We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Earla Clark a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Earla, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

Hi!  Thanks for having me, I’m thrilled to be here!  And hello to all your readers out there in the world!

I believe in offering hope to people out there, through their many facets of life!  Pure and simple.

I truly hope to be remembered for that, too! There was something that inspired me as a child that I carry with me today.  It’s something mother used to say to us growing up. She’d tell us that “many hands make light work”, in order to rally the troops, so to speak for whatever was on the list for the day. And her words worked too!  We’d get to moving and pitching in because we knew that we’d get the job done quicker, more efficiently, and man, did it feel good to ease her weary hands.

That’s kind of a rule I’ve lived by since, that no matter what needs to be tackled or who it’s for, that pitching in, lending a hand, going the extra mile for someone makes a real impact.  And that impact is not only on the job or task at hand, but for all the individuals involved.  Sometimes it’s a few bucks to fill in the gaps, sometimes it’s an ear who listened. Sometimes it’s being a person to stand up for another when defending themselves was not an option; sometimes it’s being willing to share simple knowledge or skills; sometimes it’s simply the gift of sitting at a table and sharing a meal and often a word of encouragement or shared prayer.  Being the hands to ease someone else’s work or mind for a little while goes very, very far.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Sure! I’m Earla Clark!  On a more personal note, I’m the wife of one of the most kind and loving men God brought into this world. I’m a mother of three extraordinary girls, a grandmother to 8 insanely talented, loving, witty (and nutty) grandchildren, and 2024 will bring a new phase to my life, as the Lord above saw fit to bless two of my grandchildren with children of their own.  I’ll finally be a great grandmother!!

On the business aspect, I’ve worked in a large variety of fields over the years and under many various roles. From simple attendant at our local grocery stores to manager over floral shops in those stores. I was a district manager for a major drug store chain throughout the east coast before a landing a cushy HR job for a well-known and major beverage corporation.  However, in 2008 life changed in a way that I wasn’t quite prepared for…  I was downsized from that comfortable HR life and quite honestly, left questioning everything.

Unfortunately, at this phase in my life, I was much too young to retire and much too old for other available work for them take any interested in what I had to offer. I was in quite a pickle, financially and emotionally.  So, I did what I do in most binds of the professional world; I turned to my “sphere”.  It was the wonderful array of friends I’ve made through-out the work roles I’ve held and clung tight to as we all moved on with life.

From those resources of wonderful people, I was enticed to get my real estate license.  Crazy!  I know; To ditch the mindset of everything I’d done in the past for something that would require more study, schooling, which stressed me out enough on its own, licensing, learning, and readapting and readjusting everything I’d ever learned was similar I’m sure to insanity!!

But it wasn’t too far of stretch for me when I sat down and measured out the pros and cons to this proposed new life.  See, long before staging was even a thing, long before floof or fluff of a space being viewed became popular, I helped local realtors I knew and loved to do just that for their own businesses. To showcase a space for all its potential and beauty, to arrange a room in a way that makes it more desirable was just something I had a natural knack for.  I loved it, too!

I just didn’t know how to market something like that at that time! I didn’t think I could possibly make the most income in my life by doing something that I could naturally enjoyed and succeed at.  Real Estate has many facets and staging space to help a client is part of that, something that I still help my clients today if one reaches out for that specific need.  I’m happy to help!  In fact, helping them helps me.

Realizing that alone sealed the deal for me. Having been in various sales positions, and in human resources over multiple companies, not to mention managing folks with the God-given talent to be able to visualize spaces and verbalize needs to clients, real estate was a perfect fit!

I received my real estate license shortly after that realization in 2009, starting with Keller Williams as a single agent.  I was thrilled to be crowned “Rookie of the Year” that year and started my own team in shortly after.  I’m going to let you in on a little secret here… Most people thought I was crazy jumpy into a career in turmoil. Remember this was back in the real estate market crash, back when houses were in foreclosure and everyone in real estate was on pins and needles on whether they’d be able to continue their business or succumb to the pressures and find other work.

For me there was no question, this is where I was destined to be!  It was THE job for me.  Period!  I would be successful.  I just had to push.  I don’t know how to write a code or know how to map out what the backside of technology is doing, but I understand the technology and was more than willing to learn.  Being in grocery stores and drug stores when we went to from manual entry to more computerized processes, I just got it. Having that understanding was an advantage in real estate, who was still in its infancy in utilizing such tools.  It was so simple for me that I signed up to learn and then teach these tools to new agents to help them launch their new lives fully ready to conquer said tools. Today in fact, I still coach my team utilizing these tools and those skills acquired decades ago from previous jobs.

