MARK WILLIS L E A D E R S H I P
J O U R N A L
|
V O L . I
|
W I N T E R
REAL ESTATE AGENTS... ARE YOU READY TO GENERATE MORE
WEALTH?
Former Keller Williams CEO, Mark Willis, discovers his new normal and shares the tools that helped him achieve a life of financial success and abundance.
clarity equals
power With clarity you will have the power to make the decisions you need to make
more on Page 06
13
KEY LEADERSHIP
principleS + Mark Willis’ 13 key leadership principles for business and life
more on Page 20
MARK WILLIS X FORBES
disrupting the disruption Mark Willis shares his thoughts on what his partnership with the Forbes School means for the future of virtual Real Estate education more on Page 12
2 0 2 0
“The most important work you do is the work you do on yourself.” MA R K
2
MARK WILLIS
|
WI L L I S
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
A LETTER FROM MARK I would like to start off by saying that if you are reading this, you are a real estate professional with passion, hopes, and dreams. You have been looking for new and creative ways to thrive during an unprecedented event in human history; an event that has affected everyone on planet earth. You are looking for ways to break through glass ceilings in your personal and professional life in efforts to acquire more wealth, abundance, and fulf illment. I, too, have been on a similar journey, a journey that has recently compelled me to give back through teaching and mentoring the agent leaders of tomorrow. Since I left my role as CEO of Keller Williams Realty in 2014, the company that I helped build f rom 700 agents to the number one real estate company in the world, I have been on a search for what’s really important in life. I also lost my wife of 35 years to an aggressive form of breast cancer in May of 2019, a tragic loss that has been extraordinarily difficult to move on f rom. This event, along with others over the past 6 years, has forced me to perceive life and business through a different lens - and as I began to discover my new normal, I realized that the best way to give back to the business community I love is through teaching. My goal with the Mark Willis Leadership Journal is to publish valuable content that helps you get everything you want out of your life and career. I am also excited to share that in late 2020, I partnered with Fo rbe s to bri n g a f fo rd a b l e , 1 0 0 % vi r tual e d ucati o n to real e state professionals. Our promise is to help the women and men of this industry earn more money while maximixing their potential and navigating their path to self-actualization. Within our courses we share the learnings, daily activities, and the tried-and-true self-leadership principles that I developed over the years to reach the very top of the real estate industry. For more information on my Forbes School courses, please visit: www.willisleadership.com. In my new role as a teacher I have found a reenergized sense of purpose, and my passion for real estate has been reborn! I truly hope you enjoy the journal, and I look forward to seeing all of you in the classroom! Sincerely,
Mark Willis
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
3
CONTACT US THE M ARK W IL L I S LEADE RSH IP J O UR N A L 3005 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite D-109, #155 Austin, TX. 78704
06 CLARITY equals POWER A very special selection from Marks Willis’ private blogs…
E: info@willisleadership.com W: www.willisleadership.com
EDITORIAL MARK W IL L IS
Publisher and Editor in Chief
AARO N CRAW F O R D Managing Editor
ELLI S WARE Editor
clarity equals power
ART DIRECTION & CREATIVE HEAT H E R P E SICH Art and Design Director
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Marc Baptiste, Photography
CONTRIBUTORS Disrupting the Disruption Cover Photo, Truong Nguyen; The Perfect Pairing, Chef Brian Streeter; 2021 Real Estate Market Outlook, Elyse Karin; Share Joy, Heather Pesich
LEAD GENERATION
CHALLENGE
SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIBE ONLINE
www.willisleadership.com
SUBSCRIBERS The Mark Willis Leadership Journal is a digital, quarterly development and lifestyle magazine for real estate professionals and entrepreneurs. Our mission is to inspire those who aspire.
11 THE ESSENTIALS
MARK WILLIS
|
THE HI-WI’s A daily lead generation strategy that guarantees results.
5 key reads
Five essential reads from the library of Mark Willis.
4
08
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
12
TABLE OF CONTENTS WHICH WOLF ARE YOU FEEDING?
DISRUPTING the DISRUPTION Mark Willis shares his thoughts on what his partnership with the Forbes School means for the future of virtual real estate education.
MARK WILLIS X FORBES
DISRUPTING THE DISRUPTION
A thought provoking Cherokee Proverb.
PAGE 10 PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS: THE AMWD
The goal setting and accountability tool created by Mark Willis to help him stay on track and reach his goals.
PAGE 16 EXPRESSIONS
Fine art and street art selections from our editor.
PAGE 24
KEY LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
22 VIBES Our editor’s top music pics for 2020.
20
THE PERFECT PAIRING
13 KEY LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
5 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING YOURSELF
Mark Willis’ 13 Key Leadership Principles for business and life.
Page 33
A hand selected food and wine pairing from Mark Willis.
PAGE 26
Vibes
Five daily questions to help you get the most out of each day.
SHARE JOY | 2020 GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM & HER
Last minute shopping blues? Check out our top picks for 2020.
PAGE 34
ROLE MODELS WE ARE LOOKING FOR ROLE MODELS!
30
If you are a top performer in your market, or a leader in your field, we want to hear from you.
2021 U.S. REAL ESTATE MARKET OUTLOOK
Send a brief note telling us why you should be featured to: info@willisleadership.com
World renowned astrologer, author, and historian Robert Hand, PhD. shares his thoughts on the 2021 housing market.
