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In this episode of "Let's Talk About It Today," host Jimmy Mortgage welcomes Lisa Troyano, a multifaceted professional who is a realtor and broker-owner at Engel & Völkers Hoboken and Jersey City, an app developer, a mother, and a food enthusiast. 

Lisa shares her journey from corporate media to real estate, explaining how, after being laid off during layoffs in 2011, she initially started an event planning company while doing real estate on the side. Following in her late mother's footsteps in real estate, Lisa found this career path more lucrative and fulfilling than event planning. 

She discusses her experience with Engel & Völkers, describing it as the only truly global luxury brand that started overseas before expanding to the US. Lisa unexpectedly became a broker-owner after her mentor Nick Costantino passed away, stepping in when the brokerage was at risk of closing. She successfully turned the business around in 12 months and even expanded to a second location in Jersey City just before COVID hit. 

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family exposed Lisa to both wealth and struggle, giving her a balanced relationship with money that helps in her luxury real estate business. Lisa also shares insights about her app called ReStage, essentially "Airbnb for couches," which allows people to rent furniture when not in use—created after witnessing waste in the staging industry. 

On a personal note, Lisa opens up about becoming a mother after a difficult pregnancy and delivery due to an undiagnosed bleeding disorder, advocating for more comprehensive testing during pregnancy. She credits postpartum doulas as incredibly helpful during her three-year recovery journey. 

When not working, Lisa enjoys dining at local favorites like Dino and Harry's and Augustino's in Hoboken, and dreams of eventually living in Italy, her favorite vacation destination. 

Listeners can find Lisa at http://LTAEndeavors.com or on social media @‌myhomebokin or @‌EVHobokenJC.

https://www.instagram.com/evhobokenjc/

https://www.instagram.com/myhomeboken?igsh=MXVwYnNvZW42bzVhbQ==

Connect With Your Host Jimmy Mortgage

https://www.instagram.com/jimmy.mortgage/

https://www.youtube.com/  @‌jimmymortgage9515

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In this episode of "Let's Talk About It," host Jimmy Joseph welcomes Jeff Lindor, founder of Gentleman Factory, a premier network for Black professionals based in Brooklyn. Jeff describes Gentleman Factory as a physical community space where Black professionals can gather to have meaningful conversations about fatherhood, parenting, investments, grooming, and other important topics. 

The concept emerged from Jeff's recognition that Black professionals often feel isolated in corporate and government settings, which inspired him to create a space where people could share ideas and experiences specific to the Black community.

Jeff shares his personal journey as a Haitian immigrant who moved to America in the late 1980s. He details his educational path, starting at Kingsborough Community College (where he now serves on the board) and eventually earning a master's degree in public policy. His career experiences in banking, healthcare, and government helped shape his vision for Gentleman Factory, as he consistently found himself wondering where other qualified Black professionals were in these spaces.

Throughout the conversation, Jeff emphasizes the importance of social capital, which he defines as who you can call when in need and who can call you to push their agenda forward. He explains that Gentleman Factory facilitates connections and creates a platform for dialogue where different perspectives can be shared safely, regardless of political affiliation or background. The organization partners with various community leaders and women-led organizations to address important issues like maternal health and mental wellness.

Jeff openly discusses his own seven-year journey with therapy and the importance of mental health support. He encourages others to seek professional help when needed while also highlighting alternative forms of self-care like hiking, walking, and community engagement. This personal approach to leadership extends to how Gentleman Factory supports entrepreneurship through Shark Tank-like pitch competitions and business development resources.

Looking to the future, Jeff outlines plans to expand Gentleman Factory through a franchise model with locations around the world. He's developing a real estate division to purchase physical locations as they expand, with an emphasis on working with local realtors and brokers in each community. He also mentions the possibility of creating a women's division or investing in women-led startups that pursue similar community-building goals.

The episode concludes with Jeff's powerful statement: "If you do not define who you are, you will allow other people to define you. And when they define you, they'll use their own definition. So I employ everybody to define who you are so that then you can walk outside of your house with the mandate of greatness."

Connect With Your Host Jeff Lindor

https://www.instagram.com/mrcommunitynyc/

https://www.instagram.com/gentlemens.factorygf/

GentlemansFactory.com, with a new Barbershop Speakeasy location, is now open in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

Connect With Your Host Jimmy Mortgage

https://www.instagram.com/jimmy.mortgage/

https://www.youtube.com/  @‌jimmymortgage9515

#BlackProfessionals #Entrepreneurship #MentalHealth  #ProfessionalGrowth #BlackBusinessOwnership

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In this episode of "Let's Talk About It," host Jimmy Mortgage welcomes Kevin Grimes, a successful real estate entrepreneur from Westchester. They discuss Kevin's journey from a steady 17.5-year career at Cablevision to entrepreneurship in real estate and security.

Kevin shares how becoming a father transformed his motivation, driving him to build generational wealth and opportunities for his son. He's published a children's book titled "My Daddy Loves Me" and is launching both a coloring book and a nonprofit organization to support fathers with financial services and legal assistance.

