My friend Garth and I had a lot of good laughs and encouraging words on this show! If you’re a realtor or know one, you’re going to love this episode as much as the last one. This is Episode 12 of the I Love Kelowna Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, an iTunes review would be SO appreciated! https://tinyurl.com/y8jax3xb SHOW NOTES Garth Donhauser of RE/MAX Kelowna has 9 years of experience as a REALTOR® in the Okanagan. Lived in Alberta for most of his life, then Manitoba for 12 years, then Calgary in 1992. If you’re going to be broke, be were you want to be! Came to Kelowna in 2006. In 2009 when Garth decided to be a REALTOR®, people thought he was crazy, but he saw opportunity. Breaking even in the first year was great, because he knew he could repeat that and even improve on it. His father was a plumber, and a good friend was an engineer, and so over time he learned about framing, drywall, electrical, roofing – all of the components of building and repairing a house. Even though he became skilled at construction, he discovered it wasn’t for him. The reason? He’s an extrovert who loves being around other people! But these construction skills would really benefit him later in his real estate career. Hear how Garth discovered he is is naturally gifted at sales. The fascinating and serendipitous story of Charlie Brown. Garth knows from hard experience exactly how to survive and prosper in a down market. Learn some amazing tips from an experienced pro. The amazing, almost unbelievable story of a listing that took 8 YEARS TO SELL. And the four partners who owned it never lost faith in him. Eating crow pays well! The challenge of communicating positively to clients about new regulatory burdens on them and on us. Starting at 18:09 we discuss new British Columbia real estate rules. The best way to still be sociable and extroverted with prospects, turn the conversation to real estate, and not run afoul of the rules. Get in front of prospects whenever and wherever we can. Let them get to know, like and trust you. Only then will they feel comfortable doing business with you. A big shoutout to Ron Cannan, relationship expert! 

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I really learned some powerful things about my friend Jason Neumann in this interview. He was vulnerable, charming, funny and even inspirational to me. If you are a realtor, or know a realtor, I believe you will really enjoy this interview. You can listen to it here. Jason Neumann of RE/MAX Kelowna was born in New Westminster, then lived in Abbotsford for 30 years. Moved to the Okanagan 15 years ago where he got into new construction sales and marketing up at Big White. Two years later he moved to Kelowna. His parents were builders, then he ran a lumber yard, then built roof trusses, then moved into engineering and shipping / receiving. The moment he decided to become a REALTOR®. Building the skill of networking and relating to people. Yes, that is an actual skill you can cultivate! Jason loves the fact that people put their trust in him for the most important transactions of their lives. Dealing with children when showing houses. What it’s like dealing with divorce and children, self esteem issues, and finally deciding to take care of yourself first. Some very powerful stories and life lessons! Dealing with insomnia, fatigue and other serious health issues. Awareness about the problem is the first step! For many of us, mental and spiritual challenges are even harder than physical ones. What is your reason WHY? The second step is learning how to direct your time and energy. Do the things that bring positive mental, physical and spiritual energy into your life, and avoid the things that drain that energy. How to deal with guilt from past mistakes. Real Estate is one of the best possible jobs you can ever do, but believe it or not, sometimes it can be extremely challenging. Top agents know how to manage their emotions – their own, as well as their clients. Jason and I believe that our clients want transparency above all else, even before advice. The delicate balance between being a single parent and having a more-than full time job, sometimes 7 days a week. What it’s like being on a reality TV show. You actually learn a lot… about yourself! Jason’s personal opinion about dating in Kelowna and online dating. Starting at the 27:28 mark, Jason and I have a frank discussion about the new rules that everyone dealing with real estate now face, both realtors and the public. Why it makes sense to use a real estate agent every time you’re buying or selling. Shoutout to Karen Mason from the Kelowna Women’s Shelter! 

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Tony Lewis was born in California. His parents moved from Wales to Canada in the late 1970s but then moved to California where he was born near San Francisco. First band named Storytime in Lake Tahoe. Went to recording school in Huntington Beach, CA and became an entrepreneur, recording bands. Opened a recording school in Long Beach, then went to Hollywood, right at Sunset and Vine! Finding creative ways to make money in the extremely competitive L.A. music business. Auditioning for Capitol Records… on the sidewalk! Making the transition from musician to recording engineer. Complete life transformation from having his first daughter. Unemployment! Then being invited by his father to move to Kelowna in 2007. “It’s just like California!” Starting as a big fan of beers, but had no real appreciation for wine. Okanagan Villa became Vibrant Vine. The unbelievable amount of physical labour required to run a successful winery. Different ways to learn: the long and meandering way or the fast and efficient way. Learn Tony’s secret favourite place to get a breakfast Outgrowing arrogance, immaturity, and lack of deep gratitude Untangling all of the rules and regulations of the liquor business in British Columbia An amazing discovery: Wine in barrels next to drums or other music react chemically different than wine that isn’t exposed to music! The Orphan Grape: helping the people of Haiti, including farmers, through wine sales. Opening Cahoots, a cidery, and Frequency, a new winery. Chladni plates and research into the effect of sound on liquids, including averting bottle shock on wine. Masaru Emoto was a Japanese author, researcher, photographer and entrepreneur who said that human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water. Tony’s own experimentation at Frequency proves this theory to be true! Tying it all together: a love of music and a love of wine and winemaking, makes an amazing life and business. Wine is a story in a bottle. All about the Frequency recording studio: over 400 bands have come through so far. Ok for children to play music in there, with a waiver Oops 2012 was a Double Platinum, World Wine Competition winner in Geneva Switzerland, beating out 10,000 other entries. The secret formula to how he did it! Cultivating a spirit of gratitude is the key to success in the wine business, the music business and in life https://tinyurl.com/y8jax3xb

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Sean loved Karate from a very young age: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan Got into weight lifting from elementary school, wrestling from junior high. Went to the Canadian Games for Olympic Lifting as a young man. When he started in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there was literally no one in BC who was doing it, but soon masters like Marcus Soares and Dennis King and Stephan Kesting from grapplearts.com began to emerge, and he got to train with them. Started as a gym rat but was always intrigued with the martial arts. Had a dream to run his own gym. From a sublease in 2010 in Penticton he taught 3 classes a week. Then 5 years ago in Kelowna opened up First Strike Martial Arts. Since the Spring of this year, Alliance Jiu Jitsu on Kirschner, which is part of the most successful team in North America. The difference between Jiu Jitsu and other martial arts: the strategic use of leverage! Appearances aren’t everything! Getting past your self-perceptions about your looks. Failure is a huge part of success! The biggest challenge for a business owner is getting new clients coming through the door on a consistent basis. The best kind of martial art student and what makes it fun for Sean: seeing people achieve their fitness goals, grow in self confidence Training in martial arts can help you develop on multiple levels: emotionally, physically and your level of maturity Check out alliancekelowna.com to find out about a free class, to see if Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is for you! An iTunes review would be SO appreciated! https://nt773.app.goo.gl/CP2g

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