Changes
→Real Estate: reference says five, not six
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Gary Keller
| honorific_suffix =
| image = GaryKellerTeaching1.jpg
| image_size =
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| native_name =
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| birth_name = Gary W. Keller
| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|1957|07|21}} -->
| birth_place = [[Pasadena, Texas]]
| disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) -->
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| residence = [[Austin, Texas]]
| nationality =
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| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Baylor University]]
| occupation = [[Writer|Author]], [[Real estate|Real Estate Expert]]
| years_active =
| employer =
| organization =
| agent =
| known_for = Founder and Chairman of [[Keller Williams Realty]]
| notable_works =
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| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
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| criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources -->
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| spouse = Mary Pfluger
| partner = <!-- unmarried life partner; use ''Name (1950–present)'' -->
| children = John Keller
| parents =
| relatives =
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| awards =
| website = [http://www.kellerink.com/bios/gary-keller Gary Keller KellerINK profile]
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'''Gary Keller''' is an [[United States|American]] [[entrepreneur]] and best-selling [[writer|author]]. He is the founder of [[Keller Williams Realty|Keller Williams]], which is the largest real estate company in the world by agent count.<ref name=MyKW>{{cite news |title= Welcome to Keller Williams |url= http://www.kw.com/kw/?page=all |accessdate= 21 Sep 2016}}</ref> Keller founded Keller Williams on training and education and later brought his teachings to print. His books include ''The Millionaire Real Estate Agent,'' ''The Real Estate Investor,'' and ''[[The ONE Thing (book)|The ONE Thing]]''. He is the current [[Chairman of the Board]] at Keller Williams<ref name="MyKW"/> and is considered one of the most influential people in real estate.<ref name="ABJInfluenctial">{{cite news |last1=Luck |first1=Marissa |title=Keller Williams' growing army of agents eclipses most cities' populations |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/04/keller-williams-growing-army-of-agents-eclipses.html |accessdate=8 June 2018 |publisher=Austin Business Journal |date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
==Early life==
Keller was born on July 21, 1957 in [[Pasadena, Texas]]. Both his mother and father were school teachers, until his father was promoted to be a high school administrator. The family moved to [[North Shore, Houston|North Shore]], outside of [[Houston]].<ref name="GPISD Honors Its Own">{{cite news |url= http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/gpisd-honors-its-own/article_4f88cf38-e041-591a-a4f5-03eefd641d7a.html |title= GPISD Honors Its Own|accessdate= 21 Sep 2016 |newspaper= Your Houston News |date= Fall 2008}}</ref> Being born into a family of educators would later pave the way for Keller's educational approach to business and success.<ref name=BaylorMoService>{{cite news |title= Medal of Service - Business Leadership |url= http://www.baylor.edu/alumni/magazine/1001/news.php?action=story&story=101324 |accessdate= 19 May 2014 |newspaper= Baylor Magazine |date= Fall 2011}}</ref> Keller's parents had a large impact in shaping who he later became, and he credits specific events with his father as "significant, I-can't-thank-you-enough, changed-my-life moments."<ref name="GPISD Honors Its Own"/>
Keller originally had no intention of attending college. The summer following his high school graduation he began to pursue a music career. Mid-summer, he came to his parents and informed them that he wanted to go to college as his music career was not working out.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gary Keller|newspaper=California Real Estate|date=2004}}</ref> His parents informed him that they had already applied to [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas]] where he was accepted. After visiting the university, Keller decided to attend, following in the footsteps of his sister and father who has previously attended the university.<ref name=BaylorMoService/>
