Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Jimenez.
Hi Erika, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my career in Real Estate in 2018 as a real estate agent. When I was first started, I was recovering from neck surgery. I was limited in my movement especially towards my left side. I share that with you because even though I was recovering I was excited to do something I had been passionate about and talked about for years that I would do. I would come into the office excited and eager to learn. I joined Keller Williams because of the training they offered. I wanted to learn, I wanted to become a great agent.
I did a program called IGNITE, it teaches you the fundamentals in real estate. I completed ignite and got my certificate. A certificate showing me that I had committed to my first real training.
As soon as I started my career, I hit the ground running. I had two listings from family who knew I was licensed. Those transactions were the ones that sparked it all. With the help of my agent friend, we were able to assist and close on those deals. Being a new agent and being able to help, was very rewarding.
Right after that, my business slowed down. I would mention real estate to everyone that would listen to me and I would apply what I had learned from IGNITE. Yet, I couldn’t find anyone on my own. I began to do open houses with my friend and learned how to do run a real estate business. Soon after, I began being referred clients and earning money. To me, that money meant the world. Because it showed me what hard work can help you accomplish!
I learned how to use social media to market open houses, to show through video recordings what homes were listed for in their areas. That helped me get business. Even though it was a slow year for me, it was a start.
In 2019, I decided I wanted to double my leads and double my income. When I tell you I made $13,000 in my first year, I was ecstatic! Working for myself and learning how to earn income without sitting at a job was great. Even though I still had a job. I would never tell someone to quit, and use your free time to make money. I began talking to different associates in the office that were top producers. They all had something in common. Wake up early, call your sphere, and follow up! Wait, is real estate really that simple?! I am a person that self reflects and asks herself, what I can change? How can I be better? How I can I get ahead? I began working on the advice that I was being given.
I took what they said and applied it to my business. In the beginning of 2019 everything was great, I was off to a good start! I had deals happening, meeting new clients and new people. Attending networking events, everything I was supposed to do! I was earning income.
Then real life happened, by the end of July, everything I had earned was gone!! Gone! We were as a family of 6 back to a 1 income household, with lots of bills, a car repossession on the line and eating from a food bank. This was a secret I was carrying, only a few maybe two friends knew. Besides that no one, not my kids or family knew. My husband my biggest supporter the person who believes in me the most, knew I could succeed in real estate, but we needed to do what was best for us. That meant I had to go back to work. I couldn’t believe I had failed. I failed at real estate and couldn’t support my family, couldn’t make my car payment, couldn’t afford food on our table. I couldn’t help in my office with tech and continue living a lie.
I went back to what I knew which was college admissions. Working at the college also gave me great skills. It taught me how to actively listen, how to allow others to speak, how to make others feel welcome and important. This applies to everything I do because everyone wants to be acknowledged right?
While working at the college, a shift began to happen. I began getting real estate calls. I had my realtor friend help me with clients when I wasn’t available. She would go and show them for me. During my lunchtime I would sometimes sit in my car and work on my CRM (Client Manager) and would make calls, I would set appts with clients and meet them after work to show them properties.
Low behold my real estate career began taking off again!!
By November of 2019, I was actively working with three clients. 1 I was able to get into escrow by November and another client in escrow by December. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I was busy again and life was beginning to look wonderful. I was able to buy presents for my kids!
In 2020 I began the year with two escrows! It was so exciting because all my hard work was paying off. Everything I had done 90 days prior had begun to see fruit. Fast forward to March 2020, the world stopped and we were in the middle of a pandemic. I quickly switched from office job to home office and now real estate. No one knew what was going to happen! We were all in panic. Was I going to keep working for the college? Was I going to be able to sell houses? Were we going to struggle again? All of these thoughts went through my mind!
I had to work on my mindset and in doing so I was able to focus. I gave my career a chance to succeed. April 2020, I had an escrow, May I had an escrow. June I had another escrow!
What the heck in the middle of a pandemic?! Yes, this was my reality! I knew not to give up! I had to only focus on being positive, staying healthy, and being in a good state of mind!
By the time July came, I had to quit my job, I had to quit to make sure I was available for the kids, and for my clients. I began to climb a ladder that wasn’t easy but very rewarding. By August I had another escrow. I was getting great feedback from clients and realized, this was my calling. I kept moving forward and needless to say, 2020 was a great year! Out of 120 agents in our office. I came in within the 15% of our agents! What an honor to receive an award during a time where we did not know what was going to happen in our world.
2021 came in such a rush, we were still in a pandemic and people were still selling, buying, leasing and refinancing homes. What a crazy time! I thought if in 2020 I can come in number 15. I can challenge myself to double my sales and be in the top 10.
I began working on my mindset and limiting beliefs. I struggled with thinking I wasn’t good enough. I had a hard time with success. How can all of these good things be happening to me?! Weird, I know but it was a horrible reality! I decided to hire a coach. Everyone who succeeds hires a coach, it is never done alone. In coaching, I learned that I was the only person interfering with my own success. I was the only person who didn’t see the potential I had. I fought hard to fight these beliefs, I began challenging myself to read more and listen to more audios and podcasts. For the most part, listen to positive talks, but when you get in a funk, you tend to listen to other things. I began doing my positive affirmations again! I began waking up excited and dressing the part of a high-end realtor. After all, I wanted to keep succeeding. 2021 was different for me, I began to speak into existence what I wanted out of that year. I wanted to help families reach the “American Dream” yet make it attainable. In 2021, I helped over 14 families buy and sell, and helped them move out of state while being the best that I could!
Remember when I said, I wanted to be better than 2020? I accomplished it and came in number 10! Yes, I did it! With the support and love of my family, friends and clients that believed in and told me to keep going, I did it!
I truly believe the moment you make a decision to say “I am going to heal. I will block all of the noise! Then ask GOD, the universe to begin to work on your behave! Everything begins to align with you!”
Now we are here in 2022, and I can tell you I am truly blessed. All the hard work I have put into my career the past few years has allowed me to triple my income over the years! Has allowed me to be number 2 in our market center for the first quarter. Has placed me in a tech teaching position, which I enjoy doing. I love teaching and showing other agents how to learn technology and how to succeed.
I only aspire to be a better person! I can only compete with whom I was last yesterday. Stay strong, encouraged and positive. Surround yourself with good people and everything will begin to fall into place.
I leave you with this, we all have success in us. It is up to does to work on ourselves and to work on the things that need work. Not only will this allow you to grow as an individual but then you will begin to succeed! Do we all make mistakes!? Yes! You can learn from those mistakes so that they don’t happen again. Remember you are the writer of your story, how will you write your next chapter?
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?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I went through many struggles. While in my career. I ended up broke, our family didn’t have money for food. We would go to the food bank and grab food, we would have breakfast for dinner since it was the cheapest. I was getting my car repossessed while I was doing real estate. I didn’t think I was good enough to do real estate. It’s a challenge many faces.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am a real estate agent in Southern CA. The Broker I work for is Keller Williams Premier Properties. Our office is located in Phillips Ranch. We specialize in home buyers, selling homes, leases, and refinances.
We take pride in our work, we want everyone to feel welcome! We make sure that everyone that walks in and out of our office is an informed buyer, seller, or shopper. We make sure that everyone’s questions are answered and that they feel a sense of ownership.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Apps I use to help me are masterclass Win make Give podcast
Calm meditation music
Contact Info:
- Website: http://erikajsellshomes.kw.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soldbyerikaj
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soldbyerikaj
Image Credits
Leymi Gutierrez Yolie Rivera
