We recently connected with The Cruz Family Realtors and have shared our conversation below.
Hi The Cruz Family, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
We found our purpose in the everyday moments with our three amazing children. It wasn’t a sudden revelation but rather a series of small, meaningful experiences that collectively shaped our understanding of what truly matters in life.
From bedtime stories and school projects to comforting them during tough times, each interaction with our kids highlighted our desire to make a positive impact on their lives. Their unique personalities and individual journeys taught us patience, empathy, and the importance of being present.
Our purpose became clear as we realized that everything we do is for them—to create a better future, to be positive role models, and to show them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. They are our driving force, and their presence in our lives has given us a sense of direction and fulfillment that we never knew was possible.
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?
We started in real estate separately at first. Alicia began her career in real estate about 9 years ago after working in banking. Manny started in real estate about 6 years ago after working in the restaurant industry. The leap out of the traditional 9-5 wasn’t one that was taken lightly, or easily for that matter. We both had good paying jobs, with great benefits so leaving those things behind to work for ourselves was definitely scary.
A big determining factor in making the switch out of the corporate world was our children. We both grew up with parents who worked hard to provide good lives for us both and the example of “hard work pays off” was evident. However, we wanted to show our children that you can work hard and also be present at the same time. As we continued to grow in our previous companies, the demand to be at work or be available for calls, emails and texts grew more and more which meant being present and engaged with our family, less.
In August of 2018, after already having our first two children, we were in Maui, HI for our wedding. During the trip, we had a lot of quiet, peaceful moments with our children and realized what really mattered to us. While we had been working hard to provide this great life- we hadn’t realized that we were taking all the little moments with our family for granted. We were so used to the grind of our jobs that we hadn’t realized how demanding the last couple of years had been. It wasn’t until that trip that we decided we wanted to do things differently. When returning back home, we decided we wanted to stop working for someone else and wanted to bet on ourselves, for our children.
It has now been 6 years since we have both been out of the corporate world. In that time we have helped many families buy and sell homes, we’ve worked to develop a team of agents, and most recently- opened our own real estate company!
We are currently working on building the brand of MŌS Real Estate and have plans to host community events, do giveaways, and most importantly- help families and individuals accomplish their real estate goals!
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?
There are a lot of different things that have been impactful in our journey. Some of the biggest skills or qualities that have been helpful are:
Resilience- There were countless times when things didn’t go as planned. Having resilience allowed us to bounce back from failures and keep pushing forward. Advice: Build your resilience by viewing setbacks as learning opportunities. Try your best to keep a positive mindset, seek support from people you trust, and remember that every failure is a step closer to success.
Communication Skills- Being able to express ideas clearly and build strong relationships was crucial. Effective communication has opened doors and created many opportunities for us. Advice: Practice your communication skills regularly. Engage in conversations, seek feedback, and work on both your listening and speaking abilities. Good communication is about connecting with others, so be authentic and empathetic.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances was a game-changer for us. It helped us stay relevant and tackle new challenges head-on. Advice: Try to be open to change and be willing to learn new things. Stay flexible in your approach and be ready to pivot when needed. Remember, the only constant is change.
Lastly, being in the industry we are in, we have direct insight to the feelings and experiences that each of our clients have. We were in their shoes when buying and selling our first home. We’ve felt the stress of finding replacement homes and negotiating from a owners perspective rather than just as real estate agents. With this, we understand that this process is not to be taken lightly and everyone’s experience should be treated with that respect. Each person we work with deserves top tier representation and that is what we strive to achieve each and every time.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
As Broker and Co-Owner’s of our own real estate company, we are always looking for highly motivated, hard working and trustworthy people to partner with. Our goal is to work with a team of individuals who understand the in’s and out’s of the business and prioritize the needs of the client’s first. While transactions are obviously important for a thriving business, the needs of the client should always be the priority.
We currently work with a network of people who focus heavily on ensuring the client is taken care of. We work closely with the best mortgage lenders, title reps, escrow companies, inspectors etc. We are always looking to grow that network to make sure our clients have the best and most reputable people in their corner to protect their biggest investment!
We are looking to connect with honest, genuine and hard working people to help them take their business to the next level and also help elevate the standard of what a home buyer’s or seller’s experience can be!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cruzfamilyrealtors.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cruzfamilyrealtors
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cruzfamilyrealtors
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