While at Baylor, Keller spent time shadowing professionals in the fields of law, accounting, banking, and real estate.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> It was at that time that he became interested in real estate and began to pursue a real estate and insurance degree program that had just started at the university.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> His senior year he was interviewed by various real estate companies who came to Baylor looking for graduates.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> Following graduation in 1979, Keller moved to Austin where he began his career in real estate.<ref name=ABJrealtorsaw>{{cite news|last=Simmons|first=Lee|title=Realtor saw opportunity in adversity|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/1998/05/25/focus2.html?page=all|accessdate=|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=24 May 1998}}</ref>
==Career==
=== Real Estate ===
When Keller landed in Austin in 1979, he worked for a company who would later become a competitor. He found immediate success in Austin, selling five houses his first month. Keller made it his goal to become VP, and when that goal was realized 4 1/2 years later, he decided he could no longer work there.<ref name="Personal Selling Power" /> Keller's educational and entrepreneurial spirits fused and he knew he could create a real estate model that put the agents first and fostered a positive, win-win community.<ref name="Personal Selling Power">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sellingpower.com/content/article/?i=1215&ia=7695/can-do-guru|title=Personal Selling Power,|website=Inc.|access-date=2016-09-23}}</ref> In 1983 he partnered with Joe Williams to found two companies – Keller Williams Realtors, which Keller ran, and Keller Williams Commercial, which Williams ran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kwcommercial.com/commercial/AgtDrillDown.action?personId=3868|title=KW Commercial - Agent Details|website=kwcommercial.com|access-date=2016-09-23}}</ref> The commercial company never took off, but Keller's residential side did. In 1987, inside the residential company, Keller created a division that would later become Keller Williams Realty International, known to the world as KWRI.
The company grew to be the largest real estate agency in the Austin area within two years. After expansion and franchising, it became the largest real estate franchise by agent count in North America and the only privately held global residential real estate brokerage. In 2014, Keller Williams Realty reached a milestone of over 100,000 agents worldwide,<ref name=ABJ100Agents>{{cite news|last=Buchholz|first=Jan|title=Keller Williams hits milestone with 100,575 agents worldwide|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/05/keller-williams-hits-milestone-with-100-575-agents.html?page=all|accessdate=16 May 2014|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=8 May 2014}}</ref> surpassing 180,000 agents by 2018,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Luck|first1=Marissa|title=Keller Williams' growing army of agents eclipses most cities' populations|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/04/keller-williams-growing-army-of-agents-eclipses.html|accessdate=11 June 2018|publisher=Austin Business Journal|date=4 May 2018}}</ref> with franchises in the United States, Canada, Southern Africa, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Dubai.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sambidge|first=Andy|title=Largest US real estate franchise to launch ops in Dubai|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/largest-us-real-estate-franchise-launch-ops-in-dubai-546448.html|accessdate=19 May 2014|newspaper=Arabian Business|date=14 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Garrison|first=Trey|title=Keller Williams posts major growth, plans Dubai office|url=http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29006-keller-williams-posts-major-growth-plans-dubai-office|accessdate=19 May 2014|newspaper=Housing Wire|date=18 February 2014}}</ref>
Keller still serves as the company's chairman of the board.<ref name=ForbesOneThing/> In 2017, he began to transition Keller Williams into more of a technology company,<ref name="MAM">{{cite news |last1=Abraham |first1=Rincey |title=Keller Williams Hopes to Become the Amazon of Real Estate |url=https://miamiagentmagazine.com/2018/03/01/keller-williams-hopes-become-amazon-real-estate/ |accessdate=11 June 2018 |publisher=Miami Agent Magazine |date=1 March 2018}}</ref> launching technology initiatives that included KW Labs, KW Keller Cloud, and "Kelle," an artificial intelligence app used as a virtual assistant and an agent-to-agent referral tools platform called "Referrals."<ref name="MAM"/>
===Writing and publishing===
