A Big Mahalo!

I’ve been in leadership for a large part of my life, and I know from firsthand experience that leadership can be a thankless job. It’s not easy leading an organization and a team of people, especially in a profession as fraught with change as real estate. Though I am no longer at the helm of a real estate brokerage, I’m very aware of the responsibilities and burdens placed upon our leaders. It takes foresight, intelligence, skill, finesse, and staying power to lead an organization. Perhaps now more than ever.

The dynamics in our profession are continually changing and the obstacles seemingly insurmountable. Over the last five years or so, we’ve had to navigate a flood, a pandemic, and a fire. Our industry has been faced with rising interest rates, insurance shortfalls, impactful legislative changes, shifting markets, and more. Add to the equation all the other things that go into being a cutting-edge brokerage, and you can only imagine the challenges. Suffice it to say, it’s not easy.

Defining Leadership

How do you define leadership? To a large degree, leadership is the ability to influence and guide others towards a common goal or vision. A great leader inspires and a great leader serves. And sacrifices. A lot.

I’m grateful for the great leaders we have at Hawaii Life. Selfless leaders who continue to face obstacles with strength of character and a commitment to serve those they lead. More often than not, they hear our complaints, our concerns, our angst. Rarely, do they hear our applause and thanks. So, here goes…

Thank you to our CEO, Matt Beall, who tirelessly navigates the challenges we face with quiet calm and confidence, offering the assurances we so often need. Mahalo to our Principal Broker, Roy Vandoorn, who keeps us in compliance and out of trouble. Thank you to Rhonda Hay, our Director of Operations, and our constant go-to and 911! And, thanks to each of our Brokers-in-Charge for always being available and for having our backs. You guys rock! Big time! And of course, there’s Kahea, our savvy Vice-President who works endlessly to manage properties, clients, and our team! There are just so many leaders to thank, including Beth Thoma Robinson, our Director of Conservation and Legacy Lands; David Lundstrom, our Director of Sales and Business Development; Anthony Arnold, our Creative Director; Brad Haegar, our Customer Experience Director, Michael Marks, our Inside Sales Director, Sara Keesler, our Controller, and Eroll Lantos, our Director of Human Resources. And, the list goes on and on…

Gratitude to the Support Team

Every leader needs a trusted support team — a team that allows leaders to pool their strengths in order to move in a unified direction toward shared goals. When it comes to our support staff — we’ve got the best. You guys know who you are, and we appreciate you. Thank you for the behind-the-scenes work you do daily to elevate the client experience and to make us look good. Talk about talent attraction! You’re truly the best of the best, and we are grateful.

One of my favorite quotes by Ryan Holiday in “The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph” is the following:

“Wherever we are, whatever we’re doing and wherever we are going, we owe it to ourselves, to our art, to the world to do it well.” This defines our mantra. Our ethos. And, it defines our leadership.

To say that I’m grateful — that we’re grateful — for our leaders is an understatement. Just know that we see you and we appreciate you. Thank you for all that you do for us, for the clients and communities we serve, and for the selfless, tireless and exemplary work you do. Each.And.Every.Day.