Dan Nziniga – Living the NAHREP Discipline #10

Dan Nziniga

Dreamworks – Inspiration Community Owner & Leader Dan Nzinga is being recognized for living Discipline #10.

Blood Isn’t Always Thicker Than Water: The Power of Chosen Family

They say that blood is thicker than water, but sometimes, there is no blood bond around. As a college student studying abroad, I found myself in a foreign country with no family by my side. My host family, though not related by blood, welcomed me with open arms. Almost instantly, I became a brother and an uncle, embraced as one of their own. Now, more than thirty years later, I am still called “uncle” and “brother,” a testament to the deep, unbreakable bonds we forged.

This experience embodies NAHREP’s 10 Disciplines, specifically Discipline #10: Be Active in the Lives of Your Family and Children (Learn more), because Familia is central to who we are. But family is not always defined by genetics—it’s defined by love, support, and shared experiences.

I see the same spirit reflected in Dan Nzinga and the community he has built. Through 21-day challenges, weekly Zoom calls, and constant mentorship, Dan has created his own family of coaches, trainers, and leaders who support one another in their personal and professional growth. He doesn’t just teach—he cares, guides, and inspires. His leadership has cultivated a self-made family that rallies around him and uplifts those who follow his path.

Every day, Dan delivers a dose of positivity and growth, reminding us that our true family isn’t always the one we’re born into—it’s the one we choose, the one that chooses us, and the one that pushes us to become better versions of ourselves.

Well done, Dan! Keep inspiring and leading your extended family to greatness.

Connect with Dan Nzinga: LinkedIn

#ChosenFamily #SupportSystem #NAHREP #DanNzinga #FamilyMatters #Mentorship #Inspiration

Ivan Hernandez – Living the NAHREP 10 Discipline #2

NAHREP West Broward Sponsorship Director was awarded the 2024 Empowered Award from Anywhere Real Estate Inc. Ivan Hernandez is a true testament to BE IN THE TOP 10% OF YOUR PROFESSION because being good is not good enough.

Beyond my role as a trainer, I am deeply committed to uplifting those around me—whether as a friend, speaker, motivator, or peer. I take pride in supporting individuals who are making a positive impact in our community.

As a NAHREP 10 Certified Trainer, my mission is to educate and inspire others on the 10 Disciplines that empower Hispanics to achieve Sustainable Generational Wealth.

In the few months that I have known Ivan, I have been consistently impressed by his resilience and professionalism. He embodies Discipline #2: Be in the Top 10% of Your Profession, and the recent award presented to him by his company is a testament to his excellence and the profound influence he has on those around him.

Well done, Ivan! Your dedication and hard work continue to inspire us all.

#NAHREP10 #GenerationalWealth #LatinoSuccess #WealthBuilding #PersonalGrowth #Top10Percent #ProfessionalExcellence #Leadership
#SuccessMindset #Motivation

Find out more about The NAHREP 10 Disciplines.

Get Off Your Butt: Take Action for Personal Growth

Personal Development: A Choice, Not an Accident

Denis Waitley once said, “Personal development is the belief that you are worth the effort, time, and energy needed to develop yourself.” Personal development is not just a concept; it’s a call to take action for personal growth. The key word here is belief—but belief without action is meaningless.

Too many people get stuck in the trap of waiting for the perfect moment. Newsflash: there is no perfect moment. Success doesn’t come to those who hesitate. It comes to those who decide, commit, and execute.

Why People Fail at Personal Development

Let’s be real. Most people fail at personal growth not because they lack intelligence or resources, but because they don’t take action. They get trapped in these mindsets:

“I don’t have time.” (Reality: You make time for what matters.)
“I’m not ready yet.” (Reality: No one ever is.)
“I don’t know where to start.” (Reality: Just start anywhere.)

Denis Waitley’s approach to personal growth was simple: self-discipline and self-belief lead to success. He studied high achievers and found that they all had one thing in common—they took action despite fear.

The Science of Personal Growth

Your brain is wired to resist change. It seeks comfort and predictability. However, pushing beyond your comfort zone is where growth happens.

According to neuroscience:

The prefrontal cortex (your decision-making center) weakens when you avoid challenges.
The amygdala (your fear center) triggers when you step out of your comfort zone.
The more you push yourself, the stronger your neural pathways for confidence and resilience become.