Keller began writing during his early years at Keller Williams Realty. He established KellerINK for the publishing of instructional and inspirational business books with a specialty in real estate. His first book, ''The Millionaire Real Estate Agent'', was co-authored with [[Dave Jenks]] and [[Jay Papasan]] and released in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bruss|first=Rebert|title=How to be a successful real estate agent|url=http://www.inman.com/2004/05/25/how-be-successful-real-estate-agent/#.U3wQAyirWWM|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=Inman|date=25 May 2004}}</ref> The book made the best-seller list on BusinessWeek.<ref>{{cite news|title=The BusinessWeek Best-Seller List|url=http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0431_bestseller.pdf|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=BusinessWeek|date=July 2004}}</ref> He co-authored a second book, ''The Millionaire Real Estate Investor'', in 2005 along with Papasan and Jenks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bruss|first=Robert J.|title=Book Review: Serious About Success?|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/422007646.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May%2001,%202005&author=Robert%20J.%20Bruss&pub=Los%20Angeles%20Times&edition=&startpage=&desc=BOOK%20REVIEW|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=L.A. Times|date=1 May 2005}}</ref> This book became a New York Times best-seller.<ref name=NewYorkTbestsell>{{cite news|title=The New York Times Paperback Archive|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/books/bestseller/0619bestpaperadvice.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print&position=&|accessdate=|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 June 2005}}</ref>
In 2013, Keller and co-author Papasan published their first non-real estate book, ''The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results''.<ref name=ForbesOneThing/> The book reached #1 on the Wall Street Journal business bestseller list. It was also a bestseller on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.<ref name=EntreLeader2013>{{cite news|title=The One Thing - Author Jay Papasan Shares The Secret To Success|url=http://en.calameo.com/read/002520849c54e43060698|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=Entre Leadership Review|date=December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hardcover Advice & Misc. Best-sellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/hardcover-advice/list.html?pagewanted=print|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 April 2013}}</ref> Hudson Booksellers named The ONE Thing one of the five best business interest books of 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=2013 Book Of The Year - Best of 2013|url=http://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/best-of-2013#best-business-interest|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=Hudson Booksellers}}</ref> The authors have been featured in publications including Forbes and Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership Review.<ref name=EntreLeader2013/> In all, Keller has published four best-selling books on real estate and has sold more than a million copies worldwide.<ref name=EntreLeader2013/>
In addition to writing and real estate, Keller has been involved in other ventures including that of an investor. He has invested in companies such as the Austin-based [[Music & Entertainment Television]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Zaragoza|first=Sandra|title=Music for the masses|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/10/08/story3.html?page=all|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=7 October 2007}}</ref> Keller is also a public speaker<ref>{{cite news|title=Keller makes Toronto speaking debut|url=http://www.remonline.com/keller-makes-toronto-speaking-debut/|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=REM Online|date=13 August 2009}}</ref> and was a panelist for the nonprofit ''Relationship & Information Series for Entrepreneurs'' in 2013 along with former [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas Longhorns]] quarterback [[Vince Young]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Drake|first=Sarah|title=Vince Young, Gary Keller among RISE speakers|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2013/05/vince-young-gary-keller-among-rise.html|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
===Bibliography===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Publication year
! scope="col" |Title
! scope="col" |Original publisher
! scope="col" |ISBN
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" | 2004
| ''The Millionaire Real Estate Agent''
| [[McGraw Hill Financial|McGraw Hill]]
| {{ISBN|9780071502085}}
| Co-Authors Dave Jenks & Jay Papasan. BusinessWeek best-seller.
|-
! scope="row" | 2005
| ''The Millionaire Real Estate Investor''
| McGraw Hill
| {{ISBN|9780071469531}}
| Co-Authors Dave Jenks & Jay Papasan. BusinessWeek and New York Times best-seller.
|-
! scope="row" | 2008
| ''SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times''
| KellerINK
| {{ISBN|9780071605274}}
| Co-Authors Dave Jenks & Jay Papasan. New York Times best-seller, the Wall Street Journal Business Bestseller, and the USA Today Bestseller.
