I'm Solomon Poretsky, and this is How I work #cre

The answers below are from Solomon Poretsky, this week's guest of "How I work #cre". Want to hear how another #cre professional works? Tag them below in the comments.????

What is the most important aspect of your daily routine?

I start early.?Never later than 6:30 am, but frequently before 6 am.?I find that I'm sharper in the morning, and I like the quiet around me. Plus, the work I get done before people are up and running is helpful.

I also try to start my day -- and I'll be honest here and say that I'm not perfect at scheduling this -- with something positive. Congratulating advisors on successful closings, for instance, is a great way to start off. It's crucially important. It keeps me in touch with whom I serve. And it starts me out in a great mood.

What’s one lesson you learned through COVID-19 about how you work which has led to an improvement?

Spending a year plus doing zoom calls has taught me two things...

1. There's real power in getting in a car or on a plane to have a face-to-face meeting.
2. The true power of a phone call is underestimated.

What programs, hacks, or tricks can you share that gives you productivity an edge??

My primary productivity trick is to do one thing at a time. I always have to get back to people, but I don't always have to answer my phone.

Apps, programs, or gadgets that you can’t live without?

A few things that really make the difference for me...

1. Learn to really use your email client. Once I discovered filters for Gmail and started deploying them more intelligently, my inbox got SO MUCH easier to use.
2. Get business-class equipment.?Windows, Mac, doesn't matter, but a $1500 laptop will make you MUCH more productive than a $600 one.
3. Have good true wireless earbuds AND a good set of noise-canceling headphones -- these are crucial if you're a road warrior. And remember... They have to sound good when you're talking on calls as well as when you're listening to podcasts.?For that reason, I'm partial to Sony, but it's a personal choice.

What book has inspired you most recently?

1. The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs... A true classic of urban planning.
2. Our Towns by James and Deborah Fallows... A love letter to the great towns that many of us live in.
3. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. It's good to read about great -- and uniquely human -- leaders.

What question did you want to be asked?

Why do you do what you do??

I do it to create a better life for my family. And to help other people create better lives for their families and the people they love.

Also, because it's fun.?Remember what Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore once said...

?I slept and dreamt that life was joy.?

I awoke and saw that life was service.?

I acted and behold, service was joy.

Favorite way to recharge??

Time with my family. Reading. Building legos.

Who else would you want to see answer these questions??

Matt Stone. All-day long.

—Say ?? to Solomon.