Jonathan Macht‘s path to becoming a successful Realtor is a narrative of determination and strategic growth. Born in Santa Monica, California, and now residing in Los Angeles, Macht’s journey began with a strong academic foundation at Tulane University, where he graduated with a degree in political science. His time at Tulane was marked by academic distinction and extracurricular involvement, including his membership in the Pi Sigma Alpha honor society and participation in the Tulane Club Baseball team.
Macht’s early career was shaped by his role as a sports marketing coordinator at Tulane, where he honed his skills in communication and relationship building. This experience proved invaluable when he transitioned to real estate in 2019 with Coldwell Banker. His grassroots approach, which included door-to-door engagement and cold-calling, quickly distinguished him as a top performer in a competitive market.
His success at Coldwell Banker was complemented by his work with Snow Construction, where he applied his project management skills to oversee the development of custom homes and commercial buildings. This dual experience broadened his understanding of the real estate industry, enhancing his ability to meet diverse client needs.
In 2023, Macht joined EXP Realty, where he continues to excel by leveraging his extensive network and market insight. Outside of his professional life, Macht is committed to service, evidenced by his volunteer work at the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles. His dedication to community service aligns with his personal mission of being of service to others, a value instilled in him from a young age.
Zig Ziglar’s book, How to Stay Motivated – Developing the Qualities of Success, lays out simple, actionable steps for taking control of business results and transforming performance. One key aspect is taking a critical look at obstacles and challenges on the road to success, and rather than seeking to change externalities, changing your approach to doing things.
It also involves mapping out the elements of your job that are positive and beneficial. Ziglar gives the example of a client who hated her job and came to him for advice. After she had vented about all the things she disliked, he recommended she take out a sheet of paper and write down all the things she liked about her job.
His client’s initial response was that this would be easy since she disliked everything about the company. Ziglar asked her a fundamental question: “You don’t like getting paid for working?” The woman replied that she most certainly did value her salary and went on to list nearly two dozen other things she liked about her job, including health insurance, three weeks of paid vacation, and an above-average salary for her position.
From there, Ziglar urged the client to go home and create a “I love my job” list, seeing how many items she could think of. In addition, he urged her to look in the mirror and say, “I love my job,” with enthusiasm. In the morning, upon waking, she should return to the mirror and repeat the phrase. Within 24 hours of adopting this gratitude-centered attitude, his client transitioned from a fault-finder to a “good-finder.”
Ziglar’s point is that conditioning plays a role in maintaining a positive or negative attitude. People often search for fault “as if there’s a reward for it,” finding failings in even the most ideal situations. It is also possible to condition yourself in the positive direction by keeping a gratitude journal for 30 days and noting everything in daily life you find positive, amenable, or beneficial. Ziglar returned to visit his client at her workplace a month later. When he asked how everything was going, she answered, “You cannot believe how all these people have changed.” By seeing her colleagues in a new light and imbuing previously fraught situations with positivity, his client had transformed her workplace, with co-workers also finding positivity, hope, and motivation. “You don’t change all the people around you. You change you.”
Building on the core concept of creating a list of upsides, Ziglar stresses the importance of spending three minutes each day reflecting on your successes. Loss of motivation is common when focusing on shortcomings or failures. Sometimes these are externally imposed, as when the bar is so high that no one can reach an objective or a deadline is not humanly achievable. The key is to sit down each day and reflect on your successes, even when you are on a losing streak or in a downward spiral. This action will replenish the well of motivation and inspiration, providing renewed impetus to strive for your best.