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
5
clarity equals
power MARK WILLIS
6
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
CLARITY EQUALS POWER
B
efore I was CEO of Keller Williams, and
what we truly want in life and without clarity, we
before I was a high net-worth individual
have no power over outcomes.
running multiple start-up companies, I
was an entrepreneur grinding every day toward a
So, starting out, my primary focus was on having
life full of abundance and wealth. As a young person
clarity around what I wanted and then conceiving
trying to make a name for myself in the real estate
a plan to get there. For me, I had identified owning
business, I faced many challenges. What I found
the largest real estate company in the marketplace
was in order to position myself for success,
as my key objective and after I had clarity on reaching
I needed clarity.
my objectives, I started working on achieving that goal – which I did. Little did I know that there was
To me, having clarity around what I wanted in
much more out there for me to explore!
life both personally and professionally was very powerful. Without clarity, the
Clarity also brought me the
pathway to success isn’t clear
insight that life is about
and it’s easy to fall off course.
serving others. You have to be willing to give, and give,
A lot of leaders muddy their Let me give you an example… Imagine yourself snorkeling during a storm. The ocean
they can’t see clearly. They
floor has been kicked up and
wonder why they haven’t
your visibility is greatly diminished by clouds of sand and
and give, and give, without
own waters and wonder why
expecting anything in return. If you do this faithfully, and serve people in a way that helps them get what they
reached the level of success
want, they will then serve
debris. The current is unpre-
they set out to reach. In truth,
dictable, and you can easily be
they fail to have clarity around
have to project clarity; you
pulled off track. The sound of
what they want in life and
have to communicate about
the water crashing is loud and distracting. Your heart rate is elevated, and your thinking
you. As a leader, you also
where you are going as if you
without clarity, they have no
are already there and drive
power over outcomes.
that vision into the hearts
is impaired, which affects your
and minds of the people you
breathing. You have lost power
serve. If you do this in a way
and it’s very easy to lose control.
that they can feel the contri-
As a leader, this is a bad place to be in. Now
bution they are making to the greater whole, you
imagine snorkeling on a warm, sunny day with
will have a loyal and productive team.
calm, clear waters and a slight breeze. Your visibility is crystal clear. You can see what you are there to
True leaders are wired to need an ongoing challenge.
see. You can touch what you are there to touch.
All that is needed to accept those challenges and
You can make decisions that enhance your
successfully solve problems is a vehicle that would
experiences and direct you toward fulf illment
provide clarity on how to pursue and achieve goals.
and success.
With clarity you will have the power and ability to make the decisions you need to make.
A lot of us muddy our own waters and wonder why we can’t see clearly. We wonder why we
You have to know what you want, and go after it.
haven’t reached the level of success we set out
Just be careful not to muddy your own waters.
to reach. In truth, we fail to have clarity around
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
7
HIGH INTENSITY WORK INTERVALS
THE “HI-WI’S” lead GENERATION CHALLENGE “Pair the Hi-Wi’s, or as I like to call it, the “High Why’s” challenge with my AMWD1 goal setting and accountability tool to increase your productivity and growth 10x+. Focus on the highest dollar productive activities with the highest returns. Knowing who you are + your vision + your goals = YOUR WHY” - Mark Willis You should know by now that your income is
Think of it as climbing three mountains every
“directly proportional to the size and quality of
day. You climb hard, rest, and repeat until you
your database.” This statement coined by agent
have reached your goal. With the HI-WI’s Lead
trainer and coach, DJ Berg, is the best way to
Generation Challenge, I want you to completely
sum up what your daily, weekly, monthly, and
isolate yourself and commit to doing three hours
yearly focus should be on: lead generation. By
of lead generation a day in this format. Work on
focusing heavily on lead generation and building
generating leads for 45 minutes straight, and
your database, you greatly increase your odds
then take a break and step away from it all for 15
of reaching a six to seven f igure income year
minutes. Repeat this 3x a day. You can go longer,
over year. At Mark Willis Leadership, we have a
but never shorter. During your off time, check
number of strategies and systems that we use
your texts and email, call your significant other,
to help us increase our productivity, but the one
take a walk, grab a snack; do whatever you need
that has shown the most positive results has
to do to disconnect from the task and keep your
been the HI-WI’s method…
energy positive and uplifted. After your short break, get back after it.
“Your income is directly proportional to the size and quality of your database.” Everybody has heard about HIIT training. For those that may not be familiar, HIIT 2 is a form of interval training, a cardiovascular exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense
What we have found through applying the HI-WI’s method to our daily activities is that the quality of our lead generation goes up dramatically, which, in-turn, helps us to build stronger databases. The stronger your database is, the more money you will make. It’s as simple as that.
anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery
Interested in being featured in the Mark Willis
periods. Basically, you take your heart rate and
Leadership Journal? Try the HI-WI’s method for a
excitement up, and then you bring it down.
month and let us know the results you achieved!
