Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Carney.
Hi Suzanne, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m from Chicago, but consider myself a native Californian at this point. I’m also a real estate agent and how that happened makes so much sense. People who move to Los Angeles usually have a clear reason and when they get here the city is so big it can be overwhelming, but the whole of L.A. really just breaks down into two halves East and West. Within those two sections you’re pulled toward the vibe of a specific neighborhood.
The minute you find your area and create a sense of home something clicks and you can build a great life in L.A. Up until that point, I think the city can feel nearly untenable. You have to find and create your Home in this city. It’s a smart financial choice, of course, but what you get is a spiritual respite that appreciates in not only value but in meaning too.
This sense of Home as a necessity has been a theme in my own life from the beginning. I got divorced when my daughter was two years old and we had a great house that I had become very attached to. I felt comfortable and safe in this house and I knew my neighbors, we all had kids and we were tight. I couldn’t imagine facing the future, raising my daughter, and doing it alone in any other house. Somehow I got to keep the house, but then the pressure was ON! I had to find a way to pay the mortgage.
I decided the bank could come pry my knuckles off the gate, but until then I’d do whatever it took to hold on. The problem was – I had never worked a job that wasn’t freelance. I was terrified, but that house was mine. My father said to me, “Welcome to the hunt. You’re now the Dad and the Mom.” And it hit me that I had no clear road ahead. The first job I got was selling wine, but I knew nothing about wine. Zero.
So I went out each day and said the descriptions that my previous appointment had said to describe the wine. I lifted the description of the wine verbatim and went on the next appointment and said the words like they were mine. I did it every day until I knew twelve wines, then twenty, then the portfolio I was actually selling. I was in that business for years and it’s pretty intense. Seriously. Sounds cool but it’s a mix of debauchery, mad-libs, driving around the city all day, and you kind of need a wooden leg.
Eventually, I decided to walk away and quit drinking entirely. It meant – once again – I was on the road to change with no plan. I pulled money from my house and had a delicious breakdown/re-invention, whatever you would call it. What made sense was going into real estate. I believed in it. Having a home required financial stability. And it’s important to make a strong decision whether you’re afraid or not. I figured if someone found themselves as scared as I was and I got through it, maybe I could help them too.
Today I’m still in my house with a thriving real estate business that focuses on my neighbors.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
All my challenges fall under Negative Thinking. I suffered from uncertainty, lack of confidence, and feeling like a fraud. I still get embarrassed about marketing (myself) because it has to be genuine and come from the heart.
I still struggle with time management, asking for help, accepting help, choosing to believe everything will work if only because it always has.
The solution is always getting out of myself and thinking – Wait, I can help this person standing in front of me. That’s what it’s all about. That’s how you go to bed feeling good at night.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m proud that I found a fantastic relationship and although we don’t have a conventional marriage – we maintain two homes because of our types of work – but we are deeply committed and in love.
I’m proud that I have figured out a way to keep my house and make it a home base for my daughter and sometimes her friends, who are now grown, and a lot of my friends and and our family. I love that several people have a set of keys…
I’m proud that I went to grad school while working full-time.
I’m proud that I opt for physical, mental and spiritual health and that I’m always a reader, seeker, and a striver.
I’m proud that I’m a good worker and good employer.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love the Silverlake reservoir, I love the hills, the hodge-podge of brilliant architecture that exists here. I love the markets that are available – Farmer’s markets, Asian markets, India Sweets and Spices, Latin Markets, and Mediterranean and Israeli markets. It’s endless. I love that everyone here has a passion. Everyone’s in development. It’s so brave. I love Santa Ana winds, jasmine, pink sunsets after a blue rainy day.
Least Like: West of La Brea.
Contact Info:
- Website: suzannecarney.com
- Instagram: @suzcarney
Image Credits
Peter Kagan @peterkagan
