MARCH 2018 LA

EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

Executive Agent of the Month

Inside Features: Daniel Gat Finance of America Mortgage

Basil Sakr RE/MAX Top Producers

TM

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

FAMILY. INTEGRITY. VALUE.

Finance of America Mortgage Westlake Village is Southern California’s premiere mortgage lender. Our goal is to create value for the community while bringing families home.

Scott Engel

Steve Haddad

Sherrie Nickeas

NMLS-260965

NMLS-238275

NMLS-253906

Samantha Scott

Daniel Gat

James Guzik

NMLS-252312

NMLS-261049

NMLS-486122

Brenda Podesta

Rick Kleinfinger

Kirk Engel

NMLS-507200

NMLS-260526

NMLS-261071

Branch Manager

o: (310) 739-6243 sengel@financeofamerica.com

Senior Mortgage Advisor

o: (805) 200-7680 samantha.scott@financeofamerica.com

Senior Mortgage Advisor

o: (707) 815-9780 bpodesta@financeofamerica.com

Branch Manager

o: (818) 207-4889 shaddad@financeofamerica.com

Senior Mortgage Advisor

o: (310) 363-5800 dagat@financeofamerica.com

Senior Mortgage Advisor

o: (310) 429-7683 rkleinfinger@financeofamerica.com

Senior Mortgage Advisor

o: (805) 380-5363 snickeas@financeofamerica.com

Senior Mortgage Advisor

o: (213) 373-3032 jguzik@financeofamerica.com

Sales Manager

o: (310) 924-5283 kengel@financeofamerica.com

Blake Baron

Business Development & Marketing NMLS-1659682

o: (805) 444-0643 bbaron@financeofamerica.com

FOAmortgage.com/WestlakeVillage

We offer in-house agent marketing support.

Contact us today to find out how we can help grow your business Š2018 Finance of America Mortgage LLC is licensed nationwide | | NMLS ID #1071 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | 300 Welsh Road, Building 5, Horsham, PA 19044 | (800) 355-5626 | AZ Mortgage Banker License #0910184 | Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act | Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #15499 | Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee | Kansas Licensed Mortgage Company | Licensed by the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance | Licensed Mortgage Banker -- NYS Banking Department | Rhode Island Licensed Lender

EXECUTIVE AGENT OF THE MONTH

Noelle Hettlinger Til COMPASS

21

17

Inside Features

26

06 Basil Sakr

Daniel Gat

4

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

MARCH, 2018 Editorials

E XECUTIVE AGENT

TM

MAGAZINE

32

Fred Arrias Executive Publisher PO Box 73384 San Clemente, CA 92673 Direct: (949) 297-8323 Cell: (949) 702-9577 Fax: (949) 266-8757 FArrias45@gmail.com www.EAMag.net

Teaming With Success -Craig Harrison

28

Stress: Control It, Change It or Let It Go! -Simma Lieberman ADVERTISERS’ INDEX - MW City of Hope.......................................................34 COMPASS..........................................................23

24

How Patience Makes You Rich -Jim Rohn

Finance of America Mortgage.............................2 iPhotography Studio......................................15 & 36 NAHREP...................................................................8 The Termite Guy......................................................3

12

Are You Doing All You Can Do? -Walter Sanford

SRAR.................................................................................14

Photography: iPhotography Studio, Ian Wiant, Rob Paino Graphic Designer: Garon T. Arrias Editorial Manager: Trudy Van Writers: Ben Angel, John Boe, Haley Freeman, Jim Rohn, Walter Sanford, Dirk Zeller, Zig Ziglar Craig Harrison, Simma Lieberman, Chris Widener

10

Winning: Defining It, Achieving It -Chris Widener

© Copyright 2018 Executive Agent Magazine. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Although every precaution is taken to ensure accuracy of published materials, Executive Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors.

30

Doing the Impossible -Zig Ziglar

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

5

E XECUTIVE AGENT

TM

MAGAZINE

Daniel Gat Written by Haley Freeman

“Every client is an opportunity.”

This affirming spirit has contributed to Daniel Gat’s success as a mortgage Loan Consultant for more than a decade.

In 2005, Daniel answered a post for a position as a Loan Consultant’s assistant. “They wanted somebody with much more knowledge and experience than I had. I applied anyway knowing I am a fast learner.

When I didn’t hear back, I wrote a long letter asking for a chance to prove myself. I got an interview and landed the job. As it turns out, Scott Engel gave me the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Daniel’s tenacity and talent for managing details helped him advance quickly from assistant to Loan Consultant. He soon became a top producing inhouse lender to Coldwell Banker Real Estate agents in two Santa Monica offices. These many years later, he is still working with Scott Engel, now branch manager at Finance of America Mortgage in Westlake Village, to deliver products, pricing and service that are unparalleled in the industry.

