Sarah Valentini is the president of Radius Financial Group working in Norwell.

What was your first job in the realty industry? Loan officer.

Where did you grow up? Cape Cod.

Growing up, what did you want to be? Professional athlete.

What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? In the warm weather I play golf or hit golf balls, and in the cold weather I go to hot yoga.

If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? I can think of a lot of people and it is difficult to narrow it down to one. I could pick somone more profound, but, I would love to have lunch (or drinks) with Jimmy Fallon. I think he is hysterically funny and incredibly talented. He can sing, dance and entertain people. I love anyone who can make me laugh.

Where is your favorite place to hang out? My backyard.

What do you love most about the industry? Every day is always different. I love meeting new people and helping people accomplish their objectives.

How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? Well, I am certainly not taller than anyone. I always try and create authentic and lasting relationships. People matter to me, and although our business is transactional in nature, I have always thought of it as much more than that. It has worked well for me over the years and it isn’t anything I have to try and do. It is part of my DNA. I like to build relationships.

What is the most difficult aspect of your job? When I started in the industry, we made loan decisions based on a lot of factors, including common sense. Then we let automation and credit scoring drive everything. Today, we are in a regulatory environment that has many good aspects, but, unfortunately, common sense is no longer a factor.

Where do you go to network and meet new clients? I generally meet new clients through existing clients.

What has been your greatest accomplishment? Navigating through the mortgage meltdown and coming out stronger for it. Anyone still in the mortgage business deserves a pat on the back.

What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? I have to admit, it has been a while since I have seen a movie, but I loved Silver Linings Playbook. Last good books I read were “Multipliers” and “Rookie Smarts” both by Liz Wiseman.

What is your favorite restaurant? Caffe Bella in Randolph.

Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Boston? I love the Boston Public Library.

What kind of car do you drive? BMW.

Smartphone or paper? I like both.

What is your favorite city after Boston? San Francisco.

In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? “The only place sucess comes before hard work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi. (11 words – sorry)

Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? Jimmy Fallon and Annika Sorenstam. Jimmy Fallon makes me laugh and in our industry we need all the comic relief we can get. I was fortunate enough to meet Annika Sorenstam. She is inspirational and I think there are a lot of similarities between accomplished athletes and successful business people.
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