Episode 025: Scot Policastro

Interactive Transcript

spk_0 In real estate reality checks, college and high school addition, Larry Haber, a reformed

spk_0 yet recovered developer, attorney, CPA, and the creator of leasing reality as a means of

spk_0 providing career, interview, workplace, and other educational tips, channels rock and roll,

spk_0 hip-hop, sports, historical, and pop culture icons as a bridge to empower his student guests

spk_0 to educate and motivate their fellow aspiring and business rock stars to reach their full potential.

spk_0 Whatever that may be.

spk_0 Today, we are fortunate to have with us none other than Scott Pollock-Hostreau, a 2019 leasing reality

spk_0 summer intern and current student at Northeastern University. Thanks for joining us today, Scott.

spk_0 We have some things to talk about here beside the rising and not so rising tide of real estate,

spk_0 business, education, your career, and life as you see it. So let's get right to it, my friend.

spk_0 The 1980s band Durand Durand had a song called First Impressions. So Scott, what advice can you

spk_0 give to a fellow college student when they meet a prospective employer for a job interview or if they're

spk_0 trying to pitch a position that they may have, maybe even their profession, something they're

spk_0 passionate about so that they make that first impression and everlasting one.

spk_0 So the thing I have learned is that confidence is key. No matter what you're going into,

spk_0 you always need to be confident. If you could put a smile on your face and if you could sell a pencil,

spk_0 but make it sound like the best pencil in the entire world you've done something right.

spk_0 When you're going with an idea, you're trying to pitch something. Even if the idea isn't quite

spk_0 done, it isn't quite solid. If you're dedicated to it, if you show that you're willing to dedicate

spk_0 your time to be confident with your pitch, the person you're talking to will most likely be on board.

spk_0 Because everyone wants to see it go getter. Everyone wants to see somebody who's going to take

spk_0 that extra step, a little bit more initiative. And all you gotta do is put yourself out there.

spk_0 When you're trying to be a potential job employer, you're really trying to find some place where

spk_0 you belong. Yeah, have to go in with calm mind. You can't be too crazy. You have to put your best

spk_0 cards on the table, show them exactly what you can do, what you want to do, how you can add to

spk_0 the company. You don't want to be saying all these crazy things, only of course, say things you

spk_0 can do. And don't let your fear take the best of you. If you're going to go in there and be a

spk_0 nervous rec, you might as well not walk in. If you can go in with the calm face, play yourself up,

spk_0 make yourself sound great. Like you're the person they want to hire, that's the best advice I can

spk_0 give. Yeah, work for you. That's how you got the job at least in reality.

spk_0 So a recent documentary on Showtime was called New Wave Data Be Different. It premiered

spk_0 about a year ago, maybe a little bit more. It's partially about how this small radio station,

spk_0 Adon Long Island, called WLIR pushed the envelope back in the 70s. They were promoting New Wave

spk_0 and punk music. And how it consequently laid the ground work for such societal changes,

spk_0 such as MTV. So Scott, like WLIR, how have you dared to be different in the manner in the way

spk_0 you conduct yourself? Well, I always try to think outside the box. I know it's kind of a cheesy thing

spk_0 to say, but a lot of what everybody does is think inside the box. No one tries to go for that

spk_0 creative wacky route sometimes. That's what you need. Yeah, I personally think there really is no box.

spk_0 That's the best way to think. If you don't think there's a box and any idea is a good idea,

spk_0 that's a great place to start. Because the moment you start limiting yourself is the moment you

spk_0 lose all creativity is the moment you lose any real train of thought. Limiting yourself as the

spk_0 worst thing you can do in any project. So have fun with it. Keep going. When I'm tackling a project,

spk_0 I don't simply think of it as like in the constraints of what I'm given. If someone tells me to write

spk_0 a paper, I'm going to take that and write the most crazy wacky paper I can think of. If they tell me

spk_0 like, write a poem, I'm going to make that poem the best I can make it. From arguably my favorite