|-
! scope="row" | 2013
| ''[[The ONE Thing (book)|The ONE Thing]]''
| Bard Press
| {{ISBN|9781848549258}}
|Co-Author Jay Papasan. First non-real estate book for Keller. New York Times How-to Bestseller, New York Times Business Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Non-Fiction Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Business Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, and Publisher's Weekly Top 10 List. Mentioned on other national lists, including BookScan, Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, Hudson's Booksellers, Reuters, and 800CEOREAD. Winner of 12 book awards and translated into 26 languages.
|-
|}
==Philanthropy==
Keller teaches a business and life development course to young adults both in Austin and through his [[alma mater]], Baylor University. He has been a supporter of Baylor since his graduation, and in 2007 he donated the funds for a residential real estate research center at the Hankamer School of Business.<ref name="Ctribedonate5">{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-03-11/business/0703110311_1_agents-real-estate-marketplace|title=Keller funds center at Baylor University|date=11 March 2007|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=19 May 2014}}</ref> The Keller Center, as it was named, studies consumer behavior, marketing strategies, and management solutions.<ref name="ABJournaldonat$5mil">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/03/05/daily16.html|title=$5M kickstarts real estate center at Baylor|date=6 March 2007|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|accessdate=19 May 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Keller launched ALL ATX, a [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] with a goal to educate musicians on how to build successful careers in the [[Austin music scene|Austin music]] industry.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://allatx.org/about|title=About - ALL ATX|website=allatx.org|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>
==Recognition==
Keller has received numerous awards and accolades over the years.<ref name=30MostABJ>{{cite news |title= Austin's 30 most influential |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2011/12/23/austins-30-most-influential.html?page=all |accessdate= 20 May 2014 |newspaper= Austin Business Journal |date= 23 December 2011}}</ref> He is a previous winner of the [[Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award]] and a finalist for [[Inc. (magazine)|Inc. Magazine's]] Entrepreneur of the Year.<ref name="ForbesOneThing">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/05/23/gary-keller-how-to-find-your-one-thing/|title=Gary Keller: How To Find Your One Thing|last=Schawbel|first=Dan|date=23 May 2013|newspaper=Forbes|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> In 2011 Baylor University honored him with a Meritorious Achievement Award and a Medal of Service for his business leadership.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> The same year [[American City Business Journals|Austin Business Journal]] recognized him as one of ''Austin's 30 Most Influential''.<ref name=30MostABJ/>
==Personal life==
Keller spends almost all of his free time with his family and close friends. His favorite hobbies are fly fishing, snow skiing and playing guitar.<ref name="Personal Selling Power" /> Before starting college, he gave up playing guitar, but he couldn't stay away for too long: he picked it back up on his 40th birthday.<ref name="AustinProfileJournal">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2012/11/09/journal-profile-gary-keller.html?page=all|title=Journal Profile Gary Keller Interview|last=Pope|first=Colin|date=9 November 2012|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> Keller has his own band that performs annually at Keller Williams events.<ref name="AustinProfileJournal" /> Keller lives in Austin with his wife, Mary, and their brood of dogs. Their son John also lives and works in Austin.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [http://www.kw.com/kw/ Keller Williams homepage]
* [http://www.kellerink.com/bios/gary-keller Gary Keller profile at KellerINK]
* [http://www.the1thing.com/ One Thing book official website]
* [http://www.allatx.org ALL ATX homepage]
* [http://www.kellercap.com Keller Capital homepage]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keller, Gary}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Baylor University alumni]]
[[Category:American real estate businesspeople]]
[[Category:American business writers]]
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Gary Keller
| honorific_suffix =
| image = GaryKellerTeaching1.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Gary W. Keller
| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|1957|07|21}} -->
| birth_place = [[Pasadena, Texas]]