“I have worked with Scott over my entire career, and I trust him completely to help me deliver on what I promise to clients. Speed is something the

industry is asking for, and being at Finance of America Mortgage gives us the ability to deliver fast closings with a 21-day turnaround. We also have great pricing and the capacity to be flexible and compete if someone says they’ve found a better deal.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Owning Opportunity If this were a game of baseball, Daniel would be batting 1,000. That’s because of the 1,100-plus loans he has closed in his career, he has never had a single pre-approval denied in underwriting.

Realtors® refer their homebuyers to Daniel with absolute confidence, knowing he will get them to closing seamlessly and on time. “I don’t just have a phone conversation and pull credit. I do a full pre-approval with all documentation an underwriter would review. I know underwriting guidelines, and I never overpromise and underdeliver. If a client doesn’t qualify, I help create solutions and a strategy rather than turn somebody away. I understand that agents want to know they will be paid for the time they’ve invested in a client and not have their reputation damaged by referring the wrong Loan Consultant. I want to make them look great and help them grow their business.”

The proof is that 100 percent of Daniel’s business is referred. One agent affirmed: “Daniel Gat is a true professional and a Loan Consultant you want working with you. I send all of my clients to him because he simply gets the job done no matter the challenge. His ability to find solutions and his dedication to the process is unmatched. He is one of the best problem solvers I’ve come across in the business, and I cannot stress enough on how many times his abilities have saved deals and ensured successful closings. In addition, he always makes himself available to answer questions and strives for open communication. It’s refreshing and reassuring to have someone care so much about ensuring there is a clear understanding throughout the process.

Daniel’s thoughtfulness and thoroughness is made clear in the service he provides.”

a few minutes for a response to a call or email.

“Why would anyone talk to another bank if I’m there picking up my phone right away? I give people thorough responses. I don’t just tell them things; I want them to understand the details. I also like to put what I say in writing so they can refer to it again later.”

A client expressed her appreciation for Daniel’s attentive professionalism: “I was referred to Daniel by my Realtor® and could not be more pleased with his professionalism, courtesy and assistance every single step of the way. Daniel is genuine and industrious, and I will continue to recommend his services to all future homeowners. He answered every single question I had, and I had many, and his explanations were thorough, unbiased and so incredibly helpful for a first time homeowner such as myself.”

A first generation American whose parents immigrated to the United States and built successful careers, Daniel has special appreciation for what it means to be born in the land of opportunity, where taking risks can lead to great things. He says, “I love what I do. I get tremendous satisfaction from helping people achieve the American Dream.”

Daniel Gat Finance of America Mortgage 5655 Lindero Canyon Road, Suite 120 Westlake Village, CA 91362 Tel: 310.363.5800 Email: Daniel@danielgat.com Web: www.foamortgage.com/dagat NMLS ID 261049 ©2018 Finance of America Mortgage LLC is licensed nationwide | NMLS ID

In keeping with his belief that every client is an opportunity, Daniel makes communication his number one objective. Clients rarely wait more than

#1071 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | 300 Welsh Road, Building 5, Horsham, PA 19044 | (800) 355-5626 | Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

STATE OF

HISPANIC HOMEOWNERSHIP REPORT

DOWNLOAD TODAY hispanicwealthproject.org/shhr

In Collaboration with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals®

Now You Can Get Executive Agent Magazine Online!

We’ve Gone Digital So You Have Access To All Executive Agent Has To Offer-On The Go, Anytime, Anywhere

Link directly to Advertisers

Search for Articles

Interact and Connect

Executive Agent Magazine www.ExecutiveAgentMagazine.com

949.297.8323 949.366.3349

Info@eamag.net

Winning: Defining It, Achieving It

I

f you ask most people whether they would like to be considered a winner or a loser in life, they would most assuredly reply that they would like to be a winner.

But this begs the question, “What does it mean to win at life?”

In some things it’s easy to define a clear winner. In a basketball game, whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner. In a game of hearts, my favorite card game, whoever has the least amount of points when one of the players reaches 100 points is the winner.

But it isn’t quite as easy to decide what it means to win in the game of life, is it? And that is because people define winning in different ways. For many, winning is through the accumulation of money or material possessions. “He’s a success, a real winner,” they say.

Others think winning means living the longest. Still others say that it is to have their body in tip-top shape.

Some say it is to have a happy family. Some say it is to regularly enjoy their hobbies.

All of these are fine, in and of themselves. But...

I would like to encourage us to think about winning or success in a different way. Generally, people think of winning as the over-achievement in a particular, chosen area.

I like to believe, however, that to truly win at life is not to overachieve in one area but to succeed in maintaining balanced achievement in numerous areas.

Let me repeat that: To truly win, to be a success, is

10

not to overachieve in one area, but to maintain balanced achievement in all areas of our lives.

