Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatum Cooper.
Hi Tatum, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story kind of started a while back. I got sick when I was 13 and that definitely changed the course of my life. I was in and out of the hospital and was eventually diagnosed with POTS among other chronic illnesses, this lead to me missing a lot of schools and eventually dropping out of my senior year due to health.
Dropping out really left me at a loss on what my future looked like a post-high school, my friends were all leaving for college while I had no idea what I was doing. I got my GED and went to the local community college for two semesters but ended up in the hospital again. I finally had to come to the conclusion that the “traditional” lifestyle was not one I would participate in.
I was left to figure out what the heck I was going to do. My mom, who had been my rock throughout everything, had recently become a realtor and I loved how flexible her schedule was and that she was basically her own boss. I never really imagined myself as a real estate agent but it made perfect sense.
This past year in Oct. 2021, shortly after my 21st birthday, I finally took the leap and signed up for a class to get my license. I pushed myself to show up to each class through whatever symptoms I had and took my test in early December.
I was told by every realtor I met “don’t stress nobody passes their test the first time” yet I studied and studied and managed to pass the first time! I felt accomplished and proud for the first time in a long time! Here we are now in the new year, my mom and I decided to start a team together, T. & C. Collective, under Keller Williams Platinum Partners.
I am still learning more and more every day and admittedly dealing with imposter syndrome as a young new real estate agent. I am so fortunate to work with my mom who doubles as my best friend and now business partner. She helps build my confidence and knowledge every day that we get to work together.
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 far from it.
Everything from illness, loss of family members, imposter syndrome, and just the struggle of everyday life. I highlighted it better in the previous answer but I struggled a lot just to get where I am now.
I still struggle with my chronic illness as well so I’ve learned to manage difficult situations from a young age.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
T. & C. Collective is the team name for my mother and me who work at Keller Wiliams Platinum Partners in Lee’s Summit. What makes us unique is us being a mother-daughter team.
I am truly so proud when I get to tell people that! Another thing that I would say makes us a great team is how much we value family in general. My mother and I truly care about the families we work with, not just while we work with them but long term. Once you’re a client you become family!
We’re still a new team so we aren’t specialized as buyers or sellers only team. Something we are looking forward to is the events we will be held within the community. We have one coming up in April to officially announce and launch our brand as a mother-daughter team.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Helping others, as cheesy as that sounds helps others runs in my family.
My mother is one of the most giving people you will ever meet. Some may call it people-pleasing but I truly enjoy helping others and seeing everything work out.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: tatumcooper.kw.com
- Instagram: @T.C.collective
