Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheyenne Myles.
Hi Cheyenne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sure. Thank you so much for this opportunity. I grew up in South L.A. in a part of town just west of the 110 freeway called Westmont. I lived there up until age 14 before we found roots in Inglewood. While my father was very present in my life, I was raised primarily by my mother in a single-income household. My Grandmother, affectionately known as ‘Nanny’ was a large part of my support system and was very influential up until she became ill in 2014. Christianity was a central focus in my mom’s house, so my normal routine mainly consisted of school during the weekdays and church at least 3x a week for bible study, choir rehearsal & Sunday service(s). I developed my faith at a young age. I would write notes during the sermon taking heed to the message of God’s grace & mercy. Today, I still have a very close & very private relationship with my Father, Jesus Christ. Throughout my adolescense, money was hardly ever a topic of discussion but there were certain events that stuck with me & made me curious about money. When you’re a child, you get left out of the money conversations so I didn’t know if we were rich or poor. All I cared about was spending the weekend with my Dad, at my Godmother’s or one of my cousin’s houses. My mom worked full-time, took classes in the evening pursuing a Bachelor’s degree and going to AA or NA meetings to maintain her sobriety. Today, she has 35 years clean. By age 12, I was responsible enough to have my own key & catch the Metro line 117 home from school. It was during this time that I began developing survival skills to keep myself safe. I paid attention to my surroundings and I could prepare my own food. For high school, I attended Pacific Palisades Charter. For four years, I was up at 5:30am every morning to ride 20 miles from South L.A. past Santa Monica and be in my seat when the 7:50am bell rang. Being amongst so much diversity left me more clues about what life had to offer. I noticed a clear difference between the kids driving BMWs to school and those of us riding the yellow limosine. I enjoyed that experience and strongly believe that I am who I am because of my time in church and my days as a Pali High Dolphin. Before graduating, Nanny & my mother surprised me with a 1994 Honda Civic. Best gift ever. No more bus tokens!
My mother made it clear that she would not be paying to put gas in it so, I needed a job. I remember writing my own resume, using examples I saw online and submitting hundreds of applications on Craigslist or Monster before landing an interview. My first office job was at Ticketmaster in 2004. I was making $7.25/hr but when the hours weren’t available, I started looking elsewhere. In June 2005, I accepted a role as a mailroom associate for a company called National Planning Corporation. I was so young & naive that I had no idea it was an investment firm. I took the job because it paid $12/hr; which equated to a 65% increase. After being there for a few months, they gave me something I had never heard of – a ‘cost of living’ raise. My pay was bumped up to almost $14. So there I was at 19 years old earning nearly twice the minimum wage. I was still too young to know what to do with $1,000 every two weeks. I ended up back at Ticketmaster in 2007 when my first Black Female boss took a chance on me and brought me on board as a Chargeback Analyst. The job involved issuing responses to customer dispute claims (people always had a crazy reason for wanting a refund). The gig paid $15/hr. which was enough for me to afford my first apartment. In March 2008, I got the keys to my new place in Inglewood. My landlords were a nice older white couple who managed the 8-unit building privately. Looking back I can see that they were also taking a chance on me because I was a 22 year old single black female promising to pay $850/month.
In late 2009, I gave birth to a beautiful brown baby girl that I named Gavienne (like Vivienne, but different). She quickly became my top priority and every decision I made was in the best interest of my daughter. To this day, I consider her well-being above all else. I was still at Ticketmaster when Gavienne celebrated her 1st birthday. We were doing well & I had a good relationship with my boss. The problem was that after four years being on her team, I was still making $15/hr. From 2007 to 2011, no raise? That didn’t sit well with me at all. I knew well enough to know that there was a way to escape living paycheck to paycheck without being a famous entertainer or athlete. My boss who had become a friend knew that I was unfulfilled so she did me a favor and let me go. She reassured me that my unemployment benefits would be approved. I was not accustomed to relying on government assistance, so it was challenging to survive off of the $300 per week I received from EDD. While I pursued my ambitions of becoming a financial advisor, I had to get creative. I went back to Craigslist looking for an internship. I got a callback from this man who said he really liked the voicemail message he’d gotten from me and if I would be interested in meeting him. It turned out that he was a Black mortgage broker who was running his own shop. He offered me a part-time job as his processor and would pay me in cash. Bingo! It was exactly what I needed to be able to continue with school. I took night classes at Community College, sometimes without a textbook, all while tracking progress towards my AA. I completed that coursework in 2012 and graduated with an AA in Accounting. I enjoyed economic, political and trade concepts so much that I transferred to a California State University to major in Finance. The Finance umbrella offered so many avenues in terms of what I could do in my career.
