Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Lake.
Jenny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started real estate almost four years ago, about six months after I was divorced. I was a stay at home mom for many years. Previoulsy, I had taught first and second grade. I loved teaching but I knew I would not make a substantial enough salary to live the lifestyle I sought to live. I wanted to be able to provide for myself and my children in the future without having to rely on anyone else for financial support. I had not been in the workforce full-time for several years.
I had considered sales but knew I needed several years of experience in medical sales or other fields which paid well. I had often thought about real estate but never really knew much about working in the industry. Regardless of my lack of knowledge, I decided to give real estate a try. I needed work experience, so even if it didn’t work out, I would have experience to add to my resume. I decided to give it at least two years so I would have some credentials and experience to add to my resume. I did okay initially but I was still dealing with the drama of the divorce and did mediocre my first year. My second year, my broker at Fannie Hillman + Associates, Scott Hillman, asked me to attend a course called Ninja Training. I embarked on this journey for week-long retreat to Fort Collins, Colorado, to learn how to be a Ninja real estate agent.
I was honored to be chosen and that my broker saw the potential in me. From this conference, I learned the stories of others who had succeeded. It empowered me to want to do better and to succeed. The program empowered me to give my job and my clients my all. When I returned from that trip, everything changed. My third year, I ended up being one of my office’s top producers, doing nearly four million in sales. This year, I have reached that number after five months and I am hoping to do seven million dollars in sales volume this year.
My job has become my passion. It is not a job; it feels more like a hobby. I love this business because it is about building personal relationships. It is about helping people transition through a huge life milestone of buying or selling their home. I am fully invested in helping my clients. I want them to feel like they are well educated throughout the entire transaction. I am always readily available to my them. There is no greater gift than helping others. While I am no longer in the classroom, I have embarked into another field of helping others. I feel truly blessed to be in such an amazing job that I love. Fannie Hillman is also an amazing company. I am blessed to have the full support of amazing agents. I look forward to many more years of continued success.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
When I started real estate, I was dealing with so much personal drama that I was not in the right headspace to be completely dedicated to my job. However, there was never a point when I did not give my all to my clients but it took me five months to sell my first home. I definitely had a slow start. After about two years, I realized that I was earning very little money. I had met with a career counselor as I was not sure this career path would work out for me. After a few meetings with her, I started getting very busy. Then I decided that maybe this would work. I went full force with real estate and never turned back. I am hooked and love my job now!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work for Fannie Hillman + Associates. I am a real estate agent and an independent contractor. I focus on residential sales. I will do anything from lots, condos to luxury homes. I have also helped clients purchase foreclosure properties and investment properties as well. I am proud of my work ethic and my ability to build relationships with others. I prioritize building strong relationships with my clients. I am grateful when we can become friends beyond the transaction. I get very attached to all of my clients. They are all very special to me and I will do anything to achieve the best possible results for them. I think I am different than others because I pour my heart and soul into what I do. I listen to my client’s needs and do my best to make their wishes become a reality. I also have a very positive outlook so I work hard to keep my clients positive too. The market is very hard for buyers right now as we are dealing with multiple offer situations. I am doing my best to keep them motivated. We will find them a house! It’s important that we all maintain our positive outlook.
I am proud of how far I have come in such a short amount of time. I am grateful that I didn’t give up. I believe if you work hard, you will achieve. I set my goals high and I am thrilled to be reaching them. I am so honored to have been a top producer from Fannie Hillman because I work with many successful and experienced agents.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I follow many social media groups such as Orlando Realtor Mastermind and national realtor groups as well. I think it helps to read their stories and to see how they handle difficult situations. I can certainly learn from them.
I read the book Ninja Selling and went to their conference. That was life-changing for me. I also read the book, The Go-Giver. That’s a good reminder to give without expectations of receiving. We are in a giving career and a lot of what you do will go unpaid. It’s important to stay positive and to be a giver in life.
Contact Info:
- Email: jenny@fanniehillman.com
- Website: https://www.fanniehillman.com/agents/51464-jenny-lake
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennylakerealestate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennyLakeRealtor/
