We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alina Gibbs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Alina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I had a very long journey with many bumps in the road that led me to where I am now as a successful real estate professional and business owner. All my life I have been taking risks, from leaving my motherland in order to pursue happiness and success and finally becoming a successful business owner and real estate expert today. As a businesswoman, I wear so many hats starting from being a residential and commercial real estate agent, commercial real estate investor, fix and flipper, residential single-family contractor, and last but not least, I had an opportunity to become the Host and Real Estate Expert of The American Dream TV Show ” Selling Austin”.
Three years in a row since 2021, I have been nominated as one of America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents®, and only less than 1% of active Real Estate Professionals in the United States receive this honor.
I grew up in Kazakhstan, which used to be part of the Soviet Union before its collapse.
After earning my Bachelor’s degree in international economics, I went overseas to pursue career growth.
My career began in South Korea as a business executive specializing in research & development, bulk sale, and profit operations between South Korea, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
After 10 years, I shifted my career path in Thailand to pursue my passion for humanitarianism by assisting government and non-profit organizations with human rights initiatives, where I had opportunity work with the US Embassy in Thailand and the International Rescue Committee developing programs for special caseload refugees seeking a better quality of life in the United States.
In addition, I acted as a liaison between the Asian Forum Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), Central Asian Parliaments, and related parties to assist with lodging and travel accommodations with Parliamentarians of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
I earned my Master’s in business administration during my tenure in Thailand, however, my education and experience became obstacles when I moved to the United States. I was turned down for employment because I was considered overqualified. I resorted to employment in car sales, insurance sales, and network marketing to earn experience in United States. My insurance sales colleagues introduced me to the real estate industry and that was the new beginning of the career path that led me to my current success.
I started my real estate career in Killeen, TX, and sought to increase my potential growth and realized I would have to take monumental risks if I wanted my career to progress. I decided to move to Austin where I knew no one. It was extremely challenging during the first two years. I used all my assets to build my business, grow my network, and develop myself. When business was difficult and money was tight, I would have moments of doubt and had to remind myself of my passion and purpose in life, which is to help people and take care of my family. My ambition and determination to take care of my clients and family helped me persevere to become successful no matter what obstacles would lie ahead.
Being a realtor required every skill I had ever learned it. My real understanding of real estate came from my involvement in network marketing, where concepts of business were the same, establishing trustworthy relationships with people, understanding their needs and problems, and helping them to solve their problems. During this time, the most important lessons I learned were integrity, perseverance, and doing my best for others.
We all face challenges, like in every other business challenge being a real estate professional appeared at the beginning of the carrier. There were ups and downs in the real estate business. Some months I was the king of the world. In other months I just barely scrape by. This made it difficult to make plans for the future and set financial goals. One of the hardest things about being a real estate agent is smoothing my income so that it is consistent throughout the year. This requires discipline and rigorous budgeting.
As you can see every step of my life, I have to make decisions that require risk-taking decisions, which some people would say is dangerous and not practical. With risk comes a fire, a burning push to keep me going and reach the finish line. When every other person withdraws, the risk taker is willing to stay in. As a risk-taker, I know that success won’t fall in my lap. I have to chase and hunt for it. I’m always shooting for the sky amidst the storm. Through that chase, I find seemingly rare opportunities that may never have been found if I had waited.
With my persistence and courage, I have the opportunity not to only have a successful real estate business, and also to be on TV as the host of The American Dream TV Show and represent successful people of Austin, movers, shakers, CEOs, lifestyle and real estate and share other people success.
Alina , 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?
My name is Alina Gibbs- Host and Real Estate Expert for the American Dream TV Show
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Integrity, competence, and putting clients’ interests first helped build my reputation.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clients is branding myself and social media marketing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alinagibbs.com
- Instagram: @alinagibbsrealtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alina.gibbs/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-gibbs-2b108217/
- Twitter: @AlinaGibbsRE
- Youtube: alina@alinagibbs.com
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alina-gibbs-andy-allen-team-keller-williams-realty-austin
- Other: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Alina+Gibbs+-+Keller+Williams+Realty/@30.4311298,-97.7591504,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8644cc8bab0f9975:0x1165df18220f061f!8m2!3d30.4311298!4d-97.7591504!16s%2Fg%2F11hblb627k