SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 3-25-19

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

4 Ways to Win the Battle Against Procrastination HOW TO THROW A NETWORKING EVENT that Can Put Your Business on the Map FEATURED AGENTS

RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW LYNETTE BISHOP JEN GONG

IS STARTING A TEAM THE RIGHT SOLUTION FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

COVER STORY

RUDY L. KUSUMA

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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDITION

LYNETTE BISHOP JEN GONG

Je lo p M Richard Bartholomew’s entry intoa Jen came to the US in 1998 as an inter- real estate industry arrived earlier bt national student. She received an MBA most. Growing up in a family of Aus cl lian real estate developers, Richard degree and developed a strong financial m background working in the corporate exposed to all facets of the busin sh world. In 2010, she began to purchase her before developing a passion in hisclo own investment properties. She hired a right. “I caught the bug from an cl e RUDY L. KUSUMA LYNETTE BISHOP RICHARD JEN GONG realtor to help her, butBARTHOLOMEW during the process age,” he remembers. in “There were alw she realized it was something she’d be constant conversations about whatcl able to do well herself. “I’ve always had cl going on in the market, and joining an entrepreneurial spirit and real estate b business was a natural progression.” After apprenticing forin was a great opportunity to do something Richard ultimately transitioned to sales before buy on my own,” years, she says.

She studied for b into the business and running a Sydney-based office of his o and received her license, then worked in CONTENTS Once he was ready for his next challenge, Richard took off real estate part-time until 2013, whentown she Serving the gorgeous seaside of Malibu and the surW California andShe’s rebuilt whole new legacy like steeped the s launched her full-time career. had aa thriving business to helpinpeople,” areas, Top Agent Lynette Bishop creates lasting relationship ever since—having closed over $135 million in transacand stay involved, J principles of integrity, strategy, and follow-through.

4) HOW TO INCORPORATE 19) 4 WAYS TO WIN tions.

She serves all of Irvine and her motto is: “There is Association and th people she assists through the home buying and selling CURRENT EVENTS TO YOUR THE no shortcut toToday, success.”

SheBATTLE believes in AGAINST working to Agency: cherished free Spri time Richard heads three officeshard of The Palm provide her customers with amazing service. restaurants, and spe EMAIL BLASTS AND STAY PROCRASTINATION Palm Desert, and an international office in Mexico’s Puerto sell the“My home Lynette Bishop comes to real estate by way of inte- time for them tochildren. child larta. While his industry legacy spans close to three deca RELEVANT rior design and itOver come from repeat andcome referral want them to have they back to me.” giveshalf herofa her leg clients up when it comes Richard has spent the last few years bolstering the profile of 21) HOW TO back THROW customers.

What keeps her clients coming and eagerA great example to the to making her clients happy.

“We all know there’s trio ofabout offices. his and partner, who leads of the b to spread word Jen Along to“But theirwith friends family? hardmuch in order to su Her clients understand that Lyne not theAperfect house outthe there,” she says.

Iadvertising, 13) IS STARTING TEAM NETWORKING EVENT THAT ness’s marketing and Richard has lived in the P “I provide very high quality customer service,” Jen says. each year and she h for them.

“I really about my find the right fitFOR for my clients, for their family and THE RIGHT SOLUTION CAN PUT YOUR BUSINESS Springs area for almost ten years, making him acare veritable trov Not only does she give expert advice and guidance during continue sharpenin “The sales process canWith bemarket. difficul their needs. And then, of my interior design and when it comes to the regional T everybecause step of knowledge the process, sheinsight remains a trusted advisor says. her ded YOUR BUSINESS? ON THE MAP background, I canfor help what theyofcan on being there forshe’s them. become life.them visualize sureI to makere far, roughly 90% his business is generated by repeat and

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How did Jen Gong become one of the 20 in most16successful real estate agents Irvine, and the go-to agent for foreign national buyers?

RICHARD BARTHO 23

do to make it into the perfect house.” who they know is power alwaysand lo ral clientele—a testament totrust, his remarkable staying interests.” memorable impression he best imparts.

