Episode 009: Neil Garfinkel

Introduction:


Neil Garfinkel, a graduate of the University at Albany and
Cornell Law School, serves as Managing Partner of Abrams
Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLP, one of the top residential real
estate, banking and mortgage compliance law firms in New York,
with offices in Manhattan, Los Angeles and Long Island. In
addition to Neil's management responsibilities, he runs AGMB’s
Real Estate Group and Banking Group, is brokerage counsel to (and
handles the legal hotline for) the Real Estate Board of New York
(“REBNY”), and recently was appointed to the New York State Real
Estate Board by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, all while
simultaneously maintaining numerous client relationships. Neil,
The Broker Guru, describes his firm and his practice in one word,
and that is dynamic. Anyone who has somehow perfected the art of
blending law and dynamic into a soothing cocktail is someone you
should want to party with both professionally and personally
speaking.


 


Episode Notes:


At 3:02, Neil Garfinkel discusses having no clients going back 23
years when he first started his firm, focusing and gaining a core
knowledge of representing the real estate brokerage community,
and making a career of learning and focusing on a particular
specialty. At 5:44, he notes “If someone asked me what's the key
to being successful… Education. Educate yourself. Continue to
educate yourself. Never take anything for granted.” At 7:46, as
to how Neil continues to master his craft, he informs us that,
"Whatever you do be the best at what you can be.” He used to tell
his kids that “There is always going to be someone better. Don’t
worry about what they’re doing. Worry about yourself. If you’re
going to do something, do it the best that you can possibly do
it.” At 8:05, Larry Haber discusses Gus, the night watchman at
1430 Broadway and his pride in workmanship. At 8:50, Neil points
out that it is personally and professionally recognized when you
put the time to be the best you can be - it is something people
notice. At 9:50, he advises that you cannot necessarily control
how smart you are, but you can control how hard you work. At
12:40, Neil touches upon how, if you treat your associates well
and your employees well, they will in turn treat your clients
well. At 15:50, Neil was asked how he dares to be different, and
he replied by creating opportunities in the verticals that we
know really well. At 17:40, he discusses the constantly changing
real estate industry, and how only those who put themselves in
position to adapt to the changes will survive. At 21:15, Neil’s
mantra that the client is always right. At 25:42, he informs how
he goes about filling holes in his knowledge, and how being smart
is not about how much you know, it’s knowing when you don’t know
something. At 28:20, Neil talks about how he finds the proper
balance between life and business. At 31:47, he dives into the
topic of failure and how one should not be afraid to fail - it’s
all about how you rebound from failure. At 32:57, Neil Garfinkel
describes his “happy place” - the golf course and spending time
with his family and friends.