Jay Zwelling is a Realtor with ShowcaseMiami Realty in Miami.

What was your first job in the realty industry? I’m in my first job right now, as an agent for ShowcaseMiami Realty.

Where did you grow up? Miami.

What is your favorite free-time activity? My favorite thing to do is spending time with my two daughters.

What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? I go outside with a basketball and shoot some hoops.

Growing up, what did you want to be? I wanted to be Magnum, P.I.

If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? I’m a tech guy, and I’d really like to meet Thomas Edison. I’d love to hand him my smartphone and see his reaction.

Where is your favorite place to hang out? At home.

What do you love most about the industry? The freedom and independence it gives you. I like how every day is different, and I like the ability to control your own destiny.

How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? I’m a little more creative. I come up with different ideas. I once tried to get the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream truck to one of my open houses. And once when we had a listing for a waterfront property, we ended up getting one of my daughters on a stand-up paddle board to showcase the water. We had the photographers take pictures of her and she made it into the MLS listing to differentiate it from the other listings.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job? The hardest part is telling clients things they don’t want to hear but need to know.

Where do you go to network and meet new clients? I don’t really “network” at events, because it seems like when you go there, people are trying to sell you on their stuff. I do a lot of my networking through friends and social media, particularly Twitter and Instagram.

What has been your greatest accomplishment? My two daughters.

What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? “The Genius” by David Harris. It’s a book about the football coach, Bill Walsh, and how he created a dynasty in the ’80s with the 49ers.

What is your favorite restaurant? Shorty’s Barbeque.

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Miami? I like the Adrienne Arsht Center. It’s a neat and functional building.

What kind of car do you drive? I drive a minivan during the day and a convertible Mustang at night.

Smartphone or paper? Paper? What’s that?

What is your favorite city after Miami? Asheville, North Carolina.

What is your advice for someone new to the industry? Find a great experienced mentor, watch them and learn from them as much as you can.

What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app? Awesome Time Logger.

Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? ShowcaseMiami, Miamism and Dwayne Wade.

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