We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jasmin Christian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jasmin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?
As a business owner, especially in the times of content creation and influence, we tend to have this persona of having it all together. Remaining humble and not being afraid to reach out when we need help will catapult your business. Knowing that your audience will see you in all lights, or at least the lights you show, and growth of ones audience does come from a place of vulnerability. I am a realtor, most of my audience knows me for such, people also have built in perceptions of the lives of realtors and their wealth. While I am blessed, I am still a rising realtor. I was recently approached by the radio. Pretty cool as I had priced how much advertising for a radio would be two years prior, as I knew everyone needed to know who Agent Jaz was to be a successful realtor. While I couldn’t afford it two years prior, or this past fall, I knew also I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by this time.
I had been meeting dope people left and right those past two weeks before being approached and I had talked to a new dope person the day I had to decide if I wanted the radio commercial deal or not. She spoke on pride and I cried on the phone with a complete stranger because I was scared to ask my audience to help me.
As far as I knew my followers were going to shame me and assume I had the money for it and I was being greedy. When truly I didn’t and I needed their help. After I got off the phone with this woman I cried some more, I cried out the tears and immediately went live and asked for donations and for others to share my post so if anyone felt so inclined they would donate too!
I almost made my goal in like 2 days for the deal, but as I was shy of the count I took on a smaller monthly promotion than the one I was approached with. Having donations, encouraging words, and no “known judgement” come in to me, but only endearment increased my awareness that it’s ok to be myself even more and let my audience know we are all human and some of our dreams are bigger than what our current circumstances allow. Pushing out the fear and pride of people knowing that you don’t have it all helped me realize I do, I have a highly supportive audience, I have everything I need and if I don’t, its ok to ask.
Closed mouths do not get fed!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a local realtor but I also do community events and I like to support and aid entrepreneurs and business owners in growth strategies and collaboration.
At all of my community events I invite business owners (service or product based) to be vendors for free or for a small fee depending on the event. This way with the businesses are being exposed in another light and have the opportunity to explain/display their business to the general public.
As a business liaison I not only connect but help advise and act as an agent on a businesses behalf to broker deals and create partnerships with other businesses.
Being a realtor brings me great joy as I am in a position to inspire, educate and help my audience and referrals build wealth and fulfill their dreams of home ownership.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Beginning real estate in Sept 2019, I didn’t think it would be easy but I also did not think it would take 8 months to close my first deal. From the outside looking in, I tried to keep it as real with my audience as possible without being a total victim. I was working hard and losing deals it felt left and right from so many different circumstances, family issues, military relocation, job displacement, etc. But I kept going and my mentor and brokers and other realtors would just say, “it’s all learning lessons” if you keep going you’ll find success.
So I kept hosting open houses for other realtors to attempt to secure leads and I would show my audience how busy I was. I kept hosting volunteering my time to be a vendor at different events to educate the community on home ownership and hopefully get leads from attendees. I kept doing giveaways with other businesses (me offering a consultation and some Agent Jaz merch).
After 8 months of hustling in real estate, paying realtor dues and fees, and doing delivery services like DoorDash and Instacart to make ends meet; I closed on my first home, and then another and I ended up doing 12 deals by Dec 2020.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I knew everyone had to know Agent Jaz. I got paraphernalia of all types made. Changed my social handles to Agent Jaz. I began hosting events and attending events. I began using mailers, and content creation all around my brand Agent Jaz.
Cracking the Code, so yes, just how you picture it is the image I portray. I created videos and reels that supported my brand. My educational post and deals begin with code cracked. I send my audience on missions to find clues and answers to their questions. I think branding and marketing are hands down key to building your reputation from an outside looking in standpoint.
But to build your reputation you have to be YOU! I am very personal and like to speak to people face to face, I enjoy giving back, I enjoy encouraging others and I do so with daily messages, in my marketing, in my branding and in my personal touches not only to clients but to potential clients (everyone).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.agentjaz.com
- Instagram: _agentjaz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAgentJaz/
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/jasmin-christian-723895a8
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCG_fnt73NwotR624KznEwfA
- Other: Google https://g.page/r/Cc0X-uS-z6iVEAo
Image Credits
Ken P Hebivision