Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Thompson
Hi Gabrielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was 21 years old in a new relationship with someone who had a perspective that I had never seen – and he asked me the question of “what do you want”. That prompted me to take a step back and reevaluate my goals. I decided to get into property management with an end goal of owning real estate and becoming a licensed real estate agent. Being a business owner appealed to me as I always wanted to do something that I felt like I had charge over and creative say. I was fortunate enough that my now fiancée is an architect so our goals aligned. After over a year in property management and trying to gain as much experience in the different housing types – I came across an opportunity to get a step closer to my goal. I decided to switch from being a W2 employee to completely self-employed – learning how to start my own LLC and how to structure an actual business – as a contracted leasing agent with full marketing freedom and branding design to generate my own natural leads much like a real estate agent. I was nervous getting into something like this as it was completely different from I was ever used to doing. However, I was excited to jump into something considered to be a “little risky” as it gave me a lot of pressure to perform. It pushed me to try hard.
Aside from this, I also co-founded a digital magazine. What started as a fun little project turned into a globally-reaching publication where we have writers from all over the world and a small team of dedicated people helping to continue its growth into a professionally recognized magazine.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been difficult to keep up with the high demand for immediate housing.
I’m currently optimizing my relationship with clients to support business expansion. My goal is to refine my communication systems to ensure a smoother and more efficient client experience. I find difficult trying to please everyone. I don’t think many people realize but it can be a challenge when you get 50+ leads a day inquiring about multiple properties on top of current applicants having questions about their unit and move ins! Sometimes I want people to be a little patient when I don’t respond back quickly.
The security of my livelihood has also been stressful as it is a business – but it has also allowed me to grow as a person and business owner and to get better at the craft.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a contract worker – I technically own my business but I partnered with Iron Door Management to lease their properties.
I utilize their brand – I am tucked under their business just like a realtor is to a brokerage. I am not exclusive to only working with them. In the future I plan to get my real estate license so I can add that as a service for my business.
I am most proud of the hard work I’ve put in to get me to where I am at now. For someone without a college degree – I am quite impressed with myself.
I feel as though my hard work and growth despite my unconventional route (not going to college) makes me feel as though I am a little different from others. I do not know anyone my age who has gone down the same path as me. I not only do my own lead generation, I also do my own marketing. It can be fun and then it can be a lot! But in the end, its very rewarding!
Aside from my work in real estate, I do help run a small digital magazine online. It definitely helps keep me busy!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The lockdown was definitely a difficult time for me and everyone around me. During the height of it, I met my now fiancée’ and we ended up getting Covid-19 together. We spent 5 days quarantined in my little apartment – having barely known each other but despite it all, it did help blossom a relationship to where we are now.
It was during that first week when we got Covid-19 that my partner gave me an epiphany of what I wanted to do with my life. I started out as a part-time leasing agent/receptionist for the same apartment building I had grown up in. It felt good learning more about my community from another perspective.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theupandcomingmag.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbydev01 ; https://www.instagram.com/theupandcomingmag
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielle.thompson.14224
- Other: https://linktr.ee/kcleasingagent
