The snake was in serious peril, frantically (but futilely) struggling to squiggle out of a boiling hot sand trap at Seven Canyons in Sedona. Greg stopped, held us all up, delaying those behind us, to climb down into the trap, gently using his 7 iron to avoid being bitten while he helped the distressed (angry) snake escape.
Last week marked a significant moment in the life of Greg Hague as he celebrated a milestone birthday. I approached him with a proposal to write an article on his behalf this week and fortunately he graciously accepted. Happy wife, happy life…I’ve trained him well.
Many of you are already acquainted with Chubby, Greg’s father, and the numerous lead-a-smarter-life “Chubby Rules” Greg learned from his dad and has shared in his articles over the past 17 years.
These rules played a pivotal role in shaping Greg into the exceptional individual he is today. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with many of you and you’ve shared how many of Greg’s articles about an array of subjects have fascinated you, informed you, and sometimes deeply touched you. He wants to improve the lives of others with no expectation of anything in return.
Speaking of not expecting anything in return, that’s what he talked to me about before we got married. He calls it the 100% rule, and he really lives by it. Greg told me that he expected nothing from me in our marriage. He was going to give everything he had, being 100% dedicated to making my life better in every way possible. What did I have to do? Nothing… not one darn thing. Who thinks like that? I had never met anyone like that… until Greg.
I hold a profound affection for Greg, a love and respect so deep that I don’t have the writing skills to describe it. But this article isn’t about a wife’s admiration for her husband, something that is hopefully a given and perhaps not particularly intriguing. My purpose is to give you an insider’s look at a man who is your neighbor and has written over 800 articles to entertain and benefit you over the past 17 years.
Greg wakes up every morning (and I mean every morning) with a level of new-day freshness and commitment to achievement that is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. He is among the most passionate, purpose driven, and hardest working people on earth. Greg is extremely well off financially, yet he works on growing 72SOLD from 7:30am to 7pm (at the office) most every weekday, and most Saturdays. It’s a passion and a purpose that goes beyond money or recognition, something you rarely see in business.
Greg has dedicated his professional life to revolutionizing the real estate industry. He believes the industry’s model for selling homes is inconvenient, inefficient and ineffective, costing the average home seller thousands in lost sale price along with uncertainty and stress.
Greg sees the industry as having an “old guard” of traditionalists who don’t want change because they profit hugely from the way it is now, very much like the taxi industry fought tooth and nail to stop Uber.
Greg founded 72SOLD to be the catalyst for the change that he believes (as do I) is so desperately needed, akin to how Uber transformed the taxi business and Amazon revolutionized online shopping. Much like Elon Musk’s disruptive impact on the auto industry with Tesla, Greg is resolute in being a force of change in real estate.
Speaking of 72SOLD, when Covid hit, and the real estate market virtually stopped, Greg refused to lay off one person. He took huge money out of his pocket to cover our employees’ payroll. He also took significant additional risk by continuing to advertise on TV to generate business for our commissioned sales agents because he knew they were scared and needed to make a living too. Greg doesn’t just save snakes; he will try to save anyone who deserves it.
Just in the past year Greg and 72SOLD have been recognized as a 2023 Most Admired Company, Innovator of the Year, and among the Top 5 fastest growing real estate firms in America by the prestigious Inc 5000.
But these awards aren’t what drives Greg. Nor does financial gain. Greg intends to revolutionize an industry to better serve you.
So here’s to Greg Hague, my remarkable husband. Happy birthday. I am honored to be your wife. You are a breath of fresh air to our industry, an inspiration to those around you, and my snake saver too.
