2 answers
Jackson
Student
Boulder, Colorado
1
Question
Asked
361 views
As a freshman studying business with a focus on real estate and marketing, what high-impact skills or insider knowledge should I be developing now, beyond what college coursework typically covers, and what are the best ways to learn them early #Fall25?
I am in a real estate club already and have started networking. I am at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, and I've been surrounded by business by my parents my whole life, but want to learn things specific to real estate and marketing.
Login to comment
2 answers
Rick Kneisley
Retired Investment Broker and Investment Sales Manager
33
Answers
Georgetown, Texas
Updated
Rick’s Answer
Jackson,
When I read your question, it took me straight back to my own college freshman year. Truthfully, grade school, high school and college taught me how to use logic to tackle life’s challenges. But the real world taught me something just as important, how to use my feelings to navigate rejection, pressure, fear and doubt. Success in business requires both. School sharpens the mind. Life sharpens the judgment. That's my takeaway for you from my working life.
So, if I could share one piece of insider truth, it would be this: no matter how technical my career became, everything in business eventually came down to human communication and trust. Every financial transaction, every marketing effort, every negotiation lived or died by my ability to listen and understand what people truly wanted, while handling rejection without losing confidence in myself.
I also learned that capitalism, at its best, is not about greed. It’s about value creation. I was rewarded in proportion to the problems I solved for others.
For you in real estate, that might mean helping someone feel secure in a home. In marketing, it can mean connecting the right person to the right solution at the right time. That's creating value. When I understood that money follows value, my entire view of the business world changed. The lesson: provide value at every step of the transaction.
What I now know is that what truly separates people after graduation isn’t just intelligence. It’s emotional intelligence. You will face setbacks, lost deals, difficult people, as I did many times. But I learned to stay calm, read people accurately, manage my reactions and recover quickly. Responding quietly mattered more than the many technical skills I learned in school.
And I believe marketing itself is also misunderstood. Tools, platforms, and trends will change over and over. Human psychology will not. If you understand emotion, perception, and trust, you can succeed in any market cycle.
Going forward, I advise you, Jackson, to put yourself in rooms where real business is happening. Sit in on closings if possible. Shadow a real estate agent. Attend investor meetups. Tour open houses as a student of human behavior. Quiet observation teaches lessons textbooks simply cannot.
Lastly, use LinkedIn. It lets you watch how professionals present themselves and how they build credibility, priceless education for someone your age.
As for now, you’re asking the right questions at exactly the right time. Embrace these truths I've shared with you and your adult life will be a spectacular success.
And now for my golden rule for any sales person - Never start out talking with a prospect about what your selling. Instead, always start out with this question - "Tell me about yourself."
Wishing you clarity, confidence, and momentum,
Rick
When I read your question, it took me straight back to my own college freshman year. Truthfully, grade school, high school and college taught me how to use logic to tackle life’s challenges. But the real world taught me something just as important, how to use my feelings to navigate rejection, pressure, fear and doubt. Success in business requires both. School sharpens the mind. Life sharpens the judgment. That's my takeaway for you from my working life.
So, if I could share one piece of insider truth, it would be this: no matter how technical my career became, everything in business eventually came down to human communication and trust. Every financial transaction, every marketing effort, every negotiation lived or died by my ability to listen and understand what people truly wanted, while handling rejection without losing confidence in myself.
I also learned that capitalism, at its best, is not about greed. It’s about value creation. I was rewarded in proportion to the problems I solved for others.
For you in real estate, that might mean helping someone feel secure in a home. In marketing, it can mean connecting the right person to the right solution at the right time. That's creating value. When I understood that money follows value, my entire view of the business world changed. The lesson: provide value at every step of the transaction.
What I now know is that what truly separates people after graduation isn’t just intelligence. It’s emotional intelligence. You will face setbacks, lost deals, difficult people, as I did many times. But I learned to stay calm, read people accurately, manage my reactions and recover quickly. Responding quietly mattered more than the many technical skills I learned in school.
And I believe marketing itself is also misunderstood. Tools, platforms, and trends will change over and over. Human psychology will not. If you understand emotion, perception, and trust, you can succeed in any market cycle.
Going forward, I advise you, Jackson, to put yourself in rooms where real business is happening. Sit in on closings if possible. Shadow a real estate agent. Attend investor meetups. Tour open houses as a student of human behavior. Quiet observation teaches lessons textbooks simply cannot.
Lastly, use LinkedIn. It lets you watch how professionals present themselves and how they build credibility, priceless education for someone your age.
As for now, you’re asking the right questions at exactly the right time. Embrace these truths I've shared with you and your adult life will be a spectacular success.
And now for my golden rule for any sales person - Never start out talking with a prospect about what your selling. Instead, always start out with this question - "Tell me about yourself."
Wishing you clarity, confidence, and momentum,
Rick
Tania Rodriguez
Marketing
2
Answers
Austin, Texas
Updated
Tania’s Answer
Hi Jackson,
When I was in college, I chose to double major in marketing and finance, focusing on real estate. I’d like to share some advice from my own experience just two years ago.
Learning goes beyond the classroom, and you're on the right track by exploring different resources. There are plenty of ways to learn about real estate, like reading books or listening to podcasts. You can grasp the basics on your own before taking formal courses. However, actual classes are valuable because they dive deeper into financial analysis and teach you how to handle numbers effectively.
Reach out to people around you or connect with successful individuals in real estate. Talking to them and asking questions can help you decide if this is the right path for you. It also gives you insight into what it's like to be a real estate agent, investor, or whatever role you’re considering.
In marketing, there are many paths to explore. You don’t need to be super creative. Marketing involves a lot of numbers and strategy, with creativity being just one part of it. I find marketing exciting because it’s dynamic and always evolving with technology.
In short, read, listen, and talk to people already in the fields you're interested in. Use free resources like YouTube to learn more!
When I was in college, I chose to double major in marketing and finance, focusing on real estate. I’d like to share some advice from my own experience just two years ago.
Learning goes beyond the classroom, and you're on the right track by exploring different resources. There are plenty of ways to learn about real estate, like reading books or listening to podcasts. You can grasp the basics on your own before taking formal courses. However, actual classes are valuable because they dive deeper into financial analysis and teach you how to handle numbers effectively.
Reach out to people around you or connect with successful individuals in real estate. Talking to them and asking questions can help you decide if this is the right path for you. It also gives you insight into what it's like to be a real estate agent, investor, or whatever role you’re considering.
In marketing, there are many paths to explore. You don’t need to be super creative. Marketing involves a lot of numbers and strategy, with creativity being just one part of it. I find marketing exciting because it’s dynamic and always evolving with technology.
In short, read, listen, and talk to people already in the fields you're interested in. Use free resources like YouTube to learn more!