My coast to coast airplane ride mindset: Geoff Colvin’s “Humans Are Underrated. What High Achievers Know That Brilliant Machines Never Will.” With all the buzz on AI and ChatGPT I was reflecting on this leading edge book from 2015. The answer lies not in the nature of technology but in the nature of humans. Regardless […]
Author: Mark D. Johnson
Mark D. Johnson, MBA, is Managing Partner of Recruiting Insight and the former CEO of the nation's 35th largest brokerage firm, which he grew roughly fivefold to $8 billion in annual sales. A real estate broker since 2000 and a California licensed broker, he is adjunct faculty at Chapman University and South Orange County Community College District, and author or co-author of six California real estate textbooks and the book Up In Your Business. He coaches broker-owners, managers and recruiters on recruiting, retention and leadership.
Courage
You’re only courageous when you do what’s right despite your fear. Think about it; anyone who ever beat the odds did so despite their fear! They beat the odds because: they were desperate and felt as if they had no choice; they were inspired by somebody else’s example; they were angry at injustice; they were […]
100 Days Of Success
Remember when? In December, as the new year approached, I was inspired to document my observations of success from my leadership, coaching, and work experience. The first 20 days came easy, the next 20 a challenge, and the 60 to finish tough. Yet I did it. And here are the top 7 most engaged, commented, […]
Overcoming Rejection
His mother, no longer able to provide for him, turned him over to the foster care system. At 22, he was homeless with a two-year-old son to care for. The only way he could go was up. With $700 start-up cash, he pursued his vision. Paul Mitchell hair products and eventually Patrón tequila. One of […]
Faith vs. Fear
The story goes that the African impala can jump ten feet high and cover a distance of ten yards. Yet this magnificent animal can be held behind a wall only three feet high. Why? Because unless it first sees where it’s going to land, it won’t jump. Faith is the ability to jump and trust […]
Symptom, Source, Solution
You can’t see the picture when you are in the frame. (Ask Billy Beane, or Michael Jordan, the player, and Phil Jackson, the coach.) Whenever I get frustrated I use a model, “symptom, source, solution.” (Models can be so helpful). Ever play Whac-a-Mole? Every time you knock one down, another mole pops up. To stop […]
Open Loops?
If you can’t shut off your brain, you have open loops to close. An “open loop” can be a message to respond to, a decision you must make, or anything that is pending. By keeping these “open,” you drain your energy and willpower and limit your ability to focus. The problem with open loops in […]
Looking To Be More Outcome-Focused?
Reflecting this morning and giving myself some grace… appropriate for the month of Easter. Sharing my personal coaching notes: I’ve been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster: transitioning from a group of staff, agents, and B2B partners that I respect and love dearly; to moving full-time into the investments I had with a […]
Work Expands To The Time Available
The top 1% understand that work always expands to fill the amount of time you make available to complete it. In 1955, British historian C. Northcote Parkinson wrote that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Economists see the same pattern with roads: widen a highway and more drivers show […]
The To Don’t List
Some of my top-performing clients and associates have: The “To-Don’t” List: Stop doing Less of Than the traditional “to-do:” Start doing More of Bonus, I know a few characteristics of successful leaders: a vision that resonates; active vs. passive communication; collaboration with stakeholders; ability to assemble a team that is active vs. passive, effective, and […]