Daily Inspiration: Meet Shawna Bellendir

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawna Bellendir. 

Hi Shawna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I started in Real Estate in January of 2017. As a single mom of 3, there wasn’t a choice to look elsewhere for employment when everything I had was invested in me at that time. So, I did everything I could to learn all I could as quick as I could. I was lucky enough to have great people in my life that gave me the advice of making sure whatever brokerage I chose was invested in teaching me for the first 2 years. That was the best! I interviewed my brokerage for who fit me. Not just listening to what they were giving me for what price or promises. I landed at Sellstate, became Rookie of the Year for Colorado in 2017. I have been blessed to grow my business significantly each year since opening my own Sellstate Franchise in Erie in 2020. Creating a better lifestyle for my family is the reason I started in RE. Now that same choice allows me to create a better lifestyle for my clients and my community. I couldn’t be happier than where I am now and I am so grateful for the many families that have allowed me to help them grow with me. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes and no of course. Having owned a retail store from the time I was 18, I knew what entrepreneurship required of me. When I sold that company 10 years ago, I swore I would never be the one responsible for payroll, rent, etc. But that didn’t last very long until I realized I was not cut out to work for someone else. So Real Estate was perfect. I was only responsible for me. And for the first 6 months, it was great. Until I got so busy, I realized that in order to provide my clients with the service they deserved I needed to hire. And 6 months later, hire again. And so, I started a team. I brought on several people who got into the industry and had high hopes but didn’t want to put in the necessary work. I wanted it more for them than they did. And I found myself in a position where I felt I was being used. So, I went back to the beginning…Just me. Covid hit, I was swamped with business and I needed help. I was working from home and didn’t know how to mold this new situation to work for me. And somehow, I ended up opening my own brokerage. It’s amazing. I have amazing staff an incredible husband and clients that are out of this world. All of which has allowed us to grow even more and open a mortgage brokerage too. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For us, it’s always about the people we serve. We have all been in those positions we were excited for and those that were difficult. In the good times, we wanted friends to share our good news with, celebrate with us, and ask for guidance. In the bad times, we wanted someone we could trust, someone who helped, someone who listened, and even sometimes people to just cry with. Every client we help has their own unique situation. Being present for them through whatever it is they are going through is our key focus. There is a reason they are buying or selling. It’s their journey and they have invited us to be their guide. Taking care of everything we possibly can to anticipate what may occur on this journey is our priority. It has given us so much more than just a client. They are family now! Dinner invites, baby showers, and dog walking services are just some of the extras and we wouldn’t change it for a minute. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if it’s so much luck or if it’s determination. The word “quit” is not in my vocabulary. My dad taught me that a long time ago. He modeled it too. And trust me, there were plenty of times that quitting would have made way more sense. But you don’t learn much from your success (we are usually too busy celebrating it to learn from it). But failure is never an option. Get up and get moving forward. That is the rule. That is the lifestyle. That is the business! 

Contact Info:

• Email: shawna@takeushomecolorado.com
• Website: www.sellstatealtituderealty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeushomecolorado/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeUsHomeColorado