Here’s the second half of our chat with Eric Rivera and Mike DeSena. Check out the first half here.
What do you like to do in your free time?
M: If it’s the wintertime, I like to ski. I just got back from skiing. I did Vermont for 4 days then flew to Utah for 10 days. If not, I spend a lot of time with my cousins. We’re all pretty much the same age. So they’ll come over and we’ll play cards or just go out and drink. I don’t like going out as much – I’m not a big party guy. I will (and I do) and I have fun, but I like hanging out. I’m really big on family so I spend a lot of time with my cousins. I go to the gym – it doesn’t show, but I go. I make an appearance
E: Haha it literally sounds like you just stroll by and leave.
What about you, Eric.
E: I go skiing, with him usually. I love hanging out with my cousins but my cousins are huge party people. My best friend, aside from Mike, is my cousin Chris. He is a complete idiot. He’s a year younger than me. I don’t mean idiot – he’s got his life together. But he will take me out of my comfort zone every time we go out. It’s awesome. I also love to travel, it’s one of my favorite things in the world.
Travel where?
E: I’ve been to Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Spain, Italy, and different states. I wish I could travel a lot more often. I want to go to Japan and Thailand.
M: I want to ski in Japan.
Is it good?
M: It’s supposed to be amazing.
E: Some of the best snow in the world.
I have never skied and I don’t like the snow.
M: I hate the summertime. All the sweat¦ I will do 60 degrees. That’s my max.
I really like grey, cloudy days where you can wear shorts¦ do you know what I mean?
E: You guys are competing for the weirdest statements ever.
Can you tell me any funny stories from TripleMint? Something that’s happened here.
E: Mike ripped his pants because he’s fat.
M: No I did not rip my pants¦ So stories from the office or at parties with the company? You can quote me on this. This place was never the way it was until I walked in the door.
E: He says I, but we walked in together. Okay. Story time. At our holiday party, Mike facetimed Ariana Grande. One of our agents, Josh Juneau, is really good friends with her best friend. So he was there, and he really likes us. We were all hanging out. I went to the bathroom and he starts facetiming Ariana Grande. I come out and I text her, “I love you.” Then a limo comes by as we’re about to leave. Mike goes up to the limo and he goes, “how much for all of us.” The guy says, “$250.” Mike responds, “$160.” Then he turns to us and says, “I got this. Get inside the limo.”
(Enter Real Estate Specialist Emily Seils)
Emily: Are you guys telling Erica stories about the holiday party?
E: Don’t worry, this will all be edited.
M: Don’t worry, I’ve got some good stories. Mostly about Joel being a fool.
E: One time Emily and Joel got into a fight and it was the best thing ever. Over the mashed potatoes.
Emily: I don’t remember that probably because every time he talks to me I don’t listen.
M: Funny stuff happens all day.
E: Little one liners.
M: This place is great. Honestly, if you could put anything useful in, it’d be that this place is awesome. We’re not a startup anymore because we’ve been around for awhile. We’re very successful, but we still have that startup feel and everybody’s age relatable. We have a ton of little inside jokes and people turn around and say them and you just get it.
E: If this was a larger company it would be listed as one of the best places to work. Just based on the culture.
M: Honestly, I’d say maybe more than half of the reason why I love being here is because of the culture. It just brings you to another level. Everybody gets along and everybody’s friendly. I don’t think anybody hates me (they might) but I don’t know. We always have snacks, and we have a great variety of people. The culture here is unreal.
E: That’s the best part.
Tell me something that not many people know about you.
E: I have 3 nipples.
Are you serious?
E: No
That’s actually a thing you know. You can get it removed.
M: I have a nipple piercing. Just kidding. I have two tattoos. Some people know that.
E: I’m really really amazing at miscellaneous things.
M: That’s true. He sucks at real things, but he’s good at dumb stuff.
Give me an example.
E: I’m pretty good at any sport. I can pick it up relatively well and be on a team and be an asset.
M: I’m an athlete.
E: An athlete is like Tom Brady. On a scale of 1 to athlete¦ no you’re not. When it comes to ping pong for someone who’s never had training I don’t lose. Darts, I just get a bullseye 1 in every 3 throws. Pool, I’m really good at pool. I’m awesome at beer pong.
M: I don’t really have a thing that people don’t know about me. I say everything.
Okay there, no filter. That’s your thing.
M: I have an intense fear of mushrooms, garlic, and onions. If it’s in the food I’ll move it and burn it. When I was 11 I bit into a garlic clove and it was the worst feeling in the world.
What is your favorite quote?
M: People think that angels are the closest representation of God, but God sent Jesus to let people know that the closest representation of him are the sinners in some way, shape, or form. People are always trying to do good and be good, but a lot of the time, regular people are the ones who are closest to God – who He worries about the most.
E: My favorite quote is a Will Smith quote that stuck with me: “If you’re not making someone else’s life better then you’re wasting your time.” I think that’s an awesome way to live your life. Even the small things: holding the door open, making someone smile. That’s how companies are built. Products solve a problem or address a need.
Can you walk me through your day-to-day schedules?
M: I get up at 6 am every morning. My alarm is set for 6:02, 6:12 and 6:22. Not because I need help getting up, but because I need to remind myself to get up. Then, I get ready. I pick up Eric and we get on a train and try to get to TripleMint at 8:30 or 9:00. I respond to emails and do market research. If I have a client, I’ll set up an appointment for that afternoon or the next day. I don’t try to make calls in the morning because I don’t like to bother people. I get lunch around 12:00 then I make phone calls between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. I think the best time to get people is right after lunch. If I have an appointment, I’ll take my clients out. If not, I’ll just be here researching and making as many calls as I can. Recently, what I’ve been doing is Google mapping addresses of buildings that I remember and getting their information and trying to get through to the others – a little bit of prospecting.
E: I wake up, drink coffee and hang out with my little brother. Then, Mike will pick me up and we’ll come into the office between 8:30 and 9. As soon as I walk in, I am answering emails and confirming appointments or just getting myself situated for the rest of the day to make sure everything will flow. I’ll research the market using The Real Deal and see who sold the $40 million ridiculous apartment. I will basically be reaching out to as many people as possible throughout the day. I’ll reach out to past clients, future clients, friends, people that I’ve run into, people that I’ve met at marketing events. I’ll just be constantly sending emails. If I have an appointment, I’ll go, if I don’t I’ll do some prospecting and script training.
What’s script training?
E: Basically, there is a script we follow when we make calls. So we try to sound as confident as possible and the only way to do that is practice with each other. Instagram is the biggest push that I’ve had lately. I’m trying to get to 10,000 followers by the end of the year.
How many do you have so far?
E: Like 497.
M: Just buy them.
E: I don’t want to buy them yet. I want to do it organically. Social media is one of the big things that I’m doing now.
(You can follow Eric @realestate_ric_ and Mike @_michaeldesena. And you can follow TripleMint @TripleMintNYC)