Then you push it back up again, then you bring it back down again. You expend high amounts of focused and intense effort in intervals and
Email info@willisleadership.com. Participants will be chosen to be featured in our next addition.
then take brief breaks to recover. This method is See page 16 for more information on the AMWD Source: Interval Training: How to Redesign Your Day to Amplify Your Impact. Forbes.com. Interval Training: How to Redesign Your Day to Amplify Your Impact. Forbes.com.
believed to increase muscular strength and size
1
quicker and more effectively than traditional
2
exercise. What we are proposing with the HI-WI’s method is similar, however, instead of the focus being on physical exercise, the focus is specif ically on daily lead generation.
8
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
the most important question you shoud be asking yourself is...
Who am I?
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
9
Two Wolves
CH ER OKEE
PR OVERB
This is one of our favorite stories... An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Source: “Cherokee Legend - Two Wolves”. Firstpeople.us.
10
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
5 KEY READS
01
“I am an avid reader and I attribute much of my success to the many books I have read. I am very careful about the information I take in. Negative
T HE M ILLIO N A IR E R E A L E STAT E AG E N T
information tends to weigh me down to where I am functioning on a lower vibrational frequency.
Think Big. Aim High. Act Bold. The Millionaire Real Estate Agent provides you with a plan to transform your real estate sales job into a million-dollar business. This book explores the models you need to put in place, and then shows you step by step how to implement them.
Positive, uplifting information raises me to new heights and fuels breakthrough thinking, successful decision making, and internal fulfillment.” – Mark Willis Below is a list of 5 of Mark’s top reads to help get you on the road to success.
02
T H I N K an d G ROW RI C H
03
In Think and Grow Rich, Hill draws on stories of Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and other millionaires of his generation to illustrate his principles. This book will teach you the secrets that could bring you a fortune. It will show you not only what to do, but how to do it.
Make success the habit of a lifetime. In Million Dollar Habits, bestselling author Robert Ringer has done it again. He has shattered the mold of tradition-bound ideas and designed a winning new philosophy to be used every day. Inside this get-toughwith-yourself guide, you’ll find the simple but vital habits that can change your outlook and lead to big results — personally, professionally, and financially.
T H E S U RRE N D E R E X PE RI ME N T
C R E AT IV E V IS UA LT IZ AT IO N
M ILLIO N DO LLA R HA B IT S
05
Michael A. Singer, author of The Untethered Soul, tells the extraordinary story of what happened when, after a deep spiritual awakening, he decided to let go of his personal preferences and simply let life call the shots.
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
Creative visualization is the art of using mental imagery and affirmation to produce positive changes in your life. Gawain’s clear writing style and vivid examples make Creative Visualization easy to read and apply to your personal needs and wants.
VOL. 1
- 5 KEY READS • LIST 1.0
04
11
12
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
the
DISRUPTING
DISRUPTION Mark Willis Partners with The Forbes School of Business & Technology to Help Real Estate Agents Build Their Wealth by Aaron Crawford
|
Cover Photo by Truong Nguyen
“The process of going into partnership with
entrepreneurs bucking the system and shifting
Forbes all started when I received a call from
paradigms.
Forbes School EVP, Kenny Thompson. Kenny shared his vision around disrupting the
There are innovators in the marketplace accom-
virtual education market with unique and
plishing more without degrees than anyone
powerful accredited experiences f rom the
ever thought possible. Students of all ages just
best of the best in their fields. He also shared
aren’t seeing the value in traditional education
Steve Forbes’ position on higher education,
anymore, as this archaic system hasn’t supported
which resonated with me completely. My
the growth and improvement of those it was
goal in life has always been to help as many
created to serve.
people as possible. It just feels like the right time to begin teaching again.” – Mark Willis
Recognizing this, Steve Forbes now offers his virtual education platform, The Forbes School of
Let’s face it, with the majority of the world being
Business and Technology – Knowledge Innovation
forced into virtual environments to learn, shop,
Center. Looking to be disruptive out of the gate,
communicate, and get work done, life as we know
one of the school’s first instructors is real estate
it has forever been altered. This is especially true
industry leader and innovator, Mark Willis. Willis
in business and education, as this unprecedented
was the President and CEO of Keller Williams
shift in how humanity chooses to learn and set
Realty International for more than 15 years.
professional trajectory has never before been
Alongside Gary Keller and others, Willis led Keller
seen on a scale of this magnitude. The higher
Williams from a small regional firm to the number
education industry has seen a dramatic decline
one residential real estate company in the
in enrollment thanks to rising student debt,
world by agent count with over 150,000 agents
lack of public faith in the leverage of traditional
worldwide. As an instructor for the Forbes
degrees, and brilliantly disruptive “dropout”
School, his focus will be on teaching real estate
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
13
DISRUPTING THE DISRUPTION
professionals the skills and time-tested methods
success and failure, who have done all the things
that helped him rise to the top of the industry.
you have to do to succeed.