To accomplish this, Rich That dedication to bringing her dreams citesclients’ transparency andtoconsistency as some of the key tenets of very open about the process,” s Phone 310-734-1440 Fax 310-734-1440 life| is why Lynette enjoys aworking robust style.

75% “I’m percent Lynette understands theirRichard best inte “From pricing to negotiating, I’m proactive, friendly, and m return and referral rate. Serving the gorgeous sea- moving to Malibu from Chicago mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com myself available areas, as a help in and resource. don’t “It’s just tell love with theI area. easyclif side town of Malibu and the surrounding No portion of this issue mayLynette be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher.

Top Agent what they want to hear.

I keep expectations in check, tell ath creates lasting relationships with the peo- erties in this area because I’m Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Althoughhow precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published it is, and guide them along the way.and Myin clients resp real by estate this really particular ple she assists through the home buying and selling materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied its authors. to the level of transparency I bring to theshe table.

I believe says.

“I lovethat’s the process.

“I have such personalized service that I California,” To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. key reason people come back, time and time again.”

To find out more about Jen Gong, visit je end up becoming friends with my clients after the Malibu has to offer. I personally Published in the U.S. horses transaction,” she says. “We get to know each jgonghomes@gmail.com, other, mini ranch: I have my or email callher (7 I get to know their families. And then, when it’s I just really enjoy the Malibu life http://

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How to Incorporate Current Events to Your Email Blasts and Stay Relevant Email marketing is a cost effective and straightforward method of getting your name and services in front of clients with just a few keystrokes. This tried-and-true approach to digital marketing is a favorite of many, and there are countless ways to customize (and maximize) your email blasts to reap superior results. Despite this, many real estate profes4

sionals are content to standardize their email advertising and take a broad, one-size-fits-all approach to capturing interest and leads. While an up-front sales pitch certainly has its uses and benefits, it doesn’t hurt to shake up your routine and refresh your email marketing approach by adding specifics that draw renewed interest from your audience.

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One way to accomplish this is by tying in current events and local happenings to your email blasts. After all, your sphere of influence likely receives countless marketing emails per day. To cut through the noise, sharpen your message with a few specifics that separate your communications from the pack. Not every email should be focused on closing a sale, or else your audience will learn to stop listening.

How do you build your brand, stay top of mind, and keep the lines of communication open with your clientele? Here are a few ideas to get you started.

against an old rival? Do they host themed fan days honoring veterans or catering to families? Tailoring your communications to a local sports franchise’s big news or next event can draw intrigue and provide added value for your clients. Remember, not every communication you send should be focused on pitching and closing a sale, otherwise your audience will tune out your emails altogether. Instead, incorporate fun, community-oriented content that lets readers know you’re a resource for much more than real estate.

Sports news makes a splash

Become a one-stop-shop for holiday fun and seasonal ideas.

People love to rally behind the home team.

Is a regional, local university, or professional sports team in your area headed to the playoffs or the championship? Are they facing off

From Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving, anyone can send an email wishing clients a happy holiday. While the sentiment is a good one, you’ll be one of dozens flooding inboxes with

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your well-wishes. Instead, go beyond the traditional greetings and good tidings and become a hyper-specific resource for clients. Create a gift guide for Mother’s Day, outline family-friendly local events occurring in your area around the holidays, or engage in a promotional partnership with a local business who’s offering a holiday special of their own. In other words, don’t settle for just saying hello during certain times of the year. Instead, up the value of your email blast by offering clients curated information that relates to their interests and area.

Doing so makes your emails a must-read, while demonstrating your ability to go the extra mile.

Pop culture serves as a fun and timely tie-in.

Is a new gaming app sweeping the nation? Have your social media feeds been flooded with the same viral video? Is everyone gossiping about the same TV show premiere? Pop culture tie-ins in your email marketing campaigns can be extremely effective, but in order to for

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them to work, you’ll need to move quickly and keep your focus on the phenomenon, rather than your service pitch. The goal behind pop culture marketing tie-ins is communicating the progressiveness and hip factor of your brand, while capturing timely, topical interest that’s at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be in on a running joke or trend, and if you leverage trending pop culture moments in your email marketing, you’ll be able to draw views and clicks from a wide audience.

