How Playing Competitive Sports Has Influenced the Success of Industry Professionals

An inside look with Dan Palmeri, SIOR , Senior Director at Cushman & Wakefield 

Can you say “Hunger Games” without already knowing what this blog is about? This may not be the fictional District 12 set in Panem, negotiation talks with “President Snow” at the Capitol but for Dan Palmeri, the odds are forever in his favor. Check out his story on how stepping out of the box to learn something new developed into a strong passion for the bow & arrow.

In the 3rd edition of the special 6-Part Blog Series, you will get to learn about some of the most successful businessmen and women who are dominating the playing field and have risen to the top as thought leaders, keynote speakers, authors, top producers, influencers and more.

Senior Director, Dan Palmeri has been with Cushman & Wakefield in Las Vegas, Nevada since 2006. His 14 years of commercial real estate has presented him with the opportunity to work with clients such as Aetna, State Bar of Nevada, American Family Insurance, Dignity Healthy, Ghost Adventures and Honeywell International to name a few. The list is long and distinguished along with his impressive achievements he has received along the way, including SIOR Global — Young Professionals Group Chairman, SIOR of Southern Nevada Board member, CREW Las Vegas member, NAIOP of Southern Nevada member, CCIM candidate and a conistent top broker for the Cushman & Wakefield. Let’s not forget to mention his multiple CoStar Power Broker awards recognition as well. 

Palmeri said, “Sports always comes down to two things: Natural talent and work ethic.” Palmeri admits that he was not always the most naturally talented when it came to sports and definitely when it came to brokerage. However, he also believes that with work ethic, putting in the extra 2–5 hours a day, day after day creates so much more experience and knowledge in comparison to someone who puts in the minimal amount of effort. “If you have a combination of natural talent and work ethic, then it’s near impossible to stop that individual from becoming great at what they do. According to his 12-year old daughter, Palmeri does not like to lose so rating himself a 10 on how competitive he is says it all. In fact, he claims he was just as competitive as a young athlete as he compares himself today professionally.

Always a 10. If I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability. 

As a kid, Dan grew up playing tennis and basketball. He also grew up bowling at a very young age. He went from the hardwood and courts to the football field when he entered into high school. He was the quarterback and tight-end at Calabasas High in California. It is no surprise that he was also awarded the ‘Offensive MVP, Most Valuable Player’ in his junior year as a tight end. This of course does not trump his recognition as PeeWee bowling champ at 6 years old. What do you say everyone? Are there any bowling alleys nearby the Las Vegas Convention Center in May 2021? Commercial Real Estate may be entering into another level of competition soon enough. 

If there is one quality that Dan believes that defined him as an athlete as it still does today as an industry professional, that is “Work ethic,” said Palmeri. As he mentioned, work ethic and discipline for himself has been the catalyst to a successful career, but more importantly the values that it instills into his everyday life. Dan’s favorite pastime has always been hunting. He grew up in Southern California with a father from Sicily and his mother from the valley. Two people that would never dream of hunting or know where to begin. In fact, Dan only started hunting just two years ago, albeit with a rifle. While this was a great new experience for him, it wasn’t the challenge he was looking for. 

In his own words:

I felt that it was a little too easy and didn’t really create a competitive environment for the animal. This has led me to discover archery, with my ultimate goal being able to go on an Elk archery hunt. Over the past two years, I have come to learn and appreciate the sport of hunting, it’s focus on animal and nature conservation and the joy of making my family dinner with an animal I harvested.

Dan has only shot archery indoors learning the nuances of the sport but this year, he put in for archery tags in Nevada, a state that is based on a point and lottery system. Anybody can draw at any time but the more points you accumulate over the years, the more chances you have to successfully draw a tag. It usually takes 5–10 years to draw a Nevada Elk tag. His odds of getting drawn were 14%. “Wouldn’t you know it, I’ve drawn a tag and in just one week,” said Palmeri. Does this really surprise anyone? (wink) It is also not surprising that he did everything he could to learn more about archery, hunting, the outside climate control and so on. Dan took to listening to endless podcasts to grow his knowledge, hiking the mountains in the early mornings to build up his strength and practice his shooting. Work Ethic! Dan has even been teaching himself how to “Elk Call” though he admits that he is pretty terrible at it thus far. Don’t worry Dan, I am sure the elk will be coming right up to you sooner or later. At the end of the day, he will be hopefully enjoying some Elk burgers and sausages with family and friends for the rest of the year. 

Some of the biggest life lessons that are made are ones that we learn from too. Palmeri stated, “The biggest lesson was not getting excited about any deal, no matter how far along it is.” As young advisors you do not always know about this as particularly from his own experience, a deal fell through at the signing table very early on in his career when he was working at the family restaurant. “I’ve learned to take nothing personal, it’s just business and the deal is never done, until it’s booked and paid.”

So take the wisdom of someone who not only admits to being competitive but also someone who puts in the work to obtain the outcome he desires. You can be as competitive as can be, but the true character will also shine through on how you treat others in the process. 

“Be competitive with kindness. People enjoy doing business with people they like and it makes getting deals done so much easier.”

So if you are in Southern Nevada and want to get a few rounds of bowling in, hit the local archery club or find the office space you need for your business, you can count on Dan to give you 100% in everything he does. Remember, the odds are forever in his favor. 

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Dan Palmeri, SIOR | Senior Director | Tenant Advisory Group | NV License S.0067467| Direct: +1 702 688 6909 | [email protected]