We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kyle Perry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kyle below.
Kyle, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I learned my work ethic from my parents who did everything within their power to ensure me and my brothers had the things we needed as children. They modeled work ethic by going to work every day, giving their all for their job, rarely complaining, and then coming home to pour into their home, children, and each other. As a child, I did not realize how much energy this required but now as an adult with children, I have the utmost appreciation for how much they did for us. I can recall many specific instances when my parents made personal sacrifices to provide for us and to ensure we were given the tools necessary to be successful. Much of my success and achievements have been made possible because of my work ethic, in which I take much pride. I realize that I will not always have the advantages others have such as knowledge, experience, or connections, but my work ethic allows me to outwork everyone involved.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
During the day, I am an elementary teacher who loves working with children and empowering them with the tools they’ll need to be successful. However, the entrepreneur side of me is always active outside of school hours. Since 2015, I have successfully owned and operated Ultimate Sound Disc Jockey Company. My scope of work has changed over the years to accommodate my personal life, something I had not anticipated when I began my career as a DJ. When I first started DJing over 15 years ago, my hunger to work and eagerness to learn as much as I could about the industry didn’t allow me to turn down any jobs. They may not have been the most glamorous gigs, but late nights in bars, birthday parties, and backyard weddings are where I cut my teeth. Then, once I gained enough knowledge and experience to establish myself as a professional DJ, I put my focus on formal occasions such as weddings, proms, and corporate events. My wife and I enjoyed the income these types of events provided, but our growing family made it hard to justify the long hours they required me to be away from our home each week. To provide a balance between business and personal life, I have shifted the majority of my work to large neighborhood pool parties, school events, and even outdoor movie screen rentals. While I still DJ some weddings throughout the year, my work prioritizes events that my family can attend and that allow me to be home in time to enjoy dinner with my family.
In addition to Ultimate Sound, I co-own Daniel Thomas Group, LLC which is heavily focused on real estate investments. We officially established our business in July of 2023 and closed on our first property by mid-September. Earlier in the year, my business partner and I had a conversation by complete chance that sparked our interest in pursuing property investments together. A few days later, we met again and quickly determined that a business partnership would be viable due to our strong work ethic and would help us achieve the vision each of us had established for our own futures. The next few months would entail countless hours of researching all aspects of real estate investing related to short-, mid-, and long-term rentals, and fix and flips. We listened to podcasts, collaborated with experts, read articles, and studied data to expand our knowledge as quickly as possible while our focus seemed to shift daily. Before we knew it, the right property revealed itself! It met all of our criteria, had no major flaws, and most importantly, the numbers worked, making it a no-brainer to go under contract. Just as one of our mentors told us, the knowledge you gain from purchasing and selling a house can only be learned through the hands-on experience. While we have no idea how large our company will become, we are enjoying every moment of the process and love writing our own story!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
A strong work ethic, a thirst for success, and a support system have been the most impactful in my journey. When I reflect on my accomplishments, I recognize that none of them would be possible without these three components; additionally, each of these components feeds into the other.
For anyone who is early in their journey to success, I encourage them to visualize their success and then determine the non-negotiable components that are required for their success. Many people would begin with the qualities or skills they already have and then build from there, but I believe it is important to also determine what areas could be improved. We all know that we grow more from stepping outside of our comfort zones. It is also important to remove any potential obstacles that could impede your success. Personally, I have always had a thirst for success, but earlier in my life, I allowed that thirst to become clouded with feelings of inadequacy. Once I realized that growth is the key to success and that you grow more when you start with less, it gave me the confidence I needed to achieve my goals. I would also encourage others to examine their support system. While it is important to have people cheering for you, a true support system includes people who will hold you accountable, provide you with objective feedback, and keep your vision as a priority.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My wife, Kristi, is the epitome of support and has been by my side through life’s toughest challenges. She has believed in me from the beginning and I am reminded of her unwavering support daily. Even though I know my work ethic will allow me to achieve the goals I set, I am human and have moments of weakness. During those moments, she doesn’t allow me to feel bad for myself. Instead, she helps me refocus to ensure the vision for our family is carried out. My name is on my doctoral degree and two businesses, but I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Kristi’s hard work, energy, and encouragement that made those professional achievements possible!
Contact Info:
- Email: kyle.usdj@gmail.com & danielthomasgroupllc@gmail.com
- Instagram: @danielthomas_group
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ultimatesounddjcompany
- Twitter: @bowtie_drp
