Today, we are interviewing Ben Stern, a REALTOR with RE/MAX Prime Properties in Winter Garden, Florida. He has been involved in the Real Estate business for over 25 years. Please tell us something about yourself.

Besides working as a Realtor, I have been flying commercially as an Airline pilot for over 28 years. I grew up in the heart of New York City, but have been living in the Florida sunshine state on and off since 1989. I am blessed to have a beautiful wife and incredible family, friends, clients, and colleagues. I love to cook, make people laugh, and try to bring value to everyone I meet and know.My passions also include teaching Leadership & Personal development to others in and out of the Real Estate and corporate world. When I have the time, I’m an amateur movie/VFX/special effects artist. I often use my skills for business advertising, but I have enjoyed making creative videos for family and friends.  There is nothing like creating videos that touch people’s lives.  I have made several Anniversaries, Memorials, Birthdays, and Retirement videos.  ( you can see what I’ve created here.  www.sternvisualproductions.com)My passions and motivations in life, especially Real Estate, keep me motivated to be the best husband, friend, co-worker, and mentor I could possibly be. I do my best to keep my priorities balanced and enjoy life to the fullest.How did you get into Real Estate? Please tell us more about your journey?

The main reason I got into Real Estate is because of my brother Marc, who was an airline pilot and Realtor in Tampa, Florida. I always admired him for accomplishing so much, especially flying as an airline pilot and making such a difference in the lives of others as a Realtor. I didn’t truly realize how much of an impact he had on others until his funeral. He helped countless people and built life- long relationships with everyone. When my brother passed away in 2015 from brain cancer, it was tugging at my heart to continue his legacy. His mission to make a difference in other people’s lives was one of the main reasons he was so successful. That is why I work hard to be the best I can be to do the same. Who you work with matters, but just as important is why you work with someone that matters.Who are your role models?

I don’t think children or adults have as many role models as they should these days. It is so important! Everyone should have a role model or mentor in life, no matter what age you are. I have quite a few role models, but at the top of my list are my brother Marc, (even in his passing) Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward, (both Leadership gurus who’s inspired me for years).  As well, there are many who I have admired over the years, who stand out as leaders in the community and in their personal life. that possess character, integrity, and who choose to live life to the fullest.  I’m a firm believer that we can learn something from everyone we meet. Some of my close friends are role models to me for how they treat other, how they raise their kids, or what they are doing to leave a legacy in life.What inspires you?

It is challenging to be inspired every day of your life. Still, it takes discipline and energy to search for inspiration. Whether you are already inspired or looking for inspiration, it takes work. However, once you find inspiration and your “why”, there’s no better way to keep motivated. What inspires me are the stories I’ve read and heard about others that, despite the odds, manage to overcome and succeed. It’s all about attitude and the lens you look through in life. I’ve always been inspired by those who never give up, never quit, and take personal responsibility for making things better, no matter the circumstances.Please tell us about your company.

As a REALTOR for RE/MAX Prime Properties in Winter Garden, FL, I consider myself very blessed and lucky to be working with some of the finest Real Estate professionals I have ever met. Our Broker Derek Sunderland and Office Manager Michelle Dunkley, are amazing!  RE/MAX is the #1 Real Estate company on the globe.  Still, it’s truly the people who gave RE/MAX the reputation it deserves. A name means nothing without the outstanding, professional individuals of character and integrity, that uphold the name.

My team, STERN REALTY TEAM LLC, is under the RE/MAX name, and together, we continue to build a legacy and do our best to serve our clients, family, and friends. Even though I am a commercial pilot, I have an amazing team of great professionals I get to work with, including Bart Barter, who is my trusted friend and real estate partner. I can’t say enough great things about Bart. Everyone loves him and knows they can trust him. Clients are getting two for the price of one. Together, we work side by side to provide the best possible service possible and build relationships that last a lifetime.

What’s your most memorable experience?My most memorable experiences will always involve working side by side with my brother Marc on various Real Estate projects. As my mentor, it was always inspiring to see how well we worked under pressure and how he always managed to adapt and overcome any problem or issues that came up during the process of buying or selling a home. I used to call him the rainmaker. We always figured out a way to make things happen, no matter the issue, which became a win-win scenario for everyone.Which social media channels work best for promoting your work? What exactly do you do on the social media channel that makes it work for you?

