Meet Courtney Benson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Benson.

Courtney, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
After a successful 14 year career in the luxury cosmetics industry I wanted to stop traveling and spend more time with our babies, so my husband and I cashed in our stocks and a chunk of our savings and opened two eco-friendly dry cleaning stores in Frisco. I had a concept to make the lobby space a boutique and we sold and supported local goods made here in Texas. The concept was a hit, but we struggled with the hours, the employees and the nature of running two storefronts with two kids under the age of three. Over the course of three years we lost everything. While we worked on selling our stores, we cleaned houses, I did interior design work, I made art that I sold in the store (that one still makes me laugh! I have art in people’s homes, so crazy!) and my husband got a job publishing a magazine (he has a publishing background). We did all these things while maintaining our store hours from 6:30am – 7:30pm, Monday – Saturday. We did everything we could to put food on the table and support our family, but we ended up having to sell our house which was a horrible experience and my mother-in-law graciously let us move in with her.

One day when I was at the dry cleaner working on a design board for a client a Groupon popped up for $199 for a Real Estate licensing course and I clicked on it, we had a lot of Realtors who came into the store, so I was interested. I ended up spending the last of our $237 that we had in the bank, so I called my husband and cried! He told me he believed in me, so I got to work getting my license. I had nothing left to lose and I was determined to make a life comeback. I had gone from success to nothing and I knew that was not the end of my story.

We finally sold our stores and I reached out to everyone I knew, including all of our friends we met when we owned the stores and people started sending me business! They knew my work ethic and they trusted the relationships I built with each of them, so they supported me. I am grateful for that.

It’s been almost six years since I’ve had my license and I am proud that 65% of our business comes from referrals. I have been honored by D Magazine, the city of Frisco, Texas Monthly magazine and I just learned I was awarded top 2% of Realtors in North DFW with Real Producers Magazine. That one is still mind boggling! There’s some amazing Realtors out there, so to have that recognition is very humbling. When I started I thought I would be happy selling 3 houses per year and now I’m here. God gave me a better plan than I had for myself!

I’ve had some really cool opportunities along the way with TV appearances and radio interviews. I’m always in awe at the people I get to meet and the amazing things people are doing, I am proud to be a part of it all. My philosophy is always to be honest, have integrity and be kind; the rest works itself out and so far it has.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?

No, it’s not been easy, but I have always had the best support around me. My parents gave me a great start and I watched my dad who was very successful in the company he owned, but it wasn’t until I got older and we started having conversations about it that he told me about his struggles. He made it look so easy, I guess I didn’t realize what was happening “behind the scenes”. Those have been some important conversations. Success has a slew of failures, second and third attempts behind it, it’s a very elusive thing, it always seems just out of reach. I stopped making that label “success” a marker in my life, it’s too much pressure. Consistency is where my success lies, it’s not being tied to the outcome of individual things. I am learning that something always has to give; clients, parenting, being a wife, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a business owner and trying to have a clean closet and food in the refrigerator, it can all be too much! I try to prioritize and be at peace with knowing what my best looks like and my best is not perfection, but consistency.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Courtney Benson Property Group story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a family business! I am very proud of that. My husband is an amazing Realtor and our kids get out there and work with us. Ask my nine-year-old about closing costs and homestead exemptions, she will tell you!

I think one of the things we are most known for is our honesty and tenacity. Buying and selling isn’t always a smooth process, so many variables at all times and when you mix that with large sums of money and high emotions, things can go bad quickly. We have earned trust with our clients because even if a bumpy road is ahead, they know we will see them through to get the outcome they are looking for.

We have earned a reputation for being all-in at all times. Helping clients buy and sell a home is a big responsibility and we treat it that way. My husband and I work as a team so we are able to be very hands on, everyone is important and everyone gets our full attention.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe in opportunity. I love the saying that most people don’t recognize luck because it comes disguised as hard work. I believe that. I have been given opportunities and I have created my own, either way, you have to take it and run with it!

I still look at what my family went through when we lost everything and together we worked hard to be where we are now. I wouldn’t change any of it. Those struggles became an opportunity even though it looked like tragedy at the time, we just didn’t give up. No luck, just opportunity and tenacity.

Image Credit:
Audrie Dollins Photography

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