spk_0 grateful dead song, namely, Scarlet Bagonius, there is a line that goes once in a while, you get

spk_0 shown the light in the strangest of places. If you look at it right. So Scott, with that said,

spk_0 what insights or life lessons have you learned along the way from either an unlikely source or

spk_0 when you basically least expected it? Oh, honestly, I think I learned the most when I do least

spk_0 expect it. I think every day there's a little bit of opportunity for learning, and even the smallest

spk_0 most mundane tasks, there's always something to take away. When I'm outside having to like

spk_0 clean the pool, do a little bit of landscaping, help around the house, doing chores, like it sounds

spk_0 kind of boring, but I'm learning how to be patient, get my work done, do it timely, do it right.

spk_0 When I'm out here working, I'm learning exactly the most efficient way to get my work done. I'm

spk_0 learning how to work with my colleagues, especially the new ones that keep coming in, and while working

spk_0 with the old ones and maintaining a professional and comfortable work environment. So one of my best

spk_0 friends growing up, his name is Tommy, and I love the kid. And when you first talk with him, he's

spk_0 the kind of person who comes across that he may not always know what he talks about, but you listen

spk_0 a little bit and you give him a chance. And he actually has a lot of really useful life information.

spk_0 So I'll be talking with him, and sometimes we'll just drop with some of the most like profound

spk_0 sentences I've ever heard. I'm like, where'd you get these? Like, I don't know, I just kind of came

spk_0 up with it. And from that, I've learned that even talking with strangers and meeting somebody,

spk_0 there's always something to take away from it. Some of my best experiences with people is when I

spk_0 first meet them, and all of a sudden they just changed how I thought about something. I never would

spk_0 consider their point, their view. And they bring it up and all of a sudden it's like my entire

spk_0 world just changed because they brought to light something I never thought of previously.

spk_0 Talking heads, rock and roll, whole of famers, and one of my favorite bands, Scott, they have a

spk_0 song title. This must be the place. So with that said, what's your happy place?

spk_0 I gotta say, my happy place is my car. And I love it. I could travel anywhere, I can go anywhere,

spk_0 anytime I want. And having that freedom is something I cherish a lot. Like, going to school in

spk_0 Boston, that's one thing I actually missed. I just can't go drive anytime I want to. I have to go

spk_0 take the train. That's a that's a little route. Once you're on it, you're on it. You know where you're

spk_0 going, but when I'm in the car, I don't know where I'm going. And I love that just mysterious element

spk_0 to it where I can just pick a random direction and go. I'm my happiest, so I'm just kind of exploring,

spk_0 finding new places. I'm in the comfort of my space. It's my car, but I can go anywhere, see anything

spk_0 and have the potential to get out and then do anything. Okay, so I'm going to call you Easy Rider,

spk_0 who's an epic movie from the late 60s. Watch it. The Rowan Stones, who it's actually August first

spk_0 today. So this is going to come out in the fall, but I'm going to see them tonight. And great band.

spk_0 And they have what is known as arguably one of the greatest live albums of all time.

spk_0 Namely, get your yaya's out. So Scott, when you aren't working, how do you get your yaya's out?

spk_0 Well, guys, I'm very jealous about that concert later. I'd love to go see that. But how I get my

spk_0 yaya's out, it's kind of one or the other. It's either super active or super lazy. So on one hand,

spk_0 I can go hiking, I can go scale a mountain, go down a ravine, find some hidden lakes somewhere in

spk_0 the middle of the woods. Or I'm just sitting in my bed watching Netflix. It's really one of the

spk_0 younger. As childish as this may sound, I happen to be in one of the original fantasy baseball,

spk_0 these still in existence from the early 1980s. So in many ways, it's my therapy as it allows me

spk_0 to get off the grid a few times a day for a few minutes, which in turn allows me to keep fresh,

spk_0 turn, and relatively speaking, grueling day. Well, theoretically, simultaneously keep in my

spk_0 competitive and analytical side stoked. So during your day, Scott, how do you go off the grid as a