As a huge social media guy, I use all social media sites to promote, advertise, and, more importantly, provide value to my clients. It is super important to understand how to utilize each site effectively. I will always be a big fan of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. However, I give equal attention to others like Linkedin, Pinterest, and Twitter, which is reflected in my numbers of followers and activity. Come check me out!What’s your greatest fear?

I wouldn’t say I have any fears per se, but one of my greatest concerns is that I don’t meet my client’s needs. Things do happen sometimes, and as a leader, I take full responsibility, even if I had nothing to do with the situation directly. Fear or concern, however, is a good thing because it keeps me sharp and ahead of the game. It keeps me motivated to learn and grow every day so I can avoid the issues as much as possible. Experience and time offer guidance as to what is needed to avoid many of the bumps along the way, which ultimately helps make the buying or selling experience enjoyable. I am a student for life and spend a lot of time learning specific real estate related stuff but also spend time reading and listening to leadership and personal development material. Many times, the contributing factor to a problem is human error.  Learning how to be a better leader always contributes to being successful, no matter what you are trying to accomplish.You can see what I’m listening to these days as I put this material on my blog for free: https://www.sternrealtyteamblog.com/free-leadership-personal-development-audios/.Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?It’s been a while, but to understand that Real Estate is a people business, is one of the most important aspects to embrace. People are people. We all have wants, needs, and desires. Learning market statistics, Real Estate Law, Contract Law, etc. is vital. I call this the science of business. However, there is an art side of business.  Without understanding people, personalities and how to get along with others, while doing the right things yourself, it would make being successful in this or any business, very difficult. That is why I have spent years learning and teaching leadership and personal development. Everything in life gets better when we do.  It’s a commitment to personal excellence that makes all the difference in the world.What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?

Referencing the question above, through leadership and personal development, learning regularly, we can develop the right skills to improve and get better, which will help you succeed. Of course, it helps to be self-reliant, motivated, educated, dedicated, and have a tough skin but a soft heart.One of the main strategies I use is pretty simple. I use this when flying airplanes, as well as in Real Estate and my personal life. It’s called PDCA, which stands for PLAN, DO, CHECK, ADJUST. I repeat this process on a revolving, regular basis. The idea is to make a plan to do something by researching, studying, and considering all the factors and potential consequences of the plan. Execute the plan. Then, check the results to see if they are what you expected. If not, adjust accordingly, and then repeat the process over and over, until you do get the right result. The bottom line is, don’t make the same mistakes over again, hoping for a different result.What keeps you going when things get tough?

It’s all in a mindset and your attitude.  The body follows the mind. I always try to begin with the end in mind, realizing that nothing happens overnight. You can’t change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction. Focus on the end result and press through, keeping in mind that it is just as easy to quit as it is to continue.  It is simply a matter of a decision.  The opposite of success is not a failure, it’s quitting. Remembering why I did what I was trying to do in the first place, is what keeps me motivated. It is also my commitment to personal excellence that keeps me going.   They say failure is not an option; It actually is an option but just not a good one.Any message for our readers?My message is simple.  We are truly dedicated to helping others accomplish all their real estate goals and dreams. I personally treat everyone as they would be expected to be treated, and often, my clients become great friends because I treated them like family from the beginning. Trust is important, and I do my best to gain your trust and never let you down. We do what we say we are going. When you have your heart and mind in the right place, and combine that with competence, confidence, and experience, there’s nothing we cannot accomplish.

How can people connect with you?

You can reach me at 407-595-8374 or Bart Barter at 407-399-5666 OR if you are interested in looking for property an easy, no-pressure way, try my messenger through Facebook, where you can simply add your criteria and needs, which we will promptly send you all the information you seek. From there, you can decide what to do. We are here for you when the time comes.  Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you today. The messenger link is bit.ly/sternrealtyteam.You can also find me on social media and my websites below, including our award-winning blog, www.sternrealtyteamblog.com.You can also check out below social media links:www.facebook.com/sternrealtyteamwww.instagram.com/sternrealtyteamwww.twitter.com/bensternwww.linkedin.com/in/lifeleadershiphttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkXHGnwoOQFtX_qlFfjXBdghttps://www.pinterest.com/bensternslifeTags: benstern, bensternrealtor, bitgog, broker, buyersagent, entrepreneur, orandorealestate, orandorealtor, orlando, realestate, realestateagent, realestatebroker, realestateexpert, realestateinvesting, realestatelife, realtor, Realtorlife, realtorsofinstagram, realty, remaxprimeproperties, sternrealtyteamSharing is caring! Please share this now…