Meet Shana Koland

We were lucky to catch up with Shana Koland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Shana with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

When thinking back on my life pondering where my work ethic could have developed into such an unwavering aspect of my personality, a distinct memory comes to mind; elementary school days begging my mom to stay home sick from school. To which, her standard reply was “if you’re too sick to go to school, you must be too sick to go to sports and see your friends, too..” Naturally, this makes you question if you’re really too sick to go to school, knowing skating and friends filled my evenings. Another shining image in my memory; we’re at the check out line at the store, I see a shiny new nicknack I’d love to have and ask my mom if she’ll buy it for me. The expected reply to this one was “Do you want it bad enough to spend your own money on it?” Which I must say, is the perfectly crafted response leaving me with two options; 1. spending my own money or 2. admitting I didn’t want it badly enough to spend my own money on it, therefore why would she? In addition to these two phrases being woven into my being, I was blessed with the opportunity to watch both of my parents work hard for the things they wanted in life and model the art of a strong work ethic. My parents were both in very public positions within the communities I grew up in, my dad a principal within the school district I attended, and my mother a figure skating coach. My coach for many years, yes. As I grew up within those communities, I came to learn reputation and your name matter. This is a dynamic I ponder frequently, and am grateful to my parents for somehow finding the perfect balance of providing us a good life yet teaching us the importance of working hard for the things we desire in life. All because she wouldn’t buy me the sparkly pen in the check out line..

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

The real estate industry was never on my radar, despite my dads encouragement that I had the perfect personality for it, until I abruptly decided to take the leap. After being in the industry for three years, I’m so happy I did. I love being a trusted partner in life’s significant moments for my clients. My approach focuses on building strong relationships, understanding each client’s unique goals, and leveraging my in-depth knowledge of the local market to deliver results. When I’m not working, you’ll often find me enjoying the community I’m so proud to serve. Outside of real estate, family is at the heart of my life. I’m recently engaged and actively wedding planning for September 2025. Together, we have a rescue pup, Walter—a lovable, insane mix we adopted through Ruff Start Rescue, where I also volunteer. I’m incredibly close with both my family and my fiancé’s family, who all live nearby. My younger brother is wedding planning too, and between our families, there’s no shortage of dogs or laughter to go around! Whether it’s helping clients find their dream home or enjoying time with loved ones, I believe in living fully and giving back.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Self accountability & discipline
Honesty & integrity
Ability to communicate effectively

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Deep breaths.

My 2024 word of the year is focus. Focus has been described as the glowing ball of actively paid attention and what segment of the brain it’s residing in. For example, watching a movie; you’re following the plot and characters one moment, then the next you realize your mind drifted back to the Bahamas trip with the margarita in hand on the beach. The glowing ball of focus has shifted to a different area of the brain and this happens all the time without our consent as we navigate the stimuli in the world around us. Unfortunately, we live in a fast paced environment where the stimuli never stops. So how do we actively process so many bits of information so quickly without feeling overwhelmed? Throughout the year, I’ve been practicing my ability to focus by tracking my glowing ball of active attention. When it shifts, I bring it back to the intended subject of focus. This practice has taught me a couple things. First, it’s allowed me to increase my attention span by prioritizing the presented stimuli. Second, it’s taught me increased control over my emotions allowing me to respond to the stimuli in a calm and confident manner. I recently learned a tidbit that emotion only lasts chemically in the body for 90 seconds. When I’m struck with a wave of feeling overwhelmed, I take a deep breath and picture myself walking up 90 steps; 1 for each second the emotion lasts. I have yet to reach the 90th stair and still feel overwhelmed.

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