Latest news with #success
News.com.au
19 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘They're off': $962m man's look into real estate woes
Alexander Phillips, Australia's top real estate agent for the 10th consecutive year after topping the Real Estate Business (REB) industry website rankings, doesn't have a secret winning approach. He reveals everything about his powerhouse sales method, in appearances on the weekly High Performance industry podcast, for any agent tuning in. Phillips, of Phillips Pantzer Donnelley, and his support staff, topped the latest rankings when securing a $962m annual tally from 196 sales across Sydney's coastal east in 2024. Phillips, with 24 years' experience, first hit the REB list in 2014 when he ranked second with 108 sales yielding $200m. It was to an agent from Toorak. His average price sale has risen over the period from $1.85m to $4.9m in 2024, which compares to an average of $2.89m across the top 50 NSW agents on the CommBank-sponsored list. Phillips also ranks among the quickest agents, selling homes in an average of 21 days, although this rose from 19 days in the prior year. The son of an acclaimed car salesman credits his success to 'good relationships and good processes'. Of course sales success leads to continued momentum. Significantly, while he represents vendors like all agents, Phillips displays an acute sense of buyer placement as soon as a listing comes into view, and then from the innovative photo shoot open house. The ongoing momentum, and self promotion amid the many neighbourhoods of his sales success, ensures he is top of mind when prospective vendors are making their decision. Recent analysis of 35,000 active listing agents across the residential market in 2024 suggests that the top 20 per cent of agents listed more than 60 per cent of all properties. Phillips's nearest challenger, Michael Clarke, had an $871m tally from 221 sales across the harbour at Manly. While they don't compete, the tally reflects a slight narrowing in the gap to $91m for Clarke. Clarke had $814m in 202 sales in 2023 when the gap was $159m. Clarke was also a new entrant in 2014 with 97 sales, yielding a $139m tally. Entry on to the REB list published by Momentum Media is voluntary, and self nominating, with the data overseen by Agile Market Intelligence. Numerous agents have ceased declaring their sales tally, since the reveal will show that they are way behind their perceived rivals. The 45-year-old Phillips wakes weekdays at 4am, has a hot bath, manifests, and trains on gym equipment, before grabbing a coffee and getting to the office by 6am. 'Getting up early gives me two hours where I'm not bothered to plan the day because by 6.30am my phone is ringing,' he recently told the podcast. He's not had a weekday client lunch for a decade. Describing the current market as 'challenging', Phillips notes 'volumes are down, sales are down and agents are off'. 'There's stress out there,' he says.
Khaleej Times
19 hours ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
When the ideal isn't real: What's cognitive dissonance and how to tackle it?
Amara* had always associated success with stability – the kind rooted in a familiar neighbourhood and a fulfilling career, all within the close-knit community she grew up in. As the daughter of Caribbean immigrants who built a modest, middle-class life in the US, she was raised to believe that education was the surest path to that success. So with her parents' support, she earned degrees from Stanford University and the University of Michigan, and seemed firmly on track to create the life she had long envisioned for herself. But now, seven years into her expat journey in Qatar, her reality looks very different. 'I really figured that by this age I would be living in a nice gated community in the US, balancing raising my kids with a fulfilling career at a multinational company, surrounded by the friends and family that I grew up with,' said Amara, 38. 'I never dreamed of living so far away from home, and being just a stay-at-home mum.' Her move to Doha in 2018 to be with her husband marked a detour that, over time, began to feel like a derailment. 'For my first job in Qatar, I opted to take what felt like a step backwards in order to move my marriage and my family forward. Looking back, I think that this step moved me further away from achieving my imagined reality than I could have thought,' she reflected. A mismatch Amara's experience is far from unique. According to Vinita Mane, a CDA-licensed therapist and faculty leader at Westford University College in Sharjah, 'Cognitive dissonance, in this context, occurs when there's a mismatch between the ideal life one envisioned and the reality of daily struggles, lack of employment or job insecurity, and multitasking between roles that may not align with one's skills or specialisation.' This inner tension can have far-reaching effects. 