CANADA 3-7-22

CANADA EDITION

HOW TO BUILD A TEAM THAT WILL WIN BIG

NO MATTER ITS SIZE FEATURED AGENTS

AUTUMN HARRISON FRED EL-HADDAD JACEN MATTHEWS

7 REASONS WHY YOUR PROSPECTS AREN'T TURNING INTO CLIENTS

CREATIVE MEDITATION FOR THE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL

TURNING YOUR PROFESSION INTO A PASSION

COVER STORY

JOËLLE BITAR

CANADA EDITION

AUTUMN HARRISON FRED EL-HADDAD JACEN MATTHEWS

Fred El-Haddad runs his participate in their variou When Ottawa, Ontario, of Canada-based an ecretaryREALTOR for all the 18 changes in the area.“I’m 7 17 21 ® business with a clearlyREALTOR laden philosophy activities. Then again, all all Jacen Matthews is out driving und herself competitive person, and from my based on heartfelt gratitude. happy time for Fred. my to appointments, he often passes through neighborhoods he recognizes fromfrom pre- the two years that I’v A conversarience viousofdeals has done. Immediately, he “My clients become part my he family.

“I just enjoy talking toJa nspired her in the business, you get a lot fur thinks They mean a lot to me,” saysabout Fred. who “Youhe has done business enjoy being part of myho c he ich moved you work bybeaccessing database with treat them the way youwith like to treated –an extensive the your processcolleagues of buying a h pa he’s built over the years, including names, secret. Just treat ing a home.them.

It’s justYour a hap ne that with shehonesty. There’s no you try to undermine en details andtreated. reminders people the way you want to be I specific to that clime. When you hear time a “W fit. Serving also respect you more and so doe he calls have built my businessent. on Then integrity, hon-to check in... from clients that ‘This guy pr Nova Scotia community.” esty, andBITAR respect. I doAUTUMN not view my clients he’s talking about,’ well, it’ JOËLLE HARRISON FRED EL-HADDAD JACEN MATTHEWS sta “I take notes. Where they have lived, as a dollar sign. They are people who trusthow youold with feeling, a really nice, happy feeling,” F Springhill, where they’re from, their children one of the most personal their lives, to pets they may Jacen, happilyA r Speaking of have herhad,community, were,choices schools in they attend, what t, Nappan, either sell their home or helpwines themthey buyenjoy… a house.When This I call Asthem, for the future, has plans aged 23, 20to andco what Ito have com-Fred makes time give back where po mherst, isher self a skier, man one of the biggest investments in to their lives and you ing his business, get his broker’s licen mon ground refer to.

How did your mom do two years CONTENTS whether it day be through donations with family must always be acting in their best interest.” one ownership ofhis Blinkhor ago with her treatment? How is thetopuppy youtake bought ooming and are active contri “When IClub, started, I had zero friends and when makes them feel connected local Lions food bank, or sh 4) HOW TO BUILD A we had first met? It19) CREATIVE MEDITATION businesses, whi Fred works withWILL the team at Blinkhorn tions. always remind myself where I toWIN me.” says whoEstate leads aTHE team of Ifour at Royal TEAM THAT BIGJacen,Real FOR REAL ESTATE to create Santa grocery baskets plans to continu LePage Performance Realty.

“The people I do business Ltd., and is licensed for 14 years now, he covers came from, what my life looked like NO MATTER ITS SIZE PROFESSIONAL ® the highest in Amherst, sheREALTOR hand-delivers tobeginning.” those she qual fee with will tell me thatWestville, I’m their life.the And the New Glasgow, Stellarton, Trenton, So, this for is just ple while strivin that makes Pictou County areas. me He feel wasproud.” influenced aves inPictou the7and be overlooked at Christmastime.

S 14) REASONS WHY 22) TURNING YOUR his client experi as a child by the nuances of his father’s plumb- Better stay tuned and watch great thin YOUR PROSPECTS INTO It’sAREN'T been Jacen’s mantra forPROFESSION almost 13 years now, during e the Royal adopted a puppy is for keeping he ing company and growing up around construction, life continues towho unfold Fred El-Ha TURNING INTO CLIENTS A PASSION which time he built himself into gilded territory – he Club Award, put at the moment, but when she does have free tim which he which grew to love.