| disappeared_date = <!-- {{Disappeared date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (disappeared date then birth date) -->
| disappeared_place =
| disappeared_status =
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| body_discovered =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| monuments =
| residence = [[Austin, Texas]]
| nationality =
| other_names =
| citizenship =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Baylor University]]
| occupation = [[Writer|Author]], [[Real estate|Real Estate Expert]]
| years_active =
| employer =
| organization =
| agent =
| known_for = Founder and Chairman of [[Keller Williams Realty]]
| notable_works =
| style =
| home_town =
| salary =
| net_worth = <!-- Net worth should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| height = <!-- {{height|m=}} -->
| weight = <!-- {{convert|weight in kg|kg|lb}} -->
| television =
| title =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| party =
| movement =
| opponents =
| boards =
| criminal_charge = <!-- Criminality parameters should be supported with citations from reliable sources -->
| criminal_penalty =
| criminal_status =
| spouse = Mary Pfluger
| partner = <!-- unmarried life partner; use ''Name (1950–present)'' -->
| children = John Keller
| parents =
| relatives =
| callsign =
| awards =
| website = [http://www.kellerink.com/bios/gary-keller Gary Keller KellerINK profile]
| module =
| module2 =
| module3 =
| module4 =
| module5 =
| module6 =
| signature =
| signature_size =
| signature_alt =
| footnotes =
| baptism_date =
| ethnicity = <!-- Ethnicity should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| religion = <!-- Religion should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| denomination = <!-- Denomination should be supported with a citation from a reliable source -->
| box_width =
}}
'''Gary Keller''' is an [[United States|American]] [[entrepreneur]] and best-selling [[writer|author]]. He is the founder of [[Keller Williams Realty|Keller Williams]], which is the largest real estate company in the world by agent count.<ref name=MyKW>{{cite news |title= Welcome to Keller Williams |url= http://www.kw.com/kw/?page=all |accessdate= 21 Sep 2016}}</ref> Keller founded Keller Williams on training and education and later brought his teachings to print. His books include ''The Millionaire Real Estate Agent,'' ''The Real Estate Investor,'' and ''[[The ONE Thing (book)|The ONE Thing]]''. He is the current [[Chairman of the Board]] at Keller Williams<ref name="MyKW"/> and is considered one of the most influential people in real estate.<ref name="ABJInfluenctial">{{cite news |last1=Luck |first1=Marissa |title=Keller Williams' growing army of agents eclipses most cities' populations |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/04/keller-williams-growing-army-of-agents-eclipses.html |accessdate=8 June 2018 |publisher=Austin Business Journal |date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
==Early life==
Keller was born on July 21, 1957 in [[Pasadena, Texas]]. Both his mother and father were school teachers, until his father was promoted to be a high school administrator. The family moved to [[North Shore, Houston|North Shore]], outside of [[Houston]].<ref name="GPISD Honors Its Own">{{cite news |url= http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/gpisd-honors-its-own/article_4f88cf38-e041-591a-a4f5-03eefd641d7a.html |title= GPISD Honors Its Own|accessdate= 21 Sep 2016 |newspaper= Your Houston News |date= Fall 2008}}</ref> Being born into a family of educators would later pave the way for Keller's educational approach to business and success.<ref name=BaylorMoService>{{cite news |title= Medal of Service - Business Leadership |url= http://www.baylor.edu/alumni/magazine/1001/news.php?action=story&story=101324 |accessdate= 19 May 2014 |newspaper= Baylor Magazine |date= Fall 2011}}</ref> Keller's parents had a large impact in shaping who he later became, and he credits specific events with his father as "significant, I-can't-thank-you-enough, changed-my-life moments."<ref name="GPISD Honors Its Own"/>
Keller originally had no intention of attending college. The summer following his high school graduation he began to pursue a music career. Mid-summer, he came to his parents and informed them that he wanted to go to college as his music career was not working out.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gary Keller|newspaper=California Real Estate|date=2004}}</ref> His parents informed him that they had already applied to [[Baylor University]] in [[Waco, Texas]] where he was accepted. After visiting the university, Keller decided to attend, following in the footsteps of his sister and father who has previously attended the university.<ref name=BaylorMoService/>
