Today we’d like to introduce you to Vicki Kenyon

Hi Vicki, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I am a connector. It brings me great joy to be able to connect people with one another, either because they have a professional need or because it feels like they would fit together as friends. I enjoy connecting people with resources from dog-walking to estate planning and everything in between. Bringing a team of professionals together to accomplish a goal that suits each of us well is exciting for me. And I am doing just that to best serve my Real Estate Clients every day. Whether it is a lender, an attorney, an insurance broker or a cleaning company – the team of professionals along side of me is as important to my clients as it is to me!

My greatest passion is helping folks within the LGBT+ community find a safe path to home buying and selling. In this world of uncertainty, you can be confident that the partners I choose to work with will take care of us all in a way that feels welcoming, and maybe even a little fun! Home buying is scary for anyone and I will always work hard to eliminate the unique (and very real) fears of our community.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Show me one person who says the road is smooth! The road is not smooth at all – and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There are so many ups and downs to being self- employed and I question the decision to do so almost weekly. And then something amazing happens, or something wonderful gets lined up and I know I am doing the right things. Uncertainty is challenging, and when building a company begins most things are uncertain. I’ve found that hoaning in on the “one thing” and keeping laser focused on it is imperitive to success. I cannot be all things to all people and do it well. I need to be the one thing for a very specific group of people, and then success comes. I think the most important thing in finding success – whatever that looks like – is to have a strong support system – I cannot do this alone. I would have quit 100 times by now if I did not have the rock solid support of my spouse.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a Full Time Realtor (and that pays most of the bills) and love serving first time home buyers, as well as sellers and buyers of all sorts. I work hard to ensure that folks in the LGBTQ+ Community can find a safe path home thorugh my network of queer/trans identiying and strongly allied partners. Taking care of my community in this way has been so important – and rewarding – to me. In addition to real estate, I work to serve the local Queer & Trans community through a radio show I host on community radio. This show features local leaders who offer information and resources that can help with housing, safe schools, literacy, spirituality, and so many more topics. For the first time in my career & life I am doing the things that I WANT to do and they combine to bring great joy and satisfaction to me.
PS – don’t let anyone ever tell you it’s “too late,” or you’re “too old” to reinvent yourself! I’m in my mid 50s and this is about the best season in my life so far….

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

For me, as I’ve aged and learned from life, I have learned some important lessons. First – grit and tenacity matter – showing up and doing the hard work every single day has been one important piece of the puzzle. I read a lot and there is one book that I read annualy that has been important to my mindset. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz has tought me so much. In summary – I always work hard to do my very best at whatever I am doing. Although challenging, I work not to take things personally – nothing that someone else does is because of me. I speak with integrity and am as impeccable with my word as I can be – continued and honest communication is the key to keeping my word. And last, I try not to make assumptions. If I don’t understand something, I will ask questions or seek guidance. I have a print out of the Four Agreements at my desk and reflect on it regularly to make sure I’m keeping it front of mind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vkenyon.starkhomes.com/
• Instagram: @vickikenyon608
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickiKenyonStarkCompanyRealtors
• Other: http://www.wortfm.org/tag/vicki-kenyon/

Image Credits

Maureen Cassidy, Kelli With An Eye Photography