Plenty of services offer standardized email marketing templates and content for today’s real estate professionals, and while the motivation behind marketing is transactional, your communications don’t have to be. The surest way to make an impact in your clients’ inboxes is to add original value and break apart from the pack. Consider updating some of your routines with these current events oriented techniques and your email audience is sure to take a second look.

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RUDY L. KUSUMA

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With a phenomenal track record of success, and as the innovator of a new, efficient model for selling real estate, Rudy Kusuma has built a small empire at Team Nuvision in Southern California.

To call Rudy Kusuma – Owner/ Broker of Team Nuvision in Southern California – a Top Agent would perhaps be an understatement. With a phenomenal track record of success, and as the innovator of a new and much-more efficient model for selling real estate, Rudy has built a small empire on the foundation of excellence in customer service, attention to detail, and a true concern for the well-being of both his clients and his employees.

Rudy began working in the real estate industry in 2007. The first broker he worked for encouraged 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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him to build his business through the traditional methods of cold-calling and door knocking, something Rudy – and countless agents before and after – ultimately deemed a futile endeavor. When he ultimately opened his own company, he took a sharp departure Top Agent Magazine

from traditional real estate models, building a large team in which each member has a specific role. Whether members of his Admin Team, his Marketing Team (which has currently assembled a database of more than 35,000 prospective buyers), his Inside Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

Sales Team, or his Outside Sales Team, each employee’s dedicated focus on only one aspect of the transaction allows all of them to do their jobs more efficiently, which directly benefits their buyers and sellers.

“I’ve really enjoyed watching the growth of my team members,” says Rudy, when asked what he likes most about what he does.

“When they come to me, they are generally coming from the more traditional model of selling real estate. Watching them be able to work in a more productive way, not having to prospect through cold-calling and door knocking, is really great. It also allows more time for personal growth and time spent with their families.”

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“If I can’t sell a client’s home in thirty days, I will give them $1000,” says Rudy, “and if anyone on my team does not return a phone call in less than an hour, I will give them $100.”

Such guarantees have resulted in Rudy’s sterling reputation for honesty and integrity. As a Premier Agent on Zillow.com, Rudy and his team currently hold a perfect five-star overall rating, comprised of a staggering 792 reviews, an almost unheard-of accomplishment.

Rudy and Team NuVision spare no expense when it comes to marketing their listings, and of course, their 35,000-strong prospective buyers list ensures a quick sale, and for top dollar. Still, their listings are extensively promoted in a wide variety of ways, including Top Agent Magazine

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radio station ads, the internet, and promotion on ABC, CBS, and Fox News.

Team NuVision is committed to giving back to the community, and one of the primary recipients of their philanthropy is the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, which assists all children, including those without medical insurance. Rudy’s current goal is to raise $100,000 for the hospital.

Rudy plans to expand NuVision to service all of California. He’d also love to introduce other Brokers to his innovate model for selling real estate. “I just want them to know there’s a better way to serve their clients,” he says.

For more information about Rudy L. Kusuma, please call 626-789-0159 or email Rudy@TeamNuVision.net

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Top Agent Magazine

Is Starting a Team the Right Solution for your Business?

You’ve started your own real estate business and after a slow start, you’ve found your footing and business has really taken off. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Until maybe you’re getting more business than you can handle. After all, you don’t want to sacrifice service for more listings. The top-notch level of service you offer is probably what created your boom in Top Agent Magazine

business in the first place, so you don’t want to compromise that. But, at the same down, you don’t want to turn down business either. It’s at this point, a lot of Realtors® consider starting a team. But, how do you know if that’s the right call for you? Here are a few questions you might want to ask yourself to help make your decision.

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The top-notch level of service you offer is probably what created your boom in business in the first place, so you don’t want to compromise that.