Bottom line? Growth happens when you force yourself to do hard things.

How to Take Action Today

You don’t need a five-year plan. You need to start now. Here’s a simple formula inspired by Waitley:

1. Rewire Your Mindset for Personal Growth

Stop saying “I can’t” and start saying “How can I?” Your brain listens to your words. Choose them wisely.

2. Commit to Small, Daily Wins

Don’t aim for massive change overnight. Aim for 1% improvement daily.

Read 10 pages of a personal growth book.
Wake up 30 minutes earlier.
Exercise for 15 minutes.

3. Eliminate Excuses

Ask yourself: Would my future self thank me for this decision? If the answer is no, then stop making excuses.

4. Surround Yourself with Growth-Minded People

Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Choose wisely.

5. Take Action Before You Feel Ready

Confidence comes from doing, not from waiting. Just start—your future self will thank you.

Your Call to Action: Do It NOW

You’ve read this far. Now, it’s time to act. Take one step toward your growth right now.

What will you do today that your future self will thank you for?

🚀 No more waiting. No more excuses. Your time is now. Do it now!

Contact Mark Pinilla to get on track today!

#PersonalDevelopment #SelfGrowth #TakeAction #NoExcuses #MindsetMatters #SuccessHabits #DenisWaitley #GrowthMindset #SelfImprovement

Spanish – Essential Training on Service and Support Animals

This class will be given in Spanish.

Navigating the laws surrounding service and support animals can be complex for housing providers and real estate professionals. This essential training class provides clear guidance on how to handle reasonable accommodation requests while ensuring compliance with Fair Housing laws and HUD regulations.

Course Objectives:

Understanding Permissible Questions
- Learn the two legal questions you can ask when a tenant requests a reasonable accommodation for an assistance animal.
- Understand how to engage in a compliant, good-faith interactive process.
Determining Acceptable Documentation
- Identify what types of documents can be requested when a disability or need for an assistance animal is not apparent.
- Recognize what constitutes reliable documentation and how to assess its validity.
Who Can Provide Proof?
- Understand which professionals can provide trustworthy documentation, including licensed health care providers.
- Learn to differentiate between legitimate documentation and unreliable internet certifications.
Distinguishing Assistance Animals from Pets
- Clarify why service and support animals are not considered pets and cannot be subject to pet fees, breed restrictions, or deposits.
- Review legal obligations for housing providers to ensure compliance while addressing tenant concerns.

Train with Mark Pinilla at Your Brokerage

Mark Pinilla is a top-producing property manager and certified trainer with extensive experience in real estate compliance. He offers in-depth training sessions at your real estate brokerage, equipping professionals with the knowledge to handle service and support animal accommodation requests properly.

For customized training at your brokerage, contact Mark Pinilla today. This training is ideal for property managers, real estate agents, landlords, and housing professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of Fair Housing laws regarding assistance animals.

Call to Action: Enroll Today

Stay compliant and avoid legal pitfalls by gaining the knowledge needed to handle reasonable accommodation requests properly. Contact Mark Pinilla to ensure your policies align with federal guidelines.

For more details, review HUD’s guidance on assistance animals.

Download Hud’s guidelines.

You Can’t Control Everything, But You Can Control Your Response

Life has a way of humbling us. One moment, everything is going smoothly, and the next, you’re hit with an unexpected challenge—a job loss, a heartbreak, a health crisis. We scramble, trying to regain control, but here’s the truth: You don’t control the storm. You only control how you sail through it.

John C. Maxwell says, “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Eric Thomas tells us that pain is temporary but quitting lasts forever. So, if we can’t dictate every outcome, how do we shift our energy toward winning despite the chaos?

1. Control Your Mindset

Your thoughts dictate your actions, and your actions shape your future. When you face obstacles, you have two choices: Let them defeat you or use them as fuel to push forward. Instead of saying, “Why me?” start asking, “What can I learn from this?” This mental shift transforms pain into power.

Exercise:

Every morning, practice gratitude. Write down three things you’re grateful for. This rewires your brain to focus on abundance instead of lack.

