by G. Sax, Director of Growth Management, RESO
Welcome to “Three Questions,” an interview series that introduces you to real estate industry professionals, their businesses and how they interact with real estate standards with a goal of humanizing the tech side of the industry, fun included.
This week’s interview is with Greg Robertson, co-founder of W+R Studios, podcaster of Industry Relations (in partnership with Rob Hahn of 7DS) and Listing Bits, long-time blogger at Vendor Alley (“Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt”), co-author of The Art of the CMA, and General Manager, MLS at Lone Wolf. Greg tends to be at the forefront of something enjoyable in real estate, whether it’s pretending to be a news anchor at the annual CMLS conference, creating fresh conversations about real estate on social media, or sharing real estate industry job postings and job changes before anyone else. He also has a pretty cool first name.
Q1: You have spent a huge chunk of your career as an independent entrepreneur. How does it feel to be a regular working Joe?
Greg: Having a boss after many years of being my own boss has its challenges, but what Lone Wolf has been doing over the last year is unprecedented – buying five companies, including W+R Studios. It’s actually really exciting. As a bootstrap company, we were not as readily able to take advantage of the resources that Lone Wolf now provides. I still believe in the products we create, and I’m glad to have a chance to watch them flourish and grow.
Q2: In addition to entrepreneurship and product creation, you have, through blogging, podcasting, video production, book publishing and stage shows, become RE tech’s Rufus Thomas, the Crown Prince of Dance. Where do you find the time, and do you intend to continue educating, enlightening and entertaining us in the real estate space into the future?
Greg: I wake up early. I’m interested in the real estate industry, and I love being a part of it. If people keep reading and watching, I’ll keep making content.
I am often told that I get to say whatever I want or that I get to say what other people wish they could say but can’t for some reason. But it’s not about saying any old thing that you want. There must be a balance to it.
I’m a competitive person. Maybe my jabs come off as stronger than others, but it truly is meant in good fun. Although I post news items, I’m not a true “journalist” kind of guy. I enjoy commentary, conversations and satire.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people in this industry. For the most part, those who watch my CMLS stage show, read my tweets or see what might be deemed a controversial story at Vendor Alley understand that I’m either playing around or expressing a personal opinion, not reporting the news.
Q3: I only know of a few vocal hockey fans among real estate professionals, and even fewer of them in California. As a born-and-raised Minnesotan who grew up in a state that touts itself as the “State of Hockey,” it pleases me to see your posts from Anaheim Ducks games. Have you ever met a Duck?
Greg: To be honest, my business partner at W+R, Dan Woolley, is the true hockey fan. I’m a fan of being with my sons, and I’m a fan of family-friendly events. We happen to have incredible seats just two rows up from the glass. To answer the question, I was lucky enough to meet Teemu Selänne through a charity hockey game that Dan signed up for. Dan played with Teemu and a bunch of other people he admired, and I got to take pictures.
Selanne has a restaurant down in Laguna Beach, California. You should check it out.