While at Baylor, Keller spent time shadowing professionals in the fields of law, accounting, banking, and real estate.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> It was at that time that he became interested in real estate and began to pursue a real estate and insurance degree program that had just started at the university.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> His senior year he was interviewed by various real estate companies who came to Baylor looking for graduates.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> Following graduation in 1979, Keller moved to Austin where he began his career in real estate.<ref name=ABJrealtorsaw>{{cite news|last=Simmons|first=Lee|title=Realtor saw opportunity in adversity|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/1998/05/25/focus2.html?page=all|accessdate=|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=24 May 1998}}</ref>
==Career==
=== Real Estate ===
When Keller landed in Austin in 1979, he worked for a company who would later become a competitor. He found immediate success in Austin, selling five houses his first month. Keller made it his goal to become VP, and when that goal was realized 4 1/2 years later, he decided he could no longer work there.<ref name="Personal Selling Power" /> Keller's educational and entrepreneurial spirits fused and he knew he could create a real estate model that put the agents first and fostered a positive, win-win community.<ref name="Personal Selling Power">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sellingpower.com/content/article/?i=1215&ia=7695/can-do-guru|title=Personal Selling Power,|website=Inc.|access-date=2016-09-23}}</ref> In 1983 he partnered with Joe Williams to found two companies – Keller Williams Realtors, which Keller ran, and Keller Williams Commercial, which Williams ran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kwcommercial.com/commercial/AgtDrillDown.action?personId=3868|title=KW Commercial - Agent Details|website=kwcommercial.com|access-date=2016-09-23}}</ref> The commercial company never took off, but Keller's residential side did. In 1987, inside the residential company, Keller created a division that would later become Keller Williams Realty International, known to the world as KWRI.
The company grew to be the largest real estate agency in the Austin area within two years. After expansion and franchising, it became the largest real estate franchise by agent count in North America and the only privately held global residential real estate brokerage. In 2014, Keller Williams Realty reached a milestone of over 100,000 agents worldwide,<ref name=ABJ100Agents>{{cite news|last=Buchholz|first=Jan|title=Keller Williams hits milestone with 100,575 agents worldwide|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/real-estate/2014/05/keller-williams-hits-milestone-with-100-575-agents.html?page=all|accessdate=16 May 2014|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=8 May 2014}}</ref> surpassing 180,000 agents by 2018,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Luck|first1=Marissa|title=Keller Williams' growing army of agents eclipses most cities' populations|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/04/keller-williams-growing-army-of-agents-eclipses.html|accessdate=11 June 2018|publisher=Austin Business Journal|date=4 May 2018}}</ref> with franchises in the United States, Canada, Southern Africa, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Dubai.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sambidge|first=Andy|title=Largest US real estate franchise to launch ops in Dubai|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/largest-us-real-estate-franchise-launch-ops-in-dubai-546448.html|accessdate=19 May 2014|newspaper=Arabian Business|date=14 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Garrison|first=Trey|title=Keller Williams posts major growth, plans Dubai office|url=http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29006-keller-williams-posts-major-growth-plans-dubai-office|accessdate=19 May 2014|newspaper=Housing Wire|date=18 February 2014}}</ref>
Keller still serves as the company's chairman of the board.<ref name=ForbesOneThing/> In 2017, he began to transition Keller Williams into more of a technology company,<ref name="MAM">{{cite news |last1=Abraham |first1=Rincey |title=Keller Williams Hopes to Become the Amazon of Real Estate |url=https://miamiagentmagazine.com/2018/03/01/keller-williams-hopes-become-amazon-real-estate/ |accessdate=11 June 2018 |publisher=Miami Agent Magazine |date=1 March 2018}}</ref> launching technology initiatives that included KW Labs, KW Keller Cloud, and "Kelle," an artificial intelligence app used as a virtual assistant and an agent-to-agent referral tools platform called "Referrals."<ref name="MAM"/>
===Writing and publishing===
