Welcome to The Love What You Do podcast. I'm Kelly Dugan, former HR executive turned career coach, and I'm here each episode sharing tips and tricks to help you discover your unique value, leverage your personal brand, and take action to create a career you love. Welcome back to the podcast everyone.
I am so excited to be here today. We have a special guest with us. Brianna, thank you for joining us on The Love What You Do Podcast, [00:01:00] Brianna Bellavia. You are a, uh, Stanford area real estate agent. I have to say an incredible example of what happens when, uh, preparation meets opportunity, and that's what we're gonna be talking about today.
Uh, thank you so much for being here.
Brianna: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to be here today. It's like really an honor.
Kelly Duggan: Oh, thank you. This is gonna be great. We, I can't wait to dive into your career story. We've had a chance to, um, catch up a little bit before this podcast recording, and I am just so impressed with what you have done with your career, and I think there's so much that people can learn about your story. So why don't you just start by giving us a little bit of a, um, an intro into what you do now and, and how you got here.
Brianna: Sure. Um, so. So what I do now is now I'm a full-time real estate agent, and if you asked me a year ago, I would never have imagined that that is what I'd be saying here [00:02:00] today, but that that's what I am I, how this all started was really, this goes back to maybe 2017 or 2018 after I graduated college. I didn't know what I wanted to do.
One of my friends became a realtor. I sat down and talked with her about it, and it seemed really interesting, You know, life happens and that kind of became something that was just in the back burner. Always a thought in the back of my head. um, I got a job at, you know, I got a job at Indeed, and I was there for five years in their customer service department. But when COVID hit, a lot of us had time on our hands again. And so I thought, why don't I revisit that real estate idea that I had and just get the license. I did not plan on leaving the job or anything. I loved what I did. The team that I worked with, I thought if anything, was focused more on, like I wanna build my wealth.
And I know real estate is a really great opportunity to do that. So I'm also very education based, so [00:03:00] I'm like, okay, if I wanna be an investor in the future in some way, maybe having a real estate license is a good idea so that I know what I'm doing. was really my original thought, and maybe I'll do it on the side here or there.
Why not? So I got my license and I didn't do anything with that. I had it like in my back pocket. It got in November of 2023 and then May, 2024, my entire department got laid off and I was like. It's so funny because the months leading up to the layoff, which I had, not like I saw the writing on the wall, so I just decided to prepare for this.
Like it was such a, a shock to us. Um, but. Those months leading up, I started to dive a little bit more into real estate. I was listening to this uh, podcast called Millionaire Real Estate Agent. I was hearing these people's stories. I was like, wow, like this sounds great and I really wanna explore it, but I don't know how I'm gonna have time to, I. To, to work on this. And, um, [00:04:00] and when I got the like email that my job was laid off, I immediately knew that there was a reason for it. Like, I came out and I FaceTimed my mom, and the words out of my mouth were, I'm a full-time real estate agent. And she was like, like, what does that mean? And then I was like, oh. Yeah, laid off and they're like, okay. And I just haven't looked back. So after getting laid off, I decide to dive all into this.
Kelly Duggan: Wow. Oh my gosh. So what do you think held you back? Uh, well, and maybe held you back to the wrong word, but I love what you mentioned around, you heard about it, it was on the back burner, but it wasn't a path that you took immediately.
Brianna: Yeah.
Kelly Duggan: What, why didn't you jump into it right away, do you think?
Brianna: I was so scared. I really, I enjoyed my job. Like, I don't think, like I wasn't unhappy there. Um, so I was like, why would I leave this? [00:05:00] Solid insurance, a consistent paycheck, working with great people to try something that I've never done before. Like how am I gonna tell my dad that? And so I wish I could say that I was brave enough to take the jump on my own and that I was like, you know, I just went for it myself.
No, like I really had this like. Divine push and opportunity on a silver platter that I was like, okay, this opportunity's kind of like hitting me in the face. I can't ignore it. But that was, that was why I felt like I got the opportunity to be able to do it within reason. But I was, I was really scared.
Kelly Duggan: Yeah,
Brianna: I.
Kelly Duggan: do. How do you think that moment of being laid off would've been different if you didn't already have that license in your back pocket?
Brianna: Stressful.
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: I think I tend to be a positive person as it is, but because I already have it, I was able to be so optimistic about it. Um, I do think regardless I would've been like, [00:06:00] okay, this is an opportunity to reevaluate and really think about like what's moving forward. 'cause when you're laid off and you've been in a routine, like it's crazy to go from five years of doing almost the same thing
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: waking up and be like, what do I do today?
