I know that because I’m responding to you during peak cold call hours. Like learning to dribble a basketball with your left hand, whatever sales skills I have were developed.
There’re plenty of books written about prospecting that will help you get started, sharpen your game, or simply inspire you to pick up the phone. I recommend Dan Pink, Zig Ziglar, Jeb Blount, and Dale Carnegie.
I’ve read these masters of persuasion as a post-graduate, and each have very different methodologies, sales scripts, and perspectives. But like the great religions of the world and how they all point to the same universal truth; the great sales books can be summed up with one word…
Care.
Show up with grit and ice in your veins, be empathetic, and care enough to connect with your audience.
Care and doors will open.
Each take under 5 minutes to make
Most young professionals ignore LinkedIn’s value.
Sure, most are on LinkedIn. But they’re not intentional with their posts like on Instagram or Medium. Instead, they post about a promotion, share an article without context, or regurgitate a product they’re selling.
In what world?
Since 2017, I’ve posted at least three times per week on LinkedIn for my commercial real estate business. Four years later, it’s become my best source for new clients and networking opportunities. And you know what else? It’s all thanks to a few easy-to-make posts.
Here are my top four…
If you’re brave, what you’re meant to do will find you
The defining decade: psychologist Meg Jays coined phrase for our twentysomething years — a decade of learning, responsibility, and growth. Build a foundation in your twenties and watch your dreams unfold in your thirties.
That might be true, but it feels gushy — so all I have to do is work hard, and poof! My dreams come true?
Uncertainty torments the inner compass of all twenty-year old’s. I know because I am one. How can we be certain we are doing the right things?
The right daily routines.
The…
Anyone can learn this skill, that’s the good news
The World Economic Forum’s Third Annual Future of Jobs Report says that 50% of all employees will have to be reskilled by 2026 or risk misplacement.
Why?
Advances in automation and technology are certainly contributing factors (per usual), but the economic impacts of COVID has ramped up the mayhem. Judgment cometh and that right soon.
Yikes! So what must we do World Economic Forum? Learn to code? Build Tesla batteries? TikTok dances?
Not exactly, though I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt.
According to the Forum, critical thinking and problem solving will top…
The experience follows you wherever you go
I should’ve taken a year off after college.
Instead, I graduated on May 10th, 2015, and started busting my ass in corporate America by June 15th.
What can I say! I came from the Michael Lewis generation: a swell of millennials enchanted by business and finance after reading The Big Short, Liar’s Poker, and Moneyball. I planned to collect my fortune quickly, and not waste time along the way.
I remember feeling sorry for graduates who didn’t have it all “figured out.” The kids who took off to Europe or road-tripped across the…
I don’t understand “hype beasts.”
Here’s their life in a nutshell:
And the pissing match continues.
I’m I suppose to follow the lifestyle of this so-called “beast?”
Will that really make me happier?
Listen, I appreciate the desire to hustle like Jake Paul or Addison Rae. But most people just spend their parent’s money, buy expensive clothes, and take fake photos — creating the illusion of hustle.
If you’re serious about growing a following on any social media…
I had a big idea last summer.
My idea was a website that reviewed business books and generated money through subscriptions and Amazon’s book referral program.
Dumb, right? Well, coming from a single dude stuck in quarantine, I thought I just invented Airbnb.
I hired a website developer, designed a logo, created an Instagram account, a Facebook account, a Substack account, and a LinkedIn account. Then got to work writing the first few reviews.
I was so excited to share my idea that a simple yet critical question never crossed my mind: “do people even want this?” …
broker, blogger, researcher | 27 years old | I write about the Yo Pro experience in its’ entirety | Here’s my newsletter https://yoprolibrary.substack.com