Being able to use my knowledge and experience to help others identify a quality investment opportunity makes what I do for a living a career instead of a job.
New York City native, Paul Kaulesar moved to Florida in his late teens. After graduating from Royal Palm Beach High School, he attended Palm Beach State College located in Palm Beach County, Florida. While he was evaluating the career he knew he wanted to pursue on his own, he found the foundation for a solid career in real estate, due to his parents.
His training for the investment real estate market began with his parents. They worked with investment real estate. Together they would identify a positive investment, make the purchase, and while his father was doing the renovations, his mother would move on to locating the next investment. Through their efforts, he was introduced to the concept of what a final project may require both in terms of time and effort. This armed Paul Kaulesar with the essential skills for locating quality investment locations long before he found On Call Realty. On Call Realty facilitated his real estate license and he continues to work in their offices today as one of the top producers.
When Paul Kaulesar isn’t helping clients find the perfect renovation, investment, and opportunity, he’s at home with his wife. The newlyweds enjoy golfing, hiking, and attending charity events together.
Where did the idea for becoming a real estate agent come from?
My parents were real estate investors. They would find a quality investment and renovate or update as needed before turning a profit. Through that, I came to love architecture and living spaces. When the time came to make a career choice, On Call Realty was there. They are a great company who have taught me what I didn’t already know on my own. Working with this company was the perfect step in my career.
Being able to use my knowledge and experience to help others identify a quality investment opportunity makes what I do for a living a career instead of a job.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
For me, every day starts with a run. After breakfast with my wife, I head to the office. First thing I do when I get there is review the current MLS listings. Doing this allows me to stay up to date on new listings and listings that have lingered on the market for a while. This is where we find many good investments. I spend much of the day talking to investors, clients, and when possible reaching out to new clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
For every project, it is important to be able to visualize the final outcome. This allows you to see the potential investment estimates in both time and money. Once you know what can be done with it, you will be able to determine if the final cost will still be below market, making it a solid investment. Keeping it below market value allows you to sell it for a firm profit.
What’s one trend that excites you?
There is a new trend in commercial real estate for small business owners. It’s a micro-space or micro-office. These are popular in larger cities, but they are moving into south Florida now too. This means that office space is becoming both more profitable for the investor and affordable to the office occupant.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as a real estate agent?
I am always working to move forward. There is never a moment to relax at work. If I’m in the office, I have something going on. If I’m waiting on a client to view a property, I make certain to be looking for new contacts or listings. It’s important to stay up on what is going on with the marketplace, to find or create opportunities, and be able to keep moving.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself that there is truth in ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ That it is important not to look at what you can do right now, but what will sustain you in the long run. Work for the future, and the now will pan out.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that anything is possible. If you have the drive, willingness, and desire you can obtain whatever you want. It takes persistence to accomplish whatever monumental goal you set out for yourself. Even Einstein supported this notion by sharing he did not view himself as the smartest man, but the most persistent man when it came to addressing the problems he was working on.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Networking is one thing any business owner, real estate or any other professional must do to connect with others. This might be connecting for new clients, or connecting with clients, but you have to network to expand. This means getting out in public, talking to people, or at least introducing yourself and leaving a business card with your coffee shop worker. Without networking and creating connections, you will starve your business.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business? Please explain how.
I believe in building value. Many people will move quickly if they can see the value in a location, investment, or project. If you can identify a good property that is either undervalued or able to be finished below market, you will have investors interested in the property. It is important for you to be able to build that value and help them to see what and how to do this.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
During the last economic downturn, I learned first-hand the truth about the successful businessmen and women. They learn how to innovate and most importantly persevere in the face of difficult times. Rising to any occasion is important. It may mean cultivating connections or making new ones. It could require you to create new opportunities where others have not been able to. Regardless of how you do it, you need to persevere through anything that comes your way.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I would suggest that anyone who is looking to purchase a home considers what they actually need versus what they want. For example, if someone is considering purchasing a large home with a lot of open spaces they may not make use of; it might be worth considering a different approach. Purchasing a duplex or triplex and living in one while renting out the remainder of the building can facilitate a quality investment, build equity, and give you an income for future purchases, like that large home.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently purchased a pair of running shoes. Running is a part of my every day and investing in my health is part of helping me prepare for a good day in the office and at home. The shoes are nice and feel great.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Excel spreadsheets are the cornerstone of my financial organization. Once you know the program, you are able to calculate, track, and update information to determine the feasibility of a project. It’s my most critical tool.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I would strongly suggest reading Tony Robbin’s “Awaken the Giant Within“. It provides a lot of information about how the mind works and how to reprogram it to get the most out of life and your career. It gives you a fresh perspective that most people overlook in their day to day.
What is your favorite quote?
“Many people want, but few want to do.” It’s one of my own, and I believe that many people see lofty goals as something they want to enjoy, but they aren’t prepared to put the work into getting there.
Key learnings:
• Persistence overrides resistance;
Keep at whatever you want, and it’ll go your way in time.
• No matter what you are doing, master your craft;
Learn everything you can about your business.
• Become a real student of your craft;
Being dedicated to learning ensures you’re always growing.
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Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.