Throughout the conversation, Kevin offers insights on the current real estate market, noting challenges with low inventory but expressing optimism for increased activity as temperatures rise.

He emphasizes the importance of maintaining family properties as generational wealth rather than selling them. Kevin's personal philosophy centers on overcoming fear, embracing change at any age, and generously sharing knowledge to help others succeed.

He can be found on all major platforms as Kevin Grimes, GRI, MES, RE or Kevin Grimes Senior.

Kevin Grimes

https://www.instagram.com/kevingrimesre/

https://www.youtube.com/@thegreatnessrealtor

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In this engaging episode of "Let's Talk About It," host Jimmy welcomes real estate coach David Radney for an insightful conversation about effective communication, business growth, and finding balance in the demanding world of real estate.

David shares his coaching philosophy, emphasizing that what many call "scripts" is actually effective dialogue—knowing what to say and when to say it. He introduces his "PUSH" methodology (Prospect Until Success Happens) and the powerful acronym WAIT (Why Am I Talking?), encouraging agents to listen more than they speak. David explains that when clients self-discover through answering questions, it becomes fact rather than just the agent's opinion, leading to better business outcomes.

The conversation explores how independent contractors like real estate agents require accountability, which is what David's coaching provides. He guides agents through questions that help them discover solutions themselves, much like how agents should work with their clients. David reveals his "137" approach to work-life balance: 1 day off per week, a 3-day weekend once a month, and 7 days off per quarter. He describes how he prioritizes personal time first when planning his calendar, ensuring work fits around life rather than vice versa.

David discusses the continued importance of phone calls in real estate, noting they require more effort now but remain essential. He also emphasizes social media as crucial "social proof" of real estate expertise.

Throughout the episode, David highlights the importance of being coachable and motivated, sharing free resources including his script practice sessions held Friday mornings at 8:30 AM and Wednesday evenings at 5:00 PM on Zoom.

Where to Find David Radney

http://davidradney.com @‌davidradney

https://www.youtube.com/user/DRadney1

Sponsored by Ciel Power – Where comfort meets efficiency. Visit http://cielpower.com for tips and incentives to improve your home comfort while saving on energy bills.

Connect With Your Host Jimmy Mortgage

https://www.instagram.com/jimmy.mortgage/

https://www.youtube.com/  @‌jimmymortgage9515

#realestate #realestatecoach #realtorlife #growinrealestate #realtors

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In this episode of "Let's Talk About It with Jimmy Mortgage," we welcome Curtis Quow, a successful real estate professional from Brooklyn with the Sirhand team. Curtis describes himself as a "transaction agent" who handles everything from rentals to luxury properties across all price points.

During our conversation, Curtis shared valuable insights about the evolving real estate market, noting how marketing has shifted toward more visual content and video techniques. He explained that today's consumers conduct extensive online research before meeting agents, making informative property content more important than ever. Despite this digital evolution, Curtis emphasized that traditional lead generation methods like phone calls, emails, and handwritten letters remain essential to success in the industry.

Curtis is also the author of "Connected," a book that provides a roadmap for effective networking. He compares building a strong network to constructing a well-built home, emphasizing the importance of a solid foundation. Curtis believes that building trust takes time and consistency and cannot be rushed. His networking philosophy centers on providing value without expecting anything in return and practicing empathy to build genuine connections. This approach has served him well throughout his career, including in his successful management and sale of a 24-unit building in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, for $5.6 million.

As the founder of the New York Real Estate Mixer, Curtis has created one of the most well-known networking events in the Tri-State area. He shared how the mixer began as a simple home-buying seminar to build a pipeline of buyers but evolved organically when bankers, attorneys, and other real estate professionals began attending. Now running monthly, the mixer returned stronger than ever after the pandemic. Curtis also demonstrated his problem-solving skills with a story about successfully relocating a 400-person event with just one day's notice when a venue suddenly closed - a testament to the power of his network.

Looking to the future, Curtis plans to build the Curtis Quow team, take the New York Real Estate Mixer on the road to new locations including New Jersey, and expand into more personal real estate investments. When he's not working, Curtis enjoys Thai food, traveling first class when possible, going to the gym, and playing chess - a game that complements his strategic thinking in business.

To connect with Curtis, follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/curtisquow/ or visit his website at http://CurtisQuow.com , where you can also purchase his book "Connected." For consultations about networking, buying, or selling real estate, Curtis is available through his website.

Listen to "Let's Talk About It with Jimmy Mortgage" on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms.

Sponsored by Ciel Power – Where comfort meets efficiency. Visit http://cielpower.com for tips and incentives to improve your home comfort while saving on energy bills.

https://www.instagram.com/jimmy.mortgage/

https://www.youtube.com/  @‌jimmymortgage9515

#realestateagent #newjersey #realtors #realtorlife #njhomes #njrealestate