Building Wealth & Inspiring Futures: How Bethany Brokaw Defied the Odds in Real Estate

On this episode of The Closing Table, we sat down with Bethany Brokaw!

To watch the full episode, check it out on YouTube below. In the meantime, here’s a summary of the conversation…

Here’s what you missed from Bethany Brokaw…

Bethany Brokaw’s journey began in college with a pre-law major, but a change in her life direction led her to pursue a career as a high school Spanish teacher after discovering she was pregnant. A friend with a real estate license offered Bethany a job that provided the flexibility she needed.

Starting as an assistant to an assistant, she gradually worked her way up to the roles of executive assistant and office manager. Obtaining her real estate license, Bethany sold her first home within a week and managed to sell 26 homes in her first year, leading her to commit to real estate full-time after recognizing its potential earnings.

Bethany’s motivation stemmed from growing up in poverty and struggling as a single mother. Real estate was the first career where her efforts directly translated into significant returns. She saw it as an opportunity to lift herself out of poverty and provide for her daughters. Bethany found real estate work rewarding and fulfilling, adopting a client-centric approach and advocating for doing the right thing, not the easy thing. Her hard work and willingness to take on any task were driven by her desire to provide for her daughters.

Her involvement in the Women’s Council of Realtors marked a significant turning point. Initially skeptical, she found the council to be a game-changer for her career, providing education and networking opportunities. The council helped her transition from being a buyer agent to owning her own brokerage. She became a past State President, current State Liaison, and a national speaker and educator for the council.

Bethany emphasizes the impact of having others see potential in you, which can be transformative. She encourages others to join the Women’s Council of Realtors for the educational and networking benefits it provides. Members of the council typically out-sell a significant percentage of agents in the United States and have higher average incomes.

Moments of self-recognition were pivotal for Bethany, such as when the national president asked her to speak at a midyear convention. Realizing she was no longer poor and paying her house payment a year in advance were significant milestones. Her strong faith and mindset were crucial, reinforced by reading books and surrounding herself with intelligent people. She uses positive affirmations to counter negative thoughts, a practice she calls the “opposite game.”

Bethany’s mantra, “Do whatever it takes,” helped her juggle college, work, and raising children. She believes anyone can achieve their goals with hard work and self-belief. While she lacks empathy for excuses due to her experiences, she is working on understanding others’ perspectives. Her fearlessness and resilience, developed through experiencing multiple tragedies and growing up in challenging circumstances, have made her fearless in her professional endeavors.

Bethany takes pride in her daughters’ volunteer work and kindness, valuing these achievements more than her real estate accomplishments. She enjoys sharing her story and advice at speaking events, urging audiences to follow their own paths and pursue their dreams. Balancing work and personal life has been challenging, but she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing clients’ best interests, even when it requires sacrifices.

Transitioning to a broker-owner, Bethany still works hard but appreciates the support of a strong administrative team, which allows her more freedom. She envisions living by a beach and writing books, having already achieved childhood dreams of living by a lake and owning a house in Florida. She encourages pursuing big dreams, emphasizing that even coming close is an accomplishment.

Bethany is dedicated to goal setting and planning, finding productivity enjoyable. She initially struggled with taking time to recharge but has since accepted its importance. Her children have been influenced by her productivity and planning. Bethany believes in constantly moving forward, feeling unfulfilled if she isn’t progressing. Her extreme dedication to personal growth sometimes garners mixed reactions from her family.

Client stories highlight Bethany’s dedication to her clients, such as helping a client become a homeowner for the first time in generations and supporting another through a difficult housing situation. She values being a strong advocate for her clients, especially those who cannot advocate for themselves, and has a particular empathy for the elderly and single parents.

Bethany has helped clients downsize, an often emotional process, and provides support to help them cope with the change. She considers her clients like family, offering emotional support and encouragement beyond the transaction. Her extensive reading, including both business-related and “fun” books, provides lessons and insights that influence her approach to real estate. Books like “Atomic Habits” by James Clear and “The Happiness Advantage” by Shawn Achor have helped shape her mindset.

She acknowledges the negative impact of social media on self-perception and encourages self-acceptance and finding happiness in the present. Bethany advises new real estate agents to persevere through challenges, continuously learn, and be financially prepared for the uncertainties of the job. Financial stability allows for better client care and learning.

Bethany emphasizes that success in real estate requires dedication and hard work, with no substitutes for putting in the necessary hours. New agents must be prepared for hard work without immediate high income expectations. She stresses that balance is subjective and may require sacrifices in certain areas to succeed in others. Her goals include increasing her office agent count, completing a speaker website, and improving office services.

Continuous education is crucial for realtors to provide the best service to clients. Bethany’s office aims to be full-service, alleviating client stress by offering various resources. Educated realtors instill confidence in clients, essential for successful transactions.

Check out Bethany Brokaw:

https://www.brokawgroup.com/bethany-brokaw

https://www.facebook.com/bethanybrokawsells/

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