Coffee & Conversations with Leslie, Zina Hall, Danielle Fontes, and Pat Heller

Join us for February's addition of Coffee & Conversations with Leslie - "Let's Get down to Business; Thriving in Uncertainty"! In this session, we will revisit three women we interviewed in 2020 for the "Leading Through Crisis" series.   Joining Leslie: Zina Hall (Broker/Owner - Hall & Hall Associations) Pat Heller (Senior Mng. Director of Southern California - Compass) and Danielle Fontes (Real Estate Broker - MGR Real Estate)   With 20/20 hindsight, how do you assess your initial thoughts about approaching the market in the spring of 2020? Overly pessimistic or optimistic? Going back in time, how did it feel to be navigating the real estate market as the country entered a period of heightened uncertainty.   Zina Hall: I was truly pessimistic and anxious because I opened my Brokerage the previous year and was concerned about earning power for not me but my team as well. I had the charge to get them trained and performing quickly. Since I had the sales history in the industry, I ended up training them on my live transactions who proved to be a win-win. Danielle Fontes: I wish I was much more aggressive in the 2020 market. The clients that I helped purchase all have done very well thanks to the increase in property values and low inventory. I wish I really coached and pushed more to make that jump at that time. They would have reaped the rewards and would not be struggling now with the higher prices and higher rates. Pat Heller: My initial thoughts and focus when it all shut down was on figuring how to lead hundreds of agents through this time of such uncertainly for all. I remember wanting to carefully "hold on to everyone" to make sure they stated positive and as connected as possible. I was determined to learn zoom in a day and held company meetings every Monday and Friday mornings and hen held zoom classes on Wednesdays on keeping in honesty and positive mindset. I was also trying to pull myself away from the news 24/7 and getting myself into a new bio rhythm and routine. I realized pretty quickly how any of us went through covid was how we went through any transition in life but this one was really unsettling and scary for all.   I probably was over optimistic as I really always believe we will be ok if we stay aware we are ok in "the current moment".   Continue reading here.