Fluent in English, French is in the top two percent of sales of all Royal LePage and Arabic, ® Fred has been able to build a huge cli- with her husband and grandch across eir REALTORS spending agents loves in Canada.

His careeritwas a rise fueled by his entele last year breaking records for sales volumes desire to whatmost he called ub for the amountNova of units Atchange the professions moment,following though, of aher energy is in Phone Northern Scotia.

310-734-1440dramatic | Fax 310-734-1440 change in domestic circumstance in 2007, and ays. While Parrsboro is on her becoming a expanding dad to two boysbusiness, under the agewhich of 10. doesn’t seem mag@topagentmagazine.com |single www.topagentmagazine.com “As you learn once you’releft inslowing thisToronto-based business, youposition rely his a regional manager 00 people, Autumn down anypriorastime She se No portion of this issue attrimay beHe reproduced in any manner whatsoever without consent ofsoon. the publisher.

Top Agenthonestly Magazine onis apublished high bypercentage of referrals from clients and Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top for a high-tech company and joined one of Ottawa’s top he skyrocketing interest enjoy her work, which is a blessing in itself.

Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. repeat business.

Fred not only built his business brokerages in 2009.

To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. with the well support of the Blinkhorn Real Estate also ova Scotia as asked whatbut her favorite part about being in rea Published in the U.S. as “I became more successful than community service. Fred is a town council- I had hoped to be in in her through small town. “It’sMayor, is,ayear sheCanada cheerfully replies, first I’ve membeen climbing the “Giving ladder in the buyer th man, a former Deputythat Kin and terms of ever it really meansTopisAgentfeeling.” clients2 when I’m grocery onproductivity closing daysince. is aAll really wonderful Magazine ber (formerly the Kinsman Club, which promotes I’ve worked hard to build and maintain new relationservice fellowship), and a former Knights of verybody,” sheandsays. ®

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

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How to Build a Team That Will Win Big No Matter its Size In the real estate world building a team is a goal almost every agent strives towards achieving. Doing business with a team as opposed to solo has numerous advantages. With more agents handling clients as well as other employees specialized in areas such as marketing and administrative support there to assist you; you can greatly increase your business and sales.

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So, when creating a team, logic would tell us that the bigger it is, the better, right? Wrong. When it comes to real estate teams, size doesn’t matter so much as the players you bring onto that team to work with you. A team doesn’t have to be big to win big, and here are the secrets to building a team that wins big no matter its size.

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Hire the Right Team Members

Put Your Team Members in the Right Positions to Win

You’ve probably heard the saying, “you’re only as strong as you’re weakest link.” That idea holds true for any kind of team, including those in real estate. If you have weak members on your team, then it’s not possible to have a strong team. Drawing strong team members to your business is essential.

Finding strong team members is just one part of the equation. As the leader of your team, you now have to assess each member’s strengths and weaknesses and position them appropriately. You want the best player for each role playing that part and catering to their strengths. Choose your team member’s roles wisely, and place each individual in the position where their strengths can shine and they can best contribute to a win for the entire team. Every role is important to the team working smoothly and winning as a whole, so it is important to place each team member in the role most suited to his or her skills.

To better understand what kind of person would make a strong addition to your team, you need to ask yourself what skills and characteristics you want your team members to possess. The strongest members are often ones that share their leader’s values. When you share values with your teammates, you are all running along the same course towards the same goal as one. Your definition of a victory in this case is also your teammates’ definition of it. This helps strengthen even the smallest of numbers because you are all working together toward a common goal.

Another characteristic too look out for in potential team members is a positive attitude. You can teach someone the skills needed in real estate, but you can’t teach someone how to have a positive attitude.

Positive members tend to achieve more due to their optimistic nature, but more importantly, they spread that positive attitude to the rest of the team, which improves every members’ performance.