2. Adapt, Don’t Resist

Resistance leads to suffering. The more we fight what we can’t control, the more exhausted we become. Instead, embrace adaptability. Like water, flow around obstacles instead of smashing into them. Life doesn’t stop moving, and neither should you.

Action Step:

Identify one thing in your life you’ve been resisting and find a way to embrace it. Instead of fearing change, ask yourself, “How can this make me stronger?”

3. Channel Your Energy into What Matters

Worry drains energy. Fear paralyzes. Instead of obsessing over what you can’t change, shift your focus to things you can influence. Can’t control the economy? Master your financial discipline. Can’t control other people? Master your reactions. Your energy is a currency—spend it wisely.

Quick Hack:

List three things you can control today and take action on them. Small wins create unstoppable momentum.

4. Surround Yourself with Resilient People

Energy is contagious. If you surround yourself with complainers, you’ll become one. But if you align yourself with warriors—people who push forward despite adversity—you’ll rise with them.

Challenge:

Audit your circle. Who inspires you? Who drains you? Adjust accordingly. Choose to walk with winners.

5. Give More Than You Take

When life feels unfair, the best way to reclaim your power is by giving. Acts of kindness shift your focus from lack to abundance. Serve others, and you’ll find renewed purpose in your own struggles.

Mission:

Perform one selfless act today. Whether it’s a kind word, a donation, or a helping hand, put positive energy into the world.

Your Call to Action: Rise Up!

You weren’t made to break. Life is testing you not to destroy you, but to make you stronger. Refuse to be a victim. Choose to be a fighter. Embrace challenges, adapt, and thrive. Because at the end of the day, the ones who succeed aren’t the ones who control everything. They’re the ones who master themselves.

Are you ready to turn obstacles into opportunities? Start today. Share this with someone who needs to hear it.

#KeepPushing #MindsetMatters #TurnPainIntoPower #StrongerThanYesterday #YouGotThis #MarkPinilla

Understanding the Florida Lease Agreement and Service & Support Animals

**Private Event**The Keyes Company MBA Program**

Understanding the Florida Lease Agreement and effectively protecting the landlord, tenant, and Realtor’s interests. Learn what even some of the most experienced veteran real estate agents do not know and where most of the mistakes are made. Learn how to fill in the maintenance section, prorations, collect your full commission, deal with active-duty military, and more.

This class and visual presentation lecture covers the Florida Lease Agreement intertwined with realtor & property management experiences based on how the lease was written/filled in. The training will cover the lease agreement flow from acquiring a tenant to the closing/move-in and the responsibilities of the Realtors® to their customers.

The Lease Agreement process will include:
• How to write a lease that protects the landlord, the tenant, and the Realtor®.
• Understand the difference between practicing law and being a Realtor®.
• Understanding the importance of naming the parties involved in the lease.
• How to collect your full commission when prorating rent.
• Deposits and how to properly handle them.
• Understand the maintenance section and how it affects owners and tenants.
• How to handle active-duty military and their special exceptions to the leasing process.
• How to make sure the landlord does not pay for storage.
• Best practices for making sure all the sections are signed and initialed.
• Best practices when dealing with foreign landlords.

BONUS CONTENT:

• Service and Support Animals
• Understand the only questions you can ask a person requesting a reasonable accommodation.
• Understand the kind of documents that can be requested.
• Understand who can provide reasonable or trustworthy documentation as proof of the tenant’s need for a reasonable accommodation.
• Understand why a service or support animal is not a pet.

Understanding the Florida Lease Agreement and Service & Support Animals

BONUS CONTENT:

Spanish – Understanding the Florida Lease Agreement and Service & Support Animals

This class is presented in Spanish.

The Lease Agreement process will include:
• How to write a lease that protects the landlord, the tenant, and the Realtor®.
• Understand the difference between practicing law and being a Realtor®.
• Understanding the importance of naming the parties involved in the lease.
• Deposits and how to properly handle them.
• Understand the maintenance section and how it affects owners and tenants.
• How to handle active-duty military and their special exceptions to the leasing process.
• How to make sure the landlord does not pay for storage.
• Best practices for making sure all the sections are signed and initialed.
• Best practices when dealing with foreign landlords.