'It can cause emotional distress, strained relationships, and sometimes the development of maladaptive behaviours or coping mechanisms,' Mane explained. For Amara, the dissonance became most palpable after the birth of her second child. 'I knew that going back to work at the time wasn't going to be my reality. And from there I watched my unemployment gap widen and widen,' she said. 'Now, with three kids, I feel less and less confident that I will be able to seamlessly re-enter the workforce and do the things I once wanted to do professionally.' Distance from home and a lack of support system only magnified Amara's feelings of dissonance. 'I believe that having community that you can lean on for help and that you can be vulnerable with in times of challenge are so important,' she said. 'Now I am in a place that can feel very lonely. Folks come and go frequently so it can feel emotionally draining to invest in relationships only to see them end abruptly and unexpectedly.' Expatriates like Amara, whether in the Gulf or elsewhere, arrive with many expectations. They then face difficult choices: to assimilate, integrate, or separate from the dominant culture. 'One of humanity's greatest strengths is adaptability. We possess the ability to learn, evolve, and integrate into new environments. Those who embrace change with openness and curiosity are more likely to manage dissonance effectively,' Mane explained. 'One's emotional and psychological well-being – and even physical health – can be directly impacted by the inability to adapt, especially when individuals cling too tightly to their original expectations instead of adjusting to their current reality.' For a long time, Amara experienced what she described as a persistent, heavy emotional state marked by deep sadness. This stemmed from unmet expectations and the loss of the life she had once envisioned – one that included a career, financial autonomy, and a rooted sense of home. Seeking help Through therapy, she began to process that grief, giving herself permission to feel disappointment while working to reshape her goals within her current reality. Amara has learned that acknowledgment is key. 'I've worked hard not to brush away my feelings but to name them, to understand what is driving them and to affirm that not having been able to build that life that I wanted does not make me less valuable or less competent or less worthy of love and appreciation and admiration.' Therapy has encouraged her to re-frame success and find new meaning. 'I've been able to dig deep to identify my core values and how my prior goals aligned with them. Moving forward, I'm working on creating new goals based on those core values, but within my current context.' In addition to this type of work, Mane recommends cognitive restructuring: a therapeutic technique that challenges negative or irrational thought patterns and helps to develop a growth mindset. 'A psychologist can guide you through this journey, helping you better understand your emotions, build resilience, and develop healthier ways of thinking.' Today, Amara's expat experience is deeply intentional. 'Cultivating gratitude and grace are things that have taken me a long way in managing the discomfort that comes along with the dissonance. 'As I have begun to re-frame and redefine my goals, my expat experience has improved. I am able to see so much value in it and to have a lot of gratitude in it while still holding space for the fact that there are some aspects of it that I do not like.' She added, 'My goal is not to erase the dissonance but to claim it, and keep on re-envisioning my life day after day." Qatar
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Turn LinkedIn Critics Into Your Biggest Personal Brand Growth Asset