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: of these things that I've been working on are just gone, and now I'm like starting completely from scratch. I still think I would've taken the time to because it makes you realize that life is short and this is an opportunity that not a lot of people get.
Kelly Duggan: Yeah, I could not agree with you more. And I love your mindset of looking at that as an opportunity. And you know, what I shared at the top of the podcast is like, I really do think you're an amazing example of that famous quote of, you know, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Um. We all are the drivers of our own careers and, um, very, very often that does not [00:07:00] necessarily mean we get to choose when we leave an organization, especially in this climate.
I, you know, there are layoffs happening every day. Um. But it doesn't mean that we cannot do things in preparation to be able to safeguard ourselves, um, and to, uh, put ourselves in the position to be in, in the driver's seat. And I think that is, you're an incredible example of what that, that can look like.
Um, when it comes to, you know, something like getting a real estate agent or, or a real estate license or having some kind of a, a side hustle. Um, when, what. During COVID, ID really put you over the finish line to say like, you know what? I am gonna get this license. Like, what was the calling for you? Because I'm sure there was probably a financial investment, there's a time investment.
Um, what made you prioritize that? I.
Brianna: Honestly, my family has a big impact on me. So my dad, he like. [00:08:00] He was a big motivator for me. Um, he, some people really are into cars. My dad is into his house, like growing up he not a big person that watches a lot of television. He watched like three channels, the news and the other one being like HGTV. So I was spending a lot of time with them 'cause I lived with my parents, so we're having a lot of these conversations and um, he was the one actually I think to. Re bring up the idea. 'cause it's something we had mentioned before and it's one of those topics that like we share in common. And so I what, I don't know if he was the one that, that mentioned it and I was like, you know what, you're, you're right. Like, what else am I doing? And I'm someone that like, I don't like to waste time in a way.
So I'm like, okay, I can, I try to work smarter, not harder and be more efficient with my time and make opportunities when I can. So I'm like, you're right. This is a time where we're kind of all stuck. Um. as well do something with it if I can. And who knows where it's gonna take me. If anything, [00:09:00] I'm just getting the knowledge for myself.
But,
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: you just don't, you just dunno. I'd
Kelly Duggan: Yeah,
Brianna: the opportunities and like be able to be prepared for opportunities that open up than not, if that makes sense.
Kelly Duggan: yeah. And I, I absolutely love that example of. It. Sometimes it's what feels like this really random thing that you're doing. You're like, this is just something that might inter, it interests me now. Maybe it'll be useful one day, maybe it won't, but was a key to helping you make a major transition in your life later on, that at that time you never could have predicted.
Brianna: Yeah. Yeah.
Kelly Duggan: So crazy. So what have been some of the challenges that have come with making the shift, right? Like it wa it, it was, you woke up one day and your reality changed. And I, like I said, love that mindset shift of I'm a full-time realtor now. Um, but I'm sure that did come with some challenges and some mindset work that had to happen.
What, what did those first weeks look like for [00:10:00] you and or even months?
Brianna: Yeah, it was a huge adjustment to go from, okay, this is what you do from eight to five every day. Here are your clients. That's probably a big one. Here are your cl I had a book of clients, um, to going from. You like I'm building something from scratch and I knew real estate was gonna be hard. I never thought that realtors had it easy, I didn't realize just the levels to it.
You're really truly building a business in
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: So the first one was the industry shift to go from being in tech to now being in this real estate realm. There's just different, like a different language that you have to learn. so there's that, and then there's, you know, finding clients, marketing yourself, staying organized.
How do you, and balancing between building this business and making connections with people, and also finding the time to organize all of that. Okay, great, I've met these people. Where am I gonna stay in contact with them? [00:11:00] How am I gonna stay organized and know to follow up? And what are my different tools that I'm going to use?
Kelly Duggan: Yeah. Oh my gosh. It's so much and, and I do think that's something that unless you are a real estate agent, you may not realize of what goes into that career path of yet it is the selling houses, but more so it's relationship building. It seems to me, from the outside looking in. Right.
Brianna: Yeah, everyone approaches a little different, but that is the way I approach it. It is a relationship like that. That's what it is. You are, it's like dating in a way. You're about to make the biggest purchase of your life, and it could be now or it could be years from now. And so you wanna work with someone that you, Nike lo like no, and trust and um, and you're gonna be spending a lot of time with them.