While handling my own personal financial business, I realized that there wasn’t a single place I could go to have everything done. I had a vision to create a one-stop shop where just about any financial need could be met, from taxes to insurance to investments to real estate. This is when “The HOME Girl” was born. I figured that taking care of the home meant being financially healthy and responsible. I had friends who would confide in me about their financial struggles or their long-term aspirations. Since I was studying to become an advisor, I would help to explain how things worked beyond the surface. I have debunked many myths about real estate and investing principles. What I have found is that most people know 1 or 2 things but haven’t taken a complete interest in learning the ins and outs of the financial field. Aside from that, where I come from, people are intimidated by the traditional look of a finance professional. A white man in a suit is not someone they feel they can trust. Knowing that I could help change someone’s financial trajectory simply by sharing what I had learned through my own due diligence gave me so much fulfillment. In 2015, I began to pursue a Real Estate salesperson’s license because I had heard that Real Estate was a pillar of wealth. Me being who I am, I am always looking to position myself where the money resides! Little did I know that I would develop such a deep passion for Real Estate the way I have. When you see the numbers and the tax benefits, the property world becomes magical. It’s become my personal mission to educate the average person about how strategic uses of debt to purchase real property can be an avenue to achieving the financial freedom many wants. I fully intend to be an advisor in this space and provide support for beginner investors and expert investors. All of who are committed to using real estate as a vehicle to grow wealth. Not only is my objective helping people position themselves as an owner but to provide them with knowledge and ensure they acquire the necessary understanding to stay there.
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?
Ha! It definitely has not been a smooth ride. Coming from a family of unmarried women, I was adamant about doing things differently in my life. When I became pregnant and my daughter’s father telling me explicitly that he didn’t want to have anything to do with the child, I was devastated yet it was an eye-opening experience. Had it not been for people like my late grandmother who would step in if I had car trouble, my late father who would help me pay for childcare or my late friend Jennifer who would care for Gavienne at night while I attended school, I’m not sure where I would be. I remember discovering podcasts in 2016 and feeling like I had been living under a rock! Listening to “My Taught You” by Myleik Teele, gave me the inspiration to create something that was mine only. Through podcasts I learned that nobody is keeping anything a secret. The information and blueprint to success is available to those who seek it out. I had to become more and more intentional about seeking out the knowledge I didn’t have. The hard part is that you don’t know what you don’t know. I didn’t close a single transaction for the first four years of being licensed simply because I was trying to shortcut the system and find an “easier faster” way. I didn’t realize that I was doing myself a disservice trying to keep the same life but also change my life at the same time. Sounds crazy, but it’s tough letting go of the life you have known & are much more familiar with even when it doesn’t offer you the things you want. Like most people, I didn’t consider myself a salesperson. Eventually, after you hit your head against the wall so many times, you figure out that there are no shortcuts and that being a salesperson doesn’t involve manipulating people into doing something they haven’t already decided to do. I came out of the gate eager and motivated after passing my exam. In school, they don’t prepare you for how much of a grind this business is. To be successful in any line of business, you have to develop thick skin. There will be far too many setbacks and naysayers to count. There will be people who don’t take you seriously, who don’t believe you’re good enough, who think you’re crazy for going after your dreams or who don’t fully understand why you’d rather work than play. Do it anyway! It’s enough of a challenge trying to overcome your own self-doubt and moments where you want to give up, so when you experience the lack of support from the closest people around you or hear criticism delivered as unsolicited advice, you have to know how to tap into yourself & provide yourself with the confidence boost & just know that you won’t ever be able to abandon your calling. Folks who have had success in their lives warned us about how challenging it would be. I can say with certainty that they were right! However, I learned the word “Perseverance” as a child. So I just keep going.
We’ve been impressed with The Home Girl, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am The HOME Girl. Like your childhood friend but with a fiduciary duty and a license to navigate complex real estate transactions. You should know that when it comes to choosing a professional to work with, it is important to work with someone who understands the risk implications of poor financial decisions. My focus is to provide insights, minimze risks & enable my clients and partners to make informed decisions that align with their goals. I LOVE learning about people & how I can serve them. I love mapping out strategies and getting things done. I represent anybody with an interest in real estate, especially those who are serious about their investment potential and who want to work with someone that is ethical and transparent in their business practices. I specialize in prioritization, communication, and planning. I’m known for being unapologetic in my straightforward approach which sets me apart because most people don’t like to have difficult conversations or ask tough questions. In this business of trade, money is made when opportunity meets preparedness. So you have to be knowledgeable or have knowledgeable people around you & there is only so much room for emotions. Are you in or are you out? Brand wise, I am most proud of sticking to my vision even when others tried to tell me to do things differently. I want readers to know that you don’t have to go at it alone in this world. People like me are ready and willing to help achieve your goals. If you want me on your team, just reach out!
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is the example I’m setting for my daughter. I want to leave her a blueprint for navigating through the world. Another thing that matters to me is the difference that I’m able to make in other people’s lives. It took a while for me to accept this work as my purpose. It’s so important for me to bring my A-game in order to help families find proper housing, relieve the pressure of a stressful situation and help investors create housing for the marketplace. I do it all for the greater good of society. xoxo
Pricing:
- Free Buyers Consultation
- Free Home Valuation Consultation
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.homegirlonline.com
- Instagram: @pushinproperty
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thehomegirlonline
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-home-girl-inglewood
Image Credits
Von Jackson & Raynell Noah