Let me take a step back for a second, While in real estate school I met Mike Washburn. Now Mike was a native of this area and knew everyone. I was not native but contribution to his team and its success was my skillset and comfort level with process, procedures, and marketing. Together we formed the Triad Connections Team. We had a brilliant start!  Our team was successful and growing with momentum that felt almost heaven sent. Unfortunately, at that time of growth, Mike was diagnosed with cancer.  That itself took its own toll on our team dynamic, with Mike’s health wavering yet his work force and drive unquenched.  He fought relentlessly for me as we were building, he fought for his clients and their interests in buying and selling, until the end where he fought equally hard for his health but lost that battle all too soon.  We lost him in 2014.

Despite this heartbreaking loss, through the contacts and business plans that he and I had made, our business continued to thrive. Additional agents and admins were brought in, and today I continue to lead a team of four highly skilled professionals.

I convinced one of my daughters, Kami Keaton, to leave her comfortable life of banking to join the team. She is an absolute blessing and natural in sales, and her people skills are unmatched.  She cares deeply about each person, and each one she gets involved with on the business end quickly become her friends for life. She has a big heart for not only people she meets and comes to love and treat like family, but also to furry friends she picks up along the way! Her own contributions and connections of friends has helped fuel the growth of our team.

Christina Tague, another blessing to my team was a previous client of mine, who decided to go into real estate with us after I’d helped them with the purchase of their own home. When I met Christina, she said “Earla, you and I are going to be best friends.” I remember at the time we shared a laugh over it and move on, but Christina was right! We’ve been best friends ever since.  She has a huge heart of service for others, and we are blessed to call each other friends as well as business partners.

Jocelyn Morales is a newly licensed agent who I heard through the grapevine was a great teacher.  We asked her to join our team in 2021, and she fit right in as if she’d been there the whole time.  She too has a heart of service.  Another benefit she brings to our team is that she is bilingual.  This alone adds a new level of service to our team that before was not even an option.  She’s been a Godsend to us as well with her warm servants-heart and infectious smile.

These three ladies make me proud every day with their service to others.  They too know that real estate is not just about buying or selling a house: it’s about helping people fulfill their dreams. We are extremely grateful for our clients trust and the friendship we build during a transaction continues long after the sold sign is down. Our clients become like an extension of our beloved family for life.  We are grateful for those relationships built and as a result, they repeatedly call on our team for assistance or advice or even to refer someone else to us, blessing us even further.

My proudest accomplishment however is that I’m a wife, I’m a mother, a grandmother, and soon to be great grandmother. I’m a friend to many wonderful people. I raised three girls as a single mom, hundreds of miles away from my family. Despite the many challenges of life and love and the pursuit of happiness, all three of my girls have successful careers and have blessed us with eight beautiful grandchildren. Together with my loving husband, a Cavapooh pup, we host a slew of family dinners, holidays shindigs, and host multiple events for our own clients, together.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My clients tell me that I am the most accessible agent they’ve ever experienced. And I don’t take that compliment lightly.  It means the world to me.  This is MY business.  I answer my phone/text/emails promptly!  I do what I say I am going to do and follow up with my clients frequently. They trust us with the largest purchase of their lives, and we owe it to them to answer each question with patience and understanding, something every human desires.  We may have done this a 1000+ times but our clients have not. Therefore, understanding each one’s own individual needs is critical to their happiness with their purchase later and our services overall.

We are a small business, and every client is important to us. We cheer for their successes each alongside them; be it a new home, a new baby, a new pet, a new job or even with needing prayer for a loss or loved one; We are there for them, regardless.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

I am truly blessed to be in a company with training that I can take advantage of.  KW provides numerous resources that I encourage every single agent, no matter their time in the company to foster in and take advantage of too.

Also, as we build up clientele, we stay in touch with them. Birthday cards, home anniversary cards, Christmas cards, and the like, as well as supporting their own causes, client events and plenty of phone calls. When you treat people like family, you quickly find they become an extension of the family.  Helping them with their own needs, goals and dreams keeps them coming back. I love that clients call me and my team for HVAC , plumbing, and remodel ideas to simple design or decorating ideas! They know we have their best interest in mind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://earlaclark.kw.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlaclark/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TriadConnectionsTeam
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/earlaclark1/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Heather Cardwell at Times Treasured Studios