For instance, is a person a success if they earn millions of dollars but lose their family? Is a person a success if they garner national fame but have no friends? Of course not. In fact, they may live the most pitiful of all lives.

First, Define So the first thing we must do is define what we will consider “winning in life.” As you ponder this for yourself, I would like to recommend that you focus in on three overarching areas: Body, Soul, and Spirit.

The body is that which has actual connection with the physical world and would encompass physical health, financial health, family, work, and relationships. How is your health? How are your finances? Are your relationships, both with your family and others all that they could be? Is work fulfilling? How would you define winning in these areas?

The next area, the soul, is that which deals with the emotions, will, and intellect. It is our thoughts, ideas, and attitudes. How are you emotionally? Are you able to exercise your will? Are you growing intellectually? Have you done an attitude check lately? How would you define winning in these areas?

And the spirit is the part of us that transcends this life, the part of us that communes with God. Zig Ziglar said, “Money will buy me a house, but not a home, a bed, but not a good night’s sleep.” So true.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Written By Chris Widener

Inner peace comes from something much deeper. Have you thought about going back to your spiritual roots? Are you able to spend time in quiet, solitude, and prayer from time to time? This is an extremely important area and all too often neglected. What would you like to achieve in this area? How would you define winning in these areas?

As we experience balance in these areas, we will find ourselves much more at peace with ourselves than if we were to experience tremendous success in one area but loss or failure in the other areas. We were designed to work as congruent, balanced people. This is how we get to the end of our lives and say, “I won.”

Second, Prioritize Once you have defined what it is that you would like to achieve in each of these areas, you have to prioritize them, and let other, non-important areas drop off the chart.

Commit to developing a plan to succeed in a balance of areas. Exercise your will. Choose. Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “The history of free men is written not by chance, but by choice - their choice.”

When we manage our time and schedule, we are simply making choices in regard to our priorities. For most, their priority is to take action on whatever is screaming the loudest at the moment. For those who become winners, they reflect on what they desire to achieve, make a plan and decide to eliminate the rest.

Last, Do it Okay, you have defined winning. You have prioritized your life. Now, the hard part: Doing it. This is where

we are all alone. We all make this step on our own, but having a written plan is as good a preparation as you can get. Rather than saying that you are going to do this for the rest of your life, take the next week to implement your new balance of winning.

If a week sounds too long, just focus on today. Spend some time, be it ever so small, enhancing your life in these areas. Exercise a little. Read for a while to challenge your mind. Deal with your emotions. Spend time in silent contemplation to renew your spirit. Give some time to your spouse and children.

Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you won’t get anywhere if you’re standing still.” There has got to be action.

As we do this over time, and balance our lives out, we will begin to finally feel like we are winning at life. That will be exciting, as will the process!

Chris Widener is the President of Made For Success. He teaches leaders how to become Extraordinary Leaders.

Chris’ speaking and consulting services have challenged the best to become optimists, to pursue excellence relentlessly, and to dream big dreams. Copyright© 2001, Chris Widener. All rights reserved. For information about Chris’ speaking and consulting services, please contact the Frog Pond Group at 800-704-FROG (3764) or email Susie@frogpondgroup.com; http://www.frogpondgroup. com.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

11

Are You Doing All You Can Do?

12

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

M

y goal in real estate was to leverage my time so that I was getting the maximum amount of income out of every exertion of energy.

I never liked showing property much, but I really wanted the listing. In fact, I did whatever was ethical to become the most recognized REALTOR® in my area.

This system is a little aggressive, not for the faint of heart. I never considered it solicitation of a seller, just feedback; however, the results were many sellers ended up knowing me and paying more attention to my expired solicitation.

I risk showing you this in that you may think all of my ideas are “grey area” but not so! I have thousands of systems in my training materials that will make you a fortune, but I have to tell you -- I just loved that call from the REALTOR® who had more time on their hands than business and who would complain that I should have emailed him/her my feedback on their listing.

Most times, I was giving better feedback than the listing agent. The top agents loved it, so that is why I have so many different systems. I had to keep inventing new ones, because the competition kept stealing my ideas.

Just leave a card at the property you have shown.

Make sure all of your information and picture are on the card. Mine had me next to my Rolls Royce on the back.

Walter Sanford is a top producing real estate agent and speaker who travels the country delivering systems and strategies to top producers for higher productivity and client satisfaction. Copyright© 2000, Walter Sanford. All rights reserved. For information about Walter’s keynote presentations and training seminars, please contact the Frog Pond Group at 800-704FROG (3764) or email susie@frogpondgroup.com; http://www.frogpondgroup.com.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

13

Southland Regional Association of REALTORSÂŽ

TOP 10

Member Benefits Included in SRAR dues & MLS fees

A tool to streamline the tenant screening & rental application process. Along with a rental application, each application package includes a TransUnion credit report (with score), criminal background check & national eviction report.

