"The only thing of which we should expect more is ourselves."
+1 805.300.2504 -+- curtis@clevercurtis.com
STORIES, NOTES & ANECDOTES FROM THE LIFE OF CLEVER CURTIS
TRUSTIMONIALS
TRUE STORY | "The Uniqueness Of Clever Curtis."
- Born in Richmond, Virginia
- Spent childhood summers on tobacco farms (Amelia & Nottaway, Virginia)
- Hooked my first fish at age 4 in a pond from a jon boat (he got away)
- Started bike-riding at age 5 (no training wheels)
- Started driving tractors & cars at age 5, go-karts at age 10
- First shot guns at age 7 (.22 bolt-action rifle, .22 nickel-plated revolver)
- Witnessed a tornado at age 8 (Chester, Virginia)
- Attended 3 elementary schools (Hopkins, Tussing, Harrowgate)
- Attended 3 middle schools (Carver, Providence, Falling Creek)
- Earned high school credits in summer school (History, Biology, Government)
- Despite failing 4 classes my Junior year of high school, I graduated on time
- Worked many jobs, had multiple careers (see work experience)
- Robbed at gunpoint outside a bowling alley at age 20
- Camped outside the Richmond (Virginia) Coliseum to buy Metallica tickets
- Rolled 19 strikes in a row in a sanctioned bowling match (298 game)
- Turned a car over on a wet, windy road (Chesterfield, Virginia)
- Jumped from a perfectly good airplane (at 14,500 feet)
- Have driven almost 1.5 million miles, plus another 1 million miles on simulators
- Credited in 7 animated Disney productions (5 Tinker Bells, 2 Planes)
- Knows sign language alphabet
- Been to both Disneyland/California Adventure & Disney World (Epcot, Magic Kingdom)
- Visited 25 U.S. states + Washington, D.C.
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QUOTE | "You're In A Good Mood About 92% Of The Time."
A friend since 1990, Chris R. once gave me the exact percentage of time in which I could be found in a good mood. Personally, I think he low-balled me. Others who know me might agree.
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TRUE STORY | "Meet Me In Malibu."
One Sunday morning about 10am, an Agent at Sotheby's International Realty in Brentwood (Los Angeles, CA) called me just as the green flag was about to drop on a NASCAR race. There was concern in his voice; he had an early afternoon appointment with a celebrity client, but he had locked his keys in his office.
The Brokerage manager at the time was temporary, and did not have keys to all of the offices. The office administrator was unavailable on the weekends. The office receptionist was with his Family at Disneyland. The only person available to assist the Agent was me.
Despite my electric car not being fully charged, I gathered my Daughter & headed to Malibu, about an hour away from my home (Thousand Oaks, CA), to drop off my office keys to the agent. He was elated, & he didn't stop thanking me.
The thought of denying the agent did not occur to me; what did occur to me was that he needed assistance, I was the only person who could help him, & if I didn't help him, I would not have been able to sleep that night, or to look him in the eyes again.
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PHILOSOPHY | "My Compensation Is Sometimes A New Relationship."
From a young age, I learned that the most important thing in life is helping people, especially those in need. I watched in fascination as my Grandmother quilted in a rectangle with her neighbors, then watched in humor as they stunk up the kitchen trimming and styling one another's hair. Neighbors could often be found lending a helping hand, getting help themselves, or sitting outside my Grandparents home, laughing and carrying on.
These memories are dear to me, and they remind me of the values I inherited at an early age. Everything I do is done with a sense of servitude, understanding that we are all here to help someone in whatever way we can. Commissions are the yield of effective relationship building and nurturing. I don't work for commissions; I work for my Clients.
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TRUE STORY | "I Only Look My Best When You Look Your Best."
While working as the marketing coordinator for the Brentwood Brokerage of Sotheby's International Realty (Los Angeles, CA), there was a cap on overtime. In other words, it was forbidden. Despite my best efforts to get everyone their marketing materials in a timely manner, some Fridays I would run short of time (I was serving 70+ agents simultaneously; some agents were more demanding of my attention than others).
For each listing, there were property photos and videos to process, flyers to create/print (2-sided; corporate layout on front, 'client detail' on reverse), copy to review/improve (proofing/editing listing descriptions was a regular requirement), website listings to activate (company website, custom listing website, MLS instance if on-market), social media blasts to create/post, e-marketing campaigns to launch/send, and open house sign riders to create/print (I specifically printed the riders on 11" X 17" paper and cut them for the Agents, to make the process as easy as possible).
