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Why am I a Realtor?

We’re going to kick off a real estate themed series on the blog. I’m so excited to share this with you! This year has been a big year in real estate for me and I’ve learned so much along the way. I thought that I should pass on the knowledge that I’ve learned in case you’re planning on investing in the real estate market in the future.

First, I thought I’d share how I got into the real estate industry. Read on friends!

I’ve told the story before. My mom and dad were small business owners. My dad owned a trucking company and my mom was a Realtor for over 25 years. Blah blah blah. If you’ve been following my blog you know the story. You got the inside scoop 😉

I was surrounded by the real estate business all my life. My mom brought me everywhere. I mean everywhere. Even when I didn’t want to (which was always lol). She dragged me to open houses, caravans, house showings, listing appointments…she would even take me to her office and make me sit there until it was time to go home. Needless to say, I hated it. I used to complain about their entrepreneur life all the time. I hated how they would have to work while on vacation.

Mom’s Real Estate Headshot

Here I am, an entrepreneur just like my parents. I started my first business at 19 – a wedding planning company. I guess my mom saw that I had that entrepreneurial spirit so she started to hint about wanting me to go into real estate with her. And when I mean hint, I mean bugged me until I caved in. She wore me down and convinced me to get my real estate license in 2007.

I would help her from time to time, but I never really took it seriously. She wanted us to be partners, a team. She wanted to call us the “Solomon Team.” I know, not very creative lol. At one point I was kinda interested but she would do everything and so I got complacent and lazy to learn. I didn’t really pay attention because I wanted to pave my own way. I was the real independent type growing up. I didn’t want a hand me down. I felt like if I was a part of something my parents created they had the permission to always look at me like a little kid and never take what I had to say seriously.

But then one day my mom asked me to lunch. She rarely ever did that so I knew it was important. She told me about Ninong’s and she wanted me to help them. That day was the first of many that changed everything.

It was the first time my mom talked to me about something important. In the past, I was never consulted on big family decisions. Not only that but she spoke to me like an adult, like I was more than her little girl. At that moment I realized that to continue a legacy is just as important as starting one.

Shortly after I started my job at Ninong’s my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even more so, my life changed in a big way. Since then, being the rock for my family was the most important thing in the world to me. As my mom’s health gradually got worse I saw the role she played not just for me and my dad but for our entire family. I wanted a taste of what that felt like.

When my mom passed away I was completely shaken. I don’t think I’ll ever really get over it. Sometimes the memory of those last minutes of her life replay in my head and haunt me. But the one thing that really stuck with me more than that haunting moment was the idea of legacy. I saw the impact my mom had on so many people. I mean, I knew what she meant to me but I had no idea how loved she really was. She changed lives, she created a meaningful life far beyond her work and career. I realized that I wanted that for myself.

I don’t want to be remembered for how much money I made, the businesses I started, or how much stuff I had. I want to be remembered as a person that loved helping people – with no strings attached. I want to give what I can as often as I can to improve the lives of others, to make them happy.

After the dust settled I had a decision to make. Do I continue real estate without my mom? How the heck will I do that? When I decided that I was going to continue people thought it was out of left field. They knew I had a creative background as a graphic designer, they knew I had a wedding planning business, and that I had taken over at Ninong’s for my parents. Most people didn’t even know I’ve had a license since 2007. But it quickly made sense when people realize it’s the one thing (even more than Ninong’s) that helps me feel close to my mom.

She loved her job so much, she enjoyed every minute. To step into her shoes, to help people the way she did is the best way that I can continue her legacy and keep her close. To hear the beautiful things her clients over the course of her 25 year career continue to say about her always brings me to tears. Proud and happy tears. I hope I can do the same for people the way she did – selflessly, graciously, and with a smile.

Cheers to you, Mom! I’m honored and so happy that I have real estate as another outlet to help people and that’s all thanks to you. The moments when I see how happy our clients are makes me feel so close to you even when you’re gone. Thank you for that.

xoxo,

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Working Remotely While Traveling

Hello from the Pacific Surfliner! I’m on my way to Los Angeles (Chatsworth Station) after an amazing turn around trip to San Diego. As much as I want to say it was planned that my topic would be about working remotely today, it was just random as I didn’t know until about a week ago that I was going to be traveling this weekend.



As an entrepreneur work never stops. You try to create boundaries like clocking in at 9 am and leaving at 5 pm every day. You try to have a work/life balance. But let’s be real, work never stops. People depend on you, you make the wheels turn. So when you stop your business stops. At least in the small business sector.

