Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Norian DeHaven. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Norian , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you got your first non-friend, non-family client. Paint the picture for us so we can feel the same excitement you felt on that day.

I started in real estate in a new town where I didn’t know anyone, which meant there was no shortcut into business, just consistency and an immense amount of discomfort. I quickly learned it wasn’t about one big moment, but about doing the simple, tried-and-true work over and over again: cold calling, door knocking, reaching out to anyone I could, and showing up in the office week after week with a quiet determination that I was going to make it, anything else wasn’t an option.

Even when progress was slower, I learned that entrepreneurship isn’t a 50/50 balance; it demands more at different times. With younger children at home at the time, I’m especially grateful I had my family’s support to step in when I was stretched, and the foundation to keep moving forward while learning to handle the most rejection I’ve ever experienced to date.

My first client that wasn’t connected to friends or family came over 5 years ago after multitudes of calls, rejections, and “call me later” conversations. It was a small investment condo in Jacksonville with a tenant in place. Eventually, after all of that persistence, they agreed to let me list the property.

I still remember that moment, the nerves, the excitement, and honestly the disbelief that it was finally happening. I walked away from that call knowing everything had just shifted.

It wasn’t a high-dollar transaction, but it was an important return on the time and effort I had invested to get my business off the ground. It required consistency and follow-through when most conversations went nowhere. But when it came together, it meant more than just a first transaction. It was the proof that I could build something from nothing in a completely new area where I had everything to lose, and it also made me realize if I could navigate that, I could handle any transaction. To this day, it remains one of the most testing deals I’ve had. It deepened my appreciation for my clients and my love for the work understanding just how much trust is placed in me during these moments, and how meaningful it is to be part of them

I also have to credit the support of my coworkers and firm at the time, who helped me stay steady through those early days. That first deal has stayed with me because it didn’t come from familiarity, but from a lot of effort, consistency, and showing up…and what it taught me about building something from nothing.

Norian , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into real estate after realizing I wanted to take what has always come naturally to me, caregiving, responsibility, and showing up for people…and apply it in a way that could directly impact someone’s future. That mindset really comes from my upbringing as one of five children raised by a single hardworking mother, where I learned resilience early, and later through my time as a collegiate softball player, where discipline, competition, and consistency were non-negotiable. I also pursued nursing, which reinforced my desire to care for people, even though I eventually realized my impact would be broader in a different kind of role.

Real estate became the space where all of that came together. I started from scratch in a new area where I didn’t know anyone, which meant I had to build everything through consistency, discomfort, and a lot of learning in real time.

Today, I work with buyers, sellers, and investors across Central & Northeast Florida, guiding them through every step of the process, from understanding the market and structuring offers to negotiations, inspections, and closing. A large part of my work is education. I don’t believe in simply moving people through transactions; I believe in making sure they understand what’s happening and feel confident in their decisions.

A lot of my clients are people in major life transitions or first-time homeowners or sellers, and my role is often to bring clarity to what can feel overwhelming. Real estate moves quickly and emotionally, so I focus on slowing the process down, being direct, and providing honest guidance people can trust.

What sets me apart is that I don’t see myself as just an agent in a transaction. I operate more as a steady guide through the entire process and beyond it. I stay involved, I stay available, and I take pride in being someone clients can come back to or refer with confidence because they know I’ll handle things with care and consistency.

What I’m most proud of is not any single deal, but the relationships built over time and clients who trust me over and over again, refer their family and friends, and allow me to be part of their continued story.

At the core of everything, my work is about people. It’s about helping them make informed decisions in what is often one of the most important and lasting decisions they will make, and I will never take that lightly.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn was that there is always a clear or “right” way for things to unfold. Early on, I thought if I worked hard enough, stayed consistent enough, or did everything correctly, outcomes would follow a predictable path.

Real estate quickly proved that wasn’t true.There are constant surprises, deals shift, timelines change, and situations rarely go exactly as planned. What I had to learn is that success isn’t about forcing one solution, but staying adaptable and finding a different way forward when things don’t go as expected.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been consistency and staying intentional in how I show up. Early on, it was a slow build, and I tried to do what I thought people expected to see. Over time, I realized growth comes more from staying consistent with communication, follow-up, and the client experience than trying to appeal to everyone.

When I really came into my own was when I stopped trying to perform the role and focused on simply being myself. At that point, I trusted that the right clients would find me, and appreciate me as much as I appreciate them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://onereal.com/norian-dehaven?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noriandehaven_dehaven_homes?igsh=MW0zNXNnbnc2NjFqZQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorianDeHavenRealtor?
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norian-dehaven-62b1ab164/