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Communicating Your Vision to Your Team

Your team members are the key ingredients to ultimate victory, but what recipe do you follow now to lead them to victory? That is what communication is for a winning team; the recipe you will use to

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help best utilize each team member and instruct them on how they need to work together to fulfill the recipe that will lead them to be a winning team. Your team members need to know the plan and you must give them the tools to successfully execute it.

It is up to the leader of a team to help your players see your vision and help them understand what a victory looks like. The goal may seem simple and obvious to you, but you must communicate it over and over again to your team members, so they understand it as well as you do. With different personalities coming together to form a unit, you are going to be dealing with numerous challenges such as competing agendas. You will find this on any team. You must keep the goal and at the forefront of your player’s minds in order to encourage them to put aside their own personal desires in order to come together as one cohesive, single-minded unit and push towards the team’s goal.

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Give Your Team Members the Tools to Help Them Perform at Their Best The final thing all great leaders do is equip their team members with the proper tools and training needed for them to succeed. You have to show them how they can each come together with their different strengths to work as a team towards one unified goal. This involves more than simple skills training, but also endurance, so they can last as a team and win even those matches that seem unending and impossible.

Think of all the challenges that they could possibly face ahead, and clear their path to victory by giving them the necessary training and tools they will need to get past any obstacle. As the leader, you must be prepared to continually communicate the team’s goal and your vision. Use that vision to motivate your team members throughout the journey towards victory.

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JOËLLE BITAR

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Fluent in French, English, Arabic, and Spanish, Top Agent Joëlle Bitar leads an elite team through RE/MAX ACTION, where she assists clients throughout Montreal and the surrounding areas.

Born in Lebanon, Joëlle Bitar relocated to the city of Montreal when she was 11 years old and quickly formed a close bond with the region. Later on, she decided to pursue her career in real estate, earning her license as an agent and Broker from the Collège de l’immobilier du Québec.

Also equipped with a degree in real estate law and taxation, she proceeded to author an accomplished career as an agent, estab8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

lishing a network of satisfied clients and colleagues that spans the city.

Today, Joëlle leads an elite team through RE/MAX ACTION, where she assists clients throughout Montreal and the surrounding areas. Fluent in French, English, Arabic, and Spanish, she possesses the expertise, outgoing personality, and tireless work ethic needed to meet the needs of any Top Agent Magazine

buyer or seller, with her group having been ranked among the Top 20 RE/MAX teams in Canada.

When listing a property, Joëlle prefers a comprehensive strategy. A specialist in Top Agent Magazine

home staging and real estate negotiations, she first helps her clients prepare their home for the market. From there, she broadcasts her listings through a variety of marketing outlets, including digital and social media campaigns, print publicaCopyright Top Agent Magazine9

“Due to the size of our team, we’re able to consistently provide the best service possible to our clients,” Joëlle says.

“We truly enjoy what we do; because of that, we’re here for our buyers and sellers, seven days a week.” tions, and even billboard advertisements.

She further promotes her listings to those within her extensive professional sphere, connecting them to Brokers and prospective buyers from all over the world.

Elsewhere, Joëlle is just as hands-on when assisting her buyers, leveraging her years of experience and in-depth knowledge of her market to uncover the right home for Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

their best interests. Leaning on the synergy between the expert assistants and Brokers on her team, she is there for her clients each step of the way, ensuring they make fully informed decisions on their future. “Due to the size of our team, we’re able to consistently provide the best service possible to our clients,” she says. “We truly enjoy what we do; because of that, we’re here for our buyers and sellers, seven days a week.”

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Over the years, Joëlle has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Montreal, as demonstrated by her outstanding rate of repeat clients and referrals. Now averaging over $165 million in annual volume, she remains focused on the proven standards of client advocacy that have Top Agent Magazine

anchored her team’s success. “I love the process of negotiating a transaction to my client’s advantage,” she says. “Whether we’re juggling multiple offers, or even one, I know how to put them in the driver’s seat and truly maximize their value in the marketplace.”

