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What if joy at work is less about perks and more about practice? I sit down with Berkeley entrepreneur and mentor Jerry Beckerman to trace a path from a bustling Telegraph Avenue cookie shop to Passion Spark, his Socratic-based program that helps people connect what they love to how they earn. We talk about the discipline of imagination, the real meaning of risk across body, feelings, and spirit, and simple ways to turn rote tasks into play so the work sustains you instead of draining you.

Jerry opens the hood on building a customer-first experience starting with imagination, and then scaling production with intention. He shares how a single editorial mention doubled sales overnight, why word of mouth outperforms ad spend. We dig into the hard part too: when excitement fades and routine creeps in. Jerry’s antidote is to choose play on purpose, set personal metrics, and measure success by alignment rather than assets.

We get practical about careers and midlife pivots. Jerry lays out four “realities” for mapping passion to income: direct entry, delayed payoff, part-time bridge, and lower materialism. We explore trusting your gut like an expert, then verifying with research, so you get the best of intuition and evidence. Goal-free evaluation helps avoid tunnel vision, and the Socratic method builds ownership in teams by asking better questions instead of prescribing answers. We close on civility: how micro-choices like a smile or hello shift culture, and how Jerry’s Kindness and Civility Polls use introspection to raise productivity and reduce burnout.

If this conversation sparks something, share it with a friend who needs a nudge toward “enough,” rate the show, and hit follow so you never miss an episode. And if Jerry’s work resonates, reach out, your next step might be one question away.

Jerry Beckerman is the President and Founder of Passion Spark.

To contact Jerry Beckerman please email him at jerry@opine.net

To learn more about Civility Poll and Passion Spark please click here.

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Jeff Lipton and I discuss how the January 1, 2026, changes to its Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO) are about to reshape how Berkeley homes change hands, and we wanted to make the path clear. We break down the upcoming changes, and explain exactly what sellers must do, what buyers can expect, and why smart planning can turn a compliance task into a market advantage.

First, we clarify what a Home Energy Report and HER score actually measure, how the score becomes part of the MLS remarks, and why that visibility matters for buyers. Then we map the new fork in the road: complete qualifying upgrades before listing, or defer them and send a combined $5,000 deposit to the City that the buyer can reclaim after earning six credits within two years. We detail how the credit system works, the $150 compliance filing, and practical timelines, plus the very real tradeoffs between doing the work now versus passing it forward.

From there, we get tactical. We share vendor recommendations for heat pumps, solar, and electrification projects; outline common electrical needs like adding 240-volt circuits; and point to rebate aggregators to stack local, state, and federal incentives. We talk through heat pump water heaters, mini splits, induction ranges, and even battery-backed cooktops that keep working during outages. Along the way, we highlight a simple strategy: plan upgrades before equipment fails, pre-wire where possible, and use BESO compliance as a selling point that reduces buyer friction and can boost demand.

If you work in Berkeley real estate or plan to buy or sell, this guide will help you navigate HER scores, credits, deposits, disclosures, and the new expectations at the point of sale. Subscribe, share this with a neighbor or client who needs to prepare, and leave a quick review to tell us which upgrade you’d tackle first.

Jeff Lipton is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02139138, real estate strategist, operator, marketing expert, and business lead supporting his wife, Megan Micco, a top-producing broker associate with Compass, in Berkeley, CA

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Mentioned in the Show:

Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO)

The SwitchIsOn.org

ElectrifyMyHome.com

Albion (Solar)

Hassler Heating

Copper - An Induction Range Made in Berkeley

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

What if your marketing got simpler, your leads got warmer, and your days felt lighter? That’s the promise behind our deep-dive with operations-minded strategist Jeff Lipton, whose approach turns a referral-first business into a steady, scalable machine. We start with the foundation most agents skip: ruthless focus. Pick a narrow geography. Define your ideal client persona. Choose the property type you’ll master. That clarity sets the course for everything—content, channels, intake, and even what you stop doing.

From there, we unpack the system that actually delivers: SEO built for humans and algorithms, not vanity. Jeff explains how to blend technical hygiene, local content that answers real questions, and credible backlinks earned through PR outreach. We also tackle the shift to AI-driven search and why the winners will write like experts in a conversation—specific, local, and genuinely helpful. AI can draft, but your judgment makes it trustworthy, and that’s what surfaces when someone asks a nuanced question about buying in Berkeley.

Then we go inside the machine: intake checklists that evolved into smart forms, custom CRM fields, and automations that capture timelines, objections, and even gift preferences—followed by post-close surveys that make the process better every month. The result is more inbound, less chaos, and a client experience that feels personal without burning you out. We talk lifestyle design too: setting a ceiling for volume, working with people you like, and creating room for life by automating everything that doesn’t require judgment.

We close with a practical walk-through of Berkeley’s updated Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO): point-of-sale requirements, the end of buyer deferrals for the report, deposit mechanics, six-credit compliance options, and why getting compliant before listing can boost demand. Plus, vendor tips, rebates, and electrification insights from a team that’s done it at home and with clients.

Enjoy the conversation? Follow and share the show, and leave a quick review—your support helps more agents find thoughtful, no-fluff strategy.

Jeff Lipton is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02139138, real estate strategist, operator, marketing expert, and business lead supporting his wife, Megan Micco, a top-producing broker associate with Compass, in Berkeley, CA

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Mentioned in the Show:

Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO)

The SwitchIsOn.org

ElectrifyMyHome.com

Albion (Solar)

Hassler Heating

Copper - An Induction Range Made in Berkeley