Business

Plumber to CEO: Your Destiny isn’t Pre-Planned

Published

4 years ago

November 3, 2020

Chances are you’re not doing the career path you choose in elementary school. Additionally, you may have changed professions at least once already in your life. Financial Times suggests people plan for five careers in a lifetime. So, the truth is, your future isn’t pre-ordained.

Don’t Settle on Your First Choice

At 17, Darren Cabral started working as an apprentice plumber in Toronto’s housing projects. Hating the aspect of sitting behind a desk all day, he chose 80-hour weeks doing backbreaking labor in all weather conditions. By 20, Darren was already burned out.

His parents, immigrants that spent many years laboring, wouldn’t allow him to quit without trying to better his life. Darren went back to school and started working on his own business at the same time. Not years, but months after leaving the plumbing profession, he launched his first successful business—Toronto Skycam.

A year later, Darren sold his aerial imaging company to a larger tech firm.

Don’t Look Back

Darren Cabral didn’t lightly jump from one industry to another. He had over 3,000 hours invested in plumbing. He knew it would be a steady income and a pandemic-proof career. After all, people are always going to need plumbers. Had Darren stayed in that mindset, he would have never reached his true potential.

Don’t Stop Growing

Darren didn’t stop working on his future prospects when he started college. He kept pursuing successful business opportunities. Likewise, after selling Toronto Skycam, he didn’t stop building from his ideas.

The seasoned entrepreneur decided to move onto the digital marketing industry. He wasn’t qualified. But that wasn’t a barrier. He learned the ins and outs of social media advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

In 2016, the entrepreneur started Suits Social, a social media marketing agency that focuses on Facebook and Instagram advertising. Generating millions of dollars a month for their clients in a half dozen industries, helping them sell online, build their brand, and increase revenue in a very measurable way.

Don’t Give Up

Like working as a plumbing apprentice, he threw himself into learning and working, spending 60 to 70 hours a week in online marketing. The lack of experience and references hurt. Darren pursued every avenue of digital advertising, learning everything he could. Finally, after six months, he signed his first client.

At the end of the year, he made $18,000. Some people would give up at that point. Instead of throwing in the towel, Darren worked harder. After three years of not stopping, he’s a successful digital marketer. He’s the CEO of Suits Social and has days where he earns more in 24 hours than he did during his first year in the industry.

Don’t Let Education Stop You

If Darren Cabral let educational barriers get in the way of his goals, he wouldn’t be the CEO of a successful digital marketing agency. He taught himself everything he needed to know about digital marketing. Combined with his business education, Darren’s business, Suits Social, saw 2700% growth over three years.

His philosophy? Focus on results! Everything Suits Socal does revolves around running Facebook and Instagram ads as profitably as possible while providing measurable results across the board. His customers always know how their ads are performing and see results in realytime 24/7/365 no surprises. Don’t lock yourself into one mindset. Be like Darren, and never stop striving for more. There’s no reason you can’t go from sitting in a cubicle to the head seat in the boardroom.

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.