So I like to approach it that way, where you're just, yeah, building something and building trust.
Kelly Duggan: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. So. How has having a personal brand [00:12:00] factored into your story? Because like one of the things that you're sharing right there around, you know, the importance of relationships for you, that's something that as a career coach, I would say, is fundamental to your unique value and the, the personal brand that you put out there.
Um, how has it been kind of building that personal brand in the community and, uh, getting this message out there?
Brianna: It's been fun. I love it. It is, um, I've taken it as a way where, like I said. industry and the way I work with clients is about building a relationship. So I try to do it in the way that's like my most authentic self. Like I want people to know who it is that, that they're working with. And um, and so that's really just what I've been doing, trying to share out there that lets you know about who I am.
So if you make the decision to work with me, you, you know what kind of person I am. But then also educational as well. And, um. Yeah, that's [00:13:00] uh, yeah.
Kelly Duggan: Yeah. Now, is that something that you did like kind of the, that personal brand thinking, is that something that you did in your corporate life or is that something that you've really had to, to. Learn and and implement now that you are working for yourself.
Brianna: I knew how much brand was important working for, I worked for Indeed, we were the number
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: and so that holds weight. Like I could
Kelly Duggan: Yeah.
Brianna: know, people, I, I was in their customer service department, but I would tell people, oh, I work at Indeed. They're like, oh, I know that place. Like everyone knows it.
So I know that having a name and then having a, oh, what's the word? Um, oh my goodness.
Kelly Duggan: Presence or,
Brianna: Yeah. Um, yeah. Presence or, um, oh, I guess it's p like, um, reputation. Sorry.
Kelly Duggan: uh, there we go. Yes.
Brianna: Okay. Sorry. So.
Kelly Duggan: No. [00:14:00] Yeah, absolutely. I.
Brianna: from Indeed and realizing, like when I would tell people I work at Indeed, they would immediately recognize that, that name. And so I knew that having a name and also a reputation was really important and that is, so I kind of learned it from there.
But then also when I transferred, when I. Um, made the transition into real estate. We've had a really great coaching program at my office and I've learned a lot there. I go to a lot of classes and so they talked about. Building your brand and that's where it started to really click and and understand and that you have to, yeah, you have to make a name for yourself because it's real estate is not like buying clothes.
People aren't gonna need it all the time, but when someone does need it, you wanna be the person hopefully that they think about, or at least one of the first few people that they think about. So even if, um, you're not looking right now, but you just start to see my name or see my face, or we have a connection and we start to build a relationship, then maybe when that time comes.
You'll, you'll think of me.[00:15:00]
Kelly Duggan: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. I, I, that's such a really great point about real estate. Yeah. That it is. You're only making that transaction a handful of times in your lifetime. Um, and for a lot of people, you're maybe making that transaction with the same person, you know, and so it's, how do you. Put your personal brand out there so that when people are doing this, um, in the area for the first time, or you know, they're switching real estate agents, that you are someone that they are attracted to.
I, I am absolutely fascinated by personal brand for so many reasons, because, you know, I think it's really why. People connect with people. Um, and when I started my business and started really thinking about personal brand in an intentional way, I had this realization of like, wow, do I wish I had been doing this the whole time?
Because I, I don't know if you relate to this at all, but it, I think it's so beneficial for everyone, whether you own a [00:16:00] business or not, to invest in your personal brand. Because at the end of the day. Like a per personal brand I think is a huge part of like finding opportunity and attracting opportunity for yourself.
Did you, do you, did you have that experience A little bit.
Brianna: I do, I do. And actually now that, uh, you say it that way at Indeed too, they did, would talk about personal brand a lot because. I had my job, but then I would also try to find other opportunities and different ways to build out my skillset just so I could, never want an opportunity to come and I not be able to take it because I didn't like, you're right, like you build up your name and then people get to know you, and then people think of you too for, for those other opportunities, not just in real estate, but just like anything, whether you know, once they know who you are or your work ethic and the different skills that you have, like, yeah, it goes further back than that.
I don't even think I realized that until this moment.
Kelly Duggan: Oh my gosh. I know, I, I had a similar realization and when you're doing this, 'cause when we're [00:17:00] working to build our businesses, right, you're thinking very much of the now. Um, but yeah, I'm like, wow, things that I wish I had done, you know, throughout my career, um, that that could have been really beneficial.