I always went above and beyond what was expected of me to help the Agents at my Brokerage, and other offices as well. On several occasions, I stayed in the office two or three hours off the clock, without compensation, to make sure that Agents hosting open houses that weekend had all of the materials they needed to best represent their property, their clients, and themselves.
I knew I was the only person who could help them. I felt the need to do so, as I fully understood the impact my efforts had on their businesses. I was usually the last person to leave the office, but only when I knew everyone had what they needed for success. I always put myself in their shoes, and could not see my way to leave them in limbo.
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QUOTE | "You Know Curtis, You Are Harmless."
My Friend & co-worker, Kathy G. once told me that I was "harmless." At the time, I did not quite fully understand what she meant. I had only known her for a few months, and I had spent only a few hours of time with her in the sporadic moments we shared at work. During our conversations, we had polar opposite views on many topics, from pop-culture to NASCAR (she was a Matt Kensenth fan; "Earnhardt" runs through my veins). She only knew me as a down-to-earth Mama's boy, a 'rural gentleman'. In hindsight, I know exactly what she meant.
Her implication was that despite our opposite viewpoints, I never spoke over her. When we disagreed, it was a mutual agreement to disagree. The idea was that I can hear other People's thoughts and share their perspective, and when asked to do so, I can offer my opinion to others without forcing my will on them. Despite different perspectives, People can always find common ground on which to stand, provided there is understanding. I understand (and I am harmless).
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TRUE STORY | "A Bel-Air Beauty In WSJ MANSION"
As the marketing coordinator for the Brentwood Brokerage of Sotheby's International Realty (Los Angeles, CA), I assisted several prolific real estate Agents in listing and marketing some of the most desirable properties in Los Angeles, and on planet Earth. Each property was as unique as the personalities who owned them, and they all received adequate attention to appease their eccentricities.
One such personality was a lady who owned a mansion in Bel-Air. She lived out of state, and owned properties all over the world. An Agent in my brokerage had been wooing her, as he knew she wanted to sell her Bel-Air property. Though the home had fallen into a state of disrepair, as it had been unoccupied for years, it was still a magnificent estate on a large Bel-Air property.
The only way the Client would agree to list the home for sale was if it were to appear in the MANSION section of the The Wall Street Journal. At the behest of the pursuing Agent, I spent hours on the phone with her one evening (well beyond my scheduled work time), assembling a montage of old and new photos taken from the front of her home. As the home was in need of some maintenance, and as time was of the essence, I used Photoshop to clean moldings, remove wear, replace trim, and adjust any imperfections found in the photos.
Once compete, the photo was featured in the MANSION section of The Wall Street Journal, as desired by the Client. The Agent signed an exclusive listing agreement for $22 million, and immediately went into escrow with a Buyer for $18.5 million. I knew that my work was crucial in each initial step of this transaction: pleasing the Client, satisfying The Wall Street Journal, and securing the listing for the Agent.
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PHILOSOPHY | "The Most Effective Conservation Of Resources Is Proper Use."
On the Farm, they say, "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, Or do without." Clever problem solving is a daily task, and conserving resources is at an elevated premium. It can mean the difference in thriving and surviving. One must keep an open mind and be willing to learn new ideas and techniques on the job. I could do no better than Paul Harvey.
In learning to solve problems with computers, I discovered a new level of conserving resources. Before beginning to solve any problem, the ultimate solution must be envisioned. From there, the problem is worked backwards. In the computer environment, correctly identifying the correct program to use is vital from the start. Knowing the best place to begin means a quicker solution, saving time and money, our most precious of resources.
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TRUE STORY | ✭✭ "Highest Rated Marketing Coordinator" ✭✭
All of the Agents of Sotheby's International Realty corporate brokerages were given a survey to complete, to give their honest, anonymous opinion of what they thought of their Brokerage's marketing coordinator's level of support. I received the highest rating of any marketing coordinator in the region, and a special visit from an HR executive, who flew in from New York. (I had the 2nd highest survey scores across the board--across the company)
I truly understand quality customer service, quality support, and quality control. When asked, I always give my truthful, honest, educated opinion. I'm never too proud to say that more research must be done...and I will do it. I believe in good research, reliable resources, and accurate, dependable data on which to base important decisions.
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"And you know that it's true, That all the things that you do, Will come back to you in your sweet time"
--Steve Miller
CLEVER CURTIS -+- #SIMPLETRUTH
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