Some people seem to have nothing better to do than add salty comments and share their bad vibes. Trolls are everywhere online. But rather than lose sleep over losers who probably aren't making money or impact, you can use their words to build your success. Your next viral post might come from someone who disagrees with you. And while everyone else hides from challenging comments or gets defensive, the smartest creators on LinkedIn know that critics create the kind of engagement the algorithm loves. They spark discussions that make your content impossible to ignore. Every time someone challenges your ideas, they're handing you an opportunity. Your response shows your expertise better than any polished post ever could. On your way to the top, you're going to ruffle a few feathers. When you show up in your full power, people can't always handle it. It makes them uncomfortable. But this isn't about you, it's about them. Critics are inevitable at some stage of online fame. Your dream clients are watching how you handle pushback. They're deciding whether you're someone worth following based on how you expertly handle disagreement. Treat every critic as a collaborator in disguise. Delete that defensive response. You don't have anything to prove and you don't owe anyone an explanation. When someone questions your methods or disagrees with your approach, they've created a teaching moment for everyone watching. Thank them genuinely for sharing their perspective. Use their comment as a springboard to dive deeper into the point. Your audience learns more from watching you handle objections. Flip the script. Instead of defending, expand. Someone says your strategy won't work for small businesses? Perfect. Now you get to break down exactly how to adapt it for different company sizes. They claim your approach is outdated? Cool. Share the recent data that supports your methods. Every challenge becomes a chance to teach something new while demonstrating your depth of knowledge. Your critics are your best content strategists. They tell you exactly what your audience struggles to understand or accept about your expertise. See past the emotion to pragmatism. There's something in there to unpack. Keep a log of every challenging comment you receive. Their objections show the exact gaps between what you know and what your market believes. That gap is where your most valuable content lives. When someone questions your post about delegation, they're revealing a pain point shared by hundreds of silent readers. Turn that objection into next week's post. Address the concern head-on with a detailed breakdown. Your critic just helped you create content that speaks directly to hidden doubts in your audience's minds. They've done your market research for free. Your composure under pressure builds trust. It's an easy win. When emotions run high in your comments section, your calm response stands out. Address the valid points in any criticism first. This shows intellectual honesty that your audience respects. Correct any misinformation with specific examples or data. Let go of the need to be right. Focus on being helpful. Keep your responses shorter than your critic's comment. This subtle power move shows confidence without aggression. Use their first name. Reference specific parts of their argument to show you've read carefully. End with a question to show you're not afraid. Turn potential conflicts into productive conversations that benefit everyone reading. LinkedIn's algorithm rewards posts with sustained discussion, and your thoughtful responses to critics keep conversations going longer. Your supporters will contribute too. This engagement is gold. The increase in comments over a longer period of time signals to LinkedIn that your content sparks genuine interest. It signals people can't stop talking about your work. Stop seeing negative comments as problems to solve. See them as algorithm fuel. Each response you write creates another notification, another reason for people to return to your post. The longer the discussion continues, the more LinkedIn shows your content to new audiences. Your most challenging commenter might bring in your next thousand followers. Private message your thoughtful critics after the public discussion ends. Thank them for pushing your thinking. Share additional resources that address their concerns. This unexpected move transforms potential enemies into allies. Some of my best LinkedIn relationships started as people who disagreed with my posts. Critics aren't always bad people. They might end up being fans. They've seen how you handle pressure. They've watched you respond with grace and expertise. When they share your future content, their endorsement carries extra weight because everyone knows they don't agree easily. Converted critic to credible advocate in a few simple steps. Critics are LinkedIn growth accelerators in disguise. Every challenging comment creates an opportunity to demonstrate expertise, generate algorithm-boosting engagement, and build deeper relationships with your audience. Your response to criticism shows your true professional character. Don't bother deleting difficult comments. You're better than that. The next time someone challenges your ideas, smile. They picked a fight with the wrong person, and they're about to see why.
