How to start over and go from scratch to success
an interview with Skye Huff
In this edition of The AHA! Moment, I am chatting with my colleague and dear friend, Skye Huff. Skye is the head of culture and executive assistant of our team, The Masters Division at Nest Seekers International. She is also a newly licensed real estate agent in New York City! In our conversation, she shares her inspiring story, tactics to stay motivated and resilient while staying true to your authentic self, and her relationship with change. Additionally, we also go deep into what it’s really like to break into the real estate industry and some common mistakes new agents make. Plus, Skye announces the launch of her podcast coming very, very soon!
Whether you’re a student trying to figure out your future, or a professional looking to start a new career path and need some clarity and inspiration, this is the edition you that proves you can accomplish absolutely any goal you set your mind to, no matter what’s in your way. And above all, it is never too early or too late to start over.
Be sure to listen to The AHA! Moment Podcast for the full episode!
Share your story and what brought you to where you are today…
I'm a newbie to this industry! I originally moved to New York for college; I moved here in 2022. I was planning to get my four year degree from FIT Fashion Institute of Technology. I got all set up in the dorms, I had my roommates. I was doing the whole class thing 24/7 as a college student does. About honestly a month into my first semester, I was just in the vibe of New York, in the city. There's just an energy to New York, I'm sure if you know, you know. People were just running around doing what they've always dreamed of doing, working their asses off. There was just such a hungry and earning energy to the city and I just wanted to be in it. I didn't want to waste time in school anymore and I just wanted to kind of cut to working 24/7, make my own money, become independent.
I think college is great, but for me personally, it just doesn't serve everyone. So I decided to essentially drop out, leave school after my first semester I got an internship in real estate. I was like, okay, what's the one thing I can do without a degree? Real estate, ha! So I got my license. I founded an internship here at Nest Seekers under The Masters Division with Bianca D’Alessio. That internship flourished into a full-time corporate role, which then flourished into me being boots on the ground, selling, renting. Now I'm kind of in this pivotal, changing stage in my life. I'm just learning as much as I possibly can. Getting super familiar with the industry. Again, I'm so blessed because I do work under Bianca and I think being able to be so hand in hand with her is something I am forever grateful for. I'm just taking it one day at a time, learning the most I absolutely can and figuring it out!
What keeps you motivated, resilient, and determined for more growth in this season of life, personally and professionally?
And I think one thing about this industry being in real estate is you, it truly is. You eat what you kill, it is feast or famine. And so it's, I feel like extra hard to become motivated. Sometimes, you go months without seeing a paycheck.How are you continuing to wake up every single day, getting on calls, meeting clients, outreaching, prospecting? It's hard when you're not seeing that rate of return. That's a really big thing for me is kind of just knowing, if I'm putting a ton of work, I don't mind working.
I am truly probably one of the hungriest people I've ever met. I love to work, I love to be busy. It truly keeps me going, but I need there to be an outcome on the other side. Not necessarily like an end goal. I have no idea what I want my life to look like in terms of career in 10 plus years. But I know how I wanna feel in 10 plus years. That's what I hold onto.
In the real estate industry, there are a lot of egos in the room to deal with. When it comes to leveraging your unique value proposition and knowing what you bring to the table, how have you seen this help top agents and in your career thus far?
Obviously it's such a load of question and we see it all the time. It's been interesting though because I've been in rooms where top top agents will come in and just completely take over, and you can just feel it. I mean, not only are they taking over from like a talking standpoint, but also just the energy. But on the flip side of it, I've seen top agents come in, for example, Bianca. She'll walk into a room if she doesn't know something, she doesn't know it and she owns it and she leans into it and she leans into the fact that, okay, I'm still learning, I'm still growing.
I think there's something so powerful about that and in someone who is able to ask the questions and remove themselves from the fact that they do not know everything. They're not the top dog. Or maybe they don't feel super confident in a certain situation and just like truly leaning into that.
What do you think is the biggest mistake new agents make when getting into the real estate industry?
I think in this society there is a lack of people willing to work. When you start at something, especially an entrepreneurial role where you truly work to live, and it is feast or famine — people will do it for a couple months and then they're like, this is too hard. I give up. The ability to work really hard is something that I think will take you so far and it does take you so far. And I think people in all positions, in all industries, they just, it's gotten a little soft in our society.
What is your relationship with change like?
I love change. I am like biggest fan right here for change. I love to change it up. I moved nine times when I was younger. I was the new kid. I was constantly in new environments surrounded by new people. In the moment, I didn't love it. But looking back, it was truly the best thing that ever happened to me. I just became so connected with myself and I just created this bond with myself that I, as I get older, I realize people do not have. I could go home at the end of the day and like have a plate date with Skye, essentially. Through all that change, it just allowed me to create this amazing relationship with myself.
I think it just change truly does bring out the best in you. It makes you grow in unmeasurable ways that you can't get from anything else. I'm not scared of it. I'm like the most spontaneous person ever.
Where can people find you (and your podcast!)?
Instagram: @unfldingthepodcast @skyehufff
Cheers,
Angelina