It feels absolutely great to win the REBNY Most Promising Salesperson award. The award has been a goal of mine since the beginning of last year, but the habits that won me the award have been developing far longer than that. Within days after reading about last year’s winner, I walked into my manager’s office telling him I wanted to win the award next year. “Evan…don’t we have a year?” he asked. “Yes…but I just want to make it known, I’m going for this.” “Ok ok,” he said, having literally one million things of more importance than a goal of mine that wouldn’t be decided for 365 days. But my head was already there.
In his book Principles, author Ray Dalio defines the 3 stages of life. To him, life’s first stage is when you’re a student and dependent on others; the second stage is when you are working, others are dependent on you and you have kids; and the third stage is when you’re in a position to help others succeed without you. By this definition, I’ve just entered my second stage of life. I don’t have kids, but I’m now in a role where others are dependent on me and my success. Mike Movshovich, my partner, is absolutely impacted by the decisions I make and the success I do or don’t have, as I am by his decisions and his potential success. Together, we just hired an associate broker who is dependent on us both. Building a team with Mike and pursuing shared goals together is what excites me most right now and is totally different from the day-to-day leasing work I’ve been doing for the last five years. I still have to do that and do it excellently – that is how I turn prospects into clients, clients into repeat clients, produce referrals and create the identity I am after as a strong leasing advisor. However, the team building responsibilities are now intertwined with leasing and integral for us to reach the next stage of our collective growth. I’m extremely fortunate to have found Mike and to be in a position at my age as a designer and leader of a team.
The REBNY Award is called “Most Promising” for a reason. While the recognition is great and appreciated, not much changes as a result of winning. I still have to do the work required to be great, and was in the office making cold calls Tuesday morning at 8:30AM. I love the saying onwards and upwards. Through good or bad, that is always my goal. It applies here as well.