Ray White’s Ignite19 lights up Adelaide

THE biggest Ray White training event ever held in Adelaide took place today at the Convention Centre when more than 275 agents and property managers from across the leading group’s South Australia network gathered for Ignite19.

Australasia’s most successful real estate business, Ray White launched Ignite19 this week, a fresh national training series featuring powerful interviews and specialist sessions with its top performers.

The sessions were designed to help its agents navigate and adapt to current markets conditions.

Ray White Group Managing Director Dan White kicked off proceedings by expressing to the packed house his immense pride heading in to 2019.

“I have to say that it’s my personal ambition, and our ambition as a whole, that we ensure this is our best year yet,” Mr White said.

“For the last 117 years we’ve always said that we’re determined to be our absolute best this year. It’s so important to not just settle for an ‘okay’ year.

“We’ve never had more people and we’ve never had better leaders across our group. We’re creating an environment where we can excel and make sure this year’s our best.”

The keynote address by Port Adelaide Head of High Performance Dr Ian McKeown (pictured above) focused on leadership, performance and what made a team great.

“Whenever you don't feel like doing something, or start to waiver, you need to make sure you’re always being consistent. You need to be 'on' all of the time,” Dr McKeown said.

“We need to trust that we have the right systems and resources in place. Trust and transparency are key components to great leadership.

“It’s vital to always strive to be better, to have an infectious ‘we’re always going to get better’ attitude, and to have goals you can truly believe in.”

Speaking on stage, Ray White Norwood business owner and former Adelaide United footballer Jason Spagnolo (pictured below) detailed how, since embarking on business ownership with partner Sam Brincat only 20 months ago, they had taken the mantle of number one business for the network from the beginning of the new financial year, but since decided to make a change in business approach.

“We had a good year but we noticed some things weren’t working, so we made the decision to change things before they broke, by transitioning the business from private treaty to an auction business,” Mr Spagnolo said.

“The facts were just there. We read a case study where someone did the exact same thing. I thought if I’m going to do it, I need to go all in. We all have ego. Sam and I always want to make sure our ego doesn’t get in the way of making the right decision.

“Our first in-room had 28 properties and we only sold two, but do you know what? I still saw the night as a success. You learn from it. And next time will be better. And the time after that will be better again.

“I got my mindset right. I used to throw auctions under the bus, and I had to go back to vendors who I had trashed auctions to, but I went back and owned up. I said I know what I said before, but I showed them the data. The data really doesn’t lie.

“Average days on market were 81 before we started doing auctions. We would’ve continued to be okay, but at some point, we would’ve had to pack it all in. So, we needed to make a change.”

Ray White South Australia l Northern Territory Chief Executive Officer Matt Lindblom (pictured above) said he was pleased to see such a great a turn out for the Ignite19 event.

“We’re now three months in from when the White family cemented their ownership of the South Australia and Northern Territory network,” Mr Lindblom said.

“What I’d say is if you want it, then seize the moment and take it. Why not? You can set the bar as high as you want it to be, it’s your goal after all.”

Ignite19 is being rolled out across the majority of capital cities in the first quarter of 2019, with Perth to host the next event on 12 February, followed by Sydney on 14 March.