Ever wondered how the discipline and focus required in a boxing ring could translate to a successful career in real estate? Our guest this week is a former professional boxer who has successfully transitioned into a real estate agent, proving that the qualities that lead to success in one arena are often transferable to another. His journey is one of relentless dream-chasing, intense self-development, and impressive personal branding that's grounded on trust.
In a world where success is often hinged on reputation, our guest lets us into his world, revealing how he's been able to build a reputable legacy. The second half of our conversation takes a deeper look at how a genuine attitude and love for family have become his guiding principles. His story underscores the power of our words and actions to leave a lasting impact. So, join us as we explore this fascinating journey of transition, personal growth, and legacy-building.
Ever wondered how the discipline and focus required in a boxing ring could translate to a successful career in real estate? Our guest this week is a former professional boxer who has successfully transitioned into a real estate agent, proving that the qualities that lead to success in one arena are often transferable to another. His journey is one of relentless dream-chasing, intense self-development, and impressive personal branding that's grounded on trust.
In a world where success is often hinged on reputation, our guest lets us into his world, revealing how he's been able to build a reputable legacy. The second half of our conversation takes a deeper look at how a genuine attitude and love for family have become his guiding principles. His story underscores the power of our words and actions to leave a lasting impact. So, join us as we explore this fascinating journey of transition, personal growth, and legacy-building.
Speaker 1:
How long have you been a real estate agent?
Speaker 2:
I've been in the business since 2017, so end of 2017. So just approaching six years now.
Speaker 1:
Okay, what's been like the best part of it?
Speaker 2:
Just the overall learning and growing process of it, just meeting a lot of people and the people that I work with are very appreciative of my business and I can appreciate that and just seeing everything come together from the first meeting to whether selling their home or giving them the keys it's a very rewarding experience and they really appreciate you and just makes you feel good.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, what did you do before becoming an agent?
Speaker 2:
Oh man, where do I start? So the majority of my time before an agent was pursuing a professional boxing career. Okay, so that's what I really spent all my energy on. I worked different jobs and gyms, personal training I'm out in home personal training business. Also worked at a restaurant and then transitioning to real estate.
Speaker 1:
Awesome.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
That's cool.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Like what made you think real estate though.
Speaker 2:
So when I was boxing, I boxed from 17 years old until just right before I turned 24, so it was 17, 23. When I was 21, my uncle was in the business. He's still in the business, but he approached us my brother and I saying, hey, I think you guys would be really good fits to be real estate agents and in the real estate business, and it really stuck with us. He didn't really explain the entire career you could say and what it entails, but just in general the conversation we did had. It really intrigued us, and he gave us a book called the One Thing by Gary Keller, which essentially tells you to focus on one thing in your business where nothing else will matter.
Speaker 2:
I kind of misinterpreted it or kind of took it in a different direction and I really started just focusing really on boxing, just putting all my boxing and really dialing it on my career. Fast forward, two years later I'm still boxing and I decided you know what? I'm a bottom term professional. I wasn't sure if this was still the path that I wanted to pursue and lay all my energy into. And yeah. So I called my uncle up two years later when I was 23,. I was like, hey, I think I'm ready this time to actually give my real estate license. He told me okay, this is what you gotta do, take the class and call me after and.
Speaker 1:
I did knock him out.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, basically. So yeah, you're good Basically what it is, though.
Speaker 1:
So like what happened though in the boxing world. Was it like this isn't gonna support a family, Like did you make that realization or something else happen?
Speaker 2:
I'm a very I like to say logical and realistic thinker. I really try to see things as they are, in the truth, you know, and I just saw myself like I still believe in myself. I felt like I could have gone really far. But I also understood. It's boxing and Anything can happen and in boxing, one loss as a professional can really derail your career and, like you said, financially.
Speaker 2:
I didn't have kids at the time, so it wasn't really about my family, was just more about my personal goals and just career. You could say, yeah, I was like if I turn pro now, Five years from now, I might make decent money to support myself and my future family and it just wasn't something that I was willing to risk to be like 29, 30, only have boxing and I've had other Again. I started my own personal training business and I was good at sales and things like that. But it's just boxing was everything, is the only thing I knew in a sense, yeah, so I was like you know, well, let me get into real estate because I've always had a passion for for business and just self development and improve myself, and I thought real estate gave me a lot of a Like a really high ceiling.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, really pursue that and go all in exactly yeah, and so, and because you're a boxer, you're probably very disciplined. Yeah, yeah, definitely and that probably carried through To being an agent right, yeah your practices Ritual, not rituals. But you're right, yeah, the ritual is that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I just to backtrack a little bit more. I grew up playing basketball, so it's just kind of what I was. I Played basketball all the way up until I was 17, right before I started boxing. Yeah and this is my entire life has been like that, just Very Routine based.
Speaker 2:
Yeah what are? The gym workout Just obsess on one Thing was basketball. Yeah, I didn't, I didn't intentionally do that, but whether it was basketball or boxing, and then when I went to real estate, it was the same thing, just fully immersing myself and giving it All I have and improving in that craft. You could say so yeah, it definitely correlated Perfectly, like it just did do you ever feel like Like how did you become so disciplined?