CAN YOU AFFORD IT? First things first, are you really making enough money to warrant hiring help? One of the key things to think about is your ability to generate leads. Are you so busy with your existing contracts, that you have no spare time to generate more business? Then, it might be time to consider your options. Figure out the time you’ll be afforded to generate more business, how many more transactions that will lead

to, and then see if that pays for the assistant’s wages. That should help you easily see if it’s worth the investment. If it’s on the border, you may still want to go for it if you have a lot of confidence in the market and your ability to bring in business. If you’re not quite there yet though, it might be a good idea to look into a virtual assistant until your business is ready to expand.

ARE YOU READY TO BE A TEAM LEADER? Or in other words, how comfortable are you delegating tasks and responsibilities? For some agents, they need to be actively involved in every step of the process. Being a team leader is not only about being able to delegate, it’s about mentoring and guiding your team as well. Not only do you have to help them serve the team

better, you need to look at yourself honestly too, constantly evaluating what you can do better. It’s also your job to set up systems and operations, that are constantly refined with the feedback of your team members. Clear and constant communication is key with your clients as well as your team.

CAN YOU FIND PEOPLE WHO SHARE YOUR VISION? Of course, the above two points are moot, if you’re unable to find people that you trust and that share your business’ philosophy. Having a supportive and professional team culture is instrumental in a team’s success. These are people you will be working with closely for long hours so you not only need to trust in their expertise and professionalism, you want to find people with a positive attitude. You will all be relying on each other to create seamless trans14

actions in sometimes stressful circumstances.

Having the right team spirit, so to speak, is what will help your business and team grow.

The ultimate goal of a team is to have thriving careers for everyone on board.

So, if you want to see your business grow maybe a team is right for you. It may even give you a little free time for a personal life. We can all dream, can’t we?

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LYNETTE BISHOP

Serving the gorgeous seaside town of Malibu and the surrounding areas, Top Agent Lynette Bishop creates lasting relationships with the people she assists through the home buying and selling process.

Lynette Bishop comes to real estate by way of interior design and it gives her a leg up when it comes to making her clients happy. “We all know there’s not the perfect house out there,” she says. “But I find the right fit for my clients, for their family and their needs. And then, because of my interior design background, I can help them visualize what they can do to make it into the perfect house.”

That dedication to bringing her clients’ dreams to life is why Lynette enjoys a robust 75% percent return and referral rate. Serving the gorgeous seaside town of Malibu and the surrounding areas, Lynette creates lasting relationships with the people she assists through the home buying and selling process. “I have such personalized service that I end up becoming friends with my clients after the transaction,” she says. “We get to know each other, I get to know their families. And then, when it’s 16

time for them to sell the home I placed them in, they come back to me.”

Her clients understand that Lynette is looking out for them. “I really care about my clients,” she says.

“The sales process can be difficult, so I always focus on being there for them. I become someone they can trust, who they know is always looking out for their best interests.”

Lynette understands their best interests because after moving to Malibu from Chicago she absolutely fell in love with the area. “It’s easy for me to sell properties in this area because I’m a strong believer in real estate and in this particular area of Southern California,” she says. “I love the rural lifestyle that Malibu has to offer. I personally have what I call a mini ranch: I have my horses here, I have chickens.

I just really enjoy the Malibu lifestyle.”

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Horses are important to Lynette. “I am an avid horse person,” she tells Top Agent. “When I’m not working I’m out riding or showing my horse. Right now I’ve just taken a listing for a five acre equestrian property, and I’m always very excited to market an equestrian property.”

and I think that will broaden my business and help me serve even more clients.” And maybe even give her a little more time to do some more horseback riding in Malibu’s Santa Monica Mountains.

For Lynette the line between her work and her passions is very thin. “I truly love what I do,” she says.

“What I like most are the homes themselves. I love architecture and interior design, so I love looking at homes. I could look at homes all day! But I also love the people who live in the homes - making friends with my clients is such a wonderful part of this job.”

Lynette stays involved in her local community, especially with Malibu’s schools. But one charity that is close to her heart is the American Cancer Society.

“My husband recently passed away from lung cancer, so I am very supportive of that charity.”

