Nick Schlekeway

Isolation is not a Strategy

August 12, 2022

Isolation is not a strategy. Isolation is the slow path to success. Isolation is the long way, the inefficient way, the ineffective way and often the way to failure. While short periods of isolation can be important for reflection or to build a reservoir of fortitude, isolation will eventually lead to despair and to decay. Most people who proclaim the virtues of isolation have never been truly isolated for more than an hour or two, and they still checked their phone 7 times in the process. The walls we put up to keep out disappointment also keep out joy, keep out learning, keep out enlightenment.

Fall in Love with What You Do

June 27, 2022

Professional and personal development is a cornerstone of who I am. Through my twelve years in the real estate industry, I have been to hundreds of seminars and mastermind events both locally and across America, many of which included leaders of the most prolific brokerages in real estate as well

Don’t Guilt Your Children

April 14, 2022

When you plant a crop, you don’t begrudge the corn for its need of water. If you built a house, you wouldn’t hold it against the wood for its need of shaping. Surely, nobody humane would hold a puppy in contempt for its need to be trained. Why then, when

THE 20% IN REAL ESTATE SALES

May 19, 2021

// What activities should not be delegated? // This is for all you busy agents out there and maybe some of the not-so-busy ones, as well. This article is not a criticism of delegation or the urgent need many have to get help with the administrative burden that comes with

Authenticity: Make a Promise and Keep It

April 20, 2021

“Authenticity is not doing or saying what you want when you want. Children do that. Authenticity is not a constant appeal to your base nature and the lowest common denominator. Animals do that. It isn’t saying what you need to say to get a sale, regardless of your commitment to

I Hate Doing This

April 12, 2021

It is early in the afternoon on a Wednesday in January of the new year, 2021. I have been at this for about six hours and I am miserable. It is a testament to my sense of boredom and fatigue that I am taking a break to punch up this

Growing Pains

April 2, 2021

“A traitor, a coward, an elitist, a fool… the path is lonely, yet it leads to some astounding destinations and wonders that few are fortunate enough to behold. Be kind and gentle to others on their personal development journey, after all, how we treat them is simply a reflection of

Real Trends: Ten Lessons from Industry Giants

March 26, 2021

Take-Away & Action Items from Real Trends Gathering of Eagles So, there I was (couldn’t resist that opening) in a 360-degree glass room at the top of a high rise in downtown Denver, Colorado, surrounded by the best leaders and finest minds in residential real estate. This group had come from all over

This Is Your Story – Overcoming Threats to Your Legacy

March 26, 2021

An Article of Self Reflection and Finding Quiet Amidst the Noise of Social Media. How many of you remember your favorite storyteller? You know the one… the person you could sit and listen to for hours because they made your imagination light up, gave you peace, or filled your heart

“ARE YOU PLANNING TO FAIL?” – FRAMEWORK OF A BUSINESS PLAN

March 26, 2021

A good business plan should start with answering the question, “WHY?” That is, why are we doing this? Why am I (or we) starting this company and what do we hope to accomplish? What do we hope to give to our customers and clients? What is our unique value proposition? What

TEAM UP WITH AN INVESTOR: HOW A REALTOR CAN EXPAND BUSINESS WITH INVESTORS

March 26, 2021

How is representing investors in residential and small multifamily properties different from representing homebuyers? Investors have different goals than do the average homeowner. Typically, investors have specific criteria for which they are investing, which can be highly dependent upon the individual. However, investors are all similar in that they are seeking some

Amherst Madison 592 N Benjamin Lane Boise Idaho

Treasure Valley Office Space Construction Despite Vacancy

March 24, 2021

There are several dynamics, on both the Supply and Demand side, which lead to over-supply of office buildings, and the initiation of development projects in already-high vacancy environments. I have found that identifying the causes is much easier than brainstorming viable solutions. This dynamic has not been as prevalent in the Boise

IT’S THE INEQUALITY, STUPID

March 24, 2021

For a long while, I have suspected that the top agents in our industry collect a disproportionate amount of the sales and income available in the market. This was supported mostly by my own observations and qualitative evidence; along with National Association of Realtors Statistics such as: 84% of those who obtain a real estate

What is the Secret to Great Passion?

