TEXAS 1-24-22

TEXAS EDITION

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MORNING HABITS TO MAKE YOUR DAY SUPER PRODUCTIVE FEATURED AGENT

RACHAEL WANG How to Incorporate CURRENT EVENTS to Your Email Blasts and STAY RELEVANT

HOW TO BUILD A TEAM THAT WILL WIN BIG NO MATTER ITS SIZE

4 QUALITIES

OF EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES

COVER STORY

LISA WEATHERBYJENKINS

TEXAS EDITION

RACHAEL WANG

Wang discusses her career in make an offer on properties we weren’t 7 11 ’s clear her love for it runs happy with. She just encouraged us to started when my husband keep looking and eventually we would ooking for an investment find the right one for us. She provided e explains. “My husband additional details and insight on each light up. So he encouraged property we were interested in. When y license.” Having been in we decided on new construction, she or over 10 years, Rachael’s helped us negotiate price, then helped is stronger than ever. Servus through all the setbacks and delays of r Dallas-Fort Worth region, construction. We are so happy with our rything possible to ensure new and grateful to Rachael for RACHAEL WANG LISAhome, WEATHERBY-JENKINS LISA WEATHERBYoy their real estate journey. Wanting to getting us here.”

JENKINS ss and create a smooth transaction, she her own experience in buying and sell- During any free time, Rachael can be found stay, preparing clients for each next step. ing active in the community by helping out at the CONTENTS food bank or donating to charities. She also loves myself in my she says. relaxing with family, on puzzles, enjoying 4) clients’ HOW shoes,” TO BUILD 18) working HOW TO INCORPORATE remind myself what kind of service music or walking her dog.

A TEAM THAT CURRENT EVENTS TO n I was investing, and how I felt when WILL WIN BIG NO YOUR EMAIL BLASTS AND hrough every stage of the process.” She For Rachael, real estate is about more than just MATTER ITS SIZE STAY RELEVANT hat real estate can seem daunting, and completing transactions. “It’s about truly putting estions might arise. Rachael is patient your effort in to make people happy.” As time goes 9) 4 QUALITIES 22)to5help MORNING HABITS never pressuring them to make deci- on, Rachael hopes more people feel joy; OF EXCEPTIONAL TO MAKE YOUR DAY stead focusing on making them feel it’s what she loves most about this path. “I want SUPER “I want toEMPLOYEES give them peace of mind to accomplish their goalsPRODUCTIVE and make their dreams m,” she explains. “I never want them come true.” ey’re walking in a dark tunnel.” Wellhe latest market trends, Rachael takes Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 ducate her clients.

This gives them the mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com move forward and determine the best No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent Magazine on for their unique Whether is publishedsituation.

by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. her sellers the most for their property, To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. dream homePublished for her buyers, Rachael in the U.S. uts their needs first.

stounded 2 by Rachael’s service, as her roach makes their experience one to

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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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RACHAEL WANG As Rachael Wang discusses her career in real estate, it’s clear her love for it runs deep. “It all started when my husband and I were looking for an investment property,” she explains. “My husband saw my eyes light up. So he encouraged me to get my license.” Having been in the industry for over 10 years, Rachael’s passion for it is stronger than ever. Serving the greater Dallas-Fort Worth region, she does everything possible to ensure her clients enjoy their real estate journey. Wanting to eliminate stress and create a smooth transaction, she brings along her own experience in buying and selling properties, preparing clients for each next step.

“I always put myself in my clients’ shoes,” she says.

“I constantly remind myself what kind of service I needed when I was investing, and how I felt when I was going through every stage of the process.” She understands that real estate can seem daunting, and that many questions might arise. Rachael is patient throughout, never pressuring them to make decisions, and instead focusing on making them feel comfortable. “I want to give them peace of mind and guide them,” she explains. “I never want them to feel like they’re walking in a dark tunnel.” Wellversed in all the latest market trends, Rachael takes the time to educate her clients. This gives them the confidence to move forward and determine the best course of action for their unique situation. Whether she’s getting her sellers the most for their property, or finding a dream home for her buyers, Rachael continually puts their needs first.

Clients are astounded by Rachael’s service, as her hands-on approach makes their experience one to remember. A recent buyer wrote, “We are very particular about what we are looking for in a home, and weren’t in any rush and we’re willing to wait.

Rachael was patient with us and didn’t push us to Top Agent Magazine

make an offer on properties we weren’t happy with. She just encouraged us to keep looking and eventually we would find the right one for us. She provided additional details and insight on each property we were interested in. When we decided on new construction, she helped us negotiate price, then helped us through all the setbacks and delays of construction. We are so happy with our new home, and grateful to Rachael for getting us here.”

During any free time, Rachael can be found staying active in the community by helping out at the food bank or donating to charities. She also loves relaxing with family, working on puzzles, enjoying music or walking her dog.

