At 21, most kids have no idea what they want to do with their lives. When Wade was that age, he figured out that taking Greek Mythology wasn’t going to land him any closer to achieving the business success he envisioned. So, he took a risk, walked out of college and did what he always does: pursued the most direct path to success. Despite protests from concerned parents, Wade’s willingness to listen to his own instincts paid off. Five years later he had built a $60 million dollar multi-office real estate firm and was named one of Realtor® magazine’s “Top 30 Under 30.”
Never one to be satisfied with his achievements, Wade trusted his instincts again and sold his firm for a profit at the peak of the market in 2005. He then focused his efforts on developing Lakeplace.com into a paradigm for online real estate marketing. That achieved, he was soon recruited by a national real estate company for the position of business development director. Traveling around the country he consulted with the best and brightest agents, owners and rookies—and discovered that what he took for granted as the keys to success were not so well known. The recession hit and Wade saw many brokers give up, not from a lack of drive, but from not knowing how to adapt their mindset to succeed in tough times. Wade recognized that it was the home buyers and sellers who suffered the most from this lack of business savvy. Knowing he had more to offer, he returned to selling real estate.
The recession had its personal lessons to teach as well. Wade realized that professional success wasn’t as meaningful when it came at the expense of spending so much time away from his wife and two daughters. He cut back on his travels, began coaching his daughter’s hockey team and discovered the tremendous joy that comes from balancing work and life. Success took on new, whole life dimensions.
Today, Wade remains one of the top real estate agents in Minnesota and continues to represent and sell luxury properties. He also puts his business acumen and executive experience to work by helping others achieve the mindset and the practical action steps needed to succeed in a post-recession economy. His early success story was key in being chosen as a contestant on Season 10 of NBC’s The Apprentice – a reality TV series headed by real estate mogul and billionaire Donald Trump. Wade’s “no excuses” attitude and conviction that you have to live with the choices you make drive his engaging, competitive attitude.
A popular speaker, coach and consultant, Wade’s success story gives him a natural affinity with Generation X and Y real estate agents as well as unique insight into how brokers can develop the next generation of top producers. The chairperson for the National Association of Realtor’s Young Professionals Network, Wade is involved on several national real estate platforms and is a frequent speaker at national and regional conventions. He continues to actively sell real estate with a focus on luxury properties.
