Brandon Doyle is a Minneapolis Realtor and an early adopter of aerial photography at Matterport 3-D. He’s the co-author Mindset, Methods & Metrics: Winning as a Modern Real Estate Agent. Doyle has immersed himself in the inner workings of real estate and came to Inman Connect New York to meet like-minds, and learn efficient ways to leverage new technology. Here’s what he had to say about his experience at this year’s Inman Connect Conference.
What was your favorite Inman Connect session, and why?
I’m a big fan of Simon Sinek, and his session did not disappoint. I was expecting him to do a variation on Start with Why, or a keynote related to his take on the real estate industry, but was pleasantly surprised with how well the casual interview style worked out. I imagine that he must not have had a very good experience with the first real estate agent he used and would have liked him to get into a deeper comparison of those experiences.
We’re not your typical real estate conference. How did this compare to others you’re used to?
Inman Connect is one of my favorite events of the year to attend because of the audience. There is a sense of comradery amongst like-minded individuals whom are willing to openly share their ideas. The themes chosen mirrored what we’re doing currently as a team, and I found others had the same struggles. It really gave me a sense that we have a good handle on where we’re going and that got me excited to really start the year strong. I am grateful that the staff at Inman is willing to seek out differing viewpoints and have given the attendees a voice. As a frequent attendee I feel that the leadership does a great job listening to the audience. The live problem-solving sessions were an interesting addition this year.
What was the most meaningful thing you took away from your time at Connect?
As an industry, we spend so much time worrying about disruption, when we should really be thinking about how we can leverage new technology in order to enhance the customer experience, and make us all more efficient at what we do best.
Which session surprised you the most?
I really enjoyed Amy Bohtinsky’s presentation on the American Dream, she did a great job of acknowledging issues surrounding homeownership, and providing some backstory without pointing fingers. It was not only educational but also left me with the feeling that we have the power to make a positive change in the industry and for the people we serve.
Besides the incredible speakers and informative sessions, what won you over?
Organic relationships form at Inman Connect when you least expect it, and this year was no different. It was great to catch up with friends I hadn’t seen in months, but was also able to really get to know a handful of new people and share our thoughts on where we see the industry going. I encourage anyone who attends an Inman Connect event in the future to find that person standing by themselves and strike up a conversation, or perhaps even invite a stranger out to lunch. The one on one interactions are worth far more than the content that is shared on stage.
Want to connect with Brandon? Find him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.