We recently connected with Kevin Darcy and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Monetary success to me is defined by the idea of personally owned assets paying for your liabilities. If you haven’t read Kioysaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad, do it.

Monetarily, I grew up in a lower-class household in Chicago, eventually moving to Dallas, TX with my mom to be closer to my grandparents. My father was not in my life, but I had the kind of grandparents you could only dream of. Anytime I’d go over to their house Grandpa Ed and I would watch boxing matches and he’d lament over old WWII stories and what simpler times looked like. Grandma Rose was either baking, gardening, or pestering us to play Rummy with her. Anytime I was over, they knew my favorite meal was pasta with red sauce and it is still to this day the best damn sauce I have ever had. The point of me sharing this story, is while they did well for themselves financially, they had the kind of success most people never get to experience- emotional and marital success. They taught me the value of hard work and consistency. I was lucky enough to see what a functional relationship looked like and how it benefited them in their professional and personal lives.

Success comes in so many different forms and is unique to the individual. I think we all have some sort of floating idea on what “success” looks like, but a lot of that has changed in recent years. I watched a recent interview where unsuspecting younger people (<30) were asked what they think the average 30 year olds should be making. $250K+/year seemed to be the common which is ABSOLUTELY ridiculous. The average 30 year old in America is making roughly $55K/year. While I imagine this will make me sound dated (I am 33) I think social media is largely to blame for creating these false realities and is leading to increased depression and expectations that are not remotely realistic. While it’s great to have goals and aspire to make a quarter million a year, there is a roadmap to getting there.

No matter what form of success you aim to achieve, whether it’s financial, emotional, spiritual, or otherwise, I’ve discovered one common element: consistency. Success doesn’t come overnight for most people. It’s about chipping away at the metaphorical rock, slowly unveiling your masterpiece over time.

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.

I was raised by a single mother who has been involved in sales her whole life. She had me cold calling at 10 years old, recruiting for insurance and real estate seminars around the country, which I suppose sparked my initial interest in real estate. All the Realtors I spoke with sounded composed, educated, confident, and I admired that. Every Christmas, we used to drive around the wealthy neighborhoods and dream of one day attaining something similar. That said, I think my mom and I had very different motivations for those aspirations. I saw these homes as safety. Their towering statures and big doors were a stark contrast from the cramped shared hallways, laundry rooms, and the stench of apartment buildings. These grandiose homes were architecturally beautiful and were more than just boxes; they were symbolically important and a reflection of the owner’s life work.

I had the gift of being mentored by one of the most prominent Realtors in the industry, whose notable career includes a whopping $119M sale, a laundry list of A-list celebrity representation, and extensive work with foreign consulates. Learning from someone who has accomplished such tremendous things in the industry sparked a fire inside me and showed me that anything you set your mind to is possible, and that the client always comes first. I would not be where I am without his friendship and guidance. All of this being said, it gave me a unique perspective on the industry. Every client that I represent, whether they are buying or selling a $200K home or a $2,000,000 home, receives the same treatment. In this industry, your word is your bond, and you live or die by your reputation.

My wife and I run a team out of Atlanta, GA, known as The Darcy Team at Ansley Real Estate | Christies International. Through the relationships we have cultivated over the years, it has allowed us to approach the industry in a holistic manner. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a seasoned investor, or a builder, The Darcy Team has got your back. Education, transparency, and communication are at the core of what we do and what you can expect through every transaction with our team.

After years of exploring the country, my wife and I fell in love with Atlanta, and it is where we purchased our second home. When we’re not selling real estate, you can find us exploring new eateries, supporting all of Atlanta’s teams, enjoying cigars, biking around the city, or getting out in nature with our four large rescue dogs—yes, four.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The old adage “money is the motivation”. Growing up in scarcity tends to perpetuate a scarcity mindset which pushes us into an “I need” mindset. I need to make money, I need to pay my bills, I need to close this deal, whatever it might be. The moment you shift your operating patterns from selfish to selfless and be about service rather than receiving is the moment wheels of success begin to move forward. Being a steward is the motivation, helping your fellow human is the motivation, putting others interests before yours is where the true magic exists.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The Richest Man In Babylon by George S. Classon. If you haven’t read it and are curious about financial literacy, read it. I had no idea what financial literacy was nor did I care to. It will change your life if you apply the principles taught throughout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ansleyre.com/site/KevinDarcy
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/that_realestate_dude/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.darcy11
• Other: https://www.ansleyre.com/site/TheDarcyTeam