Paul Kaulesar is a real estate broker, strategist, and lifelong learner based in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was born and raised in Queens, New York, where his parents worked together flipping houses—his mother found the properties, and his father fixed them up. That early exposure taught Paul how to see potential where others saw problems.
After graduating from Royal Palm Beach High School, he studied entrepreneurship at Palm Beach State College. Paul also developed a love for numismatics and was named a Numismatic Scholar by the American Numismatic Association in 2020. He later completed two programs at Harvard Business School: Disruptive Strategy and Negotiation Mastery.
Paul believes success is built on observation, timing, and consistency. He brings those values into his work at OnCall Realty, where he helps clients navigate complex real estate deals with clarity and confidence.
Outside of work, Paul is a disciplined powerlifter and a dedicated boxer. He also enjoys playing dominoes, which he sees as a mental game of patience and reading people.
Paul supports causes he cares about, including Save the Children, St. Jude, and the Special Olympics. He doesn’t just donate—he encourages young people to invest in their own communities and build smart, lasting habits.
His story is about building quietly, thinking clearly, and playing the long game
Q&A: Paul Kaulesar on What Success Really Looks Like
Q: You’ve had a unique path—Queens to Florida, real estate to coins to Harvard. What does success mean to you now?
Success, to me, isn’t about the cars or the office. It’s about freedom—having the time and the control to live on your own terms. That starts with knowing what you’re good at and being honest about what you’re not.
I learned early that people chase shiny things, but it’s better to chase understanding. I watched my parents turn neglected homes into value. That taught me to look deeper. Whether it’s real estate or life—potential is usually hiding in plain sight.
Q: What’s a specific lesson from your early life that still shapes how you do business today?
My mum could spot a good deal in five minutes. She’d drive through a street and say, “That one’s next.” No spreadsheets—just instinct. My dad was the opposite—hands-on, careful, methodical.
Watching them, I learned to balance intuition and discipline. Now, when I walk a property or meet a client, I’m looking at the facts—but I’m also reading the energy. People tell you everything if you pay close enough attention.
Q: You’ve studied negotiation and strategy at Harvard. What’s something people misunderstand about both?
People think negotiation is talking. It’s not—it’s listening. I’ve closed more deals by being quiet than by trying to convince someone.
And strategy isn’t about being smarter—it’s about seeing sooner. A good strategy is usually simple: know where things are going before everyone else does. In property, that could mean spotting an up-and-coming neighbourhood. In life, it could mean knowing when to stay still.
Q: What role has discipline played in your life outside of work—like in boxing or powerlifting?
Everything. The gym teaches you pain tolerance. Boxing teaches you patience. You can’t just throw punches and win. You have to time it. You have to read people. That helps in business too—being aggressive at the wrong time will cost you more than waiting.
Lifting, on the other hand, is about showing up, even when no one’s watching. There are no shortcuts in either sport—or in business.
Q: Why dominoes? It’s not something you hear about often.
It’s a thinking game. It teaches memory, rhythm, reading opponents. And it’s social—you learn a lot about people when you play with them for hours. I grew up playing dominoes in Queens, and it stuck with me. In a lot of ways, it shaped how I see the world—small moves, played over time, win the game.
Q: You’ve mentioned giving back through knowledge. What does that look like for you?
I donate, yes—but the real impact comes from sharing what you’ve learned. If I can help someone see their own neighbourhood differently or understand how to spot value—that’s giving back.
I tell young people: you don’t need a big budget. You need curiosity. Read your street like a map. Look for patterns. Everything starts with observation.
Q: Any last advice to someone trying to define success on their own terms? Don’t chase what looks successful. Build something that feels solid. Pay attention. Stay consistent. And always play the long game. That’s where the real wins are.