We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marc Hernandez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Marc with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I’d say that my work ethic comes from my parents. My father was aa entrepreneur who started his own sheet-metal fabrication company when I was young and he worked very hard at what he did during the week and even on the weekends. My mother loved to work, and I even think she sought validation through it. She was always working around the house, in the yard, taking on part-time jobs, getting involved in the PTA and always doing something. She couldn’t think of being idle and I think that was instilled into, me and my sisters. My mother always pushed me to keep busy, whether it was cleaning the pool, doing yardwork, taking on a part-time jobs, and to learn the value of doing work and not giving up at it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a luxury real estate agent with Compass in Beverly Hills. My career has come full circle. Upon graduation from USC, I got my California real estate license and began my career as a commercial, real estate agent, representing owners and renters of high-rise office buildings. From there, I segued into luxury retail real estate management, going to work for South Coast Plaza, and The Offices of South Coast Plaza. From there, I wanted to get into the entertainment, business and represent talent, writers, and directors, so I secured a job in the mailroom at United Talent Agency in Beverly Hills. I eventually landed an amazing job as the National Sales Director for Fox Broadcasting Company and American Idol where I led a team of account executives and account managers. After a company re-organization, I received a severance package and decided it was time to work for myself and, based on my national, regional and local connections, luxury real estate made the most sense. After a two-year run with Douglas Elliman in Beverly Hills I made the decision to move to Compass in Beverly Hills and I’m glad I did so. Moving to Compass has given me the opportunity to work under the amazing leadership of Robert Reffkin, our national sales manager team, the luxury division, and being a part of the Compass Sports and Entertainment Division. Of equal importance is the opportunity I have to work with over 30,000 agents nationally to help me provide service and value to my clients anywhere in the country.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Only three? There are so many. But if I had to boil it down to three qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey, I would say, kindness, communication, and persistence. I believe that if you’re kind to people and show them that you’re interested in them, and what they have to say, they will reciprocate and be open to working with you. Communication and how you convey thoughts, ideas and vision, is particularly important in business, Sales in particular. With regard to my journey and everything I’ve ever done or achieved, persistence has always been a big factor. I believe many people give up too easily, and that one needs to constantly be figuring out how to approach the target and the objective in whatever the objective is. I also believe that it’s very important, when doing business with someone, to start off by finding the human connection. I always try to start off by asking non-business questions, finding out what the person is going through at that time, finding something to laugh at together, and relating to one another before getting into the business aspect of the conversation.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
I’m what I call a “hyper connector.” I want to know everyone and I want everyone to know me. I think I’m a little bit obsessed with it. I’m constantly showing up to Compass related meetings, out of market events, retreats, national Zoom calls and doing everything I can to touch as many people as I can. At the end of the day, One of my life goals is to make people feel good about themselves and their lives on a mass scale and I’m constantly thinking about how to do that. There are over 30,000 agents within the Compass organization, which is a good thing for someone like myself who wants to be able to help real estate clients anywhere in the country or even the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/marc-hernandez/
- Instagram: @themarchernandez
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themarchernandez/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarchernandez/
- Other: https://sunsetstripcondos.com
Image Credits
Photo by Sergio Garcia Photo by Phillip Macias