Keller began writing during his early years at Keller Williams Realty. He established KellerINK for the publishing of instructional and inspirational business books with a specialty in real estate. His first book, ''The Millionaire Real Estate Agent'', was co-authored with [[Dave Jenks]] and [[Jay Papasan]] and released in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bruss|first=Rebert|title=How to be a successful real estate agent|url=http://www.inman.com/2004/05/25/how-be-successful-real-estate-agent/#.U3wQAyirWWM|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=Inman|date=25 May 2004}}</ref> The book made the best-seller list on BusinessWeek.<ref>{{cite news|title=The BusinessWeek Best-Seller List|url=http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0431_bestseller.pdf|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=BusinessWeek|date=July 2004}}</ref> He co-authored a second book, ''The Millionaire Real Estate Investor'', in 2005 along with Papasan and Jenks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bruss|first=Robert J.|title=Book Review: Serious About Success?|url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/doc/422007646.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May%2001,%202005&author=Robert%20J.%20Bruss&pub=Los%20Angeles%20Times&edition=&startpage=&desc=BOOK%20REVIEW|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=L.A. Times|date=1 May 2005}}</ref> This book became a New York Times best-seller.<ref name=NewYorkTbestsell>{{cite news|title=The New York Times Paperback Archive|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/19/books/bestseller/0619bestpaperadvice.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print&position=&|accessdate=|newspaper=The New York Times|date=19 June 2005}}</ref>
In 2013, Keller and co-author Papasan published their first non-real estate book, ''The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results''.<ref name=ForbesOneThing/> The book reached #1 on the Wall Street Journal business bestseller list. It was also a bestseller on The New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.<ref name=EntreLeader2013>{{cite news|title=The One Thing - Author Jay Papasan Shares The Secret To Success|url=http://en.calameo.com/read/002520849c54e43060698|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=Entre Leadership Review|date=December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Hardcover Advice & Misc. Best-sellers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/hardcover-advice/list.html?pagewanted=print|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 April 2013}}</ref> Hudson Booksellers named The ONE Thing one of the five best business interest books of 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=2013 Book Of The Year - Best of 2013|url=http://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/best-of-2013#best-business-interest|accessdate=21 May 2014|newspaper=Hudson Booksellers}}</ref> The authors have been featured in publications including Forbes and Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership Review.<ref name=EntreLeader2013/> In all, Keller has published four best-selling books on real estate and has sold more than a million copies worldwide.<ref name=EntreLeader2013/>
In addition to writing and real estate, Keller has been involved in other ventures including that of an investor. He has invested in companies such as the Austin-based [[Music & Entertainment Television]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Zaragoza|first=Sandra|title=Music for the masses|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/10/08/story3.html?page=all|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=7 October 2007}}</ref> Keller is also a public speaker<ref>{{cite news|title=Keller makes Toronto speaking debut|url=http://www.remonline.com/keller-makes-toronto-speaking-debut/|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=REM Online|date=13 August 2009}}</ref> and was a panelist for the nonprofit ''Relationship & Information Series for Entrepreneurs'' in 2013 along with former [[Texas Longhorns football|Texas Longhorns]] quarterback [[Vince Young]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Drake|first=Sarah|title=Vince Young, Gary Keller among RISE speakers|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2013/05/vince-young-gary-keller-among-rise.html|accessdate=20 May 2014|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|date=9 May 2013}}</ref>
===Bibliography===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Publication year
! scope="col" |Title
! scope="col" |Original publisher
! scope="col" |ISBN
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" | 2004
| ''The Millionaire Real Estate Agent''
| [[McGraw Hill Financial|McGraw Hill]]
| {{ISBN|9780071502085}}
| Co-Authors Dave Jenks & Jay Papasan. BusinessWeek best-seller.
|-
! scope="row" | 2005
| ''The Millionaire Real Estate Investor''
| McGraw Hill
| {{ISBN|9780071469531}}
| Co-Authors Dave Jenks & Jay Papasan. BusinessWeek and New York Times best-seller.