March 24, 2021

Passion… such a powerful word. We all desire passion. We all seek to live with gusto and passion in varying degrees, to varying extents and in various arenas. Often, we look at passionate people and think, “If only I could have the passion that they do… imagine the action I

Maintaining Strong Company Culture

March 22, 2021

Over the years you find yourself engrossed in certain topics of study, sometimes quite innocently and without intention, as it was with me and the subject of “culture”.

Are real estate agents scared of their own success?

March 22, 2021

The Most Productive Activities in Real Estate are the Ones That Require the Most Bravery Key Takeaways Many time-consuming tasks can be delegated. Some agents fear what lies at the end of a successfully leveraged business. Experienced real estate agents will tell you that they are far better at some activities in

Want success as a real estate agent? Ask the right questions

March 19, 2021

First and Foremost, We Should be Asking for the Business, Daily. I recently was in a two-day Council of Residential Specialists (CRS) seminar, taught by Gee Dunsten of Maryland, which Amherst Madison Legacy had brought to Boise, Idaho, for our agents as well as the Realtor community at large. The subject

Why I hate cubicles

March 19, 2021

Open Spaces Offer More Than Elbow Room Key Takeaways The millennial workforce is demanding open, collaborative work spaces. Advancements in wireless data transfer have assisted open design. Open-concept office design affords flexibility and greater space-utilization to users. I hate cubicles — and I am not alone. Across the country, one

How to reduce investment risk in raw land development

March 19, 2021

Getting Equity Investors on Board is Easier When You Know the Risks and How to Overcome Them. Key Takeaways Increase in time from initial investment to cash flows equals increase in risk. Risk mitigation planning involves market research and forward thinking. An equity investor’s risk in a real estate deal

3 ethical tests to guide you through real estate’s toughest dilemmas

March 19, 2021

What is Legal and What is Ethical are Often Not the Same. Key Takeaways Realtors are often faced with ethical dilemmas that have no ready-made answer or solution. The path to ethical decision making lies in asking yourself the proper questions. As Realtors and fiduciaries (and I firmly believe we should

So, you want to be unemployed? 7 tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

March 19, 2021

Lessons gained from starting my own brokerage Key Takeaways: You will be ripped off; the market will adapt; never stop improving. Fall in love with your customers and consider them clients for life. Sooner or later, your venture will require 100 percent of your attention to reach fruition. In October

The Greatness Gap

February 22, 2021

What separates the “Good” from the “Great?” As I stood on the sideline, waves of exhaustion spread over me. Every significant muscle group in my body was vibrating and seizing up in cramps, desperate to rid itself of the lactic acid which had been building through the last four hours

Fake It… And You Won’t Make It

February 22, 2021

Owning Your Identity To Unlock Your Potential Some lessons are never completely mastered. The practice of mastery, the process of learning the same lesson in different facets of life, is the point, it would seem. For me, one lesson which has continued to challenge me is recognizing that faith drives results,

Fake It… And You Won’t Make It

February 22, 2021

Maintaining Strong Company Culture

August 24, 2019

Over the years you find yourself engrossed in certain topics of study, sometimes quite innocently and without intention, as it was with me and the subject of “culture”.

The Greatness Gap

July 11, 2019

Fake It… And You Won’t Make It

July 1, 2019

How dressing for success is making these millennials’ real estate careers

April 19, 2018

Perception is reality: How do you want to be perceived? You hear it all the time, “The millennial generation is too casual,” or “These millennials don’t respect anything.” The common stereotype seems to be that my generation (I’m 32 years old and a millennial by definition) has no concern for professional appearance