Entrepreneur
a day ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Why Mindset Still Matters
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Analyse the way the most successful people in the world think, and you'll find a commonality: most of them will have a mindset which lends itself to reaching their goals, and almost all of them will show a high degree of resilience. We are all born with the ability to reach our full potential; there are, of course, external factors which can impact this such as our socioeconomic status, belonging to a marginalised demographic, or access to education. But while these external factors may be unchangeable, what we can influence is our level of resilience and our way of thinking – also known as our mindset. Adopting a growth mindset Whatever our goals, whether focused on becoming a world-class entrepreneur, a campaigner who makes a tangible positive change to the world, or perhaps an expert scholar in a particular subject, we all have aspirations in life. However, the unique lens through which each individual views the world undoubtedly impacts how successfully we can work towards those goals. Subsequently researched by many academics, it was Professor Carol Dweck who first proposed the idea of two distinct types of mindset: fixed and growth. A person with a fixed mindset may avoid taking on a challenge for fear of making mistakes and may see success as a result of innate ability – believing you cannot alter your intelligence levels. However, those with a growth mindset view setbacks as an opportunity to learn something new, and believe you can become better at anything in life given enough practice and effort. It is perhaps unsurprising that those with a growth mindset are more likely to achieve their goals and reach the top of their game – achieving their full potential by putting in plenty of hard work and being undeterred by thoughts of not being 'clever enough'. But there's good news for those who may currently have more of a fixed mindset and see this as a barrier in the way of reaching their goals: mindsets can (and should) be altered through life, and hard work can see us becoming less fixed in our outlook. Expert psychiatrist Dr Jacob Towery states: "The good news is mindsets are highly changeable, and if you are willing to learn the technology of changing your mindset and defeating your distorted thoughts, you can have significantly more happiness." Several studies have shown that intervention, mentoring and exposure to others (such as teachers) with a growth mindset can shift people's perspectives in a positive direction. One such piece of research was undertaken by Professor Dweck and her colleagues as part of their National Study of Learning Mindsets. A sample of 12,000 ninth-grade students were analysed as they made the transition to high school, with a proportion taking part in interventions designed to counter the belief that intelligence is fixed and mistakes pm indicate a lack of ability. The students in this group reported a reduction in fixed mindset beliefs, and demonstrated an increase in both their GPA and enrolment in advanced maths courses. As part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (OECD), random samples of students were surveyed in 74 different countries, and it was found that growth mindset was 'significantly and positively associated' with test scores in all but two nations. Resilience: a key requirement A crucial part of an individual's mindset is their approach to challenges in life, otherwise known as resilience. There are very few people who will go through life without encountering any challenges: whether in their education, their profession or their personal life. And our responses to these hurdles absolutely define how well we can overcome them and achieve despite – or perhaps because of – them. Someone struggling with resilience may take one of a number of different options when faced with a challenge: giving up, feeling hopeless, or even turning to unhelpful coping mechanisms. Those who have a high level of resilience will still encounter the challenge, but their perspective will see them seeking ways to learn from the experience, finding ways to overcome the issue, and remaining hopeful that there is a way forward. There's a famous saying: 'this too will pass' which perhaps best encapsulates the way a highly-resilient person will approach a challenge in life. They will realise its temporary nature, and do everything within their power to work through it. As with mindset, there are numerous studies which showcase the positive impact of resilience upon attainment. One such piece of research (Frederickson), analysed undergraduates' positive emotions and ego-resilience (their ability to adapt and flexibly manage their own emotional impulses in situations), showed them a video designed to induce positive emotions, and then asked them to list their personal goals for the next four weeks. At the end of that time, the results showed that ego-resilience could at least partially explain the link between positive emotions and eudaimonic wellbeing – a focus on living a meaningful life through personal growth and a sense of purpose. Thankfully, while some people are naturally more resilient than others, it's another life skill which can be learned and developed. This has been recognised by many corporations, as well as the US Army, which rolled out a Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) programme for more than 900,000 soldiers. CSF consists of three components: a test for psychological fitness, self-improvement courses, and Master Resilience Training (MRT) for drill sergeants. The findings indicated a clear improvement in 'resilience and psychological