How do I stand out among THOUSANDS of agents in a big city?
How do I earn the trust of residents and business owners in a city where I was not born and raised?
How do I offer value in an industry that is often met with the same skepticism people reserve for a sleazy used-car salesman?
The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce—the best Chamber of Commerce I have ever been a member of—has a simple directive:
“Get In & Get Busy.”
That is exactly what I did, and I did it my way.
Getting In and Getting Busy
From taking part in Leadership Cape Coral to getting involved with volunteer opportunities and networking events, I said yes to everything I was passionate about that I possibly could.
That is an entirely different blog series on its own, so I will not get into every list or detail here. But total involvement was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Through my involvement, I learned about my city: the history, the vision, the government, and the public utilities.
I met and became friends with many of the people who help this place run.
I asked questions. I listened. I volunteered. I took classes. I joined committees and nonprofits. I got to know business owners, big and small, and I personally support the heck out of the ones I love.
Why I Shared It
I shared most of this journey on social media.
Why?
Social media is not a journal, so why share my every move?
Inspiration.
What I was looking for and what I found were two very different things.
I was looking for a way to set myself apart. I wanted to know everything and everyone.
What I found was a city that has become my absolute favorite place, along with a large group of friends who are among the most genuine and caring people I have ever known. I am so grateful for their friendships and support.
These same people repeatedly helped me find my “new” brand.
I Did Not Change. I Started Listening.
Why did I change?
Well, I did not.
I just became acutely aware that if I showed up to an event—casual OR formal—and I was not in a trademark “fun dress,” people noticed AND commented.
It became a thing to see how my dress theme would coordinate with the event.
I am also a #JeepGirl, but not just any Jeep Girl.
Freebird—my black 2024 Jeep Sahara Unlimited with pink accents—stands out and gets noticed.
I would often get messages like, “Hey, that was me honking at you on Pine Island,” or, “It was pouring rain out, and there you were riding down Chiquita with your leg out the door!”
The Brand Was Already There
When I started listening to what my new friends were saying—the people who give even more generously of their time and resources than I do—I realized I had an image I had not even noticed before.
I am the happy, positive, fun, pink/sparkly/Jeep/flamingo-loving woman who does not look her age—thanks, Dad!—and it finally clicked.
After years of trying to find an organic way to set myself apart from everyone else who simply holds the same license, all I had to do…was be ME!
So I stopped thinking about what buyers and sellers expect to see when searching for THE agent, like a needle in a haystack.
I stopped trying to argue my case with numbers.
Instead, I let my entire personality shine WAY outside my home and outside my Jeep.
I let that color and energy and PASSION fly all over my new brand.
Finally, my branding and my image are unapologetically me.
Now, everything feels RIGHT.