Today we’d like to introduce you to Valencia Gibson.
Hi Valencia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always wanted to serve. For a large part of my life, I planned on enlisting in the Navy just as my uncle had. A year out of high school, I did exactly that and when I was about to fly out to basic training, everything changed. I discovered I was pregnant. No one can go to basic while pregnant and I took some time to have my son. Once he was born, I knew I’d never go back to the plans I had before. I was drawn in by this little boy so full of life, he was born with his eyes wide open and curious about everything. I’d spent my whole life dreaming of serving in the Navy and now I couldn’t imagine not seeing my son grow up. So, I set about finding a new way to serve others.
I never could force myself to do something unless I saw it as a service, a ministry to others. After years of criminology studies, I went to work at an investigative collections firm. I stayed there for a few years but after some tough calls, I wasn’t sure I was doing good anymore.
I left that field behind and stayed home with my children for a little over a year. When my daughter was four months old, I went to work in property management. I enjoyed what I did and the action that filled my days. I was needed in my communities and could see the difference I made with my residents. We grew to have strong professional relationships with each other, and I saw them graduate, get married, and have children. It was wonderful but after several years, I needed a fresh start someplace new. I’ve always been a spiritual person and so I asked, “Lord, where should I go?”
Within moments, I knew it was Dallas. Immediately, I received a call from a minister in Dallas and she invited me to stay. I went with my children while my husband stayed in Houston. I did more property management at first, but it wasn’t the same as before. Years earlier, a friend of mine had suggested real estate and I said no. But as the months passed, it became clear that it was the answer. So, I turned upward again, “Lord, if you really want me to do this, send me someone to serve.” Again, I received a phone call right away and found a REALTOR® in need of a real estate assistant. We hit it off and I went to work.
It was a rough few years as I took time to learn the industry. My salary was not enough to feed a family on, it was less than a third of what I’d made before with less than half the hours. There were a lot of nights that I went hungry to make sure my children were fed, even with my husband’s help. But I learned and worked and built up that company. Finally, I decided it was time to get my license and after six months of studying while working and taking care of my children, I got it and got started.
What I learned through it all was that with enough hard work and real passion, there’s nothing I can’t do. I have gone on to do the impossible in real estate with approvals and eliminating leans and I love what I do because I’ve always been passionate about serving others.
I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. What I enjoy most about my job is helping others accomplish their dreams after they’ve been told it wasn’t possible.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, not always. I literally and physically started at the bottom. I moved to Dallas in a Uhaul very unclear of where my life was headed. I believed I was coming to work for a ministry, and ended up practically homeless with my children, being told we had to find somewhere to move to. Eventually, we found a place and within the first week, I started considering getting into real estate based on a recommendation of my friend, who had told me I would be good at it 9 years prior. I know, late bloomer, right? Anywho, I searched for someone to mentor me, and could not find anyone. So, I prayed for someone to serve, and voila! A lady reached out to me who was a realtor herself and asked to conduct an interview. I did and we hit it off, but that does not mean it was easy. She was very high maintenance and super disciplined, I loved and honored that about her and was willing to sacrifice a decent income for peanuts to help her rise to the top. I felt called to serve her, and so I did to the absolute best of my ability. There were many starving days, lost days, frustrating days, and lots of tears. Yet I found joy in the hugs I chose to give, and the family I painted them as in my life and pushed through. This created a loving atmosphere not only for their business but for myself. So, I can honestly say there were a lot of great days because if you stop to smell the roses long enough there is a ton of beauty in the struggle. Everything I experienced in that place made me stronger, and more confident in my own abilities, but most importantly my faith!
GOD BE GLORIFIED! Periodt~
Eventually, I would officially become a realtor, and the lead share of being on that realtor’s team would help me grow and rise quickly to what I thought was the top of my career. Until I learned there was more out there in the world of real estate. I felt like I had been kept in the dark on so many things, and once my eyes were opened up, boy did I run! I ended up leaving that company and gaining true freedom, and at that moment I created my first set of enemies because they were NOT happy at all.
For a moment after I had left, it seemed like all of my fears had come to pass. I had always feared venturing out on my own because I struggled with what I later learned was “Imposter Syndrome”. I did not believe in myself enough. Apart of me knew I could overcome anything, but I focused entirely too much on what I did not have in the beginning, instead of what I did. I would constantly obsess about not having enough money to get a big office, the flagship systems that could help to automate my business or hire a full staff. Even worst I attacked my own self-esteem, stressing about not having clear skin, a size 6 waistline, or the desire to wear stylish clothing for God’s sake. It was bad! I deeply wounded myself in the process, but healing had to come forth, enough was enough! When I started to focus on being authentically myself and bringing all of me to the table my life changed for the better. I saw what I did have and realized I had and have everything I need.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are Rainbow Realty Network Group brokered by eXp Realty. We offer a full slate of services such as Coaching/ Mentoring and we partner with both lending partners, title companies, insurance agencies, and other vendors who provide necessary services for our real estate clients. (Residential; Buyers, Sellers, Investors, Lessors, Leases, etc). We are full-time agents who service the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and its surrounding cities.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
LOVE! Service and care are all great attributes to my success. I am who I am, but I remain coachable, teachable and I always want my clients to know that we are a team, so I am actively listening, willing, and able to go the extra mile wherever necessary.
Contact Info:
- Email: valencia@rainbowrealtynetwork.com
- Website: https://rainbowrealtynetwork.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowrealtynetworkgroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainbowrealtynetwork/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVKNbwkC_hGObbZauSgKMkw
Image Credits
William Gibson
