We recently connected with Paige Miller and have shared our conversation below.

Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

If I were starting over in business today the first thing I would do would be identifying my unique strengths in the field I was pursuing and then lean into those 10x and outsource the rest. I have found that the more you stay in your zone of happiness and areas where you thrive while leaving the other tasks you aren’t proficient at or don’t like doing to people who are better at it than you will get you so much further faster. Although it may be scary to leverage others when you are building in business early on, it will absolutely pay off and with far less burnout.
I was also very fortunate to have amazing mentors along the way and I wouldn’t have changed anything regarding those relationships. You learn so much from watching others who are excelling in your field and learning how their brain works to achieve the levels of success that they do however, you need to make sure you stay true to yourself and your unique gifts. Just because they built their business one way doesn’t mean that is how you should or could do it. By staying true to yourself and your own perspective you will likely build bigger and faster than trying to do it the way you have seen it done or feel like it “should be” done. Don’t compare yourself to others because you will stifle your progress being concerned with how you stack up to other people’s journey to this success.
Lastly, I would create more space in my schedule for creativity and thinking around how to stay progressive and efficient. When it comes to entrepreneurship and building in business there is so much magic in making it fun and aligned for YOU as you reach new heights of success. Taking the time to really strategize and adapt to the new ways of your industry or on how to become an industry disrupter by changing things that aren’t working in your field. I have learned that being progressive and the ability to adapt is what will land you an endlessly successful and fulfilling career.

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 am Paige Miller! A real estate entrepreneur which really just means I am more than a Realtor. Of course my main gig is helping people successfully buy and sell real estate and I focus on residential real estate in the greater Gig Harbor, Washington market. I am known for providing high end, white glove service with a laid back and relaxed vibe. However, I have also built a short term rental business that lead me to writing a best selling book called; Sold on Short Term Rentals – How to Buy, Launch & Manage Your First Cash Flowing Property, which you can buy on Amazon. I love to personally invest in real estate, and nothing gets me more excited than helping other people build wealth through building a real estate portfolio whether that is buying your first home, your move-up home & retaining your first property as a rental or diving into full-blown investing.
I first started selling real estate back in 2011 when the market was flooded with short sales and foreclosures, then I move to the Chicago suburbs for four years and sold real estate there before moving back to Washington just in time for the market to really heat up and head into the pandemic era and now navigating the post-pandemic market conditions. Talk about character building! And given all of those experiences and market cycles I have developed a very diverse and deep understanding of how to navigate any market trends.
My superpowers as an Agent are negotiating, pricing & problem solving. I love the art of the deal and creating terms that well suit my client’s needs. The puzzle pieces that need to fall into place in order for a transaction to come together is one of my favorite parts of the job. No two deals are the same, however all the deals and situations I have encountered inform my future negotiations by showing me what unique factors can be considered to make a win-win scenario. But it also wouldn’t be real estate if there weren’t unforeseen issues and bumps along the way, so I enjoy tackling challenges in an efficient and timely manner to make sure we make it to the finish line with the least amount of hassle and the best outcome.
When I am not consumed by my profession I am usually found spending time with my daughter, riding my horse, enjoying the outdoors, travelling or soaking up some quality time with friends and family. I am a true Northwesterner and love the saltwater, mountains and moderate temperatures of the beautiful northwest.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I started in real estate when I was 22 years old and I was fortune enough to begin my career with an incredible team that helped to launch my career in my hometown so when I was able to close 30 transactions in my first year I knew this was the right path for me. After two years, I was given the opportunity to move to Chicago for a few years, and I jumped at the chance for a new experience. However, after the success I had experienced in my career at that point made for a rude awakening when I was moved to a different area of the country where I knew no one, where anything was or any details of the area. I had to start from absolute zero. Fun fact, I studied for my real estate license in Illinois and failed twice before passing, which was my first real set back and completely shook my confidence in my ability to start over. Once I finally passed my test then I thought it would be easy enough to build my business – I was wrong. I had no contacts and really no knowledge of the area. So I ended up joining forces with a top producer at the office I was licensed with and got my feet wet that way. It ultimately didn’t pan out as a great business partnership, but that lead me to my next opportunity at a more boutique brokerage where I found “my people” and my footing. I was able to have a wonderful partnership with the number one Agent in that suburb, Patty Wardlow, and she gave me endless opportunities and I learned so much about business and negotiations from her. It took me all 3.5 years of building, struggling, going into debt and grinding before building my business to the heights it had been back in Washington and then it was time to move back which was a very tough decision, but the lessons I learned along the way were priceless. The cherry on top leaving Chicago was being featured in Chicago Magazine as a Rising Star in the real estate space, which was such a rewarding milestone. I absolutely attribute my success after Chicago to this time in my career where I really had to dig deep and see what I was made of.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Social media was always a part of my business plan. Back in 2011 I started posting inspirational quotes and talking about real estate on my Facebook page. I coined my handle as @paige_sells_realestate way back then and have continued to grow that audience over the past 13 years. My approach has always been transparent, relatable and genuine, which is true to my brand and my personality. Social media has been a great way for me to connect with my sphere over the years and when I moved back to Washington I had so many people who had watched my business journey in Chicago online and were eager to hire me when I returned which was somewhat surprising, but so rewarding! That was probably the point at which I realized social media was so powerful and I wanted to continue to show up authentically to connect with my ideal clients and build a business that was organic through soulful relationships on and offline.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepaigemiller.com
• Instagram: @paige_sells_realestate
• Linkedin: Paige Miller
• Youtube: @thepaigemiller
• Other: Podcast on Spotify: All Of It with Paige Miller

Image Credits

Jahni Lynn Photo
Dom Does Media