We’re looking forward to introducing you to James Brown. Check out our conversation below.
James, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m building an army of investor-focused real estate agents around the country that focus on helping people become homeowners as well as investors.
It’s a lot of work to put it all together but I’m driven to help agents be successful while helping our clients build wealth and get out of the rat race!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I went from being a graphic designer that used to spend most of the day in front of a computer and was scared of public speaking to being a full-time investor-focused Realtor that hosts two popular investing shows, hosts an in-person investing meetup and speaks in front of groups of people.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was always competitive and successful in sports. Hockey, snowboarding, and kiteboarding were my main sports. I started a snowboard team in college and when kiteboarding came along I became sponsored, started two magazines and traveled to some cool places around the world including the Redbull Ragnarok snowkite event in Norway. Working hard to get on the podium has embedded a correlation between mindset and accomplishing goals that has influenced my drive in business too.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear of public speaking and vulnerability has definitely held me back. Everything changed once I realized that vulnerability can be a super power for connecting with others. It is freeing to not be so wrapped up in what others think. It hasn’t been easy and I still get nervous but try to think of it more as excitement. And I know that what I have to share is valuable so I need to get out of my own head and help people by sharing.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I mentioned vulnerability before and I’d say authenticity is related to that. When I got my real estate license I was like most people and had an image of what a Realtor looks like. Well-dressed and professional. I struggled with the idea of always having to dress up when meeting with clients or shooting videos. But what if I was out in my regular clothes and had to go meet a client at the last minute? I’d either be in a panic, or have to keep a set of clothes in my truck. Then one of my mentors pointed out that people want to work with real, authentic people. And if they don’t relate to the real me then they aren’t a good fit. There are plenty of people I can help that appreciate me and respect me for my expertise and professionalism whether I’m wearing a flannel shirt or hoodie. So I leaned into that and never stress out about what I’m wearing.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What light inside you have you been dimming?
When I got into real estate I had no idea how much personal growth it was going to demand of me. Like I mentioned previously I had to get out of my comfort zone and speak in front of people. What really helped me was realizing I had valuable knowledge to share that others wanted to know. So it is more about them than it is about me. I also have been through major transformations through work I’ve done for myself through Klemmer and Associates which is a powerful personal growth and leadership organization like no other I’ve seen. I’ve become much more comfortable trying new things and being alright if I mess up…even if it’s in front of an audience or while live streaming my investing show. There’s no editing out the mess ups in those situations. I’ve also realized that messing up is human and it makes us more relatable. So recently I’ve been changing my name in Zoom calls to “James Brown v2.0” because I’m leaning into being the most authentic, best version of myself. Time is too short to let fear hold me back and not let my light shine fully!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jamesbrownrealestate.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbrown.corealtor/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-brown-303/
- Twitter: https://x.com/JamesBrownRE
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesBrown.EXP/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5UlWkuzfy4kiOuCps-n8Vg
- Other: https://linktr.ee/partnerwithjamesbrown
