Today’s Notable Young Entrepreneur is Edmonton’s own Emmett Hartfield. He is the owner and partner of Intelligence House, a real estate consulting firm which provides research and marketing for builders and developers. We caught up with him to find out what inspires his work and what advice he would share with other young professionals…
WORK
1. Describe what you do in less than 140 characters. Go.
Shape, design, market and sell over $400 million in multi-family real estate inventory in Alberta.
2. What was the inspiration for your career route?
A love for architecture, urban planning, marketing and real estate in general. I have a weird obsession with high-rise skyscrapers. I can tell you what major city I am looking at throughout the world just by seeing a photo of the skyline.
3. What is the most memorable milestone in your career so far?
It would be hard to pinpoint one milestone, taking the risk of starting my own business and growing it to over 16 employees and doing work for over 50 clients in the first three years has been a huge roller coaster and very memorable in itself.
4. Where do you see yourself in five years, 10 years, 20 years?
Five years: Continuing to grow our business and hopefully be part of some very exciting developments.
10 years: Doing more of the same
20 years: Retired living on a beach for the majority of the year
5. Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Professionals – work hard and take nothing for granted. Our generation is living in an era where the cost of living is the highest it has ever been, you are entitled to nothing so work hard for it.
Entrepreneurs – don’t try and be the next Mark Zuckerberg; find an industry you are passionate about, work in it for a few years and gain experience. Then, find a need that isn’t being fulfilled and service that need.
6. Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is it (or they) important to you?
Matt Cook Foundation fighting rare cancers. One of my best friends had his sibling (Matt Cook) pass away from a rare form of cancer and we all do our best to support him and the foundation.
7. What is one major challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career? How did you overcome it?
When I finished university, I worked for two companies that were an absolute nightmare. Extremely poor management and ownership and also had no respect for their employees. It inspired me to start my own business and that is exactly what I did.
8. What does the word notable mean to you?
Being relevant in a respective area.
PLAY
1. Where is your favourite place to wine/dine in your city and why?
Pico Lino, love Italian food and one of the best restaurants in the city.
2. What’s the most visited website on your Internet browser? The most played song on your phone?
LinkedIn – I always enjoy seeing what everyone in the industry is up to. No one song in particular, I enjoy all genres of music.
3. Who’s one person you think everyone should be following on social media?
@sidneycrosbyego on Twitter… absolutely hilarious.
4. What’s your favourite country to visit and why? And what’s the next one you plan on travelling to?
I absolutely loved all of Europe but Germany in particular. There is so much history. I am going to the Dominican with my daughter and wife in November.
5. What gives you the greatest FOMO?
I have a 6-month-old daughter, and if I am away from her for more than a day or two on business, I get anxiety.
6. What’s your guiltiest pleasure?
Pizza and chips, I lose all control.
7. What’s something you wish you didn’t spend so much money on? What’s something you wish you spent more on?
I spend too much eating out at restaurants, and I wish I spent more groceries instead.
8. And finally, what does success look like to you? Work, play, or otherwise…
Being highly respected in your industry, financially stable and coming home to a beautiful family, I believe define success. I am very lucky to have all of those.
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