SHELLEY SHERIDAN
What are the most important habits to being a successful business
owner/entrepreneur?
Real Estate is a tough business. To be successful over time, you need to build a
reputation of being honest, hard-working and knowledgeable. For me, that means not
only surrounding myself with people + resources that I continue to learn from, but also
carving out time so that I’m 100% up to date on new listings, off-market properties as
well as other aspects of the market, including what’s happening in our local community
to where interest rates are headed.
What is the secret to your success?
Saying YES! For me, saying yes means being available + flexible with both my clients
as well as other agents in my office. It could be showing a house last minute or filling in
for a teammate. I also really try to make the process of buying or selling a home as enjoyable + fun as
possible. For many, it can be one of their biggest personal, emotional and financial
decisions, so I try to minimize stress, whether that means helping clients stage their
home, organizing lunch during a full day of showings, or helping them acclimate to their
new town and community.
What is unique about your business?
No two deals are alike, so you’re always learning. Every property is unique in terms of
the age of the home, its zoning, location, lot size, etc. In addition, you’re dealing with the
personalities of everyone involved including clients, other agents, and attorneys.
Being an agent is a 24-7 job, which requires being structured, yet flexible. You may
have downtime on Wednesday, but that also means being available on a Saturday even
if you’re skiing - which happens.
Fast Five
1. What is your job title? Real Estate Agent
2. What was your first job? Software Sales
3. Who do you text most? Husband and Kids
4. Where did you grow up? Northern California
5. What time do you wake up? 6:30 AM
KESTI AYSSEH
What's the secret to your success?
Self-acceptance and gratitude allow me to have control over how I react to and find my place in the world. I don’t think we can find success with much of anything unless we are open to and embrace the good and positive traits about ourselves; but also embrace the less desirable and not so pretty parts of ourselves. I try and sift through the BS, not let the “little things” and other people’s reactions to my decisions affect me much, because we must prioritize our instincts and emotions. I strive to be mindful of the outer boundaries of “normal” by accepting the extra ordinary qualities people and situations may bring upon me, this mindset is a way of life for my family. Diving into the world of unconventional and digging just a little bit deeper to better understand and be fully aware helps me to identify a hurdle, find a solution and optimize success. Knowledge is power!
What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
Be passionate about your job. Sounds cliché but do what you love and love what you do. I love working in the nonprofit sector. If you care about the mission, the work comes easy, you enjoy going to work every day and the difference you are making comes from your heart. This can apply to any career. Always stay involved whether you volunteer or take on smaller jobs when having children, just never stop using your brain in that capacity. Having something that is your own and fulfills you intellectually and emotionally, outside the home, is essential to staying connected. After volunteering for 15+ years in Darien, I returned to the workforce in my late forties. It has been exceedingly rewarding and given me confidence and purpose that I would not have found elsewhere. While I was nervous about finding my course initially when returning, I am grateful I never stepped off that path entirely.
What are ways you stay grounded and take care of yourself?
Turning 50 in September has worked in my favor in terms of staying grounded and prioritizing my physical and mental health. Besides my daily sauna at the Darien YMCA, long walks with my two dogs, and a morning plate full of veggies, pasture raised eggs and a tablespoon of wild caught salmon roe, I surround myself with real and authentic relationships. You arrive at a point where you gravitate towards those that are like minded and make you happy. I am truly blessed to have my husband, children (22, 20 & 15), friends and work relationships in my life who inspire me, give me strength, teach me new things and most importantly, are fun. Laughing, learning, and feeling accepted for who you are is the best prescription for emotional well-being and longevity.
Fast Five
1. What is your job title? Executive Director, Darien Chamber of Commerce
2. What was your first job? Admin. Assistant, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge, MA
3. Who do you text most? My husband
4. Where did you grow up? Jersey! Princeton.
5. What time do you wake up? Too early, 6:30am.
KATHERINE TYPE
What's the secret to your success?
Number one: Mindset. Every successful person I know was the agent of their own success. One of my favorite quotes by Henry Ford is, “Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.” My parents were both entrepreneurs, and they instilled in me a "can-do" attitude with passion, grit, and determination. My success is solely dependent on me, and I hold myself accountable for the outcomes in my life. Once I start something and put my name on it, I am committed and disciplined. I see the bigger picture, cast a vision of what can be, and stay consistent no matter how long it takes. I am achievement-oriented and know that to achieve greatness; I need to work hard, focus, set goals, and have confidence. Those who know me often refer to me as the “energizer bunny” because I truly am, fueled by my love for what I do and the purpose, joy, and fulfillment my work brings me. I was taught to never settle, and I am forever looking for ways to up my game and challenge myself. I stay the course. My company BabyBox.com just celebrated its 27th birthday, and I just celebrated 10 years with Beautycounter as one of the original Founding Members. I dream of endless possibilities, and take pride in my work - those two combined keep me going.