FREE - An easy program for CMAs, Buyer Tours, Property Reports and Flyers with QR codes & smartphone reports for you & your clients.

FREE - A NAR exclusive online database providing REALTORSÂŽ with residential & commercial data from over 147 million parcels Nationally!

FREE 45 hour CE courses.

Access through CAR.org.

FREE - Statewide tax & public records with MLS listings, photos & sales data, neighborhood searches, distressed property flags, market & trend reports & more! Access from CRISnet.

FREE - Create, edit & complete contracts and forms for real estate transactions. Online program includes branding, template creation, auto fill, smart forms and more!!

Ombudsman & Ethics Advocate Our service can help you resolve disputes without having to file a complaint or walk you through each step of the complaint process if you choose to file.

FREE - A listing syndication service that delivers a Broker controlled platform.

Main Office 7232 Balboa Blvd Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-786-2110

CRISNet tech support Monday through Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-5pm. Call (818)947-2202 or (661)295-7117

RealtyZam

Tech Support

Easy to use accounting software exclusively for Real Estate Agents providing ease in tracking expenses including mileage & receipt storage.

Generate reports to give direct to tax preparers.

Santa Clarita Office 20655 Soledad Cyn. Rd. #33 Canyon Country, CA 91351 661-299-2930

EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

Nomination Form Nominate a fellow REALTORÂŽ to be featured in one of our feature stories; on the cover as Executive Agent of the Month, or as a special feature story. All candidates must be nominated by a real estate professional. The selection process includes a questionnaire, personal interview, reference check and final approval by the Advisory Council. Candidates are evaluated based upon professionalism, length of service and uniqueness of story, as well as industry and community involvement.

I Nominate: Name_______________________________ Company___________________________ Address____________________________ _____________________________________ City, State, Zip_____________________ _____________________________________ Phone______________________________ Email_______________________________ Submitted By: Fax/Email nomination to: Executive Agent Magazine PO Box 73384 San Clemente, CA 92673 Fax: 949.266.8757 Email: Info@eamag.net Tel: 949.297.8323

Name_______________________________ Company___________________________ Phone______________________________ Email_______________________________

TM

Cover Story

Executive Agent of the Month

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Written by Haley Freeman - Photography by Ian Wiant

A

ward-winning Los Angeles Realtor® Noelle Hettlinger Til loves selling homes in one of the world’s creative capitals, where the sun-soaked lifestyle, magnificent homes and culture of innovation shape a signature recognized around the globe as uniquely “LA.” During her 15-plus years in the industry, Noelle has consistently earned top honors for her outstanding client service and nationally ranked sales production.

Noelle joined Compass in 2017, an avant-garde real estate company that is pairing the industry’s top talent with technology to make the experience of searching for and selling a home both intelligent and seamless. “Agents sometimes say that clients choose their agent based on the agent, not the brokerage,” Noelle says, “And I suppose that’s true. However, the brokerage you choose should be supporting you as a professional and helping you do your best work, freeing you to spend time finding the right properties for clients and negotiating deals. At Compass, I have that. At our headquarters in New York, we have

floors of engineers who are building programs and tools to help our agents do their best work. We are the most tech-forward company in the industry, anticipating and fulfilling the expectations of clients and agents before they even ask for it. It’s refreshing to finally see something different.”

An East Coast native who grew up in an extended family household in a suburb of Minnesota’s cosmopolitan Twin Cities, Noelle earned her degree from St. Olaf College and then was selected by the prestigious Teach for America, a program dedicated to mobilizing talented young professionals to expand the movement for educational equity and excellence, to teach at schools in need.

“I have worked in the socio-economic extremes of LA and deeply value the experience that I’ve had getting to know every angle of this remarkable city. I’ve seen every neighborhood and every area, and I know people who live in them. I think I bring a different kind of understanding and perspective to my profession than most people have.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

From the shimmering South Bay, to the fashionable Westside, to the suburban Valley, Noelle has helped clients from around the world strategically buy and sell Los Angeles real estate. Always ready to meet the expectations of the most discriminating clientele, Noelle has long been known for creating eye-catching marketing materials and utilizing the latest technologies to create amazing results.

“I work with many clients in the entertainment and creative fields, and people who have sophisticated tastes. They want beautiful marketing to really showcase their properties.

I believe everything should be cutting edge, and so does Compass. If I tell a client that I can offer the best marketing for their home, it needs to actually be the best. I won’t say it is if it isn’t. My clients are welcome to share ideas with me. Some don’t want to be involved, but I want them to feel they have input and can collaborate in the process.”

Rather than rushing to market, Noelle engages every listing with a deliberate plan of action. “It’s important to take the time to get a property ready so the seller can maxi-

mize their return on investment. The time taken to prepare will pay off in a big way, and preparations don’t have to be expensive. The house needs to be squeaky clean and decluttered at the minimum. If staging is needed, I find the right stager for that particular house, one whose style matches the buyers I think will purchase the home. We want the buyer to walk in and immediately connect with that property.

