Put yourself out there, and you just might meet your heroes

Okay, I have to tell you about the amazing experience I had last week.

Poor me, I had the daunting task of having to travel to sunny Miami, Florida, for the Gary Vaynerchuk Agent 2021 event held at none other than Hard Rock stadium, home of my beloved Miami Dolphins (I mean, someone’s gotta do it, right?).

meet your heroes — Gary Vaynerchuk takes the field

Catching up with Gary V

Agent 2021 is a one-day conference that educates agents and owners in four industries—real estate, auto, insurance and travel—on how to use innovation to grow their business, which is something I’m very interested in.

Besides connecting and masterminding with the best agents around the world (which is worth the investment alone), I attend these events to learn, share, speak about, and work on becoming a better leader, manager, coach, and real estate agent.

Every event I attend is great in its own way, but this one was easily the best I’ve attended in years. For those of you who have known me for some time now, you know I’ve been a huge fan of Gary Vaynerchuk for years. I think I first met him in 2006 and over the years have been fortunate enough to be able to speak to him often, visit his office, and even appear in his last book #AskGaryVee (audio version is the way to go!).

So, of course I was thrilled to have a chance to see Gary, catch up, and have dinner. It made the event even more special.

Just palling around with Gary V, no big deal

Reaching out makes a difference

But wait there’s more!

Several weeks back, I stumbled upon a podcast I really enjoyed and quickly found myself listening to any chance I got. The creator and host is entrepreneur Andy Frisella.

I liked his story, style, and message so much I thought I would reach out via email to him with some gratitude. I didn’t expect to hear back, but I did. That says a lot to me when a busy exec makes time to reply and connect when there isn’t an obvious return for them.

Well it turns out he was one of the keynote speakers during Agent 2021, and before the event we were able to connect in person. The pics make it look like we’ve been best buds for years, and it felt that way to me, even though it was the first time I had met him in person. Again, says a lot about the guy.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to get out there, network with those in your field, and make the effort to connect with your heroes and mentors. I did, and as you can see, it worked out even better than expected!

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Jason Farris

Head YES man at FresYes.com

I grew up in Fresno. Relaxed in its calm breezes, listened with my dad to the crack of the bat at little league baseball games when I was a kid and now take my son to do the same at minor league games. I broadened my mind at its schools (I went to high school right here at San Joaquin Memorial, and to college at Fresno State!) I love that if I drive for two hours in one direction, I can be in the mountains. For two hours in another, luxuriating on a California beach. I can enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of San Francisco or Los Angeles, but still be able to come home to relaxation, calm, and quiet.

I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.

I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.

Fresno? I say FresYES

Catching up with Gary V

Reaching out makes a difference

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