Thrive & Inspire ’24: For Mahlstedt, ‘Sincere Desire to Help People’ Is Key

Phoebe Rourke
Thrive & Inspire ’24: For Mahlstedt, ‘Sincere Desire to Help People’ Is Key

Mike Mahlstedt, Top Producing Agent for Compass Real Estate

WHAT'S THE SECRET to running a successful business? Achieving success as a Realtor requires unwavering dedication and continuous effort. The industry is evolving to be more technology-driven and is much more competitive. To thrive in this ever-changing landscape and establish a strong brand, you must truly care about the end result and possess a sincere desire to help people. Moreover, it’s not a solo journey; I am fortunate to have a diligent team that works long hours and a firm, Compass, which provides the support necessary to be a top producer.


What’s unique about your approach or your mission? My personal mission statement is “Work hard and be nice.” My reputation is paramount for future success, so my goal is to be respectful and available at all times. I train my team to do the same, so the client sees their transaction being handled by professionals who work closely together on their behalf. I want them to feel more than satisfied with the service I have provided and the knowledge I’ve conveyed. It’s such an achievement to have clients refer me to their friends and family and to continue to call me first when they are buying or selling their second or third house as their needs change.

Who or what inspires you as you seek to reach greater heights of success? Every day, my sons serve as my source of inspiration, motivating me to strive for excellence and provide a comfortable life for our family. My parents have been my lifelong role models, instilling in me a profound work ethic and a strong sense of support. It is my sincere hope to impart these same values to my boys, carrying forward the legacy of hard work and support that my parents instilled in me.

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

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John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

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