|-
! scope="row" | 2008
| ''SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times''
| KellerINK
| {{ISBN|9780071605274}}
| Co-Authors Dave Jenks & Jay Papasan. New York Times best-seller, the Wall Street Journal Business Bestseller, and the USA Today Bestseller.
|-
! scope="row" | 2013
| ''[[The ONE Thing (book)|The ONE Thing]]''
| Bard Press
| {{ISBN|9781848549258}}
|Co-Author Jay Papasan. First non-real estate book for Keller. New York Times How-to Bestseller, New York Times Business Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Non-Fiction Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Business Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, and Publisher's Weekly Top 10 List. Mentioned on other national lists, including BookScan, Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, Hudson's Booksellers, Reuters, and 800CEOREAD. Winner of 12 book awards and translated into 26 languages.
|-
|}
==Philanthropy==
Keller teaches a business and life development course to young adults both in Austin and through his [[alma mater]], Baylor University. He has been a supporter of Baylor since his graduation, and in 2007 he donated the funds for a residential real estate research center at the Hankamer School of Business.<ref name="Ctribedonate5">{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-03-11/business/0703110311_1_agents-real-estate-marketplace|title=Keller funds center at Baylor University|date=11 March 2007|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=19 May 2014}}</ref> The Keller Center, as it was named, studies consumer behavior, marketing strategies, and management solutions.<ref name="ABJournaldonat$5mil">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2007/03/05/daily16.html|title=$5M kickstarts real estate center at Baylor|date=6 March 2007|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|accessdate=19 May 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Keller launched ALL ATX, a [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] with a goal to educate musicians on how to build successful careers in the [[Austin music scene|Austin music]] industry.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://allatx.org/about|title=About - ALL ATX|website=allatx.org|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref>
==Recognition==
Keller has received numerous awards and accolades over the years.<ref name=30MostABJ>{{cite news |title= Austin's 30 most influential |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2011/12/23/austins-30-most-influential.html?page=all |accessdate= 20 May 2014 |newspaper= Austin Business Journal |date= 23 December 2011}}</ref> He is a previous winner of the [[Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award]] and a finalist for [[Inc. (magazine)|Inc. Magazine's]] Entrepreneur of the Year.<ref name="ForbesOneThing">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/05/23/gary-keller-how-to-find-your-one-thing/|title=Gary Keller: How To Find Your One Thing|last=Schawbel|first=Dan|date=23 May 2013|newspaper=Forbes|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> In 2011 Baylor University honored him with a Meritorious Achievement Award and a Medal of Service for his business leadership.<ref name=BaylorMoService/> The same year [[American City Business Journals|Austin Business Journal]] recognized him as one of ''Austin's 30 Most Influential''.<ref name=30MostABJ/>
==Personal life==
Keller spends almost all of his free time with his family and close friends. His favorite hobbies are fly fishing, snow skiing and playing guitar.<ref name="Personal Selling Power" /> Before starting college, he gave up playing guitar, but he couldn't stay away for too long: he picked it back up on his 40th birthday.<ref name="AustinProfileJournal">{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2012/11/09/journal-profile-gary-keller.html?page=all|title=Journal Profile Gary Keller Interview|last=Pope|first=Colin|date=9 November 2012|newspaper=Austin Business Journal|accessdate=20 May 2014}}</ref> Keller has his own band that performs annually at Keller Williams events.<ref name="AustinProfileJournal" /> Keller lives in Austin with his wife, Mary, and their brood of dogs. Their son John also lives and works in Austin.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* [http://www.kw.com/kw/ Keller Williams homepage]
* [http://www.kellerink.com/bios/gary-keller Gary Keller profile at KellerINK]
* [http://www.the1thing.com/ One Thing book official website]
* [http://www.allatx.org ALL ATX homepage]
* [http://www.kellercap.com Keller Capital homepage]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keller, Gary}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:Baylor University alumni]]
[[Category:American real estate businesspeople]]
[[Category:American business writers]]
