Team Vibes: Achieving Goals & Creating an Impact
Before I started my career, a friend of mine warned me that real estate wasn’t the right path for me. They said the industry was competitive and stressful, and they didn’t think I was going to like it, let alone be good at it.
I am so glad they were wrong!
In spite of their advice, I started taking classes to get my license and attended info sessions hosted by various brokerages aimed at recruiting fresh talent. I accepted a position with a very large brokerage with a lovely office on Hudson Street in the West Village, and was excited to get started. 
Even though my path was already set, I watched brokerage presentations when I had the chance. I’m not sure why, for every pitch was always the same - the speakers would talk about how amazing their firm was while they made promises about the kind of money we could make at their company. But as I sat in one the one given by Cooper & Cooper, little did I know how much my life was about to change.
These guys were different. They handed out worksheets and essentially taught a “Real Estate in the Real World” 101 class, detailing some important things to know that we weren’t learning as a part of licensing. I ended up taking page after page of notes and thought: this firm is awesome! No pitches, no sleazy salesmanship - just honest, helpful advice for a group of students who don’t really know what they are getting into when they graduate. Even though I had already accepted a position at another firm I knew I had to set up a meeting.
I bet you’ve guessed that I changed courses and was brought on board at C&C. And, I have gotten to know those two, Jordan and Jeremy Cooper, over the course of my 16 year career with the company. As an associate, I appreciate their education, support, caring and advice. And, as a businesswoman I have learned that being helpful, sincere and “real” is a great way to do things.
At the time, the company had a tiny, simple office in Midtown outfitted with folding chairs and a mini fridge. This was not the beautiful office on Hudson Street that I had previously signed up for, but the “why” behind the creation of the company was so strong that I knew they were headed for a future I wanted to be a part of.
Even as a baby company with a small team, they had a strong culture and identity, one where honesty and transparency, responsiveness and humility was the norm. Their training was extensive and well thought out, and a strong mentorship program was in place. As a new salesperson I never felt alone, and the management team was always there to provide information, support or a bit of kindness on a rough day. C & C still operates this way which is why we have an abundance of RFCs or Raving Fan Clients and are known for providing excellent service in an extremely approachable way.
Forbes published an article in April of 2023 titled”15 Key Strategies to Ensure Team Alignment with Your Mission and Values”. Here are a few ways they highlight to engage your team and get them on the same page:
- Take the servant leadership approach
- Demonstrate your values daily
- Show staff that your values matter
- Lead by example to establish respect
- Ensure team goals reflect the company’s mission
- Listen deeply and create an open environment
- Help employees connect to company values
You are probably nodding in agreement, but how many companies have you been associated with that actually do business this way? Since the Harvard Business Review stated 77% of employees have experienced burnout, we have to assume that organizations are not concerned enough with the strategies connecting a company with their employees or with the strategies to ensure team alignment that are highlighted above.
By creating a company with a strong “WHY”, sharing that “WHY” openly and generously with everyone associated with the firm and actually honoring and embracing the core values we share as teammates (values like “Think and say Yes”, “Promote Team Unity” and “Always be Learning”) not only have the founders created a strong brand and identity, they have also created an environment where everyone is working towards a common goal - to build and uphold a reputation as a company that operates with honestly, integrity and with a spirit of exceptional service. And, by celebrating these values with our team on a regular basis we have created a company where everyone is compelled, encouraged and supported in their mission to thrive in a happy and fulfilled way.
We have come a long way from that tiny office with folding tables and chairs, and over the past 20 years, C&C has grown into a well regarded company with clientele from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Cravath, Google, Meta and many more. We help our clients relocate from all over the globe, help sellers navigate difficult markets and educate first time home buyers on how to get co-op approved. We have the best reviews of any real estate firm in NYC, and have now brokered over $1 billion in sales. And we still have the same core values as we did when we started.
And, I say “we” because it really is a team effort - we do favors for each other, cheer each other on, work on our business development plans together and lean on each other when we need guidance and support. We take our work very, very seriously, and we do it in a way that feels good to us and to our clients.
What if more companies operated like this? What would our world be like if, in addition to creating profit, organizations cared about their employees? What if they cared more about the impact they make on the world? If you are a team leader, what can you start doing today to bring your team together and operate in a better way?
Many other firms have called me asking for a meeting, promising they can help my career move to the next level. But there is no way they can recreate what I have experienced at C & C. And, every year my business has continued to grow in a way that is exciting and also feels really good. We are headed in a direction that I want to go, and I am so glad to be here.
Hey There!
