Business

DearDoc founder Joe Brown on the importance of not giving up on the business journey

Published

3 years ago

September 16, 2021

While DearDoc founder Joe Brown was in high school, he unlocked his secret talent while at his part-time job: a knack for sales, first revealed after he nearly shattered the company’s sales record in his first day on the job.

“That was when I realized that this was something I wanted to do, and that I needed to go to college and make this happen,” he said. “And my dad, who had a career in sales, was really excited.”

Brown’s father invested countless hours in Brown’s development through high school and college, spending hours on the phone talking about sales strategies and entrepreneurship and encouraging his son any way he could. Brown said he often thinks about his father’s legacy as he continues to grow his company, which offers cloud-based software solutions to reinvent the way new patients meet their doctor.

“He passed away just a few months before I was set to graduate,” he said. “I think about all our conversations and the lessons he shared with me, and they definitely guided me as I founded DearDoc.”

Founded in 2018, DearDoc was built around a single mission: to provide patients and doctors with healthcare-focused, artificial intelligence-powered solutions to receive care and collaborate around patient needs. While the company didn’t have any investors when it first came on the scene, it has since grown to over 2,000 clients and a growing sales team always hungry for the next opportunity.

“We’ve definitely built something meaningful together, and I’m very grateful,” he said. “We’ve been able to innovate in our industry and overcome the challenges brought on by the pandemic, and that definitely wouldn’t have been possible without the entire DearDoc team.”

As Brown looks toward the future, he said he’s excited to continue expanding the DearDoc team and looks forward to the growth that will come about as a result.

“I think everything that happens, good or bad, is a chance to learn and do better,” Brown said. “Life is a continuous journey of learning and relearning. If the new challenges that life throws at you look like events trying to bring you down instead of an opportunity to grow and evolve, you need to develop your mindset. It’s impossible to fail at anything unless you give up.”

Business

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

Published

2 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.