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I’m proud of our oldest son, Mark, who, one day after racing to the top of the Empire State Building, finishing 8th among US men, sat down with Greg Fowler and did a live 45-minute interview on real estate sales and life. If you have the time, you can watch it here. 

Here are a few of the highlights I took away:

• Integrity: Mark works hard to meet the needs of the client with integrity. He also is able to relate to some clients because of hardships he has experienced. Recently he sat down with a potential buyer who wanted to back out of the deal. Mark listened to him and after five minutes said something like, “You’re right. This is not the right time for you to buy this house.” The interviewer said, “Wow. That’s integrity!” Mark replied, “The prospective buyer went away happy and affirmed, and I could sleep that night!”
• Keys to success: Mark offered two words for success and a fulfilling life: gratitude and responsibility. Be thankful for what you have and realize that whether you have what you want or don’t have what you want, you’re responsible.
• Goal setting: Mark believes in goal setting: he sets high goals and is prepared to work hard to achieve them. He now believes that the “goals” are the things you want for your life and family. The business is the means to reach those goals. With respect to working hard, he advises other real estate agents to just “answer the phone.” 
• Discipline: he’s a learner: he reads books and listens to books and podcasts.

Although not discussed in the interview, a large reason for his strength of character and stamina comes from his habit of daily time with God. He reads the Bible every morning as part of his daily routine. Here is one of his closing quotes:  

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 24.33, 34 (NIV)

And here is my closing quote!

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. (Proverbs 23.24, ESV)