Meet Ryan Smith

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan , great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
Risk is opportunity. The biggest risk one can take is to give the control of their life and opportunity to someone else. Yet this is exactly what most people do. They go to work for somebody, take a salary and benefits for a safe path and security. They feel secure in their jobs yet they can be fired and replaced whenever it will improve the bottom line at the company. The safe play will never get you where you want to be even if you have moderate ambitions. My Dad told me a long time ago, “You will never be rich working for someone else.”

The key is getting prepared to commit to a calculated risk in order to reach your potential. This involves a myriad of items including: education, values, network, mentors, opportunities, etc. Working backwards from where you want to be has always worked for me. For example, I want to make $150,000 this year or I want to buy this type of home or this type of car. How much activity do I have to put into my work in order to generate the desired result? The key is having a business that can create the desired amount of income. You have to be able to grow your business, which normally means more sales, to where you need to be to reach your financial goals.

This is not a linear path. Committing to start is the hardest part and once this is done you are on your way. Put together a business plan you believe in and begin. Success and failure will come and you will adjust your path forward accordingly. Keep your expenses as low as possible early on and make your time investment the largest expense. Have some money saved and/or do something part time to pay your basic expenses while you ramp up. And lose the 9:00 – 5:00 with weekends off mentality. Schedule your time off when it least impacts the growth of what you are building.

Most people would consider this approach super risky. Why is that? Because you have to believe in yourself and create something? Because it will be hard to get things going and take some planning and sacrifice for delayed gratification? Once you get to a point of financial stability and future growth you are in full control of your life. Not only does all the effort you put in go into your pocket, but you have control of your time. Time is the most valuable asset, not money. Money and wealth give you freedom of time and choice.

I bet on myself at the beginning of 2014 and took the risk to run my own show. My only regret is not doing this sooner. My real estate business has evolved into real estate sales, design and construction work with emphasis on mid-century modern architecture and design, called Mid Mod Phoenix that I started four years ago. Through my work experience and lots of studying on mid-century architecture and design I have developed a value proposition unlike any of my competitors.

The alternative of being underpaid, overworked, having no control of time, and having to take orders your entire life with no guarantee you will even be at the company in the future is the real risk. If you don’t bet on and believe in yourself why should anybody else?

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?
The core business at Mid Mod Phoenix is real estate. We have relationships with buyers, sellers and investors who appreciate quality architecture. We excel in market knowledge, negotiating and most importantly opportunities for our clients to get the home they desire. In addition to real estate services, we offer design and construction services as well. We have the ability to provide varying levels of service and expertise in regards to design, restoration, renovation and construction based on a client’s needs.
Our knowledge and experience across a multitude of aspects to mid-century modern architecture and design translate to a better end product, in a shorter time frame and at a lower cost. This combination of real estate, design and construction services is one of a kind.

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?
1. Figure out where you want to go and who you want to be. – If you don’t have an end goal you will get lost. Once you hit the first goal you will set a new one. This evolves as you become successful.

2. Make a plan to get to your desired future self.
– What do you need to learn? Who do you need to meet? What unique value proposition can you create? What are you good at? What are you not good at?

3. Self-accountability.
– Your success or failure is up to you and nobody else. Create a business, plan and work schedule to get it done and stick to it. Win one day at a time and be patient it doesn’t come overnight.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The War of Art Steven Pressfield

How to overcome resistance and procrastination to reach your potential. The key to success is mastering ones self. Whether it’s the phone call you don’t want to make or the workout you don’t feel like doing. The people at the top make that call and do that workout.

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