Kenny Thompson, Executive Vice President of the Forbes School, Knowledge Innovation Center, had
At Keller Williams I was a trainer and consultant
this to say about the partnership.
for real estate professionals that wanted to up-
“
level their game. Most wanted to have businesses
The Forbes School of Business & Technology, Knowledge Innovation Center is revolutionizing online education and the virtual classroom as we know it with the world’s best instructors. We are proud to have Mark Willis join us as the head of our real estate courses, and also as one of our instructors. Mark will lead the charge for modernizing real estate training and serving as a visionary for the future of our program. We look forward to having his guidance and the unique level of expertise he brings to the table.”
that were worth more money. They also wanted to learn how to make more money in less time. I have always said that productivity comes in two different forms. One form is that productivity can be about making more money. The other form of productivity can be about making more money in half the time. I found success through teaching others how to do both.” His thoughts on the “why?” behind his partnership with the Forbes School… “ What the Forbes School has created is an educational platform for everybody that is approachable, available, and affordable. I want to help others crush it when it comes to their
Recently I sat down with Mark to learn more about
income goals, but most importantly, I want to
how the student-consumer shift from traditional
teach others the processes and models that I use
higher education models to f resher, more
to achieve more personally and professionally. I
accessible virtual models offered by companies
am excited to serve again through teaching and
like Masterclass, Forbes, and LinkedIn, are driving
sharing what I have learned through this new
the future of education. I also wanted to dig
platform. Ultimately, I want to live my life in the
deeper into the why behind his new partnership
service of others, and this partnership helps me
with the Forbes School. Here is what he had to say
do that at a very high level.”
on both f ronts. Servant leadership will never go out of style, and
14
“Education and experience are the platforms for all
if recent student-consumer market behavior
growth in life. Traditional education is something
around virtual education is an indicator, this
where you are going to learn from people who
partnership between Willis and the Forbes School
have practiced and studied how to do something
could be a huge hit. Current trends showing the
academically, but perhaps have not experienced
global success of new virtual education models
success outside of teaching in their respective
are forcing colleges and universities to pivot, and
fields. Forbes is looking to deliver high quality,
pivot fast. The pandemic is also fueling this shift,
virtual education from people like me; people
as students have been forced to stay indoors for
w h o h ave g o n e to t h e ve r y to p o f t h e i r
the majority of 2020, making virtual education,
industries, who have been in the trenches, who
in many cases, the only available option. In a
have learned life and career lessons through
recent article published in the Harvard Business
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
Review, Sean Gallagher and Jason Palmer share their thoughts on how current market behavior is pushing Universities online, a change they believe is long overdue. “The market is increasingly demanding that colleges and universities move beyond bachelor’s degrees as their primary product, towards more nimble, lower priced, digital ‘credentialized packages’ of learning and mastery valued by employers – which will be essential in a digital economy where continuous upskilling is needed to keep pace with technological advances and the
“
shrinking shelf-life of skills.”
It’s worth noting that such a change to the system may also unlock opportunity for some 71 million Americans who, according to recent research, have the skills to succeed in higher wage jobs but are systematically overlooked bcause they lack four-year degrees.”
I agree with both Gallagher and Palmer. Virtual education models focused on bringing high quality, affordable education to everyone is the future. And it has been long overdue. That said, considering Willis’ massive success in the real estate industry, coupled with the fact that a vast majority of students are leaning into virtual higher education models for learning, growth, and improvement, I believe this new partnership between Mark Willis and the Forbes School will be a disruptive success. If you are interested in learning more, visit:
https://www.fsbtkic.com/mark-willis/
Source: https://hbr.org/2020/09/the-pandemic-pushed-universities-online-the-change-was-long-overdue
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
15
productivity toolS
THE AMWD
S
etting goals and holding yourself accountable for results is essential to achieving what you want to achieve in life. You have to be able to visualize what you want and set goals that challenge you and take you out of your depth and comfort zones. This is the secret to breaking
through glass ceilings and accomplishing greatness. You have to push and believe in yourself! This
reminds me of a quote f rom the great John Wooden.
“Goals should be difficult to achieve because those achieved with little effort are seldom appreciated, give little personal satisfaction, and are often not very worthwhile. There is a price to be paid for achieving anything of significance.”
Here is how it works:
1 2 3 4
Write down your annual goals for next year. Think big.
At the beginning of each month, write down the monthly goals that you feel will best help you reach your annual goals.
Each week you will write down the weekly goals that you feel will help you to reach your monthly goals.
Every day, write down your daily goals that will keep you on track to reaching your weekly goals.
Use the AMWD worksheet on the next page as a guide to reaching your highest heights in 2021. The AMWD is both a goal setting and accountability tool. Remember that consistency, effort, and self-accountability are keys to mastery. You have to remain disciplined and consistently course correct to stay on track. Def ine what you want to achieve and visualize your success. Write down your goals. Hold yourself accountable. And stay on track!
16
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS | THE AMWD
AMWD
date: PERSONAL
BUSINESS
PERSONAL
monthly goals
annual goals
BUSINESS
week 1
week 2
week 3
week 4
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
weekly goals
BUSINESS
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
BUSINESS
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
PERSONAL
da ily goal s
BUSINESS
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
17
if you wanna thrive you’ve gotta strive INACTIVITY IS THE ENEMY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
18
MARK WILLIS
|
M A R K
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
W I L L I S
VOL. 1
Hit the trail with confidence W W W . A L L T R A I L S . C O M MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
19
KEY LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES The combined principles below act as a North Star in my personal and professional life. They are the words that best represent my truths. They are the powerful statements that I review almost daily that keep me on track, direct me toward solutions, and help me to make some of the most important decisions I make in my life. Â These statements have been compiled over years of learning, and I hope they have the same powerful impact on your life as they have had on mine. - Mark Willis
20
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
13 KEY LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII
Lead with your heart, not with your head. We think in our heads, we know in our hearts. It is in your heart that you will find your truth.