Speaker 1:
was it just because you always were? Because you were into sports growing up? Yeah or was it like a family Value that your parents instilled in you, or Part of it is natural thing.
Speaker 2:
I've been very competitive. I grew up very close my brother and just playing basketball and just younger brother older brother one year older.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, when your older brother. Why an?
Speaker 2:
older brother, that's when you're older than me.
Speaker 2:
Should I say catch up to him yeah and, yeah, we were just very competitive, always trying to be better. And I think as I got older and just going to different tournaments and seeing the high level of competition there was it just inspired me to to be better and I just wanted to, just like every other kid, I wanted to go there and be a so bad like by any means necessary, I just wouldn't take no for an answer. So I was working out every single day, every single morning, before school, after school, watching basketball. It was just. I was just obsessed with it and I think it is a personality trait that just developed over time. And when I went into boxing, it was the same exact thing. I just fell in love with the sport, fell in love with the idea of Improving.
Speaker 2:
That was only me, was different from basketball, where you had teammates and coaches. You have a coach and teammates in boxing, for the end of the day, you're the only one that's fighting. You're the only one you can blame whether you want to lose. So I really, I really was attracted to that. So, yeah, I would just say it's. It's just. I developed as I was a little kid. My parents were definitely supportive. Mom always encouraged me that I could do whatever I want. I Would say she's the reason I was. I was very confident as a kid, just telling me I can do whatever I want, and hearing that Non-stop after a while kind of sits with you. So yeah, it's a long-winded answer but they're very important.
Speaker 2:
For sure, my mom is my rock, so my dad. He definitely, you know, always supported me too and always told me that I could, you know, Make it happen as long as I put the work in.
Speaker 1:
So yeah, yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, in terms of quality. So, besides the fact that you're disciplined and you go after it, yeah whether you're an agent or just a small business owner in general. Like what are the things that like, the traits that you believe In order to be successful? You've got a like and body.
Speaker 2:
Well, I can speak to real estate because I've had success in my field. It's treating people well and being very honest and kind and genuine and empathetic to people's feelings, understanding that as Real estate agents, we help a lot of people. Right, we do a lot of business. We help a lot of buyers and sellers. We talked a lot of buyers and sellers every single day, so this it's almost it's just an everyday thing to us for them. They're doing this one every seven to ten years and I understand why they call me late at night or why they might be worried, why why they might be upset and just having empathy towards that and being generally Appreciate not appreciate it, but thoughtful of how I treat them and Honest to you. Like I said, just being very honest. I tell people all the time I sleep very good at night because I always just tell the truth. You can never regret telling the truth.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, no I agree, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:
So you can be empathetic to them, calling you at 11 pm At night, but do you have to pick up your phone. That's the question.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, it depends. I 11 pm. I don't have many people that call me 11 pm Anymore. Thankfully I've had some clients every now and then that have it really depends the situation, right? I mean, if I'm with my kids, I just can't. Yeah, I'm putting, I'm putting someone to sleep or I don't see it. It just is what it is.
Speaker 1:
But that's funny.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I mean, I definitely I will work extra hours for me. I don't have that Mental block. You could say where if someone calls me late at night, it doesn't bother me, it doesn't like trigger me. Oh, why is someone calling me? It's just it's a phone call.
Speaker 1:
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:
Hey, what's going on? Yeah, that quick, right, if I don't have the time, hey, what's going on? Sorry, I just don't have time right now. Can I call you back if it's extremely urgent, which typically it's not? If it is urgent, I'll handle it there, and if it's not, you know I'll handle it the next day.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, so poise ma'am hey, leave me a text message if it's an emergency. Yeah, that's why.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, they usually do anyway.
Speaker 1:
You don't have to do that going into the future, how do you see yourself building at your business, because you are essentially, for the most part, a solopreneur?
Speaker 2:
for sure.
Speaker 1:
Everything is on you. You're working your sales, yeah, prospecting, you're actually doing the transactions or you might have help. But yeah where do you see yourself Going in five to ten years, especially in right now, in today's? Real estate market, and then how are you gonna get there?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, great question, ten years. I haven't even thought that far out yet. I really haven't, just because typically when I do is Just it's never the way I planned it. So I try to think a little shorter out. I'm definitely hiring and some admin help just because the business is growing and just continuing to build my team. I have a good team right now of different partners and you know home inspectors, stagers, contractors, attorneys that all are entitled title companies, loan officers All of us work together to make these transactions as seamless as possible for our clients and it's just continuing to build that team and for me personally it's building the admin so we can continue to grow and help more people. And I guess that's where I see myself.