Her husband was Bob Coburn, legendary host of the radio show Rockline. “He interviewed everybody who was anybody in rock n’ roll,” Lynette says. “I manage the license for replay of his catalog of 30 years of interviews. Because of this I know many people in the radio industry and music business.

People in the music industry are a big part of my client base.”

Lynette is looking forward to a bright future in sunny Malibu. “I’d like to create a team,” she says. “I’m interviewing new agents to come on board with me Top Agent Magazine

To find out more about Lynette Bishop call 310.266.6264 visit compass.com/agents/la/lynette-bishop, or email lynette.bishop@compass.com www.

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mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

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4 Ways to Win the Battle Against Procrastination One of the most common professional afflictions is procrastination. The funny thing is, everyone knows that procrastination is negative—it’s a waste of time, a creator of stress, and is entirely a problem of our own making. Still, knowing all of this doesn’t necessarily decrease our odds of procrastination. There are plenty of explanations we give when putting work off until the last minute. Perhaps you convince yourself that you work best under pressure, but it’s truer that you’re used to working under pressure by necessity. Maybe you’re a perfectionist and the fear of getting it all wrong puts you off from the task. Whatever the justification may be, overcoming procrastination requires some willpower and technique. With that in mind, take a look at a few tricks below to jumpstart your motivation and nix the last-minute time crunch.

After all, you owe it to yourself and your business to operate like a procrastination-free professional.

1. Make Your Intentions Known As realtors and mortgage professionals, you may serve as your own boss. So, when the time comes to complete a task and you put it off—perhaps you’re only disappointing yourself. This is easily remedied by making a new promise to try again tomorrow. On the other hand, it’s much harder to break promises and commitments to others. Try verbalizing your intent and commitment to your team, or to an assistant who can hold you accountable, or better yet—to a business partner or to a client. Make a hard deadline public and you’re likely to perform for fear of embarrassment or losing face. In a way, this puts the pressure of expectation on you, instead of the pressure of the ticking clock.

2. Take a Baby Step When tasks pile up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

If you’ve got a number of items on your to-do list, including some heavy hitters that require a lot of attention and time, begin by taking on something simple. Identify an easily completed job that needs Top Agent Magazine

attention and put it first in your queue. Duties that are straightforward and aren’t time-intensive can lead you to the rest of your to-do list, fueling you with the satisfaction of a task already complete. Even if it’s as small as returning e-mails, or dropping off your dry-cleaning, one simple thing off your list can inspire you to continue on to the next item in the spirit of productivity.

3. Work in Windows If work is the last thing you want to do and you can’t seem to self-motivate, make a compromise with yourself. Agree to work just fifteen minutes, and mean it. This tiny window of time is easy enough to complete, isn’t overwhelming, and you’ve already agreed to move on once time is up. The truth? Odds are that just fifteen minutes of active work will inspire you to keep going. After all, the most difficult part of procrastination is getting started. By putting in those fifteen minutes, you’ll trick yourself into diving into the action.

4. Switch Up Your Environment If you’re stuck in rut when it comes to procrastination and productivity, try changing your surroundings. If the office feels stale and stressful, take your work to the nearest coffee shop and try to tackle your tasks there. Perhaps the quiet, studious ambiance of a library can make you focus, or a picnic table outside the office can stimulate the senses.

Sometimes changing your scenery can breathe new life into your routine and give you the extra push you need to get work done.

There’s no one way to overcome procrastination. In fact, it’s likely a lifelong process of building discipline, finding techniques that work for you, and simply prioritizing your time more effectively. Don’t lose hope—remember these tricks and winning the war will be possible, even if you lose a few battles along the way.

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RICHARD BARTHOLOMEW Richard Bartholomew’s entry into the real estate industry arrived earlier than most. Growing up in a family of Australian real estate developers, Richard was exposed to all facets of the business before developing a passion in his own right. “I caught the bug from an early age,” he remembers. “There were always constant conversations about what was going on in the market, and joining the business was a natural progression.” After apprenticing for two years, Richard ultimately transitioned to sales before buying into the business and running a Sydney-based office of his own.