For Rachael, real estate is about more than just completing transactions. “It’s about truly putting your effort in to make people happy.” As time goes on, Rachael hopes to help more people feel joy; it’s what she loves most about this path. “I want to accomplish their goals and make their dreams come true.”

To contact Rachael Wang, please call 972-352-9337 or email rachael.wang@redfin.com 7

Republic Title of Texas is proud to congratulate

RACHAEL WANG

on being featured for the State of Texas in Top Agent Magazine!

REPUBLIC TITLE OF TEXAS, INC. | NORTH COIT DIANE DONLEY VP Business Development c: 214-733-1077 ddonley@republictitle.com

MEGHAN MILLER Business Development Partner c: 972-832-8348 meghanmiller@republictitle.com

8920 Coit Road, Suite 200 | Plano, Texas 75025 8

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4 Qualities of Exceptional Employees Hiring a new employee is one of the more stressful parts of being a business owner. After all, you’re taking someone on and trusting that they’ll not only be a valuable addition to the team, but won’t do anything to hurt your business’s hard earned reputation.

Sometimes a person comes in and you click right away, and other times you might be blown away by an impressive resume. But there are things you should look for that might not be as obvious at first. Employees that have the following qualities are ones you should seek out, because they will definitely be well worth the time and energy you invest in them.

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1. They have the confidence to be innovative There’s a reason people are drawn to those who think outside the box. Not only do innovations often lead to an extremely profitable business, even when that thinking doesn’t pan out, creative thinking is something that will energize your business and will motivate more employees to start taking chances.

Innovative thinkers also usually have great leadership skills. Ironically, you want an employee who isn’t afraid to speak up to authority and is someone who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them. They know that

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the success of the team and business is what’s most important, as long as it’s done ethically and with respect for everyone involved.

2. They are constantly reviewing their past performance A good employee looks forward, but they also look back. They are always evaluating what worked and what didn’t work in past performances and then adjusting their plans going forward accordingly. If they are coming off a big win, they know how to capitalize on that by using the momentum and cementing in everyone’s minds the value that they add to the team.

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what they can do better next time, and they don’t get bogged down in insecurity. They take responsibility and they have confidence that they won’t repeat past mistakes. They know that failure is a temporary state, and are able to learn lessons from their mistakes, that will make them a better employee going forward.

While no one wants to fail, having the confidence to try something and fail will one day let you strike gold. Someone who lets failure shut them down, leads to a dead end and will soon make them a dead weight on your team.

3. They value teamwork Even though an exceptional employee might be a rising star, they realize that success is 10

not an individual endeavor, it relies strongly on who you’re working with. Exceptional employees make sure that everyone is contributing and valued for their input. They put the interests of the company above their own, and thrive in an environment where ideas and information are shared freely.

Shared success is the ultimate goal for every project. Exceptional employees have the confidence to know that even when they’re not singled out for praise, they’re an irreplaceable component of a larger machine.

4. They are self-motivated learners A key thing to remember is that while experience is a valuable commodity, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is usually something that can’t be taught. Yes, you might request employees get additional training or attend seminars, but exceptional employees will be seeking out educational opportunities constantly. Even if they don’t have a lot of money for weekend retreats, they will be getting books from the library, downloading audiobooks, and most importantly, taking advantage of one their greatest resources, YOU. Exceptional employees know that the way to stay ahead is to always be at the forefront of new technology and systems. They don’t see educating themselves as a burden, they actually enjoy it. They realize that everything they take in, will one day make them not only an exceptional employee, but an exceptional boss as well.

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LISA WEATHERBYJENKINS Top Agent Magazine

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LISA WEATHERBY-JENKINS “My service makes most of my clients feel like they’re my only client. I love helping people find their dream home, something that suits their family and/or portfolio.”

In today’s competitive market, you want a Realtor® with Lisa’s knowledgeability and integrity by your side.

Lisa found her way to real estate after she and her husband moved back to Texas from Arizona where they began 12

to invest in remodeling and flipping homes. Lisa worked as an assistant at a brokerage while studying for her license, gaining hands on experience behind the scenes. She went on to partner with the agent she worked for, Top Agent Magazine

setting off a career that has only continued to grow since then. “She taught me everything I know,” Lisa remembers. “I took off right from the start and loved it right away.”

Today, Lisa is a Broker, Realtor®, and owner of LMW Property Management Pros. With a growing team of agents, she serves the greater Houston area and beyond. Currently over seventy-five percent of her business derives from Top Agent Magazine

repeat and referral clients. Lisa credits the extra care she gives to each client with creating a foundation of trust as she guides them through the transaction process. She maintains reliable lines of communication, taking care to answer her phone for investor clients in different time zones, regardless of the hour. “My service makes most of my clients feel like they’re my only client,” Lisa says. “I love helping people find their dream home, something 13

that suits their family and/or portfolio.

