Michele di Sei: Systemize For Success In Real Estate
When Michele Di Sei of Marbella cracked
open a copy of Gary Keller’s The
Millionaire Real Estate Agent, he doubted Keller’s models and systems would
work in Spain. But now, four years later, Di Sei is part of the Keller Williams
family, he’s seen his business grow by five-fold, and he’s happier than he’s ever
been.
“My life, my business, the way that I see
life, I’m completely changed,” says Di Sei, who grew up in Italy but
now calls Southern Spain home. “I’m intentionally growing.”
Di Sei is proof that Keller
Williams’ systems and models work anywhere in the world. Scalability is
at the core of KW’s successful models and of an agent’s business. KW nurtures a
growth mindset in its agents, Di Sei says. It’s a culture like no other.
Pushing past
self-limiting beliefs
Di Sei started out in real estate in 2012, working for another outfit before branching out on his own. Then, he met KW Spain Regional Director Leonardo Cromstedt. Cromstedt told Di Sei about KW’s top-notch technology and training.
“He shared how you can build your own
business within the company,” Di Sei says. “That’s why I joined Keller
Williams. Being a part of KW gives you an advantage.”
At first, Di Sei had his share of
challenges. In his twenties he’d had a good job, but it wasn’t one he was
passionate about. So, he left Italy for London and started from scratch. Years
later, when he moved to Spain, he didn’t speak a word of Spanish. He worried
about how he would build a successful business in a foreign country where he
couldn’t speak the language. “I thought, no one’s going to do business with
me,” he says.
“My life, my business, the way that I see life, I’m completely changed.”
But he persevered. Action is what helped
him work though his self-limiting beliefs. “Everyone has fears, but
you can’t freeze in front of those fears,” he says. “You have to act.”
Di Sei linked up with a KW MAPS Coach in
Florida, committing to working together for a full year. In the beginning, Di
Sei thought he made the biggest mistake of his life. How could someone
working in the U.S. who didn’t know the ins and outs of how real estate works
in Spain help him grow his business, he thought. As his coaching sessions
continued, Di
Sei had a major breakthrough.
“I saw that the systems and models you
use here in the U.S. work everywhere in the world,” he says, “and for one reason
– people are people. We don’t sell property, we’re building relationships. The
systems and models, they work everywhere.”
A
universal model
Di Sei first dove in to KW’s lead
generation and economic models. Then he took to heart the organizational
and budget models. He learned how to block
his time, efficiently generate leads, and how to treat his endeavor as a
business and not a hobby. He embraced the systems and models, and eventually
they became habits, he says.
Soon after, Di Sei immersed himself in KW’s culture. It’s what keeps him at the company, he says, and especially Keller Williams Worldwide, the network of KW agents around the world, which continues to grow. KWW is currently in nearly 40 countries.
“KWW is so
welcoming,” Di Sei says. “They really make you feel like a part of
the family. That’s part of the culture. There’s a lot of support.”
Perhaps one of Di Sei’s fondest moments was three years ago when KW
agents from around the globe convened in Austin, Texas. They were supposed to
meet for KW’s annual Mega Camp, but the event was canceled on the heels of
Hurricane Harvey and its widespread destruction in Texas. Instead, Di Sei and
thousands of colleagues traveled to Houston to help hurricane victims during what
KW deemed ‘Mega Relief.’
“The systems and models you use here in the U.S. work everywhere in the world. And for one reason – people are people. We don’t sell property, we’re building relationships.”
Di Sei holds up his arm. “Three
years later, I’m still wearing the wristband. It felt good to help people,” he
says. “It’s not what you get
from Keller Williams,” he adds, “it’s what you become.”
Over the last four years, and with the help of KW, Di Sei has refined his goals. Now, he’s also an instructor and leads a team in Marbella. “I know what my mission and my vision are,” he says. He wants to serve as an example, and especially for young people, to show them that it’s doable to have a career you love and be successful at it.
“It’s possible to have a life by design
and not by default,” Di Sei says. “Whatever you want to do in life, you can. If
I was able to do this, anyone can.”
Lalaina Rabary