Overall, says Liniger, the real estate business still gives him a rush. “The real estate industry is unique. [Agents and brokers] compete against each other to get the listing. But, once someone gets it, everyone cooperates to sell it,” he says. Plus, he says, brokerages have no assets other than some office furniture. “Our assets are our sales forces. We’re in a business where 100 percent of our assets walk out the door every single night. It’s fascinating.”
BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW…
D ave L i n i g e r i s i n c re d i b l y s h y.
“ W h e n I ’ m o n t h e s t a g e t ra i n i n g o r speaking, I’m fine. When I get off the stage and attendees ask questions, I’m f i n e b e c a u s e I h ave s o m e t h i n g t o t a l k t o t h e m a b o u t ,” h e s ays . H oweve r, “ E a r l y i n m y c a re e r, I wa s f l y i n g 2 0 0 t o 2 7 0 d ays a ye a r a n d I s p o ke t o o n l y t wo p e o p l e o n t h e p l a n e d u r i n g t h a t e n t i re t i m e .” Th e f i r s t wa s a wo m a n w h o wa s h o l d i n g a h o r s e c a t a l o g i n h e r l a p . L i n i g e r t a l ke d h o r s e s w i t h h e r ; t h e n , w h e n t h e wo m a n t a l ke d a b o u t o p e n i n g a p u b l i c re l a t i o n s f i r m , L i n i g e r s u g g e s t e d s h e re a d t h e b o o k “ Th i n k a n d G row R i c h ,” by Napoleon Hill. “She actually called me a b o u t f i ve m o n t h s a f t e r t h a t f l i g h t b e c a u s e s h e wa n t e d R E / M A X t o s i g n u p w i t h h e r n ew P R c o m p a n y.” ( I t d i d n ’ t . ) Th e o t h e r t i m e wa s d u r i n g t h e p ro m o t i o n o f h i s a ro u n d - t h e - wo r l d b a l l o o n f l i g h t . “ Va r i o u s n ew s s t a t i o n s we re d o i n g s e g m e n t s o n i t , a n d o n e w a s p l ay i n g o n t h e a i r p l a n e . I wa s f l y i n g f i r s t c l a s s n ex t t o a n o l d e r wo m a n . S h e wa t c h e d t h e n ew s a b o u t t h e b a l l o o n r i d e , l o o ke d a t m e a n d s a i d , ‘ I s t h i s g u y n u t s? ’ ” s ays L i n i g e r. “ I s m i l e d a n d s a i d , ‘ P e o p l e t e l l m e I a m .’ N e e d l e s s t o s ay, we h a d a g o o d l a u g h ove r t h a t .”
Photo: Edward DeCroce / Decroce Photography LORE
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