Shawn Zigelstein, Royal LePage’s 2022 A.E. LePage REALTOR® of the Year award winner for Ontario, shares how his love for his community has shaped his successful career
As an agent or broker, inspiration can be found everywhere. But none is as important as the community you surround yourself with. Your peers, clients, and the community you serve play an integral role in your success, which is why it’s important to nourish those connections.
We spoke with Royal LePage broker Shawn Zigelstein, Royal LePage’s 2022 A.E. LePage REALTOR® of the Year winner for Ontario, to discuss how his passion for community building has influenced his growth.
Here’s our conversation:
What’s one piece of advice you would share with a fellow agent who is looking to build a successful career?
I come back to two things I have always done in my career to make sure that my business continues to grow and flourish. The first is to always be genuine with the people you work with and the people you work for. We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with, and that will always create a great business and client experience.
The second is to be consistent. It’s not always about how you do it, but how often and how specific you are in what you do. The more consistent you are, the easier it is to plan and grow your business. Take productivity tools for example. Any and every program is great, as long as it is being used to its fullest capacity! Whether it’s a pad of paper, a CRM, or an online Lead Generation program, you have to be consistent with your actions in order to see meaningful results.
How does your passion for community play into your lead generation strategy?
Our business is over 90% repeat and referral. We generate more leads by consistently reaching out to our clients and connecting with them, not only about their real estate needs, but with anything else they may need for their home or their community. We’ve built a tight-knit community, and although we leverage social media as a resource, we continue to strengthen the relationships we have by working with the great people we already know, as well as their friends, families and associates.
If you were chatting with an agent from a competing brand, what are the top three reasons you would give them about why you are with Royal LePage?
The most important aspect is the Royal LePage culture. There are so many different points I could touch on, from charity and genuine care for our communities, to networking and conferences. But none of these would be as impactful without the culture at Royal LePage.
We are one big family that extends not just to employees of the company, but to friends who care about the work we do and how we do it. It’s a culture of helping one another, no matter where you’re from. The company really believes in the CVP (client value proposition) “Helping you is what we do.®,” which is unparalleled in the real estate industry.
You’re a dedicated Royal LePage Shelter Foundation supporter. What inspires you to get involved?
We are so fortunate for everything we have. Being in a position where we can help people leave violent or abusive relationships and find a safer place to lay their head, means the world to us. Over the years, I have trekked three times (Iceland, Sahara and very recently Ecuador) for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation’s Challenge for Shelter Treks, volunteered at my local shelter during the holiday season, and run a Charity Golf Tournament for 10 years. A couple of years ago I became a Commission Donor, which is also a great way to give back, allowing me to donate on a more consistent basis rather than at specific times of the year only.
At Royal LePage, you have the opportunity to give back to the community you serve through the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. Learn more about the Shelter Foundation: royallepage.ca/shelter.