Once he was ready for his next challenge, Richard took off for California and rebuilt a whole new legacy steeped in the same principles of integrity, strategy, and follow-through.

Today, Richard heads three offices of The Agency: Palm Springs, Palm Desert, and an international office in Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta. While his industry legacy spans close to three decades, Richard has spent the last few years bolstering the profile of his trio of offices. Along with his partner, who leads much of the business’s marketing and advertising, Richard has lived in the Palm Springs area for almost ten years, making him a veritable trove of knowledge and insight when it comes to the regional market. Thus far, roughly 90% of his business is generated by repeat and referral clientele—a testament to his remarkable staying power and the memorable impression he imparts. To accomplish this, Richard cites transparency and consistency as some of the key tenets of his working style. “I’m very open about the process,” Richard says.

“From pricing to negotiating, I’m proactive, friendly, and make myself available as a help and resource. I don’t just tell clients what they want to hear. I keep expectations in check, tell them how it is, and guide them along the way. My clients really respond to the level of transparency I bring to the table. I believe that’s the key reason people come back, time and time again.”

When it comes to listing properties, Richard draws upon his extensive experience and taps a variety of digital and traditional marketing practices. He begins by discussing a client’s goals and needs, then comes up with strategies to declutter and stage the home as needed. From there, professional photography is incorporated to make an immersive and striking first impression, including a day shoot, dusk shoot, and a drone tour. To spread the word, he taps social networks, the leading online listing platforms, and his sizable database of fellow agents in the region.

His subscription list for send-outs reaches 270,000 audience members and garners widespread exposure. While he is adept at delivering results, Richard also prizes the interpersonal component at the core of every home bought or sold. Oftentimes, he strikes up friendships with his clients and they stay connected long after the closing table has been reached. “My clients know that I’m really all in for them,” he explains. “I really emphasize providing individual attention to my clients and I focus first on the relationship.”

Beyond the office, Richard gives back to his community through various partnerships and events. He is a contributor to the HRC, participates actively in his son’s school, and is a frequent host of events for the Palm Desert’s gay and lesbian community. In his free hours, he most enjoys time spent with his family and loved ones. He relishes the chance to cheer on his son at his various sporting events, from basketball to golf, and he also enjoys jetsetting to Puerto Vallarta for equal parts business and pleasure.

Now, with nearly thirty years of industry experience behind him, along with a burgeoning international career in his sights, Richard Bartholomew considers what he enjoys most about his chosen field. “I really love the people I work with,” he says. “I love finding the perfect house for someone to begin their next phase of growth, or listing a home so that a client can move on to their next chapter. There’s nothing more rewarding than working in service of others, to make them happy.”

To learn more about Richard Bartholomew, call (760) 895 – 7104, email RichardB@TheAgencyRE.com, or visit TheAgencyRE.com www.

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How to Throw a Networking Event

that Can Put Your Business on the Map It’s hard to argue with the benefits of attending networking events—you make new connections, enjoy industry skill-building conversation, and expand your reach in the local business community. However, have you ever considered the benefits of hosting a networking event?

Instead of attending as a guest, you’ll be the wizard behind it all. Throwing a networking event can position you as a local business leader, and you’ll be able to curate the experience to your tastes and goals. This idea may be tempting, but how do you pull it off? Review some Top Agent Magazine

of our tips and tricks below and you’ll be more than ready to throw a networking event that’ll put you on the map.

MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR GUESTS TO SAY YES. From the outset, try to keep things as simple as possible for your guests. This means that e-invites should be structured, yet conversational.

Include a link to register online so that arriving to your event is seamless and requires no signup sheets or stuffy check-in procedures. Select a venue that’s relatively well-known and central

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Throwing a networking event can position you as a local business leader, and you’ll be able to curate the experience to your tastes and goals. to your area. It should also have easy-to-access parking so that attendance is streamlined and hassle-free. Also consider sending an automated event reminder the day before and the day of the event—that way you’ll set guests up for easy attendance that they don’t have to debate.