Um. Uh, so if I'm gonna flip that perspective on its head, what are some things that you did pick up from Indeed and in all of that personal development that you did that have helped you succeed in real estate?
Brianna: I, a lot of it is almost like the organization and the systems I have this. Edge because I came from a tech-based company and learned all these different skills. I didn't realize how many were gonna be transferable into this. So, um, the different systems and tools and realizing like, like I have a Google sheet for almost all of my clients.
Like not everyone has that. Um, I have the customer service experience. Like even though it's different, it's, it's. It's the same in a way. Like I've been taught how [00:18:00] to try to give someone a five star experience for the last five years. And so I've just shifted that mindset to here.
Kelly Duggan: Mm-hmm.
Brianna: yeah.
Kelly Duggan: Yeah, that there's so many things that we pick up, um, in all different facets of our career that help us be successful where we are down the line. I always say like, I feel like careers are like dominoes, and, but they only make sense when you're looking in reverse, like when you're walking through it, you don't really know where the trail is going, but all of a sudden you're like, oh, if that didn't happen, then this wouldn't happen and I wouldn't have learned this, and then I wouldn't have been good at this.
Brianna: Exactly, exactly when. One of the other skills too, was I was part of a, a program, like a volunteer program that was kind of going and building from the. The grass up when I was at Indeed. And so I got to work with someone who was basically like a program manager and I'd never seen anything like that. And I saw like his whole blueprint for this program and the sheet that he had and the [00:19:00] timeline of, okay, first we're gonna do this and then we're gonna do this in the different phases.
And that was probably one of the most impactful experiences and opportunities
Kelly Duggan: Wow.
Brianna: that I learned from because now like I've shifted that to. To one, the real estate, like planning in itself, but also even just like event planning and all the different, are just, it's a more efficient ways to do things and break something down.
Okay, here's the big idea and here's how we're gonna break it down and we're gonna delegate and we're gonna make a timeline and move it to get from point A to point B.
Kelly Duggan: Oh my gosh, you're speaking my language. I love a process, like,
Brianna: Yes, yes.
Kelly Duggan: makes everything better. You know, all of like the pretty sexy things that you see out there in the world that you, that feel so effortless, have so much process and effort behind it. Um, and I, yeah, that's, that's an incredible example of that.
So what do you love most about being a realtor?
Brianna: I love the freedom [00:20:00] and I love getting to help people. Um, it's funny because I'm not, I don't work a typical nine to five, but at the same time, I work. Probably, uh, you probably understand as a business owner, we probably work more than 40 hours a week just at different times. Um, but I get to choose it and I'm building something that is mine that no one could take away.
I once the. I was laid off and it was kind of pulled out from under me, I was like, I don't like this feeling. I don't want someone to be able to do that again. I wanna build something that's, that's mine. And so that's one of the things that I love about this, is this is my brand and these are now my clients.
And, um, and yeah, and the, the freedom to be able to, you know. Choose how I wanna move and find clients and how I wanna market myself. There are so many different opportunities and, and ways a realtor can build their business and I say to choose what you're most passionate about. So I too [00:21:00] think that I think are truly enjoyable and fun. I go to networking events because I like making connections with people. I host educational seminars because that is the type of person I am. I want, this is the biggest decision of your life. I, if I'm making a big decision, I wanna have. All the information. I mean, that's why I got the license to begin with was I thought I might be, I, I will be a purchaser in the future and I wanted to have that education.
So now I get to give that to other people. The social media, I mean, yeah, it's branding, it's putting my name out there, but again, I enjoy it. I like making these things and. Putting my name out there and showing people an inside look at my life with a mix of educational videos that might be 30 seconds, but someone just like learned something that they've never heard before.
It's all stuff that I choose to do because I like it, and so I feel like I'm not really working. Almost feel like I'm like, I feel bad in a way. But one, your first podcasts that I listened to you, you said something [00:22:00] about it's okay to to love what you do and you're allowed to, I was like, okay, I needed to hear this because sometimes I feel. Guilty that I enjoy it so much.
Kelly Duggan: Oh, I cannot relate to you more in that. I like, I will. That was one of the biggest career realizations for me was like, wait a minute. Like there doesn't have to be. This like elephant in the room part of your career that like you just hate doing. Like you, you can like it all it. And we, we don't talk about that enough.
