"Leadership is the ability to make people feel safe."
Since 2011, when Bobby Bryant watched IBM Watson play and win against the two winningest players in Jeopardy history, he’s been obsessed and intrigued by the possibilities when it comes to voice-activated intelligent assistants. That same year (2011), APPLE introduced the world to Siri. It was at that moment he envisioned a multi-model and mobile-first experience for consumers on the go for all of their real estate needs. The ability to list, search, and service any home in the country at the edge of your fingertips and/or voice.
Today, Bobby Bryant is the Co-Founder/CEO of DOSS Group INC. the holding company for Ask DOSS, DOSS Pros, DOSS Social Agents, DOSS Home Loans, DOSS Home Warranty, etc… DOSS is a proptech company that’s focused on creating an End-to-End Digital Real Estate Marketplace that empowers people to speak, text, or type any question about any property in the country to get accurate, easy, and instant answers for all things real estate. Architecturally built on an Intelligent User Interface(IUI), users are able to access everything there is to know about a particular property as DOSS leverages everything that Artificial Intelligence(AI) has to offer to best extract and seamlessly deliver data in a meaningful way. They do this by centralizing, democratizing, and humanizing BIG DATA in the real estate industry via a conversational artificial intelligence(AI) that supports the entire life cycle of homeownership.
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Table of Contents
Let’s learn a little about you and really get to experience what makes us tick – starting at our beginnings. Where did your story begin?
Bobby Bryant: I’m originally for Mobile, Alabama. I was multi-talented in a way… I was an academic(smart kid), athletic, very social, could dance, and had no problem being on stage. I was the kind of kid, that had to have different groups of friends because of my range. The football players didn’t hangout with the nerds, and the nerds didn’t hang out with the dancing groups.
It was a natural experience for me as a kid because I knew who I was at a very young age. I’m was extremely competitive. I still am today…. In the words of Nick Saban via the Head Coach for the University of Alabama: “I hate to lose, more than I love to win!” My competitive spirit and willingness to be the best at whatever I wanted to be, has been my driving force and the core of who I am for as long as I can remember. From playing pickup basketball on the court to getting the highest grade in the classroom. I never wanted to lose. And if I lost, I practiced and practiced and practiced until I got better.
Until I got good enough to compete again, and win! As an adult, I’ve gotten better at this obsession of having to win all the time. Admittedly, I’ve won most of my life. Like the saying goes “Winners Win! Losers Lose!” Today, I’m more strategic… However, at the core of it all, I simply believe in working hard and smart. By doing both, you get to your destination faster. Mentality and Perspective is all we have.
“You are either eating or being eaten!” is what my military father would tell me. He would go on to say “You are either making excuses, or solving problems!” His quotes could have been awesome memes before we were calling them memes. His statements were so quote worthy! Yet, my fathers focus, guidance, and mentorship is what help shape me and who I’ve become. And yet, I’m still becoming…
Was there somebody in your life that inspired you to take that specific journey with your business?
Bobby Bryant: Admittedly, no. There wasn’t anybody in particular that inspired me to take this journey. However, it was a series of events: Me seeking something that was bigger than myself… Finding and doing something that I was passionate about…. Something that would help humanity… Something that solved a problem(s)… Something that made me feel fulfilled! I consider myself a very dynamic person. Whatever I was going to do, it had to satisfy all of who I was and wanted to become. I originally thought that was being a Special Education Teacher…. Later, I’d come to realize that real estate was just as dynamic as I was. I was intrigued by real estate early on in my life.
But I really didn’t understand it, nor did I personally know anybody that was doing it. I just saw houses “FOR RENT” and “FOR SALE” and one day people was moving in, or out. I always wanted to understand their story. Who are they? Why are they moving? What happened? Where are they going? How much did they pay? I’m inspired by anybody and everybody. Why? Because we can learn from anybody and everybody! After mastering myself, I became a student of life and people…. That is what helped lead me to my business, our approach, culture, and method.
What are the most common mistakes you see entrepreneurs make and what would you suggest they do?
Bobby Bryant: First, we all make mistakes because none of us are perfect. The most difficult thing to predict, without the use of technology, is human behavior. There are billions of dollars made and lost in the pursuit of predicting “what and when” as it comes to people.
Most entrepreneurs, including myself, have hired many of the wrong people for what appeared to be all the right reasons. Attempting to predict with minimal information, if someone is the right person for your organization. It’s not about them being qualified, as much as, are they a good fit for your culture. Be very very meticulous about who you bring into your house(business). These people can alter the fabric of your business and culture if they are not a good fit. In other words, hire slow and fire fast.
