Louis of The Louis Marketing Group advises individuals starting their careers

Do you have any advice for individuals just starting their career in the commercial real estate industry? I have always tried to embody the important traits that a person should possess in order to be a success in business. I am compelled to say that expertise and competence in my industry are first on my list, however this is not enough by itself to make a success. Success factors are intangibles within a person and if you were to compare ten successful people of similar age, education and field, you would discover a very different combination of traits. Personally, in addition to having "lived" marketing and advertising for a long time and learned how to run a business from the inside out, I always strive to be a good listener and try to be friendly and respectful to everyone, no matter whether they are in a position to provide me with business or not. Most of all, I really like people and look for goodness in them. People want to do business with someone who is genuinely interested in their business problems and challenges. Linda Louis is the president of The Louis Marketing Group, Dix Hills, N.Y.