The real estate industry is full of opportunities and growth to make personal and professional achievements, whether as an agent or broker. However, it’s even more attainable when you have great examples to follow. In today’s episode of Women Who Lead, our host, Teresa Palacios Smith, is joined by three dynamic leaders who lead and inspire change in themselves and their communities with strength, compassion, and grit.
Meet the Owners:
- Chris Farkas, Broker/Owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bayside Realty
- Tiffany McLemore, Broker/Owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices McLemore & Co., Realty
- Gretchen Pearson, President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties
How ‘the Owners’ got started in real estate:
- A second-grade school teacher, Tiffany got her license to supplement her income during the summer. However, she developed a passion for it and went full-time.
- Chris invested in real estate before the market collapsed in 2007. She had an investor network full of people asking her to help sell homes, and she found a way to use that to fuel success.
- Gretchen was a 22-year-old college graduate working for a San Fransisco company when she decided to get her license. She intended to be a part-time agent to buy investment properties, but she fell in love and stayed with the industry.
The advice they wish they’d gotten:
- The only relationship that matters is the relationship you have with yourself. Imposter syndrome is a genuine and prevalent feeling in the industry, but understand that the sky is the limit and don’t compare yourself to others.
- Discover your strengths early on. When you do something that doesn’t play to your strengths, you might not like it. So, learn to delegate and focus on what you’re good at.
- Let yourself off the hook and believe in yourself; don’t be afraid to dream big.
Significant risks and personal sacrifice:
- Gretchen and Tiffany started businesses shortly before the 2007 market crash, but their perseverance and dedication helped them work through it.
- Chris opened a major franchise with a man who decided he didn’t want to be married to her anymore, and she had to determine if it was the right call for her future.
- As an owner, understand that you’re on-call 24/7. The entire family should be on board with your leadership and expect you to make personal sacrifices.
Mentorship and the importance of others in their careers:
- Gretchen - Her very first broker at Century21 had the drive and dedication to bring out Gretchen’s best and develop relationships with those around her.
- Chris took classes from Excellence Northwest (now Excellence Seminars International), which offered courses on personal accountability and growth that helped her learn more about herself and cultivate leadership skills.
- Tiffany’s mentor taught and pushed her beyond complacency, and he encouraged others to be their authentic selves.
The Owners’ Book Recommendations:
Remember, always bring women up the ladder with you as you climb to the top. For more great content from Teresa, connect with her on LinkedIn, join her Women Who Lead Series on Facebook and subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can find more episodes of Women Who Lead on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else podcasts can be found.
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