We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Gardner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Katie , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I think I have always been a “cup half full” person. When it rains, I look for the rainbow. I like to call it a God given joy. In addition, I am intentional to feed myself with positive things. I believe that what we focus on expands. I often use the analogy of being a car. If I am a luxury car and I put regular unleaded gas in my tank, I will be sluggish and may even break down. However, if I put premium gas in, then I will have the speed I need (and want) and I will ride smoothly with optimal output. We live in a day of being inundated by information. I get to chose what I fill up on. If I fill up on the news and negative people all the time, I will probably spill out negativity. Yet, if I fill up on positivity, things that feed my soul and help me grow as an individual, I will likely be an optimistic person. Some people look down on this as a “non realistic” perspective. However, in my experience, it has served me well. How many of this things that negative people focus on and worry about actually ever happen?……
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I work in the Real Estate industry. For the past 11 years I have focused primarily on residential. What I have enjoyed about my work is the people part. I get to be a part of a really special time in peoples lives. I think of Doctors. They save peoples lives which is wonderful and fulfilling because they are helping people. Yet oftentimes, it’s a really sad environment where the family is broken and holding on to hope. I like happiness. I am drawn to it. In my world, it’s mostly happy. I get to be there when they fall in love with their new home or when they receive that equity check at the closing table that helps them pay off their debt and buy a new home. I get to make dreams come true! I also get to be in relationship with people. We walk the journey together and even get to stay connected after the closing table. I have always loved helping people and now I am able to do it and truly make an impact every day!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Obviously in Real Estate knowledge of location is important as well as contract experience. I remember when I started 11 years ago I was brand new to the area and had never practiced Real Estate in Florida where I moved from. My broker encouraged me and taught me that knowledge overcomes experience. I committed to learning and becoming an expert in contracts and learning the area as best as I could. When I didn’t know something I found someone who did and I learned from them. I filled my toolbox by staying hungry and open to learn. I had so many wonderful people who poured into me and were patient to teach me and answer all my questions. I became an expert on the market, the product and learned as much as possible about every step of the process. However, our industry is ever changing so I am committed to being a student for life so I can ensure I am showing up for my clients as the best of the best!
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
When I started in the business I didn’t have the luxury of having employees. I had $150,000 in debt and made less than $20,000 a year. I had an impossible mountain in front of me. I put my head down and got to work. I set big goals and achieved them. I wore all the hats. However, once I got out of the hole I was in, I kept running at a high speed and almost burnt out. I finally heeded the advice of so many and hired an assistant. That changed everything. She was gifted at all the things I wasn’t. She saw the business through a different lense and was able to drastically improve our systems and take loads off my plate. Looking back I should have hired her after my first paycheck. I believe we have specific gifts and talents to complete whatever our purpose on earth is. When we partner with people who have different strengths than us, we can make a greater impact. I have learned just because I can do it, doesn’t mean I should. It is likely someone else can’t do it way better! The faster I can let go of the control, the more freedom that lies before me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theoccasiocollective.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoccasiocollective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/occasiocollective
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemgardner4/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@occasiocollective
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