“Recently we put a very cool house on the market in Santa Monica. There was a huge raised bed garden in the back, but it was just a big pile of dirt. We headed to the local nursery, loaded up the cars with huge bags of soil and as many vegetables and herbs as we could, and planted the whole garden. That became a focal point for the backyard, and the eventual buyer remarked that when she saw the garden, she was picturing her little girl having fun with it. It’s worth it to attend the details that make the property shine - you never know what will make people fall in love.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Noelle takes her work seriously, understanding that she is representing what is often a family’s greatest investment and future legacy. She is a fierce negotiator, but also one who strives for the win-win. “I do a lot of things to ensure that my buyers have a strong chance of winning multiple offers. In this competitive market, it’s especially important to go the extra mile with listing agents. I do things I would like to see from agents on the other side when I’m the listing agent. For instance, I think about what agent I believe will bring the deal home, who knows their business. I’m looking for the strongest buyer, but also the agent who knows how to guide their clients through an escrow and can handle the bumps along the way. No matter which side I’m representing, I believe that when I negotiate a deal, the other side also has to be happy. We, as agents, are dealing with people’s lives. If we work as a team, it can be a great experience for everyone. Other agents know they can trust

me to keep the deal together and make them look good.”

While Noelle is a former educator and mother of two who understands exactly what young families are looking for in homes, neighborhoods and schools, she is also well-equipped to assist foreign nationals who are buying or selling California real estate and has many international or relocating clients. “Los Angeles is an international city, and it’s not uncommon for us to be working with clients from all over the country and all over the world, mapping out the time zones for who is available when. People love to buy investment properties or a second home in LA and I understand why - it’s a great place to live.” Noelle’s husband, Philippe Til, is a fitness entrepreneur and Realtor®, and is originally from France. He often collaborates with her on transactions and works with many of the foreign buyers and investors, as well.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

CREATING AMAZING RESULTS Together, Noelle and Philippe are raising their two young boys, Fletcher and Branson.

These “busy, cute little guys” keep them going nonstop, and the family regularly spends time at local parks, museums and events, enjoying LA’s idyllic weather and cultural treasures. One of their favorite things to do is to take advantage of all that surrounds the city and take mini-day trips, such as heading up to Ojai for breakfast and a hike or spending the day on the beach in Carpinteria.

Recently, one of their sons was diagnosed with Type1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, an auto-immune disease that can affect anyone at any age, and causes the body to destroy its own ability to make insulin. There is currently no cure for this disease. “I’m still finding my way through this new world, but I am starting to get involved with advocacy groups and educating people about

what it is. I think I was like most people out there before he was diagnosed. I had vaguely heard of juvenile diabetes, and knew there were two types of the disease, but didn’t know the difference, and I didn’t understand how complicated and how serious it is. Now I spread the word every chance I get to raise awareness.” (JDRF.org) Creating extraordinary results in real estate requires design, dedication and expertise. Noelle is constantly raising the bar on her own professional performance, while also associating herself with other industry professionals who share her commitment to excellence. “Not all agents are the same, and the real estate reality shows don’t show how hard the good ones really work or how much we care for our clients. You need a strategy for every home and every client around whatever their goals are. There are so many little things that add up to create an amazing result.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

NOELLE HETTLINGER TIL COMPASS, 11999 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049 Tel: 310.621.9800 - nchettlinger@gmail.com – noelle.hettlinger.til@compass.com www.NoelleTil.com - CalBRE # 01444943

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

12

N

118°49

'

197%

°0 1 '95"

" W MAL

U • CA 34

IB

Damon Skelton’s sales volume increase from 2016 vs 2017

209.5% Damon Skelton’s increase in GCI from 2016 vs 2017

26% Damon Skelton’s increase in unit volume from 2016 vs 2017

“The Technology, Marketing and Agent support at Compass exceeded my expectations. It allowed me to market better, sell faster and in less time.

My sales volume increased a dramatic 197% from the previous year. My clients noticed too. Sellers were impressed by the Compass brand aesthetic, marketing tools & results. Buyers loved the Compass Collections tool, which simplified the process of finding their dream home by allowing us to stay organized, monitor and collaborate on properties in real time, in one shared location.”

—Damon Skelton

Call Jay Rubenstein at 310.230.5740 to discover if Compass could be your next home.

compass.com Compass is a licensed real estate broker (01991628) in the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only.

Infor-mation is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice.

How Patience Makes You

RICH

A

patient man is always richer than an impatient one, even if the patient man has less money.

What do I mean by that statement? Well, riches and wealth can take other forms besides dollars and cents.