spk_0 way of keeping your sanity and making yourself more productive? Well, kind of going off of what I

spk_0 just said. I loved just going like driving or another big one is walking. And I used to live in

spk_0 London. I just went my first semester in college abroad. And whenever I had free time, everyone

spk_0 else is in class. And I just had looking at where to to myself, on the clear in my head, I'll just go

spk_0 outside and start walking. And I found it's a great way. It gets, it keeps me active, gets the

spk_0 blood flowing. And I could just clear my head, kind of just zone out sometimes the rest of the world,

spk_0 do my own thing and keep going. And eventually I'll find my way back. And what I do usually

spk_0 made a way better headspace. Someone I set out. Scott, I want to ask you something about finding

spk_0 the balance. And I'm going to use Kevin Hart as the conduit. So the great comedian. So

spk_0 long before he was even born, I have always subconsciously channeled his mantra of, I don't care

spk_0 how busy I am. I always make time for what's important to me. So with that deep or not so deep

spk_0 thought in mind, how do you go about finding the balance as you continue to mature? Well, I always

spk_0 thought that anything in excess is not great. Even if it's a lot of hard work and you're putting

spk_0 a lot effort and energy into it, if you're overworked in yourself, that's no good either. So I try to

spk_0 remind myself, take my time, kind of diversify my schedule a little bit. Don't put everything in

spk_0 one day, spread it out over the week. And I try not to stress myself out. That's the biggest thing.

spk_0 So finding that balance as I've gotten older has definitely been a little bit trickier.

spk_0 As more and more responsibilities have been put out on my plate. And for me, it's just a matter of

spk_0 kind of taking it as they come. I never want to over exert myself. So I have no energy for what

spk_0 comes next. I set reasonable goals and move on from there. So David Ketter, DJ to the stars and

spk_0 also many fun days at the annual Las Vegas ICSC Real Estate Convention has a song called Memories

spk_0 that he did with hip hop artist Kid Cutty. So when it comes to your memory of great accomplishments,

spk_0 Scott, is there any underlying theme or message that led to achieving them?

spk_0 Well, I got to say, I've grown for underlying themes. I think the greatest one is I always try to

spk_0 push myself. Whenever I'm putting out my work, I definitely want to be proud of it. And if that

spk_0 involves going that little extra mile, then I will. I can think of many of projects, many of

spk_0 things I've done over the years that I've definitely been out of my comfort zone while I did them.

spk_0 And because I was able to do those things, I felt so great afterward. For example, I did a lot of

spk_0 volunteer work a couple of years ago and I worked at a local park and they used to set up a bunch

spk_0 of concerts. And I was given the task of setting up the sound stage. Did I know anything about how

spk_0 to do this? Nope. I know anything where to play speakers, how to set up a stage, all the wiring,

spk_0 how to test the mics. I knew nothing. I gladly accepted it though and I started to learn. By the

spk_0 end of my time there, I knew how to do everything, could do it almost single-handedly and I was very

spk_0 proud of myself for being able to do that. Priding workmanship. Rod Santamasamo, who was a guest

spk_0 of mine on the podcast earlier and also is the business guru coach of many top real estate

spk_0 brokers in the industry, including another prior guest of mine, Bob Nackle, recently posted a

spk_0 small piece on why differentiating yourself is important. So how would you say you differentiate

spk_0 yourself from some of your peers? I feel like a lot of my peers, I don't mean to put them down.

spk_0 They kind of stick to what they're good at. And by all means, that's great. That's how you get

spk_0 some place. You stick to what you're, you stick to your guns, you keep going forward. But... Staying in

spk_0 your lane. Staying in your lane. I never really quite like that route. I always, like I said,

spk_0 kind of going back to the whole sound stage. They always like the trinings that are different. And

spk_0 regardless of how different, how abnormal it may be at the time, I always give it a shot. One of

spk_0 the things that you know what, that sounds like a fun time when I tried out for him, when I tried out

spk_0 with him. Didn't make it, but it was a lot of fun to go to the dance team and even attempt it.