Um, and it's exactly why I started this podcast is to be able to talk to people like you who do love all of what they do. Um, and you know, I think it's such an, it's such a great point just to remind people like it's possible. Yeah. We've got a barking dog here. Oliver is, I have, I got, I've got the door open for light, which also means Ollie can see everybody walking, but by outside.
Um, but anyway, what advice do you have, Bri, for [00:23:00] anyone who is looking to break into the realtor career path?
Brianna: My advice would be, uh, and this isn't just actually specific to real estate, but. That Get over, get over yourself. And the mindset situation, it's still something that I'm dealing with every day and almost like multiple times a day. But one of the things that held me back in the beginning, like from jumping into this myself and when I was getting started was, oh, well, why would someone choose me?
Like, there's, competition out there. There are other people that have been doing this longer than you, but you just have to remind yourself, everyone. Started somewhere. Everyone started at point A at some point they were the newbies. And the longer you tell yourself that narrative and push it, the longer it's gonna be from you actually getting started and being able to build up that experience yourself.
And so the quicker you can kind of. Just push through it and face it till you make it. The [00:24:00] quicker, then you'll be like, you'll now I'm looking at this, I'm having a conversation with you. A year later. I would've never thought that. And it's so wild to say, okay, Brie, you've actually had, you've had transactions, you have clients, you have a name for yourself. Um, so that would be my biggest advice is as quickly as possible. Try to get, get over that and figure out ways and people, a support system that will be there for you when you have those days. 'cause that's been one of the most instrumental things for me when I am having those moments. They say you are like the five people you surround yourself with.
So finding who those people are for you and, and sticking around them and sharing with them, um, is what I would suggest.
Kelly Duggan: I love that. I know having that support system in anything that you break into, whether it is a business venture, whether it's a new job, whether you are really applying for a stretch position that you didn't think was [00:25:00] possible, like being around people who are. Going to be true reflections of your capabilities and, and lift you up, um, is so incredibly important.
And I cannot echo more the importance of what you just shared around like do it messy, right? Like there is, i I in anything that I have wanted to do that made me a little bit uncomfortable, whether it was starting a business, becoming a parent, like you name it. I tried to think myself. Into figuring it all out so that I could do it and it would be perfect.
Right? And it's just the biggest lie that we tell ourselves. It's not possible. It is not possible to avoid the mess and to avoid those days where you're like, what have I done? Who's going to hire me? Why do I, why am I even putting myself out there? Um. The only way to do it is just to do it because then you blink and it's a year later.
And [00:26:00] here you are with a successful real estate business and you had to go through all of that muck to get here. Um, and the, the the, when we're being really honest about ourselves, to ourselves, there is like, through all of that, muck is so much fun, right? And like so many high points. And does, does that resonate with you too?
Brianna: Absolutely. Absolutely. Like if I didn't push through, I just had a closing a couple weeks ago with people that I had gone to high school with. I didn't have like a close relationship with them, but they saw what I was seeing and they messaged me like they came to me and now I help them close on their house.
We closed a week earlier than we were supposed to. They get married this weekend and it's in Stanford, and now I'm gonna be able to drive by that road and say like. There's a family growing there. Um, and I can't wait, like years from now, they're, they're gonna renovate the house and everything. I'm gonna be able to see like, wow, I saw this from the very beginning. Um, and that's amazing. Like, I would've missed that [00:27:00] opportunity if I didn't what I was doing.
Kelly Duggan: Yeah. Oh my gosh. I absolutely love that. Thank you so much for just sharing your perspective on real estate, sharing your perspective on career and opportunity, and I think you are just a glowing example of, you know, how you can take a a, a really. Rough situation and turn it into something beautiful. Um, and I am so excited for where your business is gonna just continue to grow because you're at the very start of this.
Like you've had such success in this first year, um, but I know it's just gonna continue to, to come your way. So how can people find you and reach out to you if they are looking for a realtor in the Stanford area?
Brianna: Absolutely. So on Instagram, you can find me at brie dot the realtor. Uh, if you wanna email me, you can email me at [email protected], so you can find me there. [00:28:00] And, um, and yeah, that's, yeah, you can
Kelly Duggan: All right. Bree 2 0 3. I love that. That is so catchy. Um, and I'll put all of that information down below in the caption of the podcast so that people can get in touch with you. But thank you so much for joining us on the podcast today. This has been great.
Brianna: Thank you so much, Kelly. I really appreciate this has been so fun.
Kelly Duggan: Of course, I'll talk to you soon.