In what sense is the patient man richer? The answer is actually very simple. A patient man is always richer than the impatient one because the patient man can always afford to wait. The patient man is never desperate. The patient man has time to spare, while the man in a hurry is always on the verge of bankruptcy as far as time is concerned.

In any situation you can think of, impatience is a source of weakness and fear, while patience represents substance and strength.

And here’s another reason why patience gives the person who has it an incalculable advantage over those who don’t have it: It gives him deeper insight into himself and others, which is a mark of philosophical refinement. If you can only see the short term, if you think only in terms of the here and now, then you are stuck in a one place. You can’t judge distances. You live in a world that’s flat and twodimensional. In other words, the impatient person lacks all sense of perspective.

Perspective lets you measure your current plans against things that have already occurred and against your desires and aspirations for the future. Then and now, here and there, near and far, need and know, watch and wait—these are the dual optics that allow the patient man to see in stereo. The nearsighted person sees only the present; the fantasizer sees only an imaginary future and, more likely than not, trips over his mistakes trying to get there.

Patience enables you to see the big picture. It helps you to make the most of today while building a better tomorrow. For that reason, it’s one of the most valuable equities of all, one that you should make every effort to acquire. The payoff will be worth it.

Jim Rohn knows the secrets of success - in business and in life. He has devoted his life to a study of the fundamentals of human behavior and personal motivation that affect professional performance. He can awaken the unlimited power of achievement within you! Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine. Copyright© 2006, Jim Rohn. All right reserved. For information about Jim’s keynote presentations and seminars, contact the FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email susie@ FrogPond.com http://FrogPond.com.

If you can only see the short term, if you think only in terms of the here and now, then you are stuck in a one place.

24

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

25

E XECUTIVE AGENT

TM

MAGAZINE

Written by Haley Freeman

BASIL SAKR

R

ealtor® Basil Sakr is in the business of making dreams come true. At least, that’s the way he sees it. Growing up in Los Angeles, Basil was an accomplished athlete who played a new sport every season. Football was always his favorite, and after earning his degree in computer information systems

from California State Polytechnic University, he landed his dream job working as an IT consultant for the NFL Network. “I was in awe. I had to learn not to be starstruck around the professional athletes and celebrities I had always admired growing up. I traveled a lot, and it was an amazing experience.”

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

However, Basil had another lifelong passion: real estate. “I remember being 9 and looking at blueprints of homes and imagining myself living in them. I know now that real estate was my true calling.”

When changing family needs required that Basil remain closer to home, he revisited his early fasciation with real estate, took the leap, and got his license. “I went with my dream, and the risk worked out for me,” he says.

Today, Basil is a successful agent at RE/MAX Top Producers in Diamond Bar, where he feels at home with a strong corporate brand mingled with a hometown atmosphere. “It has the corporate feel I like, where when I come to work it feels like everyone is working hard, but we’re also a family. I like that environment where I feel like I’m part of something great.”

Basil is now leveraging his background as a corporate IT trainer and his real estate expertise to cultivate a winning real estate team. “At NFL Network, I did training videos to help people learn to use our systems and minimize incoming support calls. I feel comfortable in the training world, so I’m excited about hiring new agents or people who are at a crossroads in their careers, and giving them a new opportunity. I want to be a good role model and help them avoid the frustrations I felt when I was making the transition.”

Basil’s experience as a trainer is also an asset to his clients. “I learned to always stay professional and treat people with respect. It helps me empathize with clients and put myself in their shoes. Rather than just trying to sell them a home, I want to help them achieve their goals. It means taking myself out of the equation, listening to their needs and helping them find the home of their dreams.”

One client affirmed: “When we first started looking for a home, there were so many questions that arose, not one went unanswered. It’s not easy to navigate the buying process, but Basil walked with us every step of the way.

He went above and beyond our expectations and found us our dream home. He definitely listened to our every need in what we were looking for. I can say he has his clients

best interests in mind. I refer him to all my family and friends.”

A well-rounded real estate professional, Basil is experienced not only in residential real estate, but also in commercial and land transactions. His next goal is to begin buying and renovating homes, turning them into dreams for sale. “It goes back to why I got into real estate in the first place. I know in that moment when I hand a client the keys, I’ve made their dreams come true. I’ve had clients call me months after the sale to say, ‘Thank you -- you’re a dream maker.’ It’s such an amazing feeling. My dream now is to take something old - something nobody wants to live in - and make it a beautiful home that a family will love. I’ll have the personal gratification of knowing I created a home where a family can be happy and helped them become homeowners. It doesn’t get better than that.”

In his spare time, Basil enjoys volunteering as a football and basketball coach at South Pointe Middle School where he played as a youth. Recently, he helped them achieve their dream when he donated football jerseys.

“They were using their PE uniforms and going to play other schools who had uniforms. They were going into the game with a lack of confidence. It was fun to be able to give them that boost.” He is also the proud dad of hardworking kids who are all honor students and athletes. He is grateful that real estate allows him the flexibility to be present during important milestones in their lives.