CREATE A THEME. Capitalizing on a holiday or local event is a great way to drive attendance to your networking function. While getting to know area professionals is a worthy reason to meet up, you’re likely to engender a livelier ambiance if you incorporate a holiday or theme. This will inspire comradery among your guests, in addition to giving your event a natural focus. Major sporting events, a Thanksgiving themed pie bakeoff, or a spring cleaning themed community volunteer day can generate more interest than your average mixer.

GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR GUEST LIST. While you may be trying to keep your invite list industry-specific, you may benefit from casting a wider net. Invite area entrepreneurs, young professionals, collegiate professional organizations, and even friends and family. You never know what sort of connections will be made, and high attendance is key to keeping the energy of your networking event at a high tier. Don’t worry about only collecting info from realtors or brokers or mortgage pros. Instead, create a 22

sense of community so that opportunities flow naturally and conversation remains diverse.

BE THE BOSS. As host, it’ll be your job to play matchmaker and drive conversation at your networking event. This means that you’ll get to know more people, but it also means you’ll be able to create connections between different professionals and businesses. You can maximize your matchmaking abilities by planting a few socially-minded friends around to drive additional conversations. Your goal is to keep people talking and to be outgoing. It should also be your goal to follow-up once the event is complete. Use this as an opportunity to continue to connect different people you met, or to follow-up with coffee or lunch with someone you found interesting. Try sending out a group thank-you e-mail to your guests after the fact, telling them to keep an eye out for your next event, or to get in touch with you for any questions or contact information of fellow attendees.

While it may feel like a risk to throw a networking event, it’s a risk worth taking. By positioning yourself as the host of your event, you’ll drive awareness to your business and brand, and build up the local professional community in a way that’s sure to draw good will your way.

Keep these ideas in mind as you go about planning a memorable networking event of your own, and above all—have a good time and others will follow suit.

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JEN GONG How did Jen Gong become one of the most successful real estate agents in Irvine, and the go-to agent for foreign national buyers?

Jen came to the US in 1998 as an international student. She received an MBA degree and developed a strong financial background working in the corporate world. In 2010, she began to purchase her own investment properties. She hired a realtor to help her, but during the process she realized it was something she’d be able to do well herself. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit and real estate was a great opportunity to do something on my own,” she says. She studied for and received her license, then worked in real estate part-time until 2013, when she launched her full-time career. She’s had a thriving business ever since—having closed over $135 million in transactions. She serves all of Irvine and her motto is: “There is no shortcut to success.” She believes in working hard to provide her customers with amazing service.

Over half of her clients come from repeat and referral customers. What keeps her clients coming back and eager to spread the word about Jen to their friends and family?

“I provide very high quality customer service,” Jen says.

Not only does she give expert advice and guidance during every step of the process, she remains a trusted advisor for life.

Jen has a broad client base, including many long-time Southern California locals and people just moving to the area. She speaks Mandarin Chinese, and she enjoys being a bridge for Chinese national clients and building strong relationships with all her clients. “I’m not just their realtor. A lot of my clients become my life-time friends,” she explains. Jen puts in long hours for her clients. “During the day time I work with clients here and at night I work with my international clients. “I really care for my clients.” This dedication results in happy clients. In 2018, Jen received an award for being one of the Top 10 Chinese Agents in the OC/Los Angeles area. “That was a big honor for me,” she says.

What’s Jen’s favorite part of the job? “I like to help people,” she says. To give back to the community and stay involved, Jen is part of the Orange County Realtor Association and the National Realtor Association. In her cherished free time, she loves to travel, take photos, try new restaurants, and spend time with her husband and their two children. “My children are the big WHY I work so hard. I want them to have the best life possible. I also want to be a great example to them and show them it’s important to work hard in order to succeed.” Jen has doubled her business each year and she hopes to do the same this year. “I want to continue sharpening my skills and help more clients,” she says. With her dedication to providing incredible service, she’s sure to make that dream a reality!

To find out more about Jen Gong, visit jengong.com, email jgonghomes@gmail.com, or call (714) 814-4664 http://

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