Is there a particular podcast you listened to, or business thought leader that you find helpful while maneuvering this pandemic?
Bobby Bryant: Yes! I’m a huge fan of Guy Raz via How I built this on NPR One. He is magnificent at his craft! He interviews some of the biggest names and startups on the planet as they deep dive into their business, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ve learned so much by listening to this podcast, both directly and indirectly as it pertains to my business. In regards to maneuvering the pandemic, look at it this way….
The pandemic has catapulted changed and technology. In many ways, we’ve progressed more in the last two(2) years, then we have in the last two(2) decades. Pinned-up progress that appeared stuck in the humanistic-que of potential ideas that would change the DNA of how we do things. Those that were agile, they flourished! However, that wasn’t the case for legacy thinkers. Long story short, evolve or die!
In your opinion, what makes your company stand out from the competition?
Bobby Bryant: It’s not an opinion what makes us different and/or stand out from our competitors. At DOSS, we know who and what our competitors are, who and what we are, and how we are different. Our “TOP 3” competitors are structured as Advertising and Media Brands:
- They sell hundreds of millions of “leads” to Realtors and Loan Officers throughout the country,
- They hang their hats on hundreds of millions of unique views to their website, and
- They are only search engines.
Meaning, after someone, finds their place to stay, why go back to these websites until you need to do it again? If you are renting, that might be every year. If you are buying a home, the data says ever 8 to 12 years. You see, #1 and #2 might not sound that bad, right? However, until you know the statistical facts. What if I told you that each year, there are approximately 5.5M to 6M homes that are sold in the United States. But, then told you that these same companies sell over 125M leads a year to Realtors? Is that sound efficient to you? Could we assume that there are a butt load of bad leads sold to Realtors? Either way, it’s alarming! At DOSS, we address several issues that are pressing against the real estate industry.
- DOSS is not an Advertising & Media Firm like our competitors. Meaning, we don’t sell leads.
- DOSS is more than a real estate search engine. We address the entire lifecycle of homeownership.
- DOSS impacts the cost to buy and sell real estate. Buyers get a “Homebuyer Rebate” to lower their closing costs. Sellers, get options to preserve some of their hard-earned equity without sacrificing the marketing and services needed to successfully close their transaction.
- DOSS has the technology and is backed by Google. Our objective is to create the best way to list, search, and service your home,
- DOSS has its own Realtors and Loan Officers that are in alignment with the mission and vision of our company.
DOSS is: Better. Faster. Smarter.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?
Bobby Bryant: Determination: Have a “never-say-die” attitude! Be resilient…
Focus: Keep you eye on the BIG PICTURE. Don’t let anything, nor anybody, derail you…
Patience: ROME wasn’t built in a day… Be patient! But the bigger question is, is it the right time. Always remember, too early and too late are both called bad timing!
What have you learned about personal branding that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Bobby Bryant: I’ve learned that everything I do represents my brand and/or is branding. I was branded to moment I came out of my mothers womb. My name, social security number, etc… Actually, my father and mother early-on taught and told me who I was. And you know what, I’m glad I was stupid enough as a kid to believe them. My father made sure that I was proud of, respected, and didn’t embarrass our family name(brand). Understanding our personal brand for most people is an interesting process because they don’t look at themselves as a brand. We all are individually a brand! You don’t have to play the game, but you will respect it.
How would you define “leadership”?
Bobby Bryant: Leadership is the ability to make people feel safe. A trustworthy productive member of the team that looks after the people they serve. An ability to positively affect and impact the culture of an organization or people in a productive way. And, the primary responsibility of a leader is to make more leaders.
What advice would you give to our younger readers that want to become entrepreneurs?
Bobby Bryant: There is no magical response to this question. However, I would simply ask, why? Why do you want to become an entrepreneur? And, your answer can’t be about money! Your core being and value proposition has to be about helping people, solving their problems, and making their life easier. You figure that out, then you’ve punched your golden ticket.
What’s your favorite “life lesson” quote and how has it affected your life?
Bobby Bryant: I know, love, and respect many powerful men from all walks of life that have said many profound things throughout my life… However, an activist, a force, a woman made the most impactful statement that has affected my life.
The quote is as follows: “If I didn’t define myself for myself, I’d be crunched into other people’s fantasies for me and eaten alive…. ” by Audre Lorde
This is a mean and nasty world that will consistently attempt to box you, define you, and polk holes in you no matter what… We have to define ourselves, for ourselves! Unequivocally know and learn thy self. For it’s that moment, everything else becomes more vivid.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Bobby Bryant for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Bobby Bryant or his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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