I really do try to find them something that’s suits their needs but that’s also going to make them money down the road. Even if they’re going to live there for a while, I want to see them do well in the long-term.”

Lisa’s service to her clients doesn’t stop at the close of a transaction. Building off the relationships she fosters, she stays in touch through interactions over social media, and often texts past clients after a storm to let them know

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Lisa is a Broker, Realtor®, and owner of LMW Property Management Pros. With a growing team of agents, she serves the greater Houston area and beyond.

she’s there for them and can refer them to contractors for home repair if needed. Furthermore, her biannual mailers keep Lisa top-of-mind for when past clients consider their next move.

When it comes to marketing, Lisa employs a variety of methods to reach the right buyer. Utilizing the “Coming Soon” feature on her area’s MLS, Lisa ensures that buyers are primed for when her properties hit the market.

She engages a robust digital rollout for each listing with posts across a wide range of social media platforms to put her listings right at a buyer’s fingertips, and targeted Facebook ads proliferate a listing to specific geographic areas.

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As a Realtor® who cares about her community, Lisa volunteers through her church and teaches bible lessons.

Through the Covid pandemic, she has consistently reached out to friends, clients, and neighbors, helping them through difficult times in any way she can. When she’s not working or giving back, Lisa cherishes time with her

family and any opportunity to hit the beach. Looking to the future, she has already closed forty-six deals in what’s shaping up to be a banner sales year.

Lisa hopes to see her two daughters join her in the business, where she can pass down her experience, empowering them to a level of excellence that will leave a lasting legacy.

Find out more at har.com/lweatherby.

Connect with Lisa via phone at (832) 233-9203 and via email at lisaweatherby@gmail.com. www.

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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 profes18

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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Laughs!

Graham Harrop Graham Harrop Cartoons Cartoons

Putting the power of humour to work for you!

Putting the power of humour to work for you! grahamharrop.com

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5 Morning Habits to Make Your Day Super Productive For many, most mornings begin with a rush—a rush to get dressed, a rush to find something edible for breakfast, a rush out the door and into rush hour. Likely you have heard articles advising you to set your

alarm early to give yourself some flexibility —which is sound advice, of course—but consider a few of these additional tweaks to your morning routine that can set a productive tone for your day at large.

1. Keep Screens Away Until Breakfast Oftentimes, our first instinct upon waking is to check-in on our phones, tablets, or computers, to scope out the latest social media updates and e-mail correspondence. While diving into the action might seem productive, studies show that waylaying screen time until you’re up and dressed, and have had a good breakfast, will actually make your first pass 22

at all things digital more focused, clear, and efficient. Instead of answering a few e-mails, checking out a friend’s photos, and then hurrying to shower and dress, instead make a resolution to keep the online world at bay for the first half-hour to an hour after you rise, then you’ll approach the digital world with fresh eyes, energy, and adeptness.

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2. Meal Prep Sometimes hitting the snooze button is inevitable, but if you make prepping breakfast the night before a part of your routine, then grabbing something healthy on the go will be a snap—and your stomach will thank you for it. Load up your coffee machine ahead of time, so all you have to do

is hit brew. Or, chop up a fruit salad, mix a smoothie, or simply put a granola bar and a grapefruit in your lunch bag, ready to be grabbed on your way out the door. Even if it’s small or basic, keeping yourself fueled will keep distractions, inefficiency, and mood swings at bay.

3. Queue Up a Podcast on Your Commute Whether you’re driving, biking, or taking public transportation into the office, a podcast is a perfect way to brush up on industry knowledge. Try sourcing a podcast relative to your field and narrated by experts.

Not only will it get you thinking about the topics of your industry—while expanding

your professional vocabulary—it will also wake up your brain and get your head in the game as you prepare to launch your day. Use your commute time to bump up your knowledge and conversation points, and you’ll be ahead of the curve before you reach the office.

4. Begin with a To-Do List When work gets busy, sometimes just getting started is an overwhelming prospect.

Before you dive in to your e-mails and projects, take twenty minutes and be thoughtful as you assess your daily and weekly to-do

list items, then map them. By giving yourself a bullet point system of what you need to accomplish and by when, you can undo some of the anxiety that a busy schedule promotes.

5. Walk It Out, Even If You Missed the Gym While we often rely on coffee for our morning buzz, exercise provides a potent burst of energy that can supercharge your day. But, let’s say you’re running behind and skip the gym—all is not lost! Take fifteen minutes in

the early morning to take a walk around the block a few times. The fresh air and aerobic exercise will wake you up, get your blood moving, and provide your morning with a natural injection of motivation.

Everyone’s morning routine varies, but perhaps the first step is identifying aspects of your routine that could be improved, and tackling them from there. From waylaying

screen time distractions to getting in a little blood-pumping exercise, keep these tips in mind as you launch your most productive morning routine ever.

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