This week on our blog, we are going to try doing something a little different. Aside from providing you with business tactics, we also want you to stay in the loop on whats going on in our office! Last week, we had the pleasure of welcome a new team member. Red, who will be manning sales for Jarja Media and Jared James Enterprises, wanted to share a little bit about himself. So, read on and learn more about the newest member of our sales team!
Q: First and foremost, do you prefer "Mike" or "Red"?
A: I usually go by "Red". Everywhere I ever worked there have been a handful of people named "Mike". I have usually been the only ginger. Plus people remember my name a lot easier when I go by "Red". If they don't remember right away, the big red beard is usually a pretty good hint.
Q: What is your position at Jared James and Jarja Media?
A: I don't know what the exact title is or will be called, and whatever we decide to call it down the road is fine by me. If everyone decided "Big furry orange guy" should be an official job title, that is fine by me. "It is not titles that make men illustrious".
I am still training and learning all the systems, but soon I will be handling a lot of the consultations for coaching and marketing. I am currently working closely with both Jared and Donna to learn more about the programs that Jared James offers.
Q: So tell us a little about your background.
A: I have done sales for the last 12 years or so. I have sold stocks, bonds, vacuums, electricity, cable subscriptions, cars, and credit cards. I have sold over the phone, face-to-face, door-to-door and business to business. I have sold on carpet, hardwood, asphalt on concrete, and feel like I can help understand the difficulty many sales people go through every day.
Q: So what brought you to Jared James Enterprises and Jarja Media?
A: It was a few things. First, I am a dinosaur compared to what Jared and everyone else here is doing. I have ignored social media for far too long, and can safely say it has hurt my income. Jarja Media and Jared James Enterprises is the best place to learn the skills that are relevant now and 5 years from now. The fact they are the first coaching company to embrace video on a nearly company-wide basis shows how far ahead of the curve they are. The second reason is the culture.
There is an energy and enthusiasm here that you don't get many other places.
Like Jared says, the biggest reason a salesperson succeeds is because they are able to control their mindset. This is the kind of environment where a positive mindset is significantly easier to keep.
The last thing is Jared himself. I have been around the block in terms of sales, but I have never been number one in a field as competitive as Real Estate. This is a place where I can learn from one of the masters of his craft. That is not the kind of opportunity that should be turned down.
Q: What are you excited about in the future here at JARJA?
A: The CRM is going to be huge. I have used a number of CRMs in the past, and from what I have seen and heard JARJA will be a significant competitor very quickly. It is exciting to be in the chair when it goes finally goes live.
Most of all, I am excited to be in a place that is proactive when it comes to technology. Too many businesses wait until there is no other choice but adopt a new technology. If you are not proficient with modern technology, you are a dinosaur risking extinction. I have always believed the worst phrase to hear from a business is "we have always done it this way". Past success is not always indicative of future results. Fax machines should have been gone decades ago, the fact they are still holding on is an anomaly. Jared does not rest on what got him to #1 when he was purely selling real estate. He is focused on what would work today, tomorrow, and next year.
Q: So what are your hobbies outside of work?
A: I like to build and fix things. You often find me under my truck or covered in sawdust. There is something so satisfying about taking a bunch of raw wood and making it something you can use everyday. There is no feeling like it. I also love stand-up and actually did it for about a year in NYC. I like video games, audiobooks and bar trivia as well.
Q: And lastly, if you could let people know one thing about yourself, what is it?
A: I have a tough time holding in jokes when they cross my mind. I try hard not to take myself seriously, and want people to have fun when we speak. If I could not get you to smile at least a little bit, I don't feel like I am doing my job.
- Red, Sales Associate