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A member of the Organisme d’autoréglementation du Courtage Immobilier du Québec and Greater Montreal Real Estate Board, Joëlle enjoys contributing to volunteer efforts and charitable organizations throughout the year. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found traveling, relaxing on the beach, or exploring all that Montreal has to offer.

Joëlle has a bold vision for the future of her business. As her volume maintains its steady growth, she intends on expanding her reach throughout the region while upholding the boutique model of service that continues to set her team apart. More than anything, though, she looks forward to the new clients and opportunities that await in the city she loves.

To learn more about Joëlle Bitar please email info@Joëllebitar.com, visit Joellebitar.com or call (514) 239-1414 www.

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7 Reasons Why Your Prospects Aren’t Turning Into Clients Real estate experts suggest prospecting daily so that your sales pipeline never runs dry.

But sometimes all that effort doesn’t translate into results. If your prospects aren’t becoming clients, there’s a reason, which is better than it sounds because that means you can fix the problem.

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1. You’re Too Slow The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials estimates that there are about 2 million active real estate licensees in the United States alone. Of course, not all these individuals are working in the same markets. Nonetheless, that

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If your prospects aren’t becoming clients, there’s a reason, which is better than it sounds because that means you can fix the problem.

means that realtors face a lot of competition. If you are slow to respond to messages from prospective clients, someone else is sure to beat you to it. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to return calls and emails within 24 hours.

If you’re too busy working with active clients to return the phone calls and emails of prospective clients, consider hiring a real estate assistant who can help take administrative or marketing tasks off your plate.

2. They Don’t Trust You There are different reasons why a client might not trust you, some of which overlap with others on this list. When a client asks you a question, do you answer it directly or do you sidestep it?

Do you have testimonials and reviews from happy clients publicly available? Do you have an online presence? Social proof of your skills and knowledge is key.

3. You Don’t Seem Knowledgeable Enough Is your client constantly coming to you with new listings or marketing ideas rather than the Top Agent Magazine

other way around? Do they mention real estate and finance terms you’ve never heard of or ask you questions you’ve never thought to ask yourself? Every agent starts somewhere, but if this seems to be a pattern, it’s one clients will pick up on too.

Your clients want to know that you will add value to their home buying or selling experience, and part of that value is your expertise and passion.

4. You Have No Web Presence It’s not enough to be on Zillow or have a Facebook page. There are clients who don’t use these platforms, and at the end of the day, you don’t own the content or your access to it. Both platforms could suddenly go out of business and any following you’ve gained could be lost.

It doesn’t cost much to create and maintain a website today. If customization matters little to you, sometimes you can even get up and running for free. At the very least, it’s a good idea to invest in a domain name because yourwebsite. wordpress.com looks a lot less professional than yourwebsite.com.

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5. You Don’t Seem to Care When clients don’t think you care, it usually means they don’t feel like you are listening.

You may have systems, processes, and a proven marketing strategy. You may like to get right down to business, but to your client, this isn’t just business—it’s their life and their family’s livelihood.

When your client tells you what’s important to them, they want to make sure that you really hear them. Make sure your body language conveys that. Slow down. Shut your office door.

Make eye contact, nod your head, and pause before you speak so that they understand that you’ve put thought into your words—that they aren’t simply lines from a script.

6. You Use Too Much Jargon Remember that your clients don’t speak real estate. At most, they might buy or sell a home once every few years. They hired you to be their advocate and may even expect you to be a bit of a teacher too. Use layman’s terms so that your

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client fully understands how the two of you will work together.

7. Your Target Audience Is Everyone Your clients are home buyers and sellers, yes, but who is your ideal client? Some specialties you might consider are college students and recent graduates, working professionals, military families, seniors, CEOs, or other high-profile clients.

As a newer agent, your target audience might be anyone who will hire you, but over time, you might find that you click more with certain clients, that their lifestyle is similar to yours, or that their goals align with your mission. Whatever the reason, marketing your business to this “ideal client” rather than every potential client will make selling your services easier.

Remember: It’s within your power to alleviate your client’s concerns, but understanding why your prospects aren’t turning into clients is a good start.