Give first, keep giving, and maybe you’ll receive.
If you wanna THRIVE, you gotta STRIVE. And as you strive - STRIVE for growth and excellence, not perfection.
KFG. Stay in motion. Inactivity is the enemy of the human condition, and the most important work you do is the work you do on yourself. Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses to achieve at the highest level.
Ask, don’t tell. Understand before you speak.
Identify, master, and stay focused on the basics.
Nobody has to lose for you to win. Always look for win-win solutions. The evolutionary foundation of both humanity and business is rooted in dealings that are mutually beneficial.
Always make people feel respected and safe and have respect for every human encounter.
Choose your relationships wisely. In the end, you can only control two things: the relationships you choose to go into, and the mindset you adopt. Surround yourself with people who compliment your strengths and compensate for your weaknesses. Never complain about that which you do willingly.
Search and evaluate for soulful progress. Go beyond the superficial layer. Live your truth. Work your truth.
Inspect what you expect. Check, check, double-check, and always have a strong plan B.
Lead with revenue, not expenses whenever possible and hold your activities, and your capital, accountable for results.
Take advice f rom others who have been there before. The wheel is round; you do not have to reinvent it. When stuck or not making progress, seek help f rom others who have broken through the ceiling you’re hitting.
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
21
https://www.paradigmagency.com/music/noah-cyrus/
Vibes
A
rt and music are the soul of who
we are at MWL. Both inspire our work and motivate what we do.
Music literally reverberates through each of us as we share the experience of the message it carries or the feeling it creates. Whether it’s nodding our head to the beat or dancing with friends on a table, music moves us to keep fucking going (KFG).
Delve into our soul and share the experience of music with us through two songs that we love. Next, learn the profound influence that an artist, who died at age 21 last year, has on the next generation of hip hop and why we named Juice WRLD as our Artist of the Year.
22
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
RL D
artist of the year
Juice WRLD’s first hit single “Lucid Dreams” entered the mainstream in 2018. The artist describes the song as a therapy session while going through a difficult relationship. Today, the song has received more than one billion plays on Spotify, making it one of the most played songs on the platform.
MARK WILLIS
|
Juice WRLD’s posthumous third studio album Legends Never Die, released July 10, 2020, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, earning the largest week of 2020 for any album3. The album features a variety of artists f rom different genres and showcases Juice WRLD’s versatility as an artist. The song “Come & Go,” with electronic producer Marshmello, is more rock ‘n’ roll than rap or electronic. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 2. Today, “Come & Go” and “Lucid Dreams” are currently the artist’s highest charting songs. Juice WRLD was truly an artist who used his music as therapy to share his story with the world. His vulnerability and emotional authenticity made his art more universally accessible. We find comfort in the message of his last album, that Legends Never Die. •
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
1
Hailing from Chicago, IL, Juice WRLD is one of the founding fathers of emo rap music. Emo, short for “emotional” rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop that became popular in the late 2010s. It is a blend of rap and emo rock that has its strongest following with a younger generation of fans. In 2018, the music streaming platform Spotify named “emo rap” its fastest growing genre. Emo rap music addresses emotional subject matter that ranges from the more universal experience of heartbreak, to using drugs to cope with harsh realities, and suicidal ideation. Juice WRLD claims he discusses matters that traditional rap artists are afraid to admit, such as being vulnerable and hurt - themes that we all as emotional beings can relate to.
https://www.billboard.com/music/leon-bridges/charthistory/AAA/song/1156895 | 2 https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9464533/fleetwoodmac-dreams-returns-hot-100 | 3 https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9420910/juice-wrld-legends-never-die-tops-billboard-200
W
https://www.mickmgmt.com/leonbridges-onesheet
Jui ce
VOL. 1
23
Expressions FOLLOW WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW IN ART
CONTEMPORARY ART IS THE ART OF TODAY. IT CHALLENGES TRADITIONAL ART’S CONVENTIONAL CERTAINTIES AS IT CONTINUES TO ESTABLISH ITS ROLE IN Erica Leslie Reiling “Yes Love”, 2020 Acrylic on canvas 46”H x 45”W @ericareiling
TODAY’S WORLD. WITH CONTEMPORARY ART, ANYTHING GOES. STYLES INCLUDE
www.ericareiling.com
CONCEPTUAL ART, VIDEO, PHOTOGRAPHY, INSTALLATIONS, GRAFFITI/STREET ART, AND MORE. NO LONGER SOLELY CONFINED TO THE WHITE WALLS OF A MUSEUM, CONTEMPORARY ART FINDS NEW WAYS TO ENGAGE ITS VIEWERS. CHECK OUT THESE ARTISTS ON INSTAGRAM AND GET A SENSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IN THE EVER-EVOLVING ART SCENE.
