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How Athletic Stardom Propelled Stephen Orso Into Early Business Success

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Stephen Orso operates from a unique perspective, one of athletic and business excellence. Growing up, Stephen was a baseball phenom, the next great knuckleballer, if you will. Stephen spent his entire youth training, competing, and excelling at all sports, but mainly at elite level baseball. Stephen’s unique talent secured him personal training sessions with knuckleball great RA Dickey as well as a spot on the University of Maryland’s Division 1 baseball team. In order to perfect such a unique and complicated pitch, as well as be recruited to an elite university for this talent, Stephen had to crack a notoriously complicated technique as well as outwork his competition. Stephen translated this propensity to outwork and out-succeed his competition when he entered the business world.

Not only did Stephen learn useful habits from his athletic career, he received massive amounts of wisdom about the value of hard work and how to succeed in the business world from his family. Stephen’s grandfather was a bricklayer in Bensonhurst Brooklyn; Stephen’s father worked two jobs to put himself through St. John’s University, graduated valedictorian, went on to Columbia business school and to become an incredibly successful banker. Stephen has both hard work and success in his bones. Stephen’s father facilitated many early business experiences for him, setting Stephen up to be a serial entrepreneur since he was 17 years old. At that young age, Stephen negotiated a deal with one of the largest sports memorabilia dealers in the world, JL Sports, for his personal sports memorabilia company. This was just another fix for Stephen’s addiction to success.

As Stephen got older, he entrenched himself more and more into the business world building on his skills and history. “I’ve always been committed to trying to optimize health. I could have never made it as far as I did in baseball without be very careful about what I put into my body,” Stephen commented. This is why Stephen’s investment portfolio includes many health conscious, as well as profit producing, companies. Stephen’s been a long-time investor in Barely Bread, an artisan quality bread company that is certified non-gmo, gluten-free, paleo. As an investor, Stephen was ahead of the curve with high quality yet health conscious food products. Stephen is also an investor in Flow Water, an 100% naturally alkaline spring water company, making him co-investors with Gwyneth Paltrow and Shawn Mendes. “Both of these companies make profits while helping people live healthier lives. That’s something I can agree with,” Stephen remarked when asked about his health conscious investments.

Stephen likes to diversify his portfolio, which is why he is also invested in film and television. He’s producing a new mini series focusing on fine dining, influential chefs, and unique food creations. This project has actually received some recent press in the London Daily Post. Despite being a newcomer to film and tv, Stephen’s experience investing in the food & beverage industry as well as his business acumen all but guarantees his future triumphs in the culinary & health film world. Stephen has never had a reason to doubt his ability to take on a new challenge, outwork others, and succeed with flying colors, so why would he stop now?

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Business

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

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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.

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