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AUTUMN HARRISON of all the changes in the area.“I’m not a competitive person, and from my experience from the two years that I’ve been in the business, you get a lot further if you work with your colleagues than if you try to undermine them. Your clients also respect you more and so does your community.”

After working as a medical secretary for 11 years, Autumn Harrison found herself at a crossroads in her life. A conversation with her father-in-law inspired her to consider real estate, which moved her onto a new path — one that she instantly felt was the right fit. Serving her hometown of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia and the surrounding areas of Springhill, Southampton, River Hebert, Nappan, Cumberland, Athol, and Amherst, her budding business is already booming and she’s only two years in.

Working solo from her office in Amherst, Autumn is already making waves in the industry. Last year, she made the Royal LePage National Chairman’s Club Award, which put her in the top 1% of all their REALTORS® across Canada. “I made it into the club for the amount of units sold, which was 136,” she says. While Parrsboro is tiny, with a population of 1500 people, Autumn attributes her quick success to the skyrocketing interest in residential properties in Nova Scotia as well as the fact that she knows everyone in her small town. “It’s a small community, so I see clients when I’m grocery shopping. Everyone knows everybody,” she says.

During the pandemic, Parrsboro and its surrounding areas received an influx of people who no longer needed to work in offices in big cities and craved the fresh air and lower price points of Nova Scotia. “Nova Scotia has a much lower housing cost and cost of living than Ontario and BC, so people are selling their houses and moving here to save money for retirement,” Autumn explains. It’s also bringing a lot of wealth and diversity to the area. “We might be rural Nova Scotia, but we’re catching up with the rest of the world.”

While her business is more robust than ever, Autumn stays the same and her clients see and appreciate that.

She works hard, keeps clients updated through her marketing and social media efforts, and keeps track Top Agent Magazine

Speaking of her community, Autumn makes time to give back where possible, whether it be through donations to the local Lions Club, food bank, or shopping to create Santa grocery baskets which she hand-delivers to those she feels may be overlooked at Christmastime. She just adopted a puppy who is keeping her busy at the moment, but when she does have free time, she loves spending it with her husband and grandchildren.

At the moment, though, most of her energy is trained on expanding her business, which doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. She honestly seems to enjoy her work, which is a blessing in itself. When asked what her favorite part about being in real estate is, she cheerfully replies, “Giving the buyer the keys on closing day is a really wonderful feeling.”

To learn more about Autumn Harrison, please call 902-664-1027, email autumnharrison@royallepage.ca, or visit royallepage.ca/en/agent/nova-scotia/amherst/ autumn-harrison/66341/ www.

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FRED EL-HADDAD REALTOR® Fred El-Haddad runs his business with a clearly laden philosophy based on heartfelt gratitude.

“My clients become part of my family.

They mean a lot to me,” says Fred. “You treat them the way you like to be treated – with honesty. There’s no secret. Just treat people the way you want to be treated. I have built my business on integrity, honesty, and respect. I do not view my clients as a dollar sign. They are people who trust you with one of the most personal choices in their lives, to either sell their home or help them buy a house. This is one of the biggest investments in their lives and you must always be acting in their best interest.”

Fred works with the team at Blinkhorn Real Estate Ltd., and is licensed for 14 years now, he covers the New Glasgow, Stellarton, Trenton, Westville, Pictou and Pictou County areas. He was influenced as a child by the nuances of his father’s plumbing company and growing up around construction, which he grew to love. Fluent in English, French and Arabic, Fred has been able to build a huge clientele last year breaking records for sales volumes in Northern Nova Scotia.

“As you learn once you’re in this business, you rely on a high percentage of referrals from clients and repeat business. Fred not only built his business with the support of Blinkhorn Real Estate but also through community service. Fred is a town councilman, a former Deputy Mayor, a Kin Canada member (formerly the Kinsman Club, which promotes service and fellowship), and a former Knights of Columbus member.

Fred is also involved in coaching soccer and the soccer community and is devoted to his four children, noting that his ‘happy time’ is to watch the children 18

participate in their various sports and activities. Then again, all the time is a happy time for Fred.