My mom and dad were both small business owners when I was growing up. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree right? 😊 When I was a kid I always used to get mad at my mom when she worked while we were on vacation. I would always say, “Vacations aren’t meant for working! If this is what it’s like having my own business then I want a regular job!” HAHA! I crack up every time I think about those yearly vacations. I said it every.single.time. She used to carry around this black leather planner. She had it with her every where she went. Now I understand why – it had her LIFE in it. But as a kid I grew to resent that planner. Every time I saw it while we were on vacation I knew that it meant she was planning on working while we were out of town.

Now that I’m a business woman I understand. Heck, there was one time I brought my iPad to Disneyland because I knew I needed to work. I know, sad right? But the truth is that you can’t truly cut yourself off. You need to be somewhat available. Your business is a part of you, and if you’re like me, then you put EVERYTHING you have in your business. Not just your money, but your time and energy. You are what makes your business special. You are what sets you apart from the competition.

The truth is, if you have to work then you have to work. It’s your reality as an entrepreneur. And some day, hopefully your business will be in a place where you can drop everything in an instant and everything will be fine. But for most of us, that’s not the case. But don’t worry, there’s good news!

Working remotely is the easiest it has ever been. Heck, I’m on a train going from San Diego to the San Fernando Valley as we speak and I’m working. How awesome is that?! It’s so easy to have a constant data connection, and with laptops and mobile devices it’s so easy to stay connected. Plus, most travel vehicles give you the chance to charge devices if needed. On top of that you can easily communicate with your time with apps like FaceTime, Skype, and Google Hangouts. You can easily create, update, and share documents with Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud. The apps I personally use to stay connected to my team is Apple Mail, Dropbox, Google Hangouts, Evernote, and Todoist.


Honestly, I think it’s just all about finding balance. Why travel for fun if all you’re going to do is work the whole time? My suggestion is to work in the morning or evening when you’re back in your hotel/vacation rental and you have some down time between excursions. Try and stay present while you’re out and about with family and friends so you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and the company. Make memories! And lastly, it’s all about preparation. Before you leave try to get as prepared as possible weeks or months in advance so everything is spelled out for you and your team. Create a schedule of things that need to get done while you’re away. Delegate as many things as you can so that you can keep your work at a minimum.

Cheers to more travel!

Xoxo,

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Heather’s Progress Party

We were 7 years old. 4 girls became lifelong friends. From elementary school to high school, we were practically inseparable. We’ve known each other for majority of our lives – surreal when you think about it that way.

After high school, we all embarked on our own journeys. We made new friends, we experienced life separately, and we grew up on our own. We drifted apart as time passed before our eyes. Before we knew it life happened. When big things happened for me, these girls were there without hesitation.

I got married.

My mom passed away.

My best friends from elementary and high school

Time could have put a wrench in our friendship, but it didn’t. Even if it had been years since we’ve seen or talked to each other it was always as if we just picked up where we left off. Through the good and the bad, my happiest and my saddest, these girls were there for me through it all. Heather was one of those girls. 

Heather and I have known each other for over 25 years (WHAT?! Can’t believe it’s been that long). We were BFF’s at one point – we even had one of those best friend necklaces that was a heart and was made up of 2 pieces. She had half and I had the other. I think I still may have it! 


One day, she called me out of the blue. I saw her name pop up on my phone and wasn’t sure what to think tbh. Did something really bad happen? We rarely ever talk. When I picked up, she told me she wanted to start a business! I was relieved that something bad didn’t happen lol! I was so freakin proud that she was thinking about embarking on a journey that I have. I was excited that someone else wanted to live the crazy life that I’ve been living. Not only that, but she was calling me to “pick my brain.”

Fast forward to about a year and a half later. She has grown so much, we’ve rekindled our friendship, and we’ve been able to add another facet to our relationship – accountability partners.

During one of our accountability meetings she told me she wanted to throw a progress party to celebrate how far she’d come and I thought it was an amazing idea! She said she wanted to ask a few people to speak at the party and I immediately said yes. I was honored that she would ask me!
Needless to say the party was a huge success! I was able to meet people that I’ve known from her channel, and people actually recognized me from our live accountability sessions! It was surreal and humbling (to say the least) to be recognized by people I didn’t know.

I’m so excited for Heather. I can’t wait to watch her journey unfold and hear about the things she’s going to do with Sharespark Media. It’s so inspiring to see fellow business people grow!

xoxo,

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