We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tenneisha Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tenneisha below.
Tenneisha, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience is rooted in a strong desire to create a better future for myself and grounded in the belief that I can do all things through Christ. I’ve always known there was more out there for me and aspired to be among the first Jamaican women to achieve something significant. I am motivated by the belief that I have the power to create the future I desire and envision for myself by taking steps to become a better me daily.
I’ve had to show resilience through many stages of my life but it’s helped to shape who I am today. I remember a few years ago while I was saving for college, having to walk in freezing temperatures and take two buses to get to work. My toes would go numb regardless of how thick or layered my socks were and eventually I’d lose feelings in my fingers. Sometimes the bus to return home would not show up or ran behind schedule. There was one particular night it did not show so I decided to walk home. As I’m crossing the street, I felt someone tugging at my purse and began yanking it from my shoulder. My body immediately went into survival mode and I found myself in the middle of the street fighting off a thief from stealing what I’d worked so hard to earn. He eventually let up and ran away, but what really puzzled me was all the people who watched from their cars and did absolutely nothing.
That period of my life was stressful and overwhelming, but knowing my end goal was to save enough money to pay for college motivated me every morning to wake up and make that journey. I saved every penny I could from that job and made my goal a reality within 4 months. I had to develop resilience because it was essential to achieving my goals and preserving during tough times. The future I’m working towards is worth it and there are so many people I’ve yet to help.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a former educator and now a real estate agent serving Houston and the surrounding cities. I help my clients sell their homes, get into leases, and buy their dream homes. I take pride in finding mortgage loan programs that cater to a wide range of clients, understanding that not everyone has a perfect credit score or a low debt-to-income ratio. My role as a realtor is to secure the right loan for each individual no matter their financial background and to make their home buying process as smooth as possible. I enjoy being a realtor because I get to merge my experiences as an educator to share my real estate knowledge and spread awareness of the home buying process.
One of the most exciting aspects of my work is helping my leasing clients who face challenges like past felonies, evictions, or poor credit scores find homes they truly love. It’s rewarding to help them overcome those obstacles and place them in homes because majority of landlords refuses those types of applications. I also have a special passion for working with first-time homebuyers. I absolutely love seeing their excitement when we get to the end of the transaction and they realize how much money they’ve saved and how achievable and easy the process was.
Right now, I’m currently working with a lender that provides a $500 down loan program where homebuyers in low to moderate income communities can literally buy a house with only $500 down. This program covers all down payment and all closing cost and is a great incentive to motivate more people to become homeowners!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have been most impactful to my journey is being inquisitive, having a growth mindset, and always showing kindness.
One of my favorite quotes is, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re in the wrong room.” Being inquisitive is essential to success because you can’t be afraid to ask questions or make mistakes. I love learning from others, connecting with professionals at networking event, and seeing how others in my field approach challenges. As I am soaking everything in, I’m also learning more about myself and ultimately finding what works best for me. Growing up, my grandmother always said there are no stupid questions, and I’ve carried that advice with me. I never shy away from asking questions to gain a deeper understanding and seek clarity.
Having a growth mindset and being optimistic is another quality that’s been crucial in my success as a realtor. When I first started real estate, I was starting to feel burnt out from driving so many miles a day and still not securing a contract or having clients ghost me. I was so excited to have clients that I took every transaction that came my way without doing my due diligence. I was becoming frustrated with my clients without realizing I was the one that needed to change and have better systems in place. I chose to shift my perspective, make it more solutions oriented, and develop a more positive mindset. Those early frustrations became valuable lessons that taught me how to set up better routines and structures to help eliminate a lot of my frustrations. That mindset shift was key to the growth of my business, working with clients who were genuinely serious about finding a home, and being intentional about the process. Starting something new always comes with challenges but our mindset determines whether we see those obstacles as roadblocks or opportunities to grow.
The last important quality is kindness, and it’s at the heart of what I do. To be honest, it’s been a balancing act being business minded while remaining empathetic and kind. Just a few days ago, I had my laptop pulled up and a client ready to submit an offer on a home. In that moment, she mentioned she’d seen the home already and had been working with another realtor who was also a friend. ad already negotiated for all of her closing costs to be covered and secured the full loan amount she needed. As much as I wanted to close the deal, I knew I couldn’t step on another realtor’s toes. I questioned myself afterward, wondering why I would let that commission go, but I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do. As an entrepreneur, I never want to lose sight of the fact I am here to be a blessing to others and when you give with a sincere heart your blessings multiply. One of my favorite quotes is, ‘A candle loses nothing by lighting another.’ I strive to live by that, helping others without hesitation and knowing it only brightens both of our paths.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge I’m facing right now is helping potential clients who are struggling with low credit scores purchase a home. I meet so many people who are excited about purchasing a home but their credit scores don’t yet meet the requirements. Many don’t have the money to begin the credit repair or had have negative experiences so they shy away from it.
To address this, I’m currently hosting a free Credit Repair giveaway for Thanksgiving and will also host another credit repair giveaway for Christmas. I’ve seen firsthand that many aspiring homeowners are just a few steps away from reaching their goal and they just need a little guidance to boost their credit. I’m committed to helping them get there because homeownership is not only achievable but within reach for everyone. My ultimate goal is to make the home buying process accessible to all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Tenneishabrown.jpar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenneishasells_tx
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/tenneishabrown
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Gaskin Hieroglyphics
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