“I just enjoy talking to people and I enjoy being part of my community, of the process of buying a home and selling a home. It’s just a happy feeling for me. When you hear time and time again from clients that ‘This guy knows what he’s talking about,’ well, it’s just a happy feeling, a really nice, happy feeling,” Fred said.

As for the future, Fred has plans to continue building his business, get his broker’s license and hopes to one day take ownership of Blinkhorn Real Estate.

“When I started, I had zero friends and zero connections. I always remind myself where I was, where I came from, what my life looked like back in 2009.

So, this is just the beginning.”

Better stay tuned and watch great things happen as life continues to unfold for Fred El-Haddad.

You can contact Fred El-Haddad through email at fredhaddad1@yahoo.ca or via phone at 902-921-1555. Fred’s website can be found at fredsells.ca www.

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Creative Meditation

for the Real Estate Professional The real estate world can be an industry of intense emotional and psychological pressure. Deadlines, meetings, employee needs, client needs and a hundred other items on which one needs to focus on a daily basis can create an environment that is not only not conducive to mental well-being, but can be outright detrimental.

Learning to quiet the mind has been the focus of meditation for millennia. While those not familiar with the concept of meditation may instinctively think of yoga mats, incense, and chanting when the word “meditation” arises, there are in fact, many forms of meditation that can integrate quite Top Agent Magazine

easily into the daily hustle & bustle world of the busy real estate agent.

First, think about when you are alone each day. Here are some possible times to practice mediation during the work day: • When driving to the office in the morning • When driving to a showing or to meet a client • Before your open house begins • After the open house • Driving home in the evening 19

Repeating a mantra can be very calming, particularly when you are trying to rid yourself of negative, self-defeating thoughts.

These are just five examples of times when you can take advantage of meditation techniques to quiet your mind and, by extension, increase productivity. A calm mind is a more thoughtful, better tuned instrument.

Here are some examples of meditations you can try.

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For when you’re driving, download and listen to any number of audio Guided Meditations available on the internet. YouTube has a generous selection of these, many of which are geared towards success in business.

2 Repeating a mantra can be very calm-

ing, particularly when you are trying to rid yourself of negative, self-defeating thoughts. It doesn’t matter what words you choose, as long as you feel good about your choice. “I am a success” or “I will approach all of my clients with love today” are two examples. Whatever works for you and gets you into the desired mindset.

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3 Something as simple as listening to pleasant music in your car can be considered meditation, provided it brings you to a place of comfort as opposed to one of spiritual discordance.

4 The most important thing, however, is to take time to find gratitude in everything you do. Count your blessings, be grateful the exciting career in real estate you have built for yourself.

Once you’ve mastered some of these techniques at quieting your mind, you can attempt to find some that work even better for you. Walking, plain silence, or even exercise can have meditative qualities and benefits if practiced on a regular basis.

When you’re truly feeling calm, your clients can sense this. And with this comes the feeling that you can be relied upon to stay focused and calm in any unforeseen circumstances. And in the world of real estate, that’s a highly prized commodity.

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JACEN MATTHEWS When Ottawa, Ontario, Canada-based REALTOR® Jacen Matthews is out driving to appointments, he often passes through neighborhoods he recognizes from previous deals he has done. Immediately, he thinks about who he has done business with by accessing an extensive database he’s built over the years, including names, details and reminders specific to that client. Then he calls to check in...

“I take notes. Where they have lived, where they’re from, how old their children were, schools they attend, what pets they may have had, what wines they enjoy… When I call them, I have common ground to refer to. How did your mom do two years ago with her treatment? How is the puppy you bought when we had first met? It makes them feel connected to me.” says Jacen, who leads a team of four at Royal LePage Performance Realty. “The people I do business with will tell me that I’m their REALTOR® for life. And that makes me feel proud.”

It’s been Jacen’s mantra for almost 13 years now, during which time he built himself into gilded territory – he is in the top two percent of sales of all Royal LePage agents in Canada. His career was a rise fueled by his desire to change professions following what he called a dramatic change in domestic circumstance in 2007, and becoming a single dad to two boys under the age of 10.