Speaker 2:
I enjoy the meetings with clients, the personal listen appointments and even showing how some agents aren't very excited about that anymore. After a while in the business maybe I'll get there, but right now I enjoy meeting with people directly and speaking with them and hearing about their goals versus. I'm not very passionate about training other listed agents and, hey, go, do this listen appointment for me, I'll get you the leads. This is not my personal goal right now and I feel like right now at least in real estate, it's been very popular to build a big team and to train other people and then have this manager role.
Speaker 2:
It's just not what I got into the business for and I feel like, as long as I'm living a life where I enjoy the business and I'm passionate about it, people work with me and reach out to me because they know that I'm passionate about what I do and I love what I do and they get to see and talk to you Exactly.
Speaker 2:
Exactly, and I'm there every step of the way and I enjoy that and it doesn't feel overwhelming Like you could say. The real estate media will make you think it's enjoyable. I work with amazing clients. I feel I work a lot by referral, so a lot of my clients trust me and they want to work with me directly, versus an online lead or something of that nature. And what that is in our business is where you essentially pay for leads and these are usually people who are looking to buy or sell and they're looking online and signing up for different websites. But they're also talking to 10 other realtors.
Speaker 2:
I can see how that gets frustrating, how you can get burnt out talking with a client who doesn't truly want to work with you or it's not honest with you and their communication, and they're talking to other people and you show them 10 houses in the Bible somebody else that could definitely burn you out. But when you work by referral and you set the right expectations and the whole process is enjoyable for them and for me, it's like I love what I do. It's a blessing. I almost can't believe what I do for a living Like it really is so I think that's why I get a lot of referrals too, because again people are like, hey, he enjoys what he does, he's patient. People tell me I'm patient all the time. I'm like I don't see where my characteristic of patient came out. But I guess you thought I was patient. I mean, I'll take the compliment.
Speaker 1:
You're like I don't know what you've been through already.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so yeah, I enjoy what I do.
Speaker 1:
I love that, I love that and you can really feel it in like the way that you carry yourself in this conversation and just yeah, that's amazing.
Speaker 2:
Thank you.
Speaker 1:
I mean, obviously there's reasons why people build big teams right. They do want to skill and leverage and grow a business.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And, like you said, you might get there someday, but right now people are working with you. We're all about personal brands. Here at Alamon Studio, we help people build personal brands through photography, video, social media, all that stuff and what you've already done and accomplished is created your own personal brand that's built around trust.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And you know your reputation and the fact that you're going to show up.
Speaker 2:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And you're patient.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, yeah, you're right, that's amazing. You're right. I think you talk about personal brand reputation. I feel like you're always building that. Every single conversation, every single person you meet, whether you're behind the camera or not, whether you're with a client or not, it has like a ripple effect and it's way bigger than what you think it is. One little conversation can just change your life, can change somebody else's life. So just being very aware of that, yes, it's huge. And I feel like once that kind of clicked in my brain, that everything you do matters and if you want to live an abundant life, you have to treat people a certain way, and it's not necessarily treating people to get something in return, which is understanding. Life is better when you're giving and you're kind and you're just in a good place, you're peaceful. That makes sense.
Speaker 1:
I totally get that, you know, and one time it smacked me in the face because you know I've built my whole business obviously in this community and one time I was not in my I didn't have my best self on I was calling one of my kids' schools upset about something yeah.
Speaker 2:
And a little bit huffy-puffy you know, and I was like yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:
No, I will not be doing this. And they're like I'm sorry, can I get your kid's name? I gave my kid's name and they're like what's your name? I gave my name and they're like oh, aliyah, with LMY Studio.
Speaker 2:
Oh, yes, Aliyah.
Speaker 1:
How are you?
Speaker 2:
I'm like, oh crap, crap crap, crap, yeah, yeah, yeah, Exactly, oh, I'm good, how are you? Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Completely changed the tone and it reminded me, like you know, like your reputation, your word, that's everything. Doesn't matter if you're not in a good mood or something rubbed the wrong way, like yeah, yeah, you're 100% right.
Speaker 2:
It's people who just remember how you made them feel. It's very police-shaped, but it's so true. I have a hard time remembering names sometimes, but if I see you and like we had a great time, I'm going to remember that and it's usually a positive, you know, connection with that person 100%, all right.
Speaker 1:
So parting words what's something that you want people to always remember you by? Let's say, you got casted into some amazing other world. Yeah, okay. And all that was left is your name and your reputation. Yeah, how do you want people to remember you?
Speaker 2:
That's a great question. I can probably come up with more things if I were to think about this more, but the first thing that comes to mind is just somebody who was genuine in his efforts, loved to live life, was very honest, said what he meant and did what he said and worked really hard to whatever he put his mind to. I would say that's a few things, and love this family. I'm very family-oriented. I have two daughters, a lovely girlfriend, my brother, my mom, my dad, my grandma, like everybody around me. There's a lot of other people I'm missing. It's just I've always, always just appreciated them and I feel like I wouldn't be where I am today without the support and the community that had around me. So just somebody that was loving, really it goes down to the simple thing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 1:
Thanks so much for being on the Alamon show. Of course it was great to have you as a guest and thanks for sharing a little bit of your story and value bombs.
