Title: 
CEO, sales associate, team leader
Company: 
Keller Williams Realty
Location: 
2901 PGA Blvd. Suite 100
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
United States
Florida US

Corporate Wonk to Turnaround Champ

Six years into his first job as a trainer and consultant for a large corporation, Brette Boettge took two weeks off to get his real estate license. He never went back. Within 14 months, Boettge was asked to relaunch his company—as CEO. He walked in and fired all 70 associates, rehiring only those who committed to a new set of standards and expectations. Eighteen months later, the company has gained market share and launched a successful Milwaukee office, he says. Boettge also helped found Forward Motion, an area networking and development group for executives and business owners.

Excuse Me, Do You Have a Minute?

Boettge was raised a Jehovah's Witness. Although he has moved on, he says the experience of door knocking on behalf of a religious organization instilled in him the emotional resilience needed for a real estate career. His training background helps him manage and motivate his "agent-run democracy," a roster of 65 sales professionals.

Think Like a Winner

"There are only 800 transactions in your quarter, so if you have them all, then that's a pretty good quarter," he says. "That's how I think. That's how I'm wired. I set very clear goals, with a very clear focus."