How Do I Become the Top 1% In My City?
Hello Redditors, I am a CRE broker from a relatively small city than most share in this group (roughly 250k population, but has a large manufacturing sector). I start in two months and really want to give it my all and do the best I can to make a name for myself in the city, and in the future surrounding cities.

I'm curious, how do I become the 1% in my area? What strategies have you used that you found to generate the most results? What should I focus on to build a great foundation/systems I can scale on moving forward?

My brokerage has 40 listings with 2 other brokers and current listings entail office, land, and industrial, with about half selling, and half leasing. 

Thanks again for everyone that shares in this channel! I've learned quite a lot just lurking and asking questions on other posts, keep up the great work!
[{"id": "eib9cye", "text": "Sell more than the other 99%", "replies": [{"id": "eib9hps", "text": "Step 1: Get License\n\nStep 2: ???\n\nStep 3: Sell more than the other 99%", "replies": [{"id": "eibb7oy", "text": "Step 4: Profit\n\nStep 5: Spend all profits on hookers &amp; blow.\n\nStep 6: Go Back to step 3", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "eibk3t7", "text": "r/restofthefuckingowl/", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eibbi22", "text": "Your ability to be the best in the market is somewhat out of your control. That\u2019s not meant to discourage you. You should really strive to be your best and not compare yourself too much to others. Not everyone is going to be Lebron James, if that makes sense. \n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eibg8in", "text": "Don\u2019t focus on being the top broker.  Focus on giving the best client service possible.  The rest will follow.", "replies": [{"id": "eibk2nl", "text": "This. Reputation is everything in real estate, particularly commercial. If you're the best to work with, people will want to work with you. \n\nIf you really want to secure a top mark, you could specialize in a particular industry over a few decades and try to become the defacto authority in that property type, but that's much easier said than done.", "replies": [{"id": "eibm87h", "text": "Wherever you go, your reputation gets there first. ", "replies": [{"id": "eibw9vf", "text": "Despite your username, I'm gonna upvote, so true.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "eibxhet", "text": "It\u2019s true.  I have bought and sold with the same agent for a long time.  I used to kind of be a pain in his ass but over the long time he has made at least $40k commission on me, and I\u2019m talking residential. \n\nWith commercial whenever I inquire about a space it\u2019s like \u201chey I saw such and such space with such address.  Is it still available? If so,can I put a (my biz) there?  Here is a link to my current location\u201d\n\nReply:  \u201cno\u201d with a big ass ego signature block. \n\nNever has someone been like hey I can help you find something!  Ever. ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eibi1q2", "text": "You need a database of enough buildings to sell or lease that it can theoretically provide you with enough sales, then you need encyclopedic knowledge of your market. Why should anyone let you sell their building if you don't know everything about it? What are buildings going for of a certain type? Can you underwrite their building, what about negotiations, legal and tax advisors to recommend? Zoning changes? Nearby developments being proposed? Who are the common buyers? Who makes decisions on zoning changes and what are the processes? What is the leasing market? What are cap rates?\n\nOnce you have a ton of experience in all that, you also will need a track record. Nobody will let you sell the biggest building in town without experience. So, you'll need to start small. Winning listings and building relationships over time, until your reputation, network and experience grows.\n\nGood news? It's doable with a ton of hard work. Bad news? There are no shortcuts and it will likely take a decade of working your way up and paying your dues to earn a good reputation in your area.", "replies": [{"id": "eibz4ey", "text": "This is a great answer, I've recently been going through a few CRE due dilligance books and love the detail they go into. Really agree that researching enough to be the one to know the most about a specific property is a strong skill I will be practicing", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eibosg6", "text": "Don't look to Reddit, haha.  Jesus.  ", "replies": [{"id": "eibyvn8", "text": "This comment made me laugh ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eibrqjv", "text": "I was a CRE runner for multiple TOP Brokers. I started as an Industrial Associate at Grubb &amp; Ellis, 2006...get in early, cold call on phone &amp; in person every tenant/owner in your area. Most key piece of advice is to Know Your Market!! I would get in before everyone and leave after everyone. \n\nI was known as the cold calling machine...Brokers would bring me to listing presentations as the young, hungry go-getter and if they didn't hire our team to fill their vacancies, than they would eventually lose all their tenants because I would call on them. Key word is Persistence. 2nd Keyword is timing...both market and CRE cycle. I busted my ass, ready to make $500k plus, then 2008 hit. Point if story, learn, take action and stay hungry. Now I'm on the Financing side and a personal CRE investor. Good Luck!! ", "replies": [{"id": "eibyuzw", "text": "That's awesome! cold calling has been an experience of mine with prior businesses, I love that you had the title \"machine\". Sounds like a strong point especially for new members has been working lead gen calls into a daily routine. ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "eibzwh0", "text": "Really curious to learn more about your goals and stats in your early days \n\nHow many calls?\nHow many doors knock? \nEtc\n\nThanks in advance ", "replies": [{"id": "eidmbp3", "text": "The short answer is as many as it took to make sure that I spoke with every Tenant and Bldg Owner in the Market. Some weeks 500+ calls and some weeks a lot less. The main point is Motion creates Emotion. The quicker that you learn your Market, the better...there are no shortcuts in CRE (Industrial, Office, Retail). Get a good CRM like REA and continue calling every 90 days once initial contact is made. Add a tidbit of Market IQ when calling. \n\nFor example, if I was calling a prospective Office Tenant, I would know what's leased in that Bldg and can speak to the history of that Landlord and where I'm seeing renewals (new carpet &amp; paint, new TI allowance, etc. Google Mike Lipsey...I learned a lot from his courses back when. ", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eibwlqg", "text": "Hustle. and out work your competition. In Brokerage (and RE in general) it almost always comes down to \u201cthe more you put in, the more you get out\u201d \n", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]