24
MARK WILLIS
Nicolò Baraggioli Unrolled monochrome, 2018 Partially unrolled sheet of lead 70 x 50 x 3.5 cm @n.baraggioli_art
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
www.nicolobaraggioli.com
FOLLOW WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW IN ART
David Mankin Ground Swell Running Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 72”H x 98”W @davidmankinart
Richard Calidcott Untitled #66, 1999 C-print 50”H x 40”W @richardcaldicott
Dontae Hammond Metropolitan Maniacs, 2019 Oil and spray paint on canvas 60”H x 48”W @louis.vuitton_don
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
www.richardcaldicott.co.uk
- CURATED BY ELLIS WARE
www.david-mankin.com
25
26
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
The Perfect Pairing featuring
Those in Mark’s inner circle know that his idea of the perfect evening involves great food, great friends, and of course - great wine! As we began putting together the Mark Willis Leadership Journal, we soon realized that we couldn’t have Mark’s name on a magazine without also devoting a few pages to the food and wine he loves. In this edition of The Perfect Pairing, we are spotlighting one of Mark’s favorite Napa Valley winemakers, Cakebread Cellars. Family owned and operated since 1973, Cakebread Cellars’ winemaking philosophy is to create elegantly balanced wines that are stylistically consistent year to year and drink beautifully when paired with food. While Mark loves most of the Cakebread wine offerings, he especially loves their big, dramatic reds. In this pairing, we feature the 2017 Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, paired with red wine braised short ribs and a shaved vegetable and herb salad. This brilliant wine, described as having aromas of boysenberry, black cherry, and fig with accents of the forest floor, goes wonderfully with the braised short ribs. Both are intense, bold, and full of flavor. We hope you enjoy this amazing pairing as much as we have. Feel free to let us know what you think! info@willisleadership.com
Entreé
Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Shaved Vegetable and Herb Salad Ingredients
Preparation
4 lbs. beef short ribs, bone in
Preheat oven to 350°F. Season short ribs with salt and pepper.
2 T. vegetable oil
In a wide, heavy bottom stainless steel saucepan, brown short
1 carrot, diced
ribs over high heat with vegetable oil, until brown on all sides.
1 onion, diced
Remove from the pan, add the carrots, onions and celery and
1 stalk celery, diced ½ c. plum tomatoes, crushed 2 c. red wine
sauté for 5 minutes to caramelize. Stir in the tomato. Deglaze with the red wine and reduce by half. Add the beef stock and the rosemary sprig. Return the short ribs to the pan, lower the heat to a simmer, cover and place in the middle of the oven. Cook for
2 c. beef or chicken stock
3 hours or until beef is tender and is starting to fall off the bone.
1 sprig rosemary
Remove beef and strain broth into a saucepan. Skim the top of
salt and pepper
broth of fat and reduce to a light sauce consistency. Pour the sauce back over the short ribs and reserve.
3 small heirloom carrots, peeled 2 french breakfast radishes ½ bulb fennel 1 small shallot, sliced thin
Using a Japanese vegetable slicer, thinly shave the carrots, radishes, and fennel. Toss with the shallots and herbs in a small bowl. Dress with the olive oil and vinegar and season with a pinch of salt.
½ c. flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped 2 T. tarragon, roughly chopped 1 T. chives, minced 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
To serve, place the short ribs on a warm plate and top with a small handful of the salad. WWW.CAKEBREAD.COM
2 tsp. red wine vinegar Yield: Serves 4 - 6 Chef: Chef Brian Streeter Pairs Well With: Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
2021
U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook A N A S T R O L O G I C A L A N A LY S I S B Y R O B E R T H A N D , P h D .
28
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
2021 U.S REAL ESTATE MARKET OUTLOOK
I
n this premier edition of the Mark Willis Leadership magazine, we would like to take you on a brief tour of the economic
indications concerning the real estate industry for the year 2021… from an astrological point of view.
The current winter ingress chart is December 21, 2020 at 5:02:12 AM in Washington DC over the United States. The typical practice is to erect these charts for the capital of the nation, which is considered to stand for the nation as a whole. Could we use other locations? Yes, and we can refine our technique by transposing local charts onto the maps of counties and cities. But for our purposes of forecasting a broader overview of the real estate markets
Real estate is one of the trickier markets to forecast
nationwide, we will be using the US chart. And,
for two reasons. One is that real estate opportunities
in addition to the US seasonal ingress charts, I will be
and the fluidity of the markets varies tremendously
employing a modern astrological technique that
from region to region. The second reason is that
helps us to understand what areas of the country
real estate, as an economic activity in astrology
are most affected by the several components of the
symbolism, is similar to other business activities
astrological charts.
that have a connection to land and to the earth. For example, the symbolism used for the real
In addition to these seasonal charts, there is another
estate industry is not entirely different f rom the
chart this year to which we must pay close attention.
symbolism of mining, fossil fuels, and agriculture.