spk_0 So it was something so new and wacky. Like, why not? So just because something may not be like my

spk_0 forte, something may not be what's normal, what's mainstream, doesn't mean I'm not going to try it.

spk_0 And I think having that mindset definitely gives me an edge above or over my peers.

spk_0 Mick Jagger of The Stones has a song called Out of Focus. Jay-Z, a song titled Moment of Clarity

spk_0 in the Legendary Saxophone Player John Coltrane, focused on sanity. So how do you stay focused

spk_0 with so many distractions and noise surrounding you when you're back at college?

spk_0 Well, going to be honest, it's pretty hard. If I had to pick one word to describe a

spk_0 college dorm, it just would be noisy. Between people, blasting music, all the random things going

spk_0 on, people running up and down the hallways, there's always something happening. And especially

spk_0 someone who likes to have a lot of people around, my room is constantly having people come back and

spk_0 forth out of it. But to stay focused, you kind of just have to know what you can and can't do.

spk_0 So like, if I'm trying to study for a test, I know I need to find my own quiet place. I'll leave,

spk_0 find some kind of like nice building. Actually, the law library in Northeastern is pretty great for

spk_0 that. I got to say. And one of the big things like there was a channel Ferris Bueller and say,

spk_0 you got to take things slow. You can't just go through life. You don't pay attention. Oh,

spk_0 go right by it. Stop for a little bit. Take a look around and you'll know this is a lot there.

spk_0 And in college, that really applies because you're living in a new place, especially me just finishing

spk_0 my first semester. Yeah, have a lot of new things happen to meet a lot of new people. And if you just

spk_0 don't take a second to stop, gather yourself. You're just going to miss a lot. And a lot of

spk_0 opportunity to just come flying by. And if you don't know how to process them or deal with them,

spk_0 that's an opportunity to miss. It's time to close things out, my friend. We're going to do it

spk_0 with talking about the title of the Oscar-winning song from the movie Dirty Dancing, which was called

spk_0 The Time of My Life. So can you tell us about one of the two best times in your life from either a

spk_0 business, personal or career perspective? Actually, I got the perfect to say about this. So when I was

spk_0 going to be a junior in high school, I wanted to take some initiative. And so I signed up to do

spk_0 a summer class at GW as George Washington University in DC. And I had really no idea what I was

spk_0 getting into. I knew I wanted to do business, but I wasn't sure where I wanted to start. So logically,

spk_0 I thought about it, Michael, if I'm going to start in business, I might as well start with entrepreneurship.

spk_0 It's the creation of a company. It's how a lot of businesses get their, how all businesses get

spk_0 their start. As someone has an idea and they go out and make it a reality. And while I was there,

spk_0 my task was to create a fake business, pitch it to real investors, set up everything about it,

spk_0 and convince these people that they should be supporting me. It was one of the best experiences

spk_0 of my entire life, because not only did I meet a lot of people who personally impacted me,

spk_0 they encouraged me to try harder to do more. But I also got to see what the business role is like.

spk_0 I went to various different investor pitches. I got to see real entrepreneurs out there pitching

spk_0 their ideas, trying to give in to investors, assembling teams, and networking at the same time.

spk_0 I was able to meet a lot of very, very influential people I was there. At the college, in the local

spk_0 industries, I went to many different startups, incubators within the city. And I talked to a lot of

spk_0 people there, and they're the ones that really inspired me to continue down the business track,

spk_0 and eventually, hopefully, become an entrepreneur myself. I owe my entire college career, my whole

spk_0 decision of going to Northeastern to them, because they're the ones who influenced me to do that.

spk_0 Before that, I was not really sure where I wanted to go, but after doing such a really eye-opening

spk_0 program, it kind of gave me some clarity of what I wanted to do. And ever since I've just been

spk_0 kind of continuing down that path. And continue on, my friend, you're doing great. Thank you so

spk_0 much for joining us. Pleasure to have you. Thank you very much Larry.

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Episode 025: Scot Policastro

Interactive Transcript

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