Number two: One of the keys to success is loving what you do. This does not mean that you have to love every aspect of your job all the time, of course. But finding work that energizes you and brings you fulfillment will help you keep going. When you love what you do, your business growth becomes a catalyst for personal growth. It is not always about money but finding meaning and purpose in life.
Number three: The more you give, the more you receive. I celebrate other entrepreneurs, especially fellow female entrepreneurs, and I am always eager to share ideas and help others start their own businesses. Whether it is offering advice, mentoring, or providing ideas for startups, I am quick to use my voice and offer support. Being generous with my time and knowledge has allowed me to connect with like-minded individuals and ultimately create a positive impact. I strongly believe in promoting more female voices in business to create greater equality and inspire future generations of women entrepreneurs.
Number four: Avoid automatically saying “yes” to everything. Do not be the person who always agrees without considering your own thoughts and opinions. If you have a different perspective or viewpoint, speak up and share it. Do not be afraid to challenge the status quo and offer alternative viewpoints. This is where some of the best ideas, innovation, and growth come from. When I started BabyBox.com in 1996, there were no e-commerce baby sites. Despite being told that an online store would not work, I disagreed and started my site before others did. As a result, my business was featured in the New York Times Style section as a new way to sell baby gifts online. One of my strengths is my willingness to challenge the status quo and always strive for improvement. If I feel something could be done better or approached from a new perspective, I am open, honest, and willing to share my thoughts.
How do you persevere through the tough times?
I make a conscious effort to surround myself with positive people. I am not afraid of failure and start each day thinking about how much I can gain rather than how much I could lose. Optimism keeps me grounded and strengthens my ability to keep going and pursue my goals in the face of setbacks. When things don't go as planned, I don't just accept it as "the way it is". Instead, I constantly look for ways to improve the situation and take action to lead others with positivity. The more people tell me that something can't be done, the more determined I become to find a solution. Nothing great would ever be achieved if we only focused on what could go wrong instead of what is possible. I believe that to thrive in business, you must always look for the good in situations and maintain a strong, optimistic attitude to shield yourself from negativity in all aspects of life.
When you feel discouraged and feel you are failing, train your mind to believe all things happen for a reason. You can only fail when you are actually doing something. The most successful people often experience failure first. I celebrate failure and live by the mantra "Test, Learn, Fail, Grow, Repeat." Nothing we do can ever be perfect, and we can learn a lot from our mistakes and failures. Growing up, my parents always congratulated me for trying things regardless of the outcome.
What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
As a mother to an 18-year-old daughter, this question hits home. First, it is important to note that comparison is often the thief of joy, leading to negative and unproductive thinking. Instead, keep your focus on your own work, work hard, have confidence in your worth, and be proud of any accomplishments you achieve. Confidence is a better predictor of career success than competence.
Second, don't let fear of failure stop you from starting. Failure is often necessary for growth, so don't be afraid to take risks. Failing or making a mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve. Instead of worrying about what others might think, as NIKE says, “just do it”. Focus on the best possible outcome while learning something from everything you do. Then, you can feel confident next time you will do it that much better.
Third, keep going. Growing up, my father shared a story with me about composing beautiful music for a show that ultimately closed after only a month. Despite his disappointment, he learned that he could always write another song. He would take out a new piece of paper and say, "Next." Every day is a new opportunity to start fresh.
Lastly, when I started both of my businesses, I had no idea what I was doing, but I embraced my ignorance and tried things in my own way. There will always be competition, but your edge is not necessarily following them but leveraging your strengths and doing things in your own unique way. Realize what you are good at and use those skills as your power.
My role model is Sara Blakely
Fast Five
1. What is your job title? Founder, CEO, BabyBox.com Managing Director, Founding Member Beautycounter
2. What was your first job? Hotel Concierge - Royalton Hotel New York
3. Who do you text most? My daughter, Amanda
4. Where did you grow up? New York City
5. What time do you wake up? Between 7am and 8am
