Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Nguyen.
Katrina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was working in marketing for various companies for 10 years. Then one day, I hit a brick wall. I remember sitting in my car on the way to work and hoping that I would get hit by a car because I couldn’t stand going back to a windowless office. I just thought, is this really my life? I spent my days creating promotional items (a.k.a. slapping logos on things that no one wants) and ordering gifts for clients.
I called my mom and I broke down into tears because I didn’t want to do this anymore. Part of me felt like I was a failure. I felt guilty because my parents help put me through school and now I decide to have a change of heart? I felt empty and unfulfilled. I always wanted a job where I can make an impact, big or small. I wanted to build relationships with people and not be confined to what someone else had set for me. I wanted to challenge myself. My mom suggested that I go into real estate.
I decided to follow her advice and ordered the textbooks. But after evaluating how thick those books are, it sat on my coffee table for months. Finally, I opened it one day and fell in love. Where has this been my whole life? I decided to studied hard and get my license so I never have to do a job that I didn’t want to do ever again.
The thing about real estate is that no one really tells you about how hard it is during your first year. I thought as soon as I got my license, my phone would be ringing off the hook and everyone will want to work with me. But it didn’t. It took a lot of hard work to get to where I am now.
I tried door knocking, cold calling, open houses, networking events, more door knocking, and farming (which means sending out postcards to a certain area in hopes of getting a lead). Anything that anyone said to do to in order to become successful, I did it. I wanted to be succeed so bad.
The first few months was really tough. I never had to deal with rejection before. I had people slam the door in my face or cuss me out on the phone. I wanted to give up. I just kept thinking, how can this be my dream and did I make a mistake? I spent every 2 to 3 days crying in my car. But I kept reminding myself why I’m doing this. Regardless of what I was going through, I knew that deep down in my heart that this is for me. This is my calling. This is what I want to do with my life. So it didn’t matter how crappy my day is, I’m going to keep going. Because I’m only failing if I accept that I am. After 3 months, I got my first deal.
During the past 5 years, I’ve had a lot of ups and downs.. I’ve learned a lot about myself throughout these years and I honestly wouldn’t be here without my incredible support system and all of the people at Madison & Company. It’s a challenge learning to find out who you are as a person and also succeed in your career. But if I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s definitely not an easy path! At least for me, anyway. Learning to accept rejection was probably one of the hardest things I had to overcome because it’s not often that people will say ‘no’ to your face. But it happens and eventually, you will learn how to build thick skin.
I had to learn to stop comparing myself to other people because real estate tends to be a “showy” industry so it’s hard not to notice other people’s awards, recognition, volume and material things. I had to learn to define my own version of success. I also had to be ok with the fact that I don’t have to be like every other realtor out there, and that’s ok. I can build this business the way that I want to and I don’t owe anyone else an explanation. I really had to dig deep to find out what makes me happy.
For women who are interested in getting into real estate, I would recommend to learn the art of saying ‘no’. There will be many people trying to get your business and sell you things but keep in mind that your time and energy are valuable so you have to be selective with how you spend that. Also, always follow your instincts when doing an open house or showings. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable, be sure to tell a colleague. Harassment is never ok and you don’t have to accept that in order to get a commission.
Please tell us about Madison & Company Properties – what should we know?
I sell residential real estate through the Denver Metro area. I am a native here so I love showing clients what Denver has to offer. I tend to work with first time home buyers because I love spending time educating them about the process and help them select their future home. I’m really proud of my relationships with my clients. I spend a lot of time with them and we always become friends. It’s important to me that they feel comfortable and that I’m always there for them no matter what. I’m always tell my clients that I’m not the realtor who walks into every house and tries to push the house on them. I can tell if they really love the property. I also pay attention to what my clients like and dislike and match them with the perfect home. I want them to have a great experience and I do that with a sense of humor and offering support whenever they need. Buying and selling a house is hard enough so it’s important for them to have a person who has their best interest at heart.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
If you are interested in getting a mentor, be sure you’re prepared to do the work. Some people think that if they get a mentor, the mentor will solve all of their problems and their lives will be better but that’s not how it works. You have to be mentally and emotionally prepared to do the work that is necessary to get you to the next level. Once you’re ready, look for a mentor who is willing to be brutally honest with you. You’re not hiring someone to fluff your feathers. You’re hiring someone who can challenge you so you can expand your mind and skillset.
When networking, go and have fun! Be yourself and don’t be afraid to crack a joke. And ask real questions about who they are. Don’t start with “oh, so what do you do?” People want to work with people they get along with. If you come with less expectations, you’ll get a lot more out of it. But if you go into it with the idea of “selling yourself”, then people will stay away from you. I truly believe authenticity will trump any elevator speech.
Contact Info:
- Address: 201 Milwaukee St, Suite G, Denver, CO 80206
- Website: madisonprops.com
- Phone: 7209997007
- Email: katrina@madisonprops.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katrina.realtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrinanguyenrealtor/
Image Credit:
H. Nguyen Photography
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