We recently connected with Rhonda Fisher and have shared our conversation below.

Rhonda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I believe success looks different for everyone. Success does not have to be a linear approach and over the years I have learned that my success is very fluid. My personal success is outlined and defined by the goals in which I set to achieve. I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to be successful but there are certainly a few things inherit to my overall success. First, be committed and show up every single day. Second, never stop learning. Third, have an open mind and be willing to change your perspective. Fourth, learn from others by getting comfortable with standing on the shoulders of giants. Fifth, always lead from a place of integrity and everything else will fall into place.

Rhonda, 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?

My career in the real estate industry was gradual. Starting as a call coordinator in 1996, a position now obsolete, due to technological advances, there was a time when folks had to call a sign to learn a home’s detail or property information. The spark to obtain my real estate license came much later after a disheartening experience. At that time, not knowing much about the real estate process, my husband and I toured a model home center. We fell in love but had committed the cardinal sin of not connecting with a REALTOR® first. We had no idea of our situation or our buying power. We were not approved, and the snarky lender went so far as to say that we would likely never be able to own a home like that. The encounter left me heartbroken and a bit angry so I set out to learn everything I could about real estate. Ultimately, heartbreak led to obtaining my real estate license, brokerage license, and real estate instructor’s license. I share that story from time to time when a client needs to hear it. We were told no, and sometimes no is the right answer. I took that no as a not right now and we applied ourselves to define our goal for success which was homeownership. Looking back now, it seems like forever and four houses ago. The moral of the story, heartbreak doesn’t last forever, and great things can come from it.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes, and it’s a must read. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman. “Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until Emotional Intelligence, we could only guess why. Daniel Goleman’s brilliant report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers startling new insight into our “two minds”—the rational and the emotional—and how they together shape our destiny. Drawing on groundbreaking brain and behavioral research, Goleman shows the factors at work when people of high IQ flounder and those of modest IQ do surprisingly well. These factors, which include self-awareness, self-discipline, and empathy, add up to a different way of being smart—and they aren’t fixed at birth. Although shaped by childhood experiences, emotional intelligence can be nurtured and strengthened throughout our adulthood—with immediate benefits to our health, our relationships, and our work.” Understanding these principles and applying these habits have tremendously shaped how well we work and how well we work with others.

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

Making presumptions. I’d have to thank and credit my colleague/business partner, Amanda Wagner with always challenging my thinking on just about everything! It has propelled us to always think outside the box and color outside of the lines. And honestly, life is not always simplistic or black and white. Situations, people, and circumstances tend to sit in many shades of gray. Show up to every situation seeking to understand first. Have empathy, compassion, and let it be your guiding compass.

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Image Credits Trust Equity Group