He left his Toronto-based position as a regional manager for a high-tech company and joined one of Ottawa’s top brokerages in 2009.

“I became more successful than I had hoped to be in that first year and I’ve been climbing the ladder in terms of productivity ever since. All it really means is I’ve worked hard to build and maintain new relationships and client linkages,” Jacen said, adding that 75 percent of his business is repeat or referral. “Why real estate? The flexibility. I also found it really intriguing because it was a relationship-based business. I do actively look for new opportunities, which you have to do. But because of my position as a more experienced Top Agent Magazine

and knowledgeable salesperson, I’m usually able to help people feel confident in my abilities to help them.”

Jacen said the average realtor sells seven homes per year in Ottawa. Last year, he dealt with 72 transactions thanks in part to his investment property experience. “It’s very competitive,” Jacen said.

“We’ve gone from 2,300 agents in Ottawa pre-pandemic to almost 3,000. We need to stay current and do more marketing.”

Jacen, happily remarried to Donna, now has three sons aged 23, 20 and 19. He joked that he still considers himself a skier, manages to get hit the MTB trails, and walks with his family and their dogs almost every night. They are active contributors to local charities and support local businesses, which is more important than ever. Jacen plans to continue investing in his business by leveraging the highest quality tools, and to work with the best people while striving to continually enhance the quality of his client experience moving forward.

For more about Jacen Matthews at Royal LePage Performance Realty call: o: 613-238-2301 m: 613-296-8582, Email jacen@ottawadwellings.com, or visit ottawadwellings.com www.

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Turning Your Profession into a Passion The old adage goes that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

On the other hand, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day worries and responsibilities of your career, even if you generally enjoy what you do. While there’s no guaranteeing that every day on the job will be a picnic, there are a few steps you can take to vastly improve your morale and transform your profession into a passion.

After all, cultivating a passion for what you do will not only add to your quality 22

of life, but will likely make you more successful in the long run.

BUILD YOUR BASE OF KNOWLEDGE Knowledge builds confidence, and confidence breeds success. A sure way to light a fire in your heart for your daily work is to challenge yourself to learn more and expand your understanding of your field. By doing so, you equip yourself for success, create challenges, and find the most inter-

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esting features of your work—especially those that most appeal to your interests and talents. Try reading the top five books on the topic of your industry, or subscribe to a podcast where thriving professionals offer their two cents. Either way, learning more about your industry is bound to reveal a source of inspiration worth pursuing.

THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE

and excelling in your field, you may find that others’ approaches inspire your own.

Likewise, what you learn from other successful, passionate people in your field can help you shape your own office and work life, in turn creating more opportunities for you to fall in love with what you do, all over again.

TAKE RISKS

CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED PROFESSIONALS

One of the biggest hindrances of professional passion is falling into a rut. Routines are familiar and everyday responsibilities vie for our energy. But the next time you tackle a task the way that you always have, take a moment and try to refresh your perspective—is there a more clever or efficient way you could approach this project?

Even better: why not take the plunge and do the things you’ve always been meaning to—throw that client appreciation event you’ve put off planning, take the continuing education course you keep forgetting to register for, even try a creative activity that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

There’s no better way to inject some passion into your life than by going outside your bubble and taking a risk.

Have you ever chatted with someone who was overflowing with energy for what they do? That sort of passion tends to be infectious—often causing us to beg our own questions about professional engagement.

By participating in local organizations or networking with those who are active

Passion comes from all directions—from your own interior journey and from the world around you. To transform your profession into a passion worth having, invest in yourself and venture into the vast world around you. You’ll surely reap the rewards.

Sometimes reinvigorating your passion for your work is about looking outward, rather than inward. Gain some perspective and consider who your work helps in the long run. As a real estate professional—whether you work as an agent, broker, in mortgages, home inspections, or otherwise—your work positively impacts someone else’s home-sweet-home. You make a difference. While it may seem like just another day at the office, taking a moment to visualize exactly who you are helping in the world at large is a great way to add some motivational fire to your daily tasks.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

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Top Agent Magazine