We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yarden Ronen-van Heerden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Yarden, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Achieving success is an exciting and challenging journey that requires determination, hard work, patience, and the right mindset. It’s about pursuing your goals and dreams with passion and commitment, no matter how difficult they seem. You need to be self-motivated, disciplined, and, most importantly, consistent in your efforts.
In real estate, where many people come to it later in life, drawing on life experiences and applying them daily can help! My previous experience in arts administration has taught me the value of strategic thinking and strong negotiation skills, which are critical in the industry. As a former professional dancer, I learned the importance of attention to detail, dedication, repetition, and hard work. These qualities have translated well into my work as a real estate agent here in Westchester, NY.
Another crucial factor is resilience, which involves persevering through obstacles, setbacks, and failures, which can all be common in real estate. Rather than give up when things get tough, I treat these challenges as learning opportunities to help me grow, adapt, and improve at finding the best next step for my clients to fulfill their goals and dreams. Adopting a growth mindset is one of the most critical factors in achieving success in my field. You’ll need to keep up-to-date with new developments, continually improve the skills most beneficial to your clients, and stay in front of them as current, valuable, and available.
I also try to surround myself with like-minded individuals, whether my colleagues here at Compass or other professionals in the field, who can share their passion, ambition, and vision. Such colleagues can offer valuable support, advice, and insights to help you navigate the hurdles of pursuing success!
Here at Compass, led by founder Robert Reffkin, our company’s motto for success is crucial! Dream big, move fast, learn from reality, be solutions driven, obsess about opportunities, collaborate without ego, maximize your strengths, and bounce back with passion! – all essential traits for success in any business you focus on!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
From humble beginnings in a kibbutz in Israel to dance performances on stages worldwide, and now in real estate – my journey has been exciting! As a child, a local dance teacher recognized my abilities and encouraged my mom to enroll me in a professional dance school in Tel Aviv. I was lucky to receive a full scholarship there, eventually becoming a soloist dancer for the resident company, Bat-Dor Dance Company.
In pursuing an international career, a few years later, I moved to New York, where I landed a position as a dancer at Ballet Hispanico of New York and later with Buglisi Dance Theater. Performing at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan opened an opportunity to join one of the most prestigious U.S. contemporary dance companies, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. It was a wonderful experience to travel worldwide and experience different cultures!
At the height of my career, in 2008, I decided it was time to retire from the stage to start a new chapter in arts administration at the Peridance Center in Manhattan. During the next thirteen years, I served as the Development Director and later the Executive Director of Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Then came the pandemic, which turned our world upside down! I was ready for a new challenge in my life and decided to pivot to real estate. I was thrilled to be invited to team up with a fantastic top agent in Westchester, Hillary Landau, and join Compass as part of The Hillary’s Homes Team!
The Hillary’s Homes Team provides unparalleled local insight and a carefully curated network of like-minded professionals who help ensure our clients have access to an excellent support structure from start to finish. As a top 1.5% of small teams nationwide selected by RealTrends America’s Best Real Estate Professionals in 2022, our team takes full advantage of social and digital marketing opportunities to attract the most qualified buyers and sellers and stay on top of the latest research, analytics, and trends.
This rich background and ability to connect with people from all walks of life have helped me find a unique voice within the real estate world. I have always loved meeting and working with others! I bring honesty, focus, and compassion to every interaction, whether clients are seeking a better quality of life outside NYC or relocating from out of state – I’m here to help make their dreams come true!
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
As part of Compass’s motivational 6Amers group, led by Sky Michaels, when I show homes, I love listening to podcasts and online books in my car! There are a few that have meaningfully impacted how I work and my entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy:
The Compound Effect
Multiply Your Success One Simple Step at a Time
By: Darren Hardy
The High 5 Habit
Take Control of Your Life with One Simple Habit
By: Mel Robbins
Untamed
By: Glennon Doyle
Narrated by: Glennon Doyle
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I’m obsessed with frequently staying in touch with my clients via email, calls, and texts, and I view most of them as friends! At Compass, we have excellent tools that help agents stay on top of clients’ communications and deepen their connection with their sphere, constantly reminding the agent to stay in touch. Although meeting in person can sometimes be challenging, our team makes a point to invite our clients at least once or twice a year to specially curated events where they can meet others and explore our areas further! We love dropping off holidays or fun seasonal gifts as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/yarden-ronen-van-heerden/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yardenhillaryshomes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YardenHillarysHomes
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yarden-ronen/
Image Credits
Credit Nir Arieli