Business

5 Steps That Took Abdul Moneeb Ilyas From Rags To Riches

Published

5 years ago

May 1, 2020

What has made Ilyas an Internet sensation, however, hasn’t been his lavish lifestyle (although that’s certainly played a part). It has been his desire to educate his audiences on the importance of establishing good habits, learning from valuable resources, and most of all, reading.

He calls this intersection “edu-tainment,” giving his audiences just enough lifestyle footage that they feel entertained, without losing the educational aspect of his message.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Ilyas and reflect on his journey. How did this entrepreneur with hundreds of millions of views to his name go from rags to riches?

1. Take Risks At An Early Age

Ilyas had the hunger to be an entrepreneur ever since he was a young kid. His first step into the world of entrepreneurship was at Fifteen years old, when he began selling FIFA Ultimate Team Coins.

“I seen an opportunity as I was great trader, I used buy players cheap and sell them for a higher price, Then my friends used to want to buy coins from. This gave me the idea to sell on eBay.’ he said.

In a sense, this is a metaphor for how Ilyas executes his social media content today. He knows that in order to reach large audiences, he needs to give the people what they want and not give them what he wants.

2. Adopt A Lifestyle-Focused Mindset

Part of becoming successful, he said, is about figuring out the lifestyle you want to live and then working backwards. You have to reverse engineer where it is you want to end up, and what you can do in order to get there.

“I always knew whatever I ended up doing, it needed to involve traveling,” he said. “I enjoy meeting new people, interesting people, smart people. I like reading. I wanted a life with a bit of adventure. So I thought hard about what I could do that would allow me to do all of those things. I asked myself what my business would have to look like in order to accomplish those personally satisfying goals. And the personal brand you see today reflects exactly that.”

If you want to live your ideal lifestyle, you need to ask yourself what you can do that will manifest that lifestyle in the first place. From there get excited about that lifestyle and mentality and that passion will overflow into your work and success.

3. Develop A “Daily Brain Budget”

Ilyas, who frequently advocates for digital courses and mentors over a college education, believes there is no excuse for someone to not be reading and learning every single day. From autobiographies to self-help, celebrity stories and beyond, Lopez has built a following off of sharing stories and lessons from every industry that people can learn from.

His theory is that we should all have a “daily brain budget.” What he means by this is understanding how much input you need in order to continue a positive growth curve for yourself.

“If you aren’t prioritizing and setting aside time for your own development, you’re going to fall stagnant,” he said. “You have to make the time, and invest that time wisely, no differently than if you were to invest any amount of money in yourself.”

4. Test, Optimize, Repeat

He went on to explain that part of entrepreneurship is to always be doing and improving. You have to try things in order to know if they’re going to work or not. And, as his grandpa had told him, “Once is luck, twice is skill. I’ve done it more than once at this point, so now it’s a skill.”

5. Build A Personal Brand Around What You’re Best At

Ilyas has a personal brand recognized by millions around the world. But ask him how he’s built that for himself, and he won’t say self-promotion.

“People think it’s a show, but these are just the things I like to do. I built a personal brand around who I already am, instead of who I wanted people to see me as, and I think that’s where a lot of people go wrong. It has to be authentic, otherwise no one is going to get on board,” he said.

He went on to explain that while people can’t necessarily succeed by following his same formula, because each person succeeds in different ways, they can learn from the principles he shares and apply them accordingly.

After all, he said, “If I can do it, you can do it.”

Business

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke: A New Approach to Fine Real Estate

Published

4 days ago

December 16, 2024

Matthew Wiles

Photo credit: Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke.

Byline: Andi Stark

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke, a real estate platform operating across Hawaii, is rewriting how properties are bought and sold in the region. Unlike larger firms reliant on public listings and mass marketing, Private Listings’ strategy prioritizes personalization, privacy, and meticulous curation of ultra-high-end, off-market properties, including oceanfront estates, gated community residences, and architectural masterpieces.

Harold Clarke, founder of Private Listings, describes their method as one that rejects “cookie-cutter solutions in favor of understanding the nuances of both buyers and sellers.” This approach has resonated with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) seeking refined and discreet real estate transactions.

The Hawaiian real estate market remains a hub for global investors, with the median price for a single-family home in the state reaching $900,000 in 2024, according to the Hawaii Association of Realtors. Within this competitive landscape, Private Listings is building up to be a trusted name for properties that extend beyond luxury into generational investments.

Challenging the Industry Norms

Private Listings deliberately avoids the conventions of large-scale real estate firms. By focusing on fewer, higher-value properties, the company ensures that each transaction is treated with the same level of care and confidentiality.

Public listing platforms, while effective for broader markets, often expose sellers to unnecessary attention or unqualified inquiries. For Clarke, this model is misaligned with the needs of UHNWIs. “Privacy isn’t a luxury for our clients—it’s a necessity,” Clarke explains.

This philosophy has led Private Listings to handle some of Hawaii’s most significant real estate transactions, including off-market properties valued at over $40 million. Its success is not measured by the volume of listings but by the depth of trust built with clients, many of whom return for subsequent transactions.

Adapting to Changing Client Demands

While Private Listings maintains a foundation of traditional practices, the firm also recognizes the evolving needs of its clientele. The global real estate market is increasingly influenced by concerns over digital security, with a 15% rise in data breaches targeting high-net-worth individuals in the past three years, according to cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock.

To address these risks, Private Listings employs rigorous screening for potential buyers and uses secure platforms for communication and transactions. The firm’s “by invitation only” model ensures that clients remain protected from the pitfalls of public exposure. Clarke notes, “Our goal is not just to sell homes but to create an environment where clients feel safe and confident during every step of the process.”

The Human Element in Real Estate Transactions

Despite advancements in technology, Private Listings firmly believes that real estate transactions cannot be reduced to algorithms or automation. Unlike firms that depend heavily on online data aggregation, Private Listings emphasizes human connection and insight.

The company’s sales strategy integrates personalized client interactions, in-depth market analysis, and years of experience navigating Hawaii’s unique real estate ecosystem. Clarke’s background in managing family assets and his global perspective is significant in shaping this essence.

Future Directions for Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke

As Hawaii continues to attract global attention, Private Listings aims to expand its influence within the state while maintaining its core principles. The company is currently developing a new platform to streamline services for UHNWIs, blending their demand for discretion with seamless access to Hawaii’s finest off-market properties.

Additionally, Private Listings is strengthening its ties with local communities, recognizing that sustainable growth benefits both the company and the islands’ ecosystems.

Private Listings by Harold X. Clarke has set itself apart in Hawaii’s real estate scene by moving away from the typical mass-market approach. Through a mix of traditional values and modern sensibilities, the firm continues to define what it means to transact ultra-high-value properties with integrity and care.