Today we’d like to introduce you to Leila Harvey.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Leila. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I guess you could say I have always been a drifter, a free spirit, like a butterfly who you could catch a glimpse of for a brief moment. I spent my early 20’s bartending and working in Promotional Marketing for numerous brands such as Monster Energy Drink, Miller light, Corona, etc. At the age of 26, I was finally able to enroll in cosmetology school, which was something I had wanted to do since high school. Difficulties in obtaining financing and not being able to qualify for student loans on my own, kept me from being able to enroll earlier. I attended cosmetology school part-time at night from 5-10 pm so that I could work during the day, and I continued to bartend on the weekends to make ends meet. This meant it was going to take me 2 years to finish instead of 9 months. I was fine with that, and I enjoyed every moment of taking the course, including the camaraderie with students and instructors.
A couple of years later, I received my cosmetology license and went straight to work. I discovered early on while taking the course that I wanted to work at Knockouts Haircuts for men. This job included great tips, fun atmosphere, and dozens of locations to choose from, and I worked at quite a few of them. During the first 6 months I was nominated to be one of 12 girls selected to be featured in the Knockouts calendar. One year after beginning my cosmetology career, I moved into a management position and managed my own location on Greenville Ave in Dallas. These were some of the best times of my life. Six months later, the owners of the franchise asked me to relocate to Spring, TX (a suburb of Houston). to help turn the store around. This location had been open for a year and the profit was not where they wanted it to be. I embraced the challenge and diligently worked to improve their profit. Within the first 6 months, I doubled the store’s profits and guest retention, and was awarded the Highest Guest Retention and Top Contender nationwide.
Six months after relocating to the Spring location I met my Husband. He was a Client who came in once a week for a haircut, but looking back I realized he was coming in just to see me. Six months later we were married, and a year later we were having a baby! Ten years later and we are still happily married and madly in love. Four years into motherhood and being a stay at home mom, this butterfly was ready to fly the coupe and move on to the next chapter of my life. I decided to begin the real estate course to obtain my license, with the support of my husband and parents. I now realize this was the easy part.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
In September of 2016 I obtained my real estate license and struggled to find where I fit in. It is a very self-starting and fend for yourself career field. I haven’t met anyone yet who is willing to hand you the keys and show you the way. My first year I completed 12 transactions, which was great for a new agent. I completed 10 transactions in my 2nd year but really felt the struggle finding new clients. Every transaction came with its own set of obstacles, those which I had never encountered but were necessary and part of my learning curve. Having completed my 3rd year and beginning my 4th, I feel more confident in myself, in my knowledge of the market, negotiations, and where I need to be.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
This last year has really been about branding myself, hence the RockStar Realtor. In this industry you have to find something that sets you apart, something you’re proud of. I’ve been blessed this year financially in my career and I felt like I was able to finally give something back. So I purchased 25 guitar rests for the music teacher/department at my daughter’s school. I thought how fitting for the RockStar Realtor. I’ve decided that this year I will focus on continuing to brand myself by finding ways to give back to my community and help out where and when I can. I enjoy meeting new people and helping first-time buyers find their starter home. The market in DFW is volatile and most first-time buyer’s need all the help they can get. I enjoy navigating the water’s with them and ensuring that they are getting the best deal all around. My true passion is more artistic and I love interior decorating. I have gone furniture shopping with one of my clients and helped her select the furniture for the entire house! Talk about service after the sale! It’s true that I make friends not clients. Is this my final destination you ask? Probably not. I will continue with real estate and always keep it in my back pocket, but like that butterfly I’ve got to keep moving. I have no idea what the future holds, but if I can continue to work hard, I know the sky is the limit! “If your Realtor doesn’t rock, then it’s time to roll!”
What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Every journey has its own bumps in the road, and I have certainly encountered mine, but you have to learn from them and continue to grow. After all, it’s failure that helps us learn to be better at everything we do. My advice is, don’t be a slacker, find ways to make things work and make end’s meet. Nothing great ever comes easy. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and be sure to make wise and informed decisions.
Contact Info:
- Website: Leila.SearchAllFortWorthHomes.com
- Phone: 682-402-4243
- Email: LeilaSellsDFW@gmail.com
- Instagram: ig:LeilaSellsDFW
- Facebook: facebook.com/LeilaSellsDFW
Image Credit:
Knockouts Haircuts for Men
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