health' as a result of MRT. Reaching your goals There are some barriers to our life goals which cannot be broken down or eradicated; these barriers are defined by external factors and are not within our power to change. But there are equally many factors in reaching our full potential which are resolutely within our power to alter: and two of the biggest are mindset and resilience. Repeated studies and a wealth of anecdotal evidence shows that mindset and resilience have a huge impact on achievement, and that both of these factors can absolutely be worked upon. In the same way that (if they have a growth mindset), children can learn to read, write and count by repeated practice, so too can we learn how to become more resilient when we face challenges in life, and so too can we empower ourselves to believe we can reach our full potential. This is the very reason why I launched the London Organisation of Skills Development and take pride in helping others develop a growth mindset. Ultimately, our goals are within our grasp, but it's up to us to each put in the hard work in order to embed within ourselves qualities like resilience which will see us reaching them.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Oasis Conference hopes to teach live lessons using power of sports
Sports can teach so much, and that's the goal of the upcoming Oasis Conference. It's life lessons off the field or court that can lead to progress, teamwork and success. Oasis is part of Orange Arrow, a non-profit operating in Pittsburgh for more than a decade. The goal is to show children paths to success on and off the field. Advertisement Orange Arrow founder Shawn Robinson decided to expand these lessons to adults in hopes of forging conversations, relationships and collaboration. 'I think we need to cast as wide a net as we can and try to touch as many people as we can to help make our collective world a better place,' said Steelers Media Relations Director Burt Lauten. 'The great thing is that we teach and educate these young student athletes to do it the right way, to not just be able to tell it in your own words, but do it the right way, and make sure that it's understanding and it's professional.' 'The great part about adults is we teach our children what we know, what we learn. So by Shawn going out and extending the web a little bit more to reach adults, I think it's a great idea,' said E.J. Borghetti from Pitt's Athletic Department." Lauten and Borghetti are among the speakers set for the Oasis Conference. The goal is to transform the sports community by fostering winning teams within organizations. Both know Robinson well from his time as a Pitt football player. Advertisement 'The ball stops bouncing for everybody. Sean realized that he was an excellent player at Pitt, but then you have all this life ahead of you, and yet that very small time you have it as an athlete can impress ideals and lessons and values upon you that you will use for decades to come,' Borghetti said. 'You have the younger kids, the kids that are coming up that when the ball stops bouncing, as EJ said, they already have an understanding of what it means to be in the community, what it means to be a leader, what it means to empower others, what it means to be financially stable and everything,' Lauten added. The subject of Borghetti's and Lauten's panel is the power of storytelling, and what comes with it, both good and bad. 'Whether it's somebody that they may not know off the field or whatever it may be, once you tell that story, it's almost like their perception, even around the building, around their peers, around their teammates changes,' Lauten said. 'It could be something tragic that happened to them, that they use that as a sounding board to get through their own personal feelings.' Advertisement Both discussed local athletes like the Steelers' Cam Heyward. Through his foundation, Heyward House, he has shared stories of success and hope. His is just one of many stories like this. 'If we tell a story about a Pittsburgh Steeler that maybe some people don't know, an off-the-field type story, it's interesting. Then how many other players, staff or fans say, 'hey, I had somebody go through something similiar,'' Lauten said. Borghetti reflected on a conversation he had with former Pitt running back James Conner, when he was going through treatment for lymphoma. 'I remember having that conversation with James in the green room of the Ellen Show,' Borghetti reflected. 'We were talking, and I said, 'you know, I don't know how many football fans are going to be watching this today, but there's a lot of people who are going to be watching, and they may not know you now, but they're going to listen to your story, and somebody's going to be out there who's going through a time of adversity and struggle. They're going to hear how heroically you're handling all this, and they're going to get up and say, You know what, I'm going to try, I'm going to try again. I'm going to get myself up.'' Advertisement It's all part of a responsibility that we all have, not just to share these stories, but to really listen and learn from them. 'For the good of the athlete, for the good of the student, and for the good of the larger public sports, isn't just about numbers,' Borghetti said. 'It's about the human, their struggle, their pursuit of greatness and the excellence they achieve. I think people want to hear those stories. They want to be inspired.' There are many more well-known speakers set up for the Oasis Conference, including keynote speaker Jim Tressel, who was the head football coach at Ohio State University for years. To get tickets to the conference, click here. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
