Christie Leet says he is “blessed to work and recreate in the beautiful Whitsundays” and we can’t help but agree! Christie joined the real estate industry by buying a business when he was just 21. Continuing with law and accounting studies whilst managing the business, he watched as some salespeople earned a better income than the local lawyers, and quickly realised he could easily do the same. Between 1987 and 1997 Christie became one of the most recognised salespeople in the LJ Hooker network, and in 1998 purchased PRDnationwide Whitsunday. Having won numerous awards between then and now, Christie talks to Elite Agent about success, swimming and seeking new opportunities.
What was your first job, and what was the most important thing it taught you?
My first position was as an articled clerk in a solicitor’s office, which taught me two contrasting things. Firstly the value of professionalism – procedures, template documents, precedents, and secondly, that I didn’t want to be stuck in a role that was rewarded by my hourly contribution only.
What do you like most about your work now?
My role now is to identify and strategise opportunity. Whether it be in our people – growing and coaching them, seeing more in them than they see in themselves; or in a site where we can work side by side with our developer clients to create something magical that the market wants.
What do you still find the most challenging about what you do, and how do you deal with it?
Reinventing the wheel – I aspire for my real estate business to have a framework like McDonalds – a fully systemised business that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results. We invest enormously in our intranet site, but in some areas it isn’t as current or dynamic as I would like it to be and not always the first port of call for answers to procedural questions.
Define ‘success’ for you personally. What will you have achieved?
Success for me is our business running without me except on a strategic or coaching level, and living our corporate values – all emails and phone calls would have the context of being either an opportunity or a solution, rather than problem-solving.
Describe what a typical day looks like for you.
I’m a full-time single father training to swim the English Channel, so I rise at four-ish, and do our ironing and some chores before swimming from 5.00 to 6.45. The kids and I have breakfast together then off for our day. Work is typically from 8.30 to 4.00. I work a two-week cycle – one week in PRD, which is either coaching and training or working on project marketing, and the second week on my own personal development. I’m not quite fully balanced and remind myself of the 80/20 rule – although PRD does seem to have more of my time than above!
Is there one thing that’s not obvious about you that you wish more people would ‘get’?
I talk too much in headlines and this comes across as not caring – I need to continually remind myself that sometimes people need details, or for me to hear details even though I may already understand the situation. Stephen Covey speaks about “seeking first to understand then be understood” and I like to go back to this.
What’s your secret skill or superpower that makes you so good at what you do?
Seeing opportunity – in people, business or property. I’m blessed to be able to see things differently then become superexcited and energised about turning an idea or dream into a reality.
What makes you laugh?
I have a sense of humour, which is probably a little too sarcastic! My friends and I always seems to be able to laugh at each other – we are an outdoor, ‘doing’ group and there is always something to laugh at. I put 130l of fuel in the rod holder of my mate’s boat last week and wondered why it was taking more than the 100l fuel tank!
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received, and why?
At our annual planning day our entire team write anonymous comments about everyone in the office, and these are collated and put on a poster for each of us. ‘Motivating’ and ‘visionary leadership’ come up, but I think the one I value most is generosity. Whilst this can be financial I think I’m also generous with both my time and some of the ‘stuff’ I have for other people to use and enjoy.
Is there anything you’re afraid to do, or you would do if you weren’t afraid to do it?
I have a vision for the Whitsunday Coast – creating the lifestyle capital of Australia, and our country’s leading resort with all operators working on a collaborative, not competitive, basis; where people can recreate with a short holiday or something more long term. I’ve had this vision clearly for five years and not acted on it, so something is holding me back or scaring me about it!
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Keep your feet on the ground and your ego in check. During the boom times I mistakenly thought we were ‘gurus’ and stopped doing the basics and fundamentals – gradually letting go of the importance of systems, procedures, training and the like, which have all had to be rebuilt since. I’ve recently read The Top Five Regrets of the Dying; there’s no point being at the end of your time and realising you should have kept your ego in check during your younger years.
What’s next?
My goals are wrapped around finding my next passion – one where I can use the skills and contacts I have made, probably in the area of contribution. Our business almost runs on autopilot and generates a good return. That’s now hopefully for my key team members and my children to grow, with my guidance more as a Board member. Organisations like the Starlight Foundation resonate with me; youth suicide is also a major issue and saddens me deeply. I’d like to think I could help and contribute in some way to helping these organisations in the future.
