Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ray Blackwell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Ray thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?
When I first got into real estate, I had a strong sales background but little to no industry knowledge for real estate specifically, so I knew I had to focus on my personal growth straight away. Staying within the guidelines of my company training and peer advice, I quickly began to notice the power of social media connections, and genuine face to face interactions. I created pages, joined online talk groups and tried to scout out as many meet-and-greet networking events as possible to get familiar with the lay of the land, which simultaneously established my presence here in Houston. ‘No stone left unturned’ was the mantra that I took on. So much so, I now have constant leads for potential new home transactions coming in 7 days a week!
Ray, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I like to think of myself as a simple man. A logical thinker. Someone who does what makes sense, not only for myself, but for my two children as well. I have worked many jobs, often two and three at a time. The thing is, it wasn’t always for financial gain. Fast forward to this job/industry I’m in now, a significant part of why I made the decision to undertake the real estate industry was for the financial opportunity to not only live the lifestyle that I prefer, but also put things into place for the future of my family and I. I don’t see myself as a particular salesman of any sort, but instead I like to think of myself as being a man of the people. I feel my interpersonal skills allow me to relate to many people in different walks of life, and meet them where they are comfortable.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I touched on it a bit prior, but I am originally from California, and have now been in Texas for about 5 years. Most of my family and both of my kids do not live here so the things I take on generally have the ramifications for them in mind. At one point I worked for the Texans, Samsung in the Galleria, and at the airport all at once. The airport and flight benefits were vital to hold onto to ensure me and my family are able to get back and forth to see each other when time allowed. I was never phased by working three separate jobs until some of my peers would bring it up. I only saw it as necessary for what I and my family needed from me.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
A recipe as old as time, leg work and referrals. Keeping your name clean and respectable goes a long way in most walks of life. This industry is so network driven, the constant networking events and social media usage allows you to kick the growth part of your own visibility into overdrive. From there, your work speaks for itself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Homes_By_Ray
- Facebook: Ray Blackwell
- Linkedin: https://www.LinkedIn.com/in/rayblackwelljr