As a real estate agent and professional dream maker, Basil is dedicated to creating lifelong bonds of friendship with his clients. “After spending months with someone on their journey, I feel like I’ve become a part of their family.

I love what I do for that reason.”

Basil Sakr RE/MAX Top Producers 618 N. Diamond Bar Blvd.

Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Tel: 909.568.3981 Email: Basil@SakrRealty.com Web: www.remaxtopproducers.com CalBRE # 01992990

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Stress: Control It, Change It or Let It Go!

H

ave you ever tried to control other people? Who gets stressed out? Have you ever tried to control things or events over which you had no control?

Do you find that stressful?

There are different typed of stressful situations. Some, like people interrupting you all the time, you can control.

You can let the interrupters know you are busy and don’t have time to talk.

Other stresses, like rush hour traffic, are usually beyond your control. But there are some things about rush hour traffic that you can personally change which may help; taking a different route, for example, or traveling at a different time. Of course, these changes are not always possible. In that case, you have to change your attitude about the situation, in order to lessen the stress. You can listen to music or educational tapes or books-on-tape. Rush hour traffic won’t seem as frustrating because you’ll be doing something to help keep your mind off the traffic and other drivers. In order to let go of commute stress, you have to accept the situation. You must accept that you cannot control the traffic, no matter how much you yell and gesture at other drivers to speed up. A stressful commute can ruin your whole day, don’t let it! Accept that, if you are unable to change your route, or your time of travel, you are powerless over everything on the road, with the exception of your car and your attitude. Control your attitude, let go of the traffic, and you can control your stress!

the ones who end up with the stress and resulting headaches! The people we try to control go home, or simply ignore us, barely giving us a thought. That’s why it is so easy to build up resentments against other people in situations or jobs when we don’t think we have much control.

On the job, it impedes productivity and healthy teamwork.

People tend to blame other people. If you are stressed out because of others, it’s important to go through the steps of control, change and letting go. Unless you are ready to leave your job, family, or the planet earth, chances are you will continue working or being around the “stressful people.” Ask yourself if the other person is actually a “stress carrier,” or simply has a different style.

Letting go is a process. It takes time, and doesn’t always happen at once just because we will it. We have to use our thoughts to control our emotions and our actions. Remind yourself that there are people and events you cannot control. All you can control is your attitude and your reactions.

Its possible to change yourself-talk about the situation.

Identify which stresses you can control, take appropriate action, and learn to let go of the things you can’t.

Pick something in your life that stresses you out. Can you control it? If so, what can you do? Can you change it? If so, how? Perhaps you can only change or control a part of it. Do you need to let it go? If so, what can you do in order to let go?

You can learn to manage a great deal of your stress by asking looking at each stressor and asking yourself “Can I control it, can I change it, or do I need to learn to let it go?

You can view life as unexpected and exciting or your can view it as scary because you don’t know what the future holds. Take charge; take control or let it go. The choice is yours!

The “control, change, or let go” concept is an important key to stress management. We spend too much time worrying about things over which we have no control that we have no energy left to control the things we can. We become so overwhelmed, that we feel like our whole life is out of control and we’ll never catch up. Once you understand the “control, change, or let go” concept and start putting it into practice you will be able to deal much better with stressful situations.

Simma Lieberman is a trainer, speaker, consultant and coach with over 20 years of experience helping organizations and businesses meet the demands of modern workplaces. She is known for her ability to help people break down assumptions, build dialogues, and create healthy working relationships. Copyright© 2006, Simma Lieberman. All rights reserved. For additional information, contact the FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email susie@FrogPond.com; http://www.FrogPond.com.

So much of our stress comes from trying to control other people, places and things when we simply cannot. We are

28

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

Written By Simma Lieberman

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

29

Doing the Impossible

W

here will the records stop? In 1954 Roger Bannister ran a sub-four-minute mile and it ignited the athletic world. In 1994, Eamonn Coghlan of Ireland, at age 41, ran a sub-four-minute mile.

Incredibly enough, Kip Keino of Ethiopia, at age 55, ran a 4.06 mile. The fastest mile run to date [when this column was originally written] is 3:43.13 accomplished

by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco.

But back in 1954 more than 50 medical journals had published articles saying that the four-minute mile was not humanly possible. Doctors were warning athletes of the dire consequences to anyone who broke that unbreakable barrier.

In the meantime, coaches all over the world, with stopwatches in hand, were encouraging their charges to do their best — but to forget about breaking the “impossible” four-minute barrier.

Roger Bannister broke the barrier and changed that thinking by his performance. He refused to believe what others were saying because he didn’t want to limit his own potential. His breakthrough proved that the barrier was a psychological one, not a physiological barrier.

