As part of our Season 02 of CulturallyOurs we have guest contributors from around the world who have generously shared their entrepreneurial journey. It is so interesting to read different perspectives and experiences even beyond the guests featured on our CulturallyOurs podcast.

This week we showcase Heather Schmidt from Naperville, Illinois.

Thank you so much for contributing a few words on Global Entrepreneurship for CulturallyOurs.

#1 Can you tell us a little bit about who you are and where are you from and what is your business – just to set the stage if you will.

Sure. My name is Heather Schmidt. I was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs (minus 1 year in California when my dad worked for Atari).  My first degree is Aviation Maintenance – I fell in love with jet engines so I got my 2^nddegree in Industrial Engineering with big dreams of working for one of the major jet engine manufacturers. I decided instead to stay local and worked at Motorola during the height of the StarTac.  Soon I realized engineering was not for me, and had a few different jobs – sales, contractor work, office temp, etc, and finally settled into running a sub-contracting business. I got my real estate license with the intention of flipping houses. When the construction industry plummeted I did not want to go back to engineering so I thought I would practice real estate while I figured out what I wanted to do when I grow up.  That was 13 years ago.

#2 What has been your biggest win/ah-ha moment and what has been your biggest challenge?

My biggest win and biggest challenge are related. I started my real estate career at a brokerage that prided themselves in having only experienced agents. (I’m still not sure why they brought me on). Since everyone in the office was seasoned, they did not have any type of training or mentorship program. I was alone trying to navigate a business that was completely foreign to me. I spent the first 10 years of my career trying to emulate the agents I saw as successful as well as be a agent I thought others expected.

I tried different coaching programs and followed other agents systems – none of which worked for me. I kept thinking “what is wrong with me? Why can’t I make this work?”

I was making myself sick for not fitting in to other people’s programs.  It took me a lot of work on myself and shifting my mindset to realize that those programs and systems didn’t fit me!  It’s not that I’m broken, it’s just that those things aren’t the best fit.  I also realized I was not authentic, and I was not true to myself.  My big AH-HA has been to

1. Be me, be authentic, don’t try to fit into someone else’s mold
2. Have faith that there are people out there that want to work with the real me, and that they will find me
3. Keep looking for a system, program, script, whatever it may be that is truly aligned with my values

#3 As an entrepreneur we sometime are alone at the helm steering our ship without any help and support – both mentally and physically – have you ever felt that way? How and where do you find your support system?

This question made me giggle. I have spent the last year rebranding as a Holistic Realtor and redefining my business model. In an effort to connect with people where they are, my new model is “Love The Home You’re In”. I want to help people love their current home and cultivate relationships with people who are not currently looking to move.  A lot of people don’t understand it – they think of real estate agents only looking to meet people that want to buy or sell a house.  I have received a lot of criticism and push back, and at times felt completely alone.  There were many people at my previous brokerage that told me flat out I’m making a mistake.  I thanked them for their feedback and kept doing my thing, alone. I didn’t realize how draining that was until unexpected circumstances led to me changing offices.  My new brokerage is full of support that I didn’t know I was looking for. It has been a breath of fresh air and has completely recharged me.

So I find support by finding my tribe.  Don’t let the discouraging comments get to you, push through and find the people that want to see you succeed.

#4 What does the business and entrepreneurial landscape look like where you are based?

Hmmm…  there are so many Realtors, it is a very saturated market. And at the same time, there are a few technology companies that are trying to make real estate agents obsolete.  I think now, more than ever, it is critical to have a unique value proposition and a clear brand that distinguishes me.

#5 Lets talk motivation / mindset / growth / business for a moment – unlike Corporate where someone else is in charge, for an entrepreneur it is all you – so how do you keep yourself motivated and excited about your future? What keeps you going when the going gets tough?

For day to day stuff it’s my calendar and an accountability buddy.  It is very easy for me to get distracted. There are times I’m cleaning and doing laundry (or just playing on my tablet), and before I know it half of the morning has gone by, and I’m still in my pj’s.  For me the key is to set appointments with myself.  Also, I set weekly goals and check in with my accountability partner every Monday to help me stay on track.  Knowing I have to send an email with what I did (or did not) accomplish helps me to make sure I get stuff done.

Regarding big picture stuff – I remember my WHY and the emotion associated with it.  It’s not just that I want to pay off my mortgage, it’s what I will get when that happens: my husband will be able to retire from a job he does not like, we will be able to travel more, there will be less stress, we can save more money for retirement.  When I think about all of these things I have an overall feeling of relief and freedom. Those feelings and the life I will be able to create help me to push through when it’s tough.

#6 If you could go back in time to when you first started – would you do it all over again? Or would you change something and what would it be?

My first thought is that I would change where I started as a newly licensed real estate agent. I wonder what it would be like to build my business from that start with training and a support team. Or, what would it have been like to trust myself all those years back?  To know that there’s something better out there for me?

Looking back, there were so many struggles that I had, and so many things that could have been easier for me. But the truth is, I am so excited with my new direction, and I honestly don’t know that I would be where I am right now without the challenges I faced in the beginning.

Thank you so much Heather for taking the time to share your story with us.

{Words by Heather Schmidt of Heather Schmidt }

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