We recently connected with Derrick Payne and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Derrick , thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned in school and why that lesson is important to you?
While I have attended several schools full of amazing educators, my time at Howard University had the biggest impact upon my development. While at Howard, I began to see myself as a man with integrity and began to recognize my gifts and talents. I also learned that I have a responsibility to continually pass those skills and talents forward into the universe for the betterment of others. At Howard, I learned to be unshakable in my pursuits, and I gained a strong sense of direction and purpose.
As a first generation college student, I had very vague ideas about the person I would eventually become, Or even about how majoring in social sciences would fit into my future. At Howard, I majored in Political Science without ever meeting or interacting with people who did those things for a living. It was a blessing to study in these disciplines in Washington, DC, the seat of the Federal Government, within an absolute Mecca of thoughts and ideas, surrounded by hungry classmates who have gone on to BIG things (Mayors of Major cities, Federal Judgeships, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES), and with the guidance of faculty who were superheroes to me. They became my role models as professionals who took leadership seriously. The pushed us relentlessly to be better everyday.
I have spent my higher education career in meek imitation of Alvin Thornton, Joseph McCormick, Ron Walters, Lorenzo Morris, Morris Levitt, and A. Wade Boykin. Perhaps pone of the most enduring lessons came from Dr. McCormick, while on opposite sides of a pool table. He told me “Young man, when you learn anything, you need to keep two notebooks-one to get an “A” and one to get away; Whatever you learn has to have practical application and overall significance in this thing called life. If you learn economics, how are you using it to improve the community around you? If you learn Political Science, how is that going to be utilized to improve the lives of your parents and grandparents who sacrificed so much for you? I now have two notebooks in arms reach at all times!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
I am a Communications Professor at Dallas College who also independently produces content for groups and organizations who need a strategy to improve their communications, and therefore improve their business outcomes. I also provide mobile and virtual notary services, and since the last Voyage interview, have made a major career expansion. After years of classroom leadership (im starting year 18 at Dallas College, and have navigated 23 years in education) I have prepared myself and launched the next segment of my career by becoming a licensed Realtor with Keller Williams Central!
For most people, its really hard to move into the unknown; the current real estate market is extremely fluid and subject to trends that are not under my control. But ultimately deciding to do something else was not a difficult decision at all.
In my high school chemistry class many moons ago, we learned about catalysts- substances that create energy without being destroyed in the process. in constant review of best practices, the last two years have been anything but fun. We the unwilling are led by the ungrateful to do the impossible and are challenged to do produce maximum outcomes with fewer resources than ever. Most teachers work for low salary with higher and higher expectations. Teaching is what my heart, soul and spirit are consumed by. The education business is unnecessarily destructive. by progressing forward into Real Estate, I am maintaining my love for developing free thinkers who can execute a plan. I am operating as my highest self and therefore much more productive to all the people that I serve.
I am increasing financial literacy for many of the people I serve, and offer healthy financial outcomes for individuals and families looking to buy, sell and invest in real estate.I have been able to tie together my various constituencies in a way that has benefits for everyone. I’m teaching people how real estate works in real time while i am learning it personally. I’m pulling underrepresented communities to the table and doing economic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work daily. I’m interacting with new people all the time while learning, marketing, translating, negotiating, and mediating- skills i developed in previous chapters of my life. Im pretty exhausted, but it’s a process of maximizing my potential while helping others achieve their dreams. I’m committed and truly happy with where things are right now.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I hope my endearing reputation in my community and in my personal and professional relationships reflect my openness to learning, growth, a solid information base and operations with integrity. I will only say “I don’t Know” once before finding and providing the correct answer. I don’t know everything, so i make substantial efforts to gather as much information as possible. If information does not help[ immediately, it always seems to be helpful in the future. I was attracted to Keller Williams Central as a brokerage because of the stated organizational commitment to “Win-Win” transactions. nobody should be left feeling bad as a result of doing business with me. I don’t intend to get “rich” while leaving a trail of unhappy people in my wake. For almost everybody, buying a house is the most money you will ever spend- so trust is the key.
As a career educator, I invest in, education and training as a method of practicing what I preach. People that know me understand that I can be really effective as a written and verbal communicator and and that I have cultivated the ability to talk to, listen to, and learn from a million different types of people in different stages of life. As a result, I have many people that are pleased with our professional interactions. Many amazing people can help you buy or sell a house or commercial property. The benefit of working with me is that I can add experience, creativity, and a sincere passion for athe clients with whom I form partnerships.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
There are SO many good answers to this question! i red incessantly and budget for monthly book purchases and currently have books checked out from three different libraries; I could probably give tours at most of the half Price Bookstores in town and definitely have books in every room in my house!
In the last few months i have been highly helped and motivated by UNLEARN by Humble the Poet; THE ROAD LESS STUPID by Keith Cunningham, WORK CLEAN by Dan Charmas, ATOMIC HABITS by James Clear, and CRY LIKE A MAN by Jason Wilson. Any book by Gary Keller will help you. John Maxwell is incapable of writing a bad book, and all his works have made a meaningful impact on me. I ead a ton of biographies, because there are always keys to successful decision making embedded in them; I never, ever stop reading, gathering information, growing, and learning!
Contact Info:
- Website: derrickpayne.kw.com
- Instagram: yourrealtorderrick
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/derrickpayne6
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-payne-b318973/
- Twitter: @yourrealtorDP