10 Questions With John Anderson
Managing Broker, Vancouver Region
In this 10 Questions interview with John Anderson, Macdonald Realty Managing Broker – Vancouver Region, find out how he first started working in real estate, his best advice for aspiring agents, and some unexpected places in Europe where he’s pitched a tent.
How did you get into the real estate industry? While working as an engineer I started as a part time assistant in 2012 to my wife who is an agent at Macdonald Realty and then transitioned into full time real estate as my passion for it grew. The challenges, the scope, the constant change, and the architecture of buildings all piqued my curiosity. I initially focused on the downtown Vancouver market, extensively touring nearly every building and learning as much as possible in order to best serve clients. A top agent in the office then, Bud Lockhart, had toured over 10,000 homes and that spurred me into action to try and catch up to gain market knowledge as a new agent!
What led to you to become a managing broker? From a young age, I have always enjoyed helping others and adopting a servant leadership approach. It’s fulfilling to be able to give back based on what I have learned from mentors, agents, and managers.
What is one thing you wish you knew when you first got into real estate? Don’t focus on the outcome, focus on giving value! When you are completely present and genuinely serving the needs of your client, things will work out in the end. Even if a particular deal doesn’t go through, you will have fostered a genuine relationship built on trust. If instead the mindset is just on getting that commission cheque it can impact how you interact and advise, so it’s best to not focus on the outcome but focus on giving value step by step as partners and trusting the process.
What is your advice to someone who wants to become an agent? Carefully consider the deeper reasons you would like to become an agent, ask others to share their experiences, and be prepared that it’s common to take some time to get going.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received (related to real estate industry)? Be extremely proactive and always put your clients’ interests first as if they were your best friend.
Why do you enjoy working in the real estate industry? The people, the excitement, and the constant change.
What is your favorite thing about working at Macdonald Realty? The extremely collaborative culture that has been fostered. Everyone is eager to help each other and meaningful friendships develop!
What is a fun fact about yourself? During a summer break while at UBC I backpacked in Europe with 3 friends for 100 days. Wet pitched a tent just about anywhere one can imagine from beaches to train stations to even inside a hostel once in Belgium when they had no rooms left and we arrived late at night (other travelers were very surprised to say the least waking up and seeing a tent inside the next morning!). Unexpected places offer unique experiences such as biking through the small port town of Dingle in southwest Ireland along the peninsula and witnessing birds effortlessly taking advantage of updrafts and soaring around the cliffs for fun.
What is your favorite quote? Have an abundance mentality – Stephen Covey. Best known for his influential self-help book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, the author discusses the mindset of abundance as opposed to scarcity, emphasizing the importance of positive thinking as a key factor in personal and professional success. Recognizing this shifts the focus away from believing that the real estate industry is too competitive and directs energy toward meeting more people and providing value to them. Socialize, volunteer, host open houses, and join groups or clubs you have interest in are some ways to meet new people and grow your network.
What is a book that everyone should read? The Go-Giver by Bob Burg. “Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first”. And “your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment”. Think about those quotes for a moment and ask yourself how you tend to interact with people both professionally and personally.
