Business

ATMMachines.com Owner Justin Gilmore Attributes His Success to Disappointment

Published

4 years ago

December 9, 2020

Years ago, Justin Gilmore made the fateful decision to turn his life around from a future filled with struggle and resentment. Now, he’s reaping the rewards with a successful business, happy family life, and good personal health. None of it would have been possible without his strong resolve to make a success of his life and his courage to persevere despite the many stumbling blocks that were in his way. He’s the owner of ATMMachines.com, a company that provides cutting-edge ATM devices and online transaction processing to customers nationwide.

As a kid, Gilmore didn’t focus on his schoolwork as much as he should have and also developed a bad attitude, landing him in hot water. At 15, Justin was expelled from school, and he had to suddenly figure out a way to start fending for himself. This wasn’t exactly new territory for him, as he and his brother and sister had to start taking care of themselves at a young age since their mother worked two jobs to keep a roof over their heads.

After getting expelled in the first semester of the ninth grade, he had to face the disappointment of his mother and family. “My mother, who was a saint, was so disappointed that she had given up on me. She pretty much wrote me off, as far as having a successful future. This is what motivated me to become an entrepreneur in the first place. It made me realize where my life was going, and after that, I was determined to be successful,” he explains.

However, getting a business launched at 16 with no startup funds, and no skills or experience seemed like an impossibility. So Justin decided to start educating himself through business courses and self-help books in an effort to give himself every chance to succeed. He also got a real estate license when he turned 18, even though he ended up never having to use it.

At 17, Justin also started some side jobs in order to get an income. One was selling newspapers via eBay, and the other was “hucking pizzas,” as Gilmore describes it. That involved buying pizzas for cheap under the table from a local pizzeria in Atlanta and then driving around the city, pretending to be a pizza delivery boy with a canceled order. While that gig helped him earn a fairly steady income, it also taught him many valuable skills that he still uses as an entrepreneur today.

It’s been 14 years since Justin opened his business, and his life has changed dramatically in the meantime. He was able to achieve something that no one believed he could while also realizing his dream of being able to take care of his mother and his son.

He now promotes a strong message centered around never giving up and has expanded his company’s offerings to include online training to other potential entrepreneurs, as well. Gilmore feels that the ATM business is often overlooked when people are searching for a way to start making passive income, yet it’s also one of the best ways to do so. That’s why he’s been teaching others how the industry works.

Head over to Justin Gilmore’s Instagram page, @atmmachines_com, to learn more about his company, as well as their new online training program.

Business

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

Published

4 weeks 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.