Approximately every twenty years, the two largest
These are all business activities associated directly
planets of our solar system come together in the
with land. However, I do believe that with the proper
same degree and minute. These are Jupiter and
application of method, technique, and logic in
Saturn. In astrology, this is called the great
astrology we can differentiate among the industrial
conjunction. It takes place in December 2020. But,
activities suff iciently well to offer a meaningful
of course, it will affect the next twenty years. The
annual forecast.
cycles of Jupiter and Saturn were used by the ancient and medieval astrologers as the backbone of
In this article I will mostly use one of the most
their long-range predictive methods. This conjunction
common methods in astrology for making forecasts
is particularly remarkable because it occurs in the
for business cycles, politics, the state of the people
first degree of the sign Aquarius on exactly the same
of the nation, or anything else that involves people
day as the winter solstice, December 21, 2020 several
in the collective rather than the individual. This
hours later than the winter solstice chart. Following
method and its technique are known as Mundane
the techniques of the ancients it could be argued
Astrology. The technique involves calculating charts
that the winter solstice chart for 2020 will also affect
for the exact beginning of each of the four seasons,
the next twenty years. However, let us not push this
and each of these charts is called an ingress chart for
too far! The main relevance of this chart to our study
the season it represents. The astrological year begins
is that it clearly indicates a major change of mood
in winter which always starts toward the end of
and temper in this country in accordance with the
December of the prior year of our focus. So, to
symbolism of the sign Aquarius. Aquarius is a sign
evaluate 2021, we must begin with the winter chart
of a new order. Most astrologers tend to emphasize
of 2020 followed by the charts for spring, summer,
the “ new,” and to overlook the word “order.”
and autumn of 2021, and even into the beginning
So, Aquarius stands for innovation resulting in
of winter 2021, even though it extends into 2022.
an improved order. Also, the precise degree and
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
29
2021 U.S REAL ESTATE MARKET OUTLOOK
minute of this conjunction in the zodiac is strongly
The chart for the beginning of spring, also known
con n e c te d to t h e ri si n g d e g re e o f t h e char t
as the vernal equinox, has as its single strongest
calculated for Washington DC, which means that
planet Jupiter. This is generally a good sign for the
this conjunction will have an unusually powerful
well-being of the American people. And the Moon in
effect on the US. However, let us now turn to the
this chart affects the area of the chart that concerns
chart of the winter solstice.
the people’s health. This chart, far more than the winter solstice, suggests that the effects of the
Because this chart is so close in time to the Jupiter
vaccine will be felt strongly in the spring quarter.
Saturn conjunction, the location of this conjunction
In the real estate market, there are two conflicting
in the winter ingress chart is very important. It is
trends. One is a favorable relationship between the
in one of the places of the chart that concerns real
Moon and Jupiter generally favorable for real estate
estate. This strongly indicates a significant change
and investing as an indication of rising prices. The
in the real estate markets throughout the country
other trend is that Saturn is in a difficult relationship
that will, sooner or later, lead to an entirely new way
with the planet Uranus and Uranus is in one of the
of doing business.
places that most strongly affects real estate. This suggests that whatever the fundamentals of the
Given the nature of the sign Aquarius, we can
real estate market may be, there will be anxiety on
assume that this will involve innovations in the use
the part of a significant number people for making
of computers and electronics to say nothing of the
investments. Another possible manifestation may
Internet in the real estate industry far beyond what
be that one of the radical innovations that I
is conceived at present. This conjunction particularly
mentioned previously may cause considerable
affects Southern California. A diff iculty arises,
d i f f i cul ty an d re q ui re ex te nsi ve chan ge a n d
however, in that another place in the chart indicating
“debugging” to make work effectively, probably
real estate issues contains the planet Neptune in a
not in this quarter. The energy of Jupiter will be felt
particularly strong location, not only for real estate
most strongly along the East Coast while the
but for business in general. This place also concerns
difficulties concerning the trust of the public in the
speculation, and, with Neptune in it, rampant and
real estate market should most strongly affect the
unwise speculation. Therefore, a general theme of
Midwest and the central part of the nation. Mars is
this chart should be that whatever changes may
particularly powerful in the longitude range about
occur on a technological level, this is no time to
halfway between New York City and Baltimore.
repeat the errors of the Great Recession of 2006
An obvious potential cause is public demonstrations
to 2009. This placement of Neptune will be
that get out of control. However, it could also indicate
experienced most strongly in the Northeast and,
a warmer than average spring quarter in that
since these charts are also used for weather
longitude, approximately 75° West.
forecasting, this could indicate that the Northeast
30
real estate market will be adversely affected in this
The chart of the summer quarter, beginning at the
quarter by an unusually wet and probably quite cold
summer solstice, is a bit of a mixed bag. The same
winter. This should not come as a surprise given the
insecurity about new methods and ways of managing
climate in that part of the country.
the real estate industry that I mentioned in the
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
2021 U.S REAL ESTATE MARKET OUTLOOK
previous paragraph is still operational in the summer
it is not obvious to someone without the use of
quarter. Saturn and Uranus are 90° apart and strongly
astrology that they will even try. I do not see strong
placed in the chart. This is an indication of
indications of a bad fire season in California but the
considerable tension among people that could
indications for the area enclosed between the
strongly affect the stability of the real estate market
longitude of the Nevada-Arizona border East
throughout the country. The energy of Uranus most
to the Western parts of New Mexico, Colorado,
strongly affects the longitude from West Texas up
Central Wyoming, and Eastern Montana could
through the Dakotas. However, if there is good news
indicate wildf ires. Both planets that indicate this
in this for the real estate market, this combination
tend to promote hot and dry conditions.
of Saturn and Uranus is more likely to affect either mining or agriculture than real estate. Especially for
The last chart I shall examine in this series will mostly
agriculture this combination may indicate drought
affect the year 2022. But the winter solstice of 2021
and intemperate weather in the area indicated.
will have an impact last ten days of 2021.
