We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amanda Rivard . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amanda below.
Hi Amanda, 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?
Thank you. My journey towards resilience began in childhood. I grew up amidst the challenges of extreme poverty in Flint, Michigan and it really taught me invaluable lessons on fortitude and self-preservation. That experience gifted me the ability to be able to “bounce back” in almost any situation. Most people never get to escape Flint, where your options were pretty much limited to being a drug dealer, a drug addict or maybe a corrupt cop, if you were lucky. I knew I did not want that type of life for myself, so I became determined to carve a different path. That is something I’m proud of. I’ve come to recognize that the resilience cultivated in my youth, has now become the cornerstone of my personal development.
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?
Well, my focus in life right now is being the best mom that I can be while simultaneously balancing my busy real estate career. Being a single mom to a 12-year-old daughter while having no support and a highly demanding work schedule, has been a challenge. My daughter is priority number one, always but it can be difficult managing both being a mother and working hard to support us. No matter how hard the days are though, I lean into my “bounce back” and I realize how truly blessed I am. I’ve been in real estate for the past 22 years now. I got involved in it at age 17 and I must admit, growing up so poor, at first it was all about the money. Money is no longer the motivator and hasn’t been for a very long time. Truly helping people and protecting one of their largest investments, is what moves me. Seeing my clients happy and building life long relationships with them has brought me an authentic joy. Throughout the decades I’ve had the pleasure of working with some fantastic folks, learned their stories and have been able to assist them, sometimes during one of the most challenging times in their lives. I really do love what I do and am thankful.
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?
Resilience: Smooth seas don’t produce skilled sailors, and I’ve learned the value of perseverance. Even during the toughest moments, refusing to give up has yielded invaluable lessons. Embrace the challenges and learn to navigate the waves.
Confidence: It’s a crucial trait, especially in business. While some may advocate for faking it, I believe genuine confidence, built on education and experience, is key. It can be the difference between success and failure.
Patience: This is still a work in progress for me. In a world of instant gratification, learning to relinquish control over timing has reduced stress and brought more peace. Sometimes, gratification is delayed, but learning to let go of the need to control that, is essential.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
My career can be a highly stressful environment, as I bear the weight of overseeing people’s significant investments, often amounting to millions of dollars. Coupled with the responsibilities of being a single mother to a 12-year-old girl, it can create a perfect storm of stress. To manage this pressure, I’ve found techniques like EFT (tapping) and deep breathing, to regulate my nervous system, have proven immensely beneficial. I’m also learning to release the need to control outcomes that are beyond my control, which has provided a sense of relief during trying times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/MOMumentalrealtor
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@LivinginMcKinney
