By Mentoring helps realtors to grow and succeed
“We emulate those with whom we associate most closely.” Napolean Hill, Think and Grow Rich.
Realtors are entrepreneurs, self-guided business people who need the help of those who’ve come before and can show the way to success. This is why mentors serve such an important role in our industry.
If you’re a veteran realtor, make it a point to become a mentor to someone new, and if you’re a new agent, be smart and find a good mentor. We all benefit from shared knowledge, because successful agents mean a robust industry that is strong enough to support everyone.
I’ve been lucky enough to have found several mentors who’ve helped guide my career, people I’ve met along the way and others I’ve found through reading. In fact, one of the secrets behind my success is really no secret at all: I watch what others are doing and try to do it better.
I give a lot of credit for my business sense to the teachings of people like Bob Moles (our own Chairman with whom I’ve worked closely throughout my career) and Alan Dayton (the president and CEO of Realtor.com, the number one real estate web site in the world) as well as thinkers like Tom Hopkins, Mike Ferry, Brian Tracy and Zig Ziglar. You can find their books and CDs online. Here are three I recommend:
How to Master the Art of Selling by Tom Hopkins
Real Estate According to Mike Ferry by Mike Ferry
Early in my career, even before I got into real estate, I would listen to tapes of Zig Ziglar, Tom Hopkins and others for hours everyday around the house or while working out. People must have thought I was crazy. At one point during my first year, I didn’t watch television. I simply listened and learned.
I was also fortunate enough to have some great inner-office mentors early on who’ve helped to shape my leadership skills. In fact, I got into real estate because of a realtor named Chuck Cwieka who went on to become one of my first big influences.
Today, I try to give back by sharing my knowledge and experience in classes I teach at De Anza College: “Principles of Real Estate” and “Real Estate Practices.” It’s rewarding and a little bit self-serving in that I might find a future Intero leader somewhere among those students.
Internally, we have developed one of the best agent training and education programs in the industry. It’s called Provizio. Our goal with this program has always been to give agents a structured environment where they can learn the business of real estate from veterans who’ve been around for a while and have proven methods for success. In essence, it’s mentorship in a classroom.
This is a tough business. By giving our people all the tools, knowledge and training we possibly can and encouraging mentorship within the company, we’re increasing their potential for continuing in a long career in real estate, and that benefits us.
In the long run, helping our people to achieve their dreams makes us a stronger company, because realtors who are happy with their work and satisfied with where they are going in their professional and personal life tend to be more successful all around.
