Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Teresa Stimpert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Teresa, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience was earned the old-fashioned way, through a series of seemingly impossible-to-overcome challenges. Born into extreme poverty and abuse, later battling alcoholism, homelessness – I have realized the keys to surviving through big upheavals are the same ones we use to get through minor setbacks.
Identifying support is #1. I nurture and care for the people close to me, and I really internalize that they’re there for me, too. We are not meant to do everything alone. I still struggle professionally sometimes, so I go so far as to create a section in my business plan each year outlining my network of support. When you get into trouble, its better to already know what the plan is.
Ultimately though, getting through challenges is up to me. I religiously watch my self-talk and look for distorted thoughts. People may look at me and think I get through things effortlessly, but just like any other challenge, it is work. It’s just not work you can see.
Then, of course, there is the desire and drive to BE resilient. Every time I overcome something major, I get this feeling like I’ve evolved, I’m stronger, and closer to my destiny. I also (mistakenly) sometimes think that’s the last challenge I’ll face. When something new arises the most dangerous thing I can do is give up, or spend any time feeling sorry for me. For me, I have to remember my purpose, look for the lessons, and just keep swimming.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the Vice President of Living Florida Group, a team of full-time Real Estate agents in Jacksonville, FL. I am married in the suburbs with two dogs (one big, one small). I love pilates, going out with friends, and sushi. My life may seem conventionally successful.
I was never supposed to be here, though. I was born into extreme poverty to young parents who were not able to care for me. I suffered physical and sexual abuse as a child, and would start drinking to cope in my early teens. I was a high-functioning alcoholic for many years, seemingly overcoming my circumstances and earning a higher education and professional career.
Then things changed. Saturn’s return, if you believe in that stuff! Everything crumbled. A particularly sharp grief sent me into a spiral that brought every issue to the surface, and I went on a campaign to destroy everything I’d built and ultimately, myself. At 28 I found myself suffering from life-threatening cirrhosis, unemployed, criminally charged, and with one solitary friend left.
That friend helped me get help, and I got sober, but my challenges were just beginning. I was homeless and had to start COMPLETELY over. I wasn’t employable, I couldn’t drive due to a DUI, and had to start all over working as a retail clerk. To make a long story short, I had to make up about 10 years of professional development I had lost to addiction.
It was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me. I charted my own way, working as a marketing contractor to prove myself – eventually landing my first executive position. The key was never being afraid to toot my own horn, and living in gratitude constantly. I also learned authenticity and being open about my struggles made life easier.
Fast forward to today – I run a successful team of Real Estate agents in Northeast Florida with my two best friends! Supporting agents personally and professionally is the most fulfilling work I’ve ever done. I also accept marketing contracts that interest me, so my day is NEVER the same twice, and I’m always learning! The things I’ve been through in my life are starting to make sense, as they help me every day be the best support for my clients, agents, and team.
I am still having to chart my own course, and I’m excited for what’s to come.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Willingness – Willingness is a concept I got intimately familiar with when I was getting sober, and it’s virtues carry through to personal and professional goals. How willing you are to make sacrifices, do the work, and show up regardless of circumstances is a huge part of determining how successful you are. If you can make a long list of things you’re not willing to do to be successful at X, that’s probably not the thing you’re meant for. There are so many talented people out there, the ones who rise to the top are those who were willing to do whatever it took.
Resilience – Another word could be adaptability. No, it’s not you, the world IS changing that fast, and you are changing too. Recognize challenges, acknowledge difficulties, ask for help, and control your mindset. Remember that regularly life is going to push familiar things aside to make room for what’s to come. Don’t give up.
Authenticity – fight like hell to discover and stay true to who you are. Everything else in life can and will go away – your identity and unique impact on the world resonates long after you are gone. It feels much better to lose an opportunity because you were genuine, than to gain one because you were fake. Start living in this philosophy and soon you’ll find yourself living in better alignment. You will attract the right people, the right opportunities, and the right support.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to collaborate with marketing executives at small-medium businesses or startups. I’m really good at coming in, taking inventory of a communications strategy, and building out a system that drives MORE and can then be passed on to an entry-level marketing assistant. I also would love to connect with business owners or executives who want to increase production by building out a commission-based sales team or improving the sales team they have.
Clients on my ‘wishlist’ include: a non-alc beverage company, an indie video game publisher, and a female-run construction company!
The best way to get to know me is through my instagram, @teresasellsfl. You can also email me at teresastimpertrealtor@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @teresasellsfl