Overall, the good combinations in this
However, it must be understood that
chart are likely to have the strongest
most of its indications will affect
effect on the presidency and
2022, rather than 2021. In this
its efforts to stabilize the
chart the planet Mercury
economy. However, pre-
most strongly affects the
dictably this will not
real estate market (along
go without challenge
with agriculture and
f rom Congress.
mining etc.). If there have been innovations
Most of the last
in the real estate industry
quarter of the year is
that have been causing
affected by the chart
difficulties for the real
of the autumn equinox,
estate business and its
the beginning of fall.
clients, in this quarter they
However, the very end of
will begin to be resolved
the year is connected to
Also, indications are much
the winter solstice of 2021. So,
better than average for financial
this chart affects the period from
conditions as they apply to real
September 22, 2021 to December 21,
estate. These also may be especially
2021. One of the most striking features of this
affected by the actions of US Congress.
chart is that it strongly indicates that the President and Congress will be working very hard to coordinate
This concludes our brief tour of the major economic
a coherent economic policy. Obviously, this will not
indications concerning the real estate industry
be easy, and it is hard to say whether they will
for the year 2021. To obtain a PDF copy of the
succeed or not. We have to hope that they do
astrology charts used for this article, please email
succeed because the end result will have a strong
elyse@arhatmedia.com with “Rob’s Charts for
impact on the real estate market. Based on the
2021” in the subject line.
methods of medieval astrology, I would say that they are more likely to reach some degree of accommodation than to fail completely though I seriously doubt that everybody will be satisf ied. This is something that anybody could foresee, but
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
31
32
UNTETHEREDSOUL.COM MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
5 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING YOURSELF DAILY... 01
W H AT WOU LD I LI KE TO A C C OMPLI S H TOD AY ?
02
?
WHY ?
03 W HY WOU LD A C C O M PLI S HI N G T H IS B E impor tan t TO ME?
As Robert Ringer states in his book, Million
04
Dollar Habits, “life is nothing more than a sum total of many successful years; a successful year is nothing more than the sum total of many successful months; a successful month is nothing
H O W W OU LD THI S A C C O MP LI S HMEN T C O N T RI BU TE TO reach in g MY MO NTHLY A N D Y E A R LY GOA LS ?
more than the sum total of many successful weeks; and a successful week is nothing more than the sum total of many successful days.” This is why goal planning is so critical to our overall personal and professional success.
05
Here are the 5 questions that we at MWL ask ourselves daily. These questions, along with the AMWD goal setting and accountability system, h e l p us to s ta y o n t ra ck towa rd s re a chin g
W H E R E D O I n eed L EV ER A GE?
our goals.
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
33
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” H. JACKSON BROWN JR.
34
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
H O L I D AY G I F T G U I D E F O R H I M & H E R Every year, as our professional lives slow down and our personal lives and the lives of our loved ones become more in focus, we celebrate through unselfish and unwavering acts of giving. The next few pages are dedicated to our top His and Hers picks for 2020, curated by the team at the Mark Willis Leadership Journal. We hope you enjoy these hand curated selections as much as we do!
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
35
GIFTS FOR HIM
09
11
VOL. 1
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
|
MARK WILLIS
36
03 04
05
06
08 07
10
1. Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams KLAUS KLEMP. $62 Amazon.com 2. Molton Brown, Re-charge Black Pepper Bath and Shower Gel. $32 moltonbrown.com 3. TRX Original – Strong System. $150 huckberry.com 4. Traditional bandana face covering. $8 Stag Provisions for Men stagprovisions.com 5. Harman Kardon, Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker. $199.95 amazon.com 6. What Does It Sound Like When You Change Your Mind? Seth Godin $164 Amazon.com 7. Malin+Goetz, Leather Scented Candle. $55 malinandgoetz.com 8. Rolex, Oyster Perpetual 36 with a Yellow Dial and an Oyster bracelet. $5,600 rolex.com 9. Drip EZ BBQ Prep Tub w/ Built-in Cutting Board. $29.99 (Drip EZ) bbqdripez.com 10. Plodes Geometric Fire Pit. $2,145 dwr.com 11. Le labo santal 33. $192 lelabofragrances.com
him
02 01
01
02
03
05
04 07
06
08
10 09
11
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
her
VOL. 1
1. Ember Mug² Metallic Collection, Ember Mug². $130 ember.com 2. Saint Laurent Silk Bandana Scarf. $345 nordstrom.com 3. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder. $45 sephora.com 4. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. $22 laneige.com 5. Anne Sisteron, 14k White Gold Diamond Large Bella Hoop Earrings. $8,485 annesisteron.com 6. Manifest Now, Idil Ahmed. $33 idillionaire.com 7. Savage Fenty, Forever Savage Hoodie Onesie. $84 savagex.com 8. Bvlgar Omnia, Crystalline Eau de Toilette $86 ulta.com 9. The Mirror. $1,495 mirror.co 10. Custom Shampoo and Conditioner. $39 - $49 functionofbeauty.com 11. Apple AirPods Pro. $249 apple.com
GIFTS FOR HER
37
W W W . F S B T K I C . C O M 38
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
kfg.
MARK WILLIS
|
LEADERSHIP JOURNAL
VOL. 1
39
The gift that gives you a boost! BRAINJUICE
www.naturalbrainjuice.com