A Conversation with Kirk Spangler, a participant in the Mark Leader Grad School How long have you been in real estate? Where and with what company? I have been in real estate since 1995 in Ann Arbor. I started with The Michigan Group, which was bought by Real Estate One approximately 3 years later. What made you decide to take Mark Leader’s classes, especially the Grad School program? For the first 11 years I was in real estate I also taught school. I recently retired from teaching after 33 years to concentrate on my real estate business. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting focused and using the extra time. When I was teaching I had less time, but I concentrated more on real estate and actually did better. This is where Mark came in. I needed focus and Mark’s program of no nonsense, back to the basics is just what I needed. I was pleased that Mark established the Grad School to continue the weekly “shots in the arm” as well as the daily activity planner. How have you changed your business since you started in the Grad School? I have partnered with a loan officer to do a buyer’s seminar and hope to do these on a regular basis and include a home inspector. I developed a mailing program with personal marketing to send out regularly. I developed a CD for buyers and one for sellers to help with the process of “What You Should Know before Buying or Selling a Home.” I finally have direction and a plan that gets me to the office with a purpose that I surely lacked during the year since I retired. Have there been other specific tips from the Grad School webinars or coaching which have helped you? There are many concepts and ideas that Mark and the Grad School Faculty Members have presented that I hope to incorporate. Having Mark just a phone call away is a very nice benefit from taking his course. He has become a friend and a person that can be counted on to provide continued assistance. Has your business improved since you started the Grad School program? I just finished the 9-week course in April and have been busy implementing many concepts and ideas, and I expect to see continued benefits from this time forward. In real estate things we do such as mailings, seminars, etc. take time to show results, but I feel good that I am on the right track and doing things that will continue to produce for me in the future.