BONUS CONTENT:

The Power of Planning: Transform Your Follow-Ups into Success

Success in business and life doesn’t happen by chance—it happens by planning. As Rick Guerrero, a NAHREP 10 Certified Trainer, emphasizes, preparation is everything. He starts each week by creating a call log every Sunday, setting the foundation for intentional and productive interactions. His approach mirrors NAHREP Discipline #2: Be in the top 10% of your profession by taking your craft seriously and working toward mastery. Learn more about the NAHREP 10 Disciplines here.

Sara Mendez Rodriguez, CEO of Titan Title & Chairperson for the Hispanic Wealth Project, suggests a themed call log to ensure balance and variety. For example:

Monday: VIPs
Wednesday: Focus on hot leads.
Friday: Reach out to business partners.
Weekend: Dedicate time to friends, family, and birthday celebrations.

Download Mark’s Call Log

Why Following Up Matters

According to statistics, 70% of buyers and sellers choose a real estate agent based on referrals from friends and family. This underscores the importance of maintaining personal and professional connections. Planning calls with intention, as suggested by Rick and Sara, ensures you never miss an opportunity to nurture these relationships.

Real Estate Insights for Relationships

To add his personal touch to the call log, Mark Pinilla, a NAHREP 10 Certified Trainer, added the weekend column. Birthdays and family milestones aren’t just personal—they can be professional goldmines. Studies show that buyers and sellers often prefer working with someone they know and trust. By incorporating these touchpoints into your weekend calls, you position yourself as their go-to expert when the time comes.

Action Plan with Mark Pinilla

For those looking to maximize their wealth-building strategy, contact Mark Pinill a, a trusted resource for investment properties and real estate expertise. Waiting is not in your best interest—contact Mark here.

Additional Resources

Valor & Unity Expo

The vision behind the Valor and Unity Expo is an exposition of military branches, university recruiters, and veterans where students and families can come out and speak to them to have an overall better understanding of their options post-secondary. The event will also include competitive events, workshops, and keynote speeches to further the education and foster competitiveness in the community of Miami Dade County. The motive for the creation of the event is to raise awareness on the major issues that plague the veteran community, further the education of the community on these issues, and a demonstration of all post-secondary options for families.

Mark Pinilla Presenting:

- Investing in Real Estate for Veterans
  - Preparing to Invest
  - Advantages and disadvantages of Investing
  - VA Loan benefits

About Mark Pinilla the speaker:

Overseeing over 250 investment properties across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Mark Pinilla is a top-producing property manager for Keyes Property Management. Leveraging his nearly 30 years of combined property management and real estate experience, Mark provides turnkey services for property owners and investors, maximizing their returns while serving tenants’ needs. Furthermore, his strong work ethic and trustworthiness have awarded him exclusive responsibilities, including training new employees, planning and executing REALTOR® marketing materials and events, and operating as the test pilot for new initiatives. Mark is also a real estate agent at The Keyes Company. Supporting 1000+ REALTORS® in their real estate transactions as a primary resource and manager only, his seasoned expertise includes landlord/tenant laws, lease drafting, and service animal and ESA regulations.

Mark’s integrity and honesty are so well regarded that he has held security clearance with the Department of Defense. He also forges strong business relationships with his natural networking ability and is relentlessly driven to serve and inspire others. He has achieved greater purpose in his career as a Certified Trainer for NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) and as a trainer for the Miami Association of REALTORS®, and he’s always open to speaking opportunities. Mark’s impassioned efforts extend to his personal life and include the nonprofit he launched, Vet Info, which advocates for the mental health of our heroic military veterans. He’s also taught Sunday School, participated in the Dolphin Cancer Challenge, and is CERT-certified with the Red Cross’ Community Emergency Response Team.

Mark holds a liberal arts degree with a minor in Spanish and a certificate in Latin American affairs. He further nurtured his advanced Spanish-speaking skills while studying abroad and embarking on a banking internship, both in Ecuador. Originally from San Jose, California, Mark has lived in Doral, Florida, since 1998. One of his biggest priorities is spending time with his wife and two daughters. He also enjoys trying new restaurants, friendly gatherings at home, exercising, outdoor activities, and creating WordPress websites.

Additional Resources:
Get more information on Property Management
Get more information on Real Estate