Ben Moss is the managing director of the sports and entertainment division for ONE Sotheby’s International Realty working in Miami.
What was your first job in the realty industry? I started out in commercial real estate as an analyst at a real estate investment bank.
Where did you grow up? I was born in Virginia, but moved to Panama at two-months-old and lived there until I was four-years-old, at which point I moved to Miami. I’ve been living in Miami ever since.
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? From exercise (weight lifting, cardio, sprints/stairs) to meditation (once a day, in the morning) to spending time with my dogs (they teach us to live in the present moment) to spending time with my wife and friends (life is all about relationships, building them and improving them). I think the single most important way to relieve stress is to be still for a moment and express gratitude for all that you have. When I do that, whatever was causing me stress usually seems a lot less important or goes away completely.
Growing up, what did you want to be? Besides being an NBA player, I really had no idea. There wasn’t one thing I gravitated towards. It wasn’t until I got into college that I decided I’d like to go into the business world, but even then I had no idea in what way. I just knew I didn’t want to sit in an office all day, and I wanted to engage with people and always keep my learning curve going up. One day, I attended a real estate investment workshop and at that point immediately decided I wanted to be involved in the world of real estate – in one way or another.
If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? I’d like to pick the brain of Alex Honnold, at the moment. He’s a guy most people have never heard of, but as an aspiring rock-climber, he’s the biggest stud and crazyiest man I know of. He scales 2,000 ft cliffs routinely without a rope, so he risks death on every free-climb.
Where is your favorite place to hang out? I love being in nature more than anything, so being outdoors is a must for me. I also like low-key, relaxed places like the Coconut Grove Sailing Club or the deck at The Standard.
What do you love most about the industry?What I love most about the industry is that I’m always challenged and every day is different. I love building long-term and engaging relationships, and I love the various skill sets I constantly have to employ, including marketing, negotiation, self-discipline and even playing psychologist (so to speak) with clients and other agents to get deals done.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? I came from the commercial real estate world, so how I approach the business is pretty different than most agents. Also, my sports/entertainment practice is pretty unique and allows me to assist clients all over the U.S.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Juggling the never-ending amount of tasks that are inherent in the business. From keeping clients happy to staying focused on prospecting to responding to the hundreds of emails, texts and phone calls that come in daily. It’s a lot to handle and it doesn’t stop, so keeping a balance between work and my personal life is crucial to not burning out and being my best on both fronts.
Where do you go to network and meet new clients? I’m a fan of breakfast and lunch meetings. I always try to stay in front of my sphere.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? To understand myself enough to really know what makes me happy and gives me peace in life. I look back and I’ve made decisions in my life to put myself in the position I’m in right now. It wasn’t always an easy choice, but you only get one shot to live the life you want, and you can’t be scared to make the choices that will propel you forward.
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? The New Jim Crow, which is a pretty sobering look at the prison system in this country.
What is your favorite restaurant? One of my favorites is the Café at Books and Books. They have a great vegetarian menu, and a great location for people watching.
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Miami? I really like the Espirito Santo Plaza. It’s the most unique building in Miami.
What kind of car do you drive? Audi A7.
Smartphone or paper? Smartphone.
What is your favorite city after Miami? Boulder, Colorado.
What is your advice for someone new to the industry? Find a mentor and develop a business plan.
What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app? I use iMapp a lot, and appFiles.
Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? I like to follow what people in sports/entertainment are doing.
Do you want to be featured in our Agent Snapshot? Fill out our questionnaire, and you’ll be featured too!