Business

David Seruya: How to Prevent Burning Out When Running a Business?

Published

2 years ago

September 5, 2022

Burnout does not only deal with the body but also with one’s mind and emotions. It’s likely to occur when you’re faced with repeatedly stressful situations — which is common for business owners who have a lot of responsibilities on their shoulders.

Suffice to say that, as a business owner, burnout is something that should be prevented at all costs. After all, you not only have to take care of yourself but also the men and women that you have working under you.

Preventing Burnout

For David Seruya, who has started up several businesses, the stress of running a business is certainly not new. As a result, he’s cultivated his own methods of preventing burnout to ensure that he can continue to run his business smoothly:

5 Unique Ways to Preventing Burnout

Note that some of the methods listed below may or may not apply to you. Some may also work better for you than others. This is to be expected, as everyone has their own unique needs. So, take care when trying things out to find out what will work for you and your own circumstances:

1. Spend some downtime with family and friends

Family Outing

David Seruya’s preferred method of de-stressing and preventing burnout is spending time with his family. He stated that he’s always been a family man and that he’s long admired his father for being able to juggle his work and personal life so well over the years.

His goal is to become just like his dad in this case and, as such, has always reserved time to spend with his family during the weekends — going as far as to completely cut himself off from his work emails and messages during breaks! In this way, he’s able to relieve some of the stress from work and separate himself from the burden of his responsibilities for a time.

It’s not a completely foolproof solution for some, as it doesn’t necessarily take care of the underlying causes of stress, but this method should at least help you start fresh mentally and be more prepared to deal with whatever is causing you so much troubles.

2. Organize your work and root out inefficiencies

Organize Your Work Process

The previous method is actually closely related to this one. More specifically, you need to get yourself into a better state so that you can effectively get your work back on track.

Most of the time, the reason for stress for business leaders is a failure in their own processes. This can take many forms, from something as simple as disorganized documents or rowdy employees causing trouble. Whatever it is, David Seruya suggests that you take the time to dig the rotten root out. By doing so, you can stand stronger and grow more comfortably.

3. Prioritize the most important tasks

Another thing that might be causing your issues is the fact that you have been inundated with tons of tasks and too little time to take care of them all. If so, then the first thing you should do is establish which of these tasks is most important to you and work on them correspondingly.

David Seruya stated that, if there is really no time to accomplish all tasks, then this would be the time to accept the fact that you won’t be able to get them all done. At which point, you should begin to look for alternative solutions or alert the client/customer accordingly.

4. Delegate tasks

Delegating Tasks

One of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is not trusting their team enough to let them take on some heavier responsibilities. If that’s the case for you, then you need to seriously consider the people under your charge and whether or not you’re lack of trust is a result of their own failures or a failure to choose the right candidate for the job in the beginning.

Whatever the case may be, you need to figure out how to solve the problem so that you can have people at your disposal that you can rely on when things get rough.

5. Review your end goals

If what’s making you burn out is your state of mind, then a “refresh” in your thinking might help more than the other methods introduced thus far. For this, David Seruya suggests that you take a look at your end goal and the reward awaiting along with success. In this way, you can hopefully start to reinvigorate your spirits and focus on growing your business.

Review Your Goals

Business

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

Published

1 week 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.