No matter what industry you’re in, sales is about understanding people–how and why they spend, what they’re thinking and how to provide them with what they need. For me, the hospitality industry helped shape how I would take care of my clients in real estate. For Leigh Brown, it was selling chainsaws (true story…).
We hadn’t met before this interview, but I already knew Leigh was one of the top agents in her market of Charlotte, NC–and I heard that we came from the same crop–very outspoken women… I also checked out her book, Outrageous Authenticity and realized we had a lot in common–we know what it’s like to have lovers and haters…and we just, don’t care. Leigh is the kind of woman that tells it like it is and gives a real, raw, and honest opinion; you may love what she has to say or you may not but either way, I can promise you, you will most definitely listen to what she has to say. What can you learn from this? Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, speak your opinion, and most importantly, speak your heart and passion. It’s not about being “right” or “wrong” it’s about being true to what you believe in and stand for and communicating that to others–while it may not gain you a major fan club, it will gain you a ton of respect (which is a lot more important). People want to work with passionate people, not boring, “unopinionated” wallflowers.
In business, it’s not all rainbows and skittles–it’s a mix of good days, bad days, and “ok” days… you have awesome ups but you also have days where the world feels like it’s crumbling down on you–and those are the days you need to seek real guidance, real advice and real talk. Leigh, you’re exactly that, and for that reason and many others, you’re a rockstar.
Here’s our conversation, where we talk frankly about the risks and rewards of being true to yourself as public figure; how social media can be a force for both good and evil; and our own personal views on real estate coaches and scripts. (Spoiler: they aren’t the same.)
One of my favorite moments was when Leigh said, “You have to let go of what other people think about you to move forward.” Trust me when I say, if you want to be successful, you better be ready to hear people talk about you. Thick skin is not just a choice, but a requirement of success, but once you get past caring about what others say and think, you’ll be that much more successful (and happier!).
Here’s what you’ll get in this episode:
0:55 How did Leigh’s book come about?
4:55 Why we all need to learn to take criticism.
6:13 How did Leigh get into real estate?
11:00 What do new agents need to know about coaches?
17:15 How do scripts help or hurt agents?
20:52 What was it like working with family?
25:25 How social can help and hurt in real estate.
32:07 What is Leigh’s best advice for agents to step it up?
Listen To the Podcast or Watch the Video
Being a real estate agent is so much more than buying and selling. It’s about creating a brand for yourself and creating a name. There are so many real estate agents out there, it’s vital to make your presence known and set yourself apart from the rest–show your value, be your true, real self, and let the brand of you shine!