TURNING YOUR

Turning Your Profession into a Passion

The old adage goes that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. On the other hand, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day worries and responsibilities of your career, even if you generally enjoy what you do. While there’s no guaranteeing that every day on the job will be a picnic, there are a few steps you can take to vastly improve your morale and transform your profession into a passion. After all, cultivating a passion for what you do will not only add to your quality of life, but will likely make you more successful in the long run.

BUILD YOUR BASE OF KNOWLEDGE Knowledge builds confidence, and confidence breeds success. A sure way to light a fire in your heart for your daily work is to challenge yourself to learn more and expand your understanding of your field. By doing so, you equip yourself for success, create challenges, and find the most inter-

esting features of your work—especially those that most appeal to your interests and talents. Try reading the top five books on the topic of your industry, or subscribe to a podcast where thriving professionals offer their two cents. Either way, learning more about your industry is bound to reveal a source of inspiration worth pursuing.

THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE Sometimes reinvigorating your passion for your work is about looking outward, rather than inward. Gain some perspective and consider who your work helps in the long run. As a real estate professional—whether you work as an agent, broker, in mortgages, home inspections, or otherwise—your work positively impacts someone else’s home-sweet-home. You make a difference. While it may seem like just another day at the office, taking a moment to visualize exactly who you are helping in the world at large is a great way to add some motivational fire to your daily tasks.

CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED PROFESSIONALS Have you ever chatted with someone who was overflowing with energy for what they do? That sort of passion tends to be infectious—often causing us to beg our own questions about professional engagement. By participating in local organizations or networking with those who are active and excelling in your field, you may find that others’ approaches inspire your own. Likewise, what you learn from other successful, passionate people in your field can help you shape your own office and work life, in turn creating more opportunities for you to fall in love with what you do, all over again.

TAKE RISKS One of the biggest hindrances of professional passion is falling into a rut. Routines are familiar and everyday responsibilities vie for our energy. But the next time you tackle a task the way that you always have, take a moment and try to refresh your perspective—is there a more clever or efficient way you could approach this project? Even better: why not take the plunge and do the things you’ve always been meaning to—throw that client appreciation event you’ve put off planning, take the continuing education course you keep forgetting to register for, even try a creative activity that pushes you out of your comfort zone. There’s no better way to inject some passion into your life than by going outside your bubble and taking a risk.

Passion comes from all directions—from your own interior journey and from the world around you. To transform your profession into a passion worth having, invest in yourself and venture into the vast world around you. You’ll surely reap the rewards.

TARA ALLEN

Top Agent Tara Allen – Lead of Allen Edge Real Estate team at Keller Williams Realty Sioux Falls, South Dakota – is a hardworking, impassioned Realtor who has built her business on a rock-solid foundation of honesty and integrity. Deep industry knowledge and true empathy for her clients have helped forge Tara’s reputation as a trusted real estate advisor for any buyer and seller in the Sioux Falls market.

Tara began her journey in real estate officially in 2012, following a decade-long career in the service industry. “I worked in call centers for a long time,” she recalls, “and I was doing exceptionally well at that job. But I was sick of having my income capped. One day while I was fishing on a boat with my husband, I read Donald Trump’s book, and I told my husband that I should be thinking bigger. So, the following Monday I quit my job. I’d never purchased a house prior to that, and I’d never even watched HGTV.” Tara found stunning success almost immediately, selling 65 homes her first year in the game. Soon, her husband Nic and her sister joined her, and the Allen Edge Team was born. Currently, Tara employs a highly dedicated team of agents and administrative assistants who share her client-first business ethos.

As evidence of the top-of-the-line customer service Tara and her team provide, well more than half of the team’s overall business is based upon repeat clients, referrals and positive word of mouth, a significant achievement in the extremely competitive world of real estate. “We have amazing systems in place to help our clients,” says Tara, when asked how she has managed to engender such impressive trust and loyalty amongst those she works with. “We follow through with our buyers and sellers, and we’re able to deliver consistent customer service. At the end of the day, we are here to make sure everyone has an exceptional experience.”

Tara’s investment in her clients transcends just a sale or a purchase. “My mission statement,” she explains, “is to empower and inspire others to live their best lives intentionally, so that they can live a happy and fulfilled life.”

There are many other factors that come into play when assessing Tara’s impressive and continually growing success story, and chief among them would be her expert negotiation skills and thorough, intelligent and cutting-edge approach to marketing her properties. Combined, these talents result in fast sales for top dollar, not to mention happy customers.

When she’s not working, which is rare, she admits, Tara enjoys nothing more than being with her family, which includes two young children. She is also an active participant in her community, and she gives back to it through organizations that support local elderly people and others. Additionally, Tara is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals Network.

Tara, who is focused on building her business – she just purchased her own office building – grows thoughtful for a moment when asked what advice she might have for those considering a career in the real estate industry. “I think a lot of people live in mediocrity, and that’s the worst place to be. In this business, if you work hard enough, and simply believe in yourself, you can find success.”

For more information about Tara Allen, please call 605-929-5010 or email TaraAllenYourRealtor@gmail.com

MANRAJ BAINS

Manraj Bains has been in real estate for six years after transitioning from a successful career in sales. “I had a lot of family in the real estate industry,” Manraj says. “I saw them doing well, and enjoying their careers, so I decided to make the leap.”

Now an Associate Realtor at RE/MAX in Surrey, British Columbia, Manraj is the head of a growing team. “Our business has been doing so well,” Manraj says, “that we are expanding to make sure our clients continue to receive toptier service.” Manraj and his team have started to reach out geographically, working in other nearby cities and towns surrounding Vancouver. With expertise in residential real estate as well as development and investment properties, Manraj is able to serve the needs of a diverse clientele.

With the bulk of his business coming from repeat clients and referrals, Manraj believes it is his personable style and the trust he builds that keep clients coming back. “I’ve helped a lot of people get into the market for the first time,” Manraj says. “That builds trust. They know I will do right by them.” Dedicated and client-focused, Manraj keeps in touch with his clients through personalized communications and annual home-delivered gifts. “I make sure I touch base with everyone,” Manraj says. “It is important to me that my clients know I value their business, and that I’m here for them.”

Manraj and his team leverage the power of social media to market their properties. With a comprehensive online presence, Manraj is able to give his clients extensive visibility. Passionate about real estate, Manraj loves learning new things and encountering new challenges. “For me, this career is not about the commission or the number of transactions,” Manraj says. “I genuinely love real estate. There is always something new to learn. Property history is fascinating, and helpful for my clients. I love to support the development of raw land into a finished project. It is very exciting.”

Committed to giving back to the community, Manraj and his office volunteer at the local food bank every month. Additionally, Manraj donates a portion of every paycheck to the Children’s Hospital and the Cancer Society. When Manraj is not busy serving his clients, he loves being active, either playing basketball or heading to the mountains.

For the future, Manraj and his team plan to continue to expand to meet the needs of their growing business. “We want to keep putting in 100%,” Manraj says. “With every client, we focus on the details, and we work hard to make sure we are giving them a great experience. If they want to try something, we’ll find a way to do it. We don’t shut our clients down. They are the reason we get to do what we do.”

To find out more about Manraj Bains, call 778-840-4092, visit www.manrajbains.ca, or email manrajbains@remax.net