Jerry Lynch, Ph.D., said that when you believe and think “I can,” you activate your motivation, commitment, confidence, concentration and excitement, all of

30

which relate directly to achievement. On the other hand, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right in both cases.”

Dr. Lynch says that the path to personal excellence is cluttered with obstacles. It is my own personal conviction that you can’t develop your full potential without encountering serious obstacles along the way.

Dr. Lynch also says that you can’t stretch your limits without encountering some rough moments. You need to understand that failure and losses are acceptable learning experiences that can help improve your performance.

This is true in every part of life, whether it involves athletics, academic achievement, business or sales success.

It’s true that airplanes and kites rise fastest when they fly into the wind. Individuals grow stronger physically, mentally and spiritually when they are “tested” with resistance or opposition. Think about it and I’ll see you at the top!

Zig Ziglar is a beloved author and America’s motivator.

He is the author of 25 books and offers training and consulting to organizations all across the globe. To learn more about Zig and his business visit his website at www.ziglar. com.

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

31

Teaming With Success

32

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

W

e are surrounded by examples of great, and not-so-great, teamwork. Recently I flew to Los Angeles, visited relatives, took in a parade with floats, bands and street performers, saw a football game and attended an opera. Countless teams made it all possible, whether on stage or back stage, seen or unseen. You too are a part of a variety of teams. How well you work together tells me how successful you are. Are you teaming with success?

True teamwork takes time and a willingness to contribute to the greater good of the team, as opposed to only looking out for number one. It begins with a desire to work on behalf of the group. Examine your motives.

In successful teams, when the teams win their teammates too reap the rewards. Ineffective teams are often betrayed by selfish team members whose individual goals supersede their team’s goals.

Among the hallmarks of effective teams, whether in sales or service environments: • A shared vision of the mission of the team and its goals • Willingness to meld one’s individual talents for the betterment of the team • Clear communication in both directions: between team leader and team members, and amongst members themselves • Ample appreciation of individual differences within one’s team • Recognition and reward of team members for their efforts I have chaired boards of directors, coached basketball teams domestically and internationally, and managed talented and not so talented groups within and beyond high-tech. I know from experience that lines of authority alone do not guarantee dedication, loyalty and a shared sense of team play.

Similarly, I have been a member of functional and dysfunctional teams and have seen first-hand that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Successful teams are about a coming together of talent, a melding of minds and mindsets, and an ability to focus on the big picture.

• To be valued, appreciated and recognized • An opportunity to express individuality These can all occur on well-led teams, without sacrificing the team spirit. It’s a mistake to believe that the best team leaders treat everyone the same way.

Realistically, not everyone wants nor needs to be treated the same way. Whether in sales or service situations, many team members are self-motivated.

They are self-starters who want the keys to the car and then ask that you step away from the curb. Other team members want and need reassurance, support and a little hand-holding. Neither is right nor wrong.

But each excels when treated the way they most want to be treated.

Team leaders should strive to achieve the following: • A clear vision of the team’s goals and objectives that they consistently articulate • Appreciation of who each team member is and how to relate to them: personality, temperament, strengths and weaknesses and style • Cohesion through regular communication • Support for each team member • Recognition for members’ accomplishments and group milestones Teamwork is developed over time. Day by day your team can strengthen itself through experience and the natural relationships that occur over time. With time and attention to these tips, soon your group will be teaming with success!

Craig Harrison is an instructor with the University of California at Santa Cruz Extension’s Business department, has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal and cited in Business Week. As a manager, consultant, publisher and curriculum developer, he developed his digital dexterity, helping the technical world train and communicate more effectively. Copyright© 2007, Craig Harrison. All rights reserved. For information contact FrogPond at 800.704.FROG(3764) or email susie@ FrogPond.com.

Team members seek the following: • To be heard • To feel important

ExecutiveAgent Magazine

33

Our bone marrow transplant reunion is now standing room only.

Each year, City of Hope invites bone marrow transplant recipients and their families to attend the “Celebration of Life” event. It’s a joyous time during which survivors of blood cancers such as lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma embrace their health, their life and each other. It began more than 35 years ago when City of Hope created what is now one of the largest and most successful bone marrow transplant programs in the world. In fact, we’ve completed over 11,000 transplants and, according to national reports, our outcomes are among the best in the nation. The goal of curing cancer isn’t just something we work at. It’s what we live for.

If you have cancer, make us your first call. Or ask your doctor for a referral. We accept most insurance.

800-826-HOPE

COH-0726_BMT_Hem_fp_4c_ExecAgt.indd 1

WE LIVE TO CURE CANCER. Science saving lives. cityofhope.org/bmt

11/25/13 6:02 PM

EXECUTIVEAGENT MAGAZINE

SEARCHING FOR OUR NEXT

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE

TO NOMINATE? Submit Nominations to: info@eamag.net Tel: 949.297.8323

TM