Meet Brandy Johnson | REALTOR® and Mentor, Lynch Legacy Realty Group, eXp Realty

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandy Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandy, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
The balance between work and personal life is something I am constantly working to improve. It sounds great in theory to have the best of both worlds, but the truth is that it can be hard to achieve. Especially for business owners. If I don’t take that call or answer that text, that could mean missing out on an opportunity to grow my business and make money. In real estate, your hope is that the first transaction with a client will lead to many more in the future so missing one call can mean missing out on multiple future opportunities. There is also pressure because as a society people want immediate responses and gratification. It seems everyone moves quickly and you must keep up. However, becoming a mom really shifted the balance for me, and I find myself striving for that balance more and more. My son is most important and my time with him is precious. I mean, he will get older and be too cool for me one day so I need to cherish moments with him now. I must be my best self for him, and be mentally and emotionally healthy. This means taking care of myself, and making time for things that bring me joy and are important to me. For example, volunteer work has always been something I enjoy and I have made time over the past year to volunteer for organizations such as Operation Texas Strong, Meals on Wheels and CASA. This brings me happiness and provides a little break for me during the week to have some ‘me’ time. Prioritizing my list of daily tasks helps me stay on track and I am able to set a goal for an end time to my work day. I have to keep myself in check by asking, “Do I really need to do this thing right this second?” Sometimes this means labeling tasks as “must do” or “could do”. And sometimes it means having my 3 year old to tell me to put my phone down. At the end of the day I just continue to do my best with work and keep my family as priority. I find I am my best self when I create the right balance in my life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Due to our movement all over the US for the military, I waited many years to get back home to Texas and finally start my career as a real estate agent. I wanted to get my license for a long time, but it never made sense considering how often we moved. Now I am so excited to be helping people purchase new homes and accomplish selling goals right here in my home state. Being an agent is a grind, you have to hustle and stay motivated to make it work. As a real estate agent, you are your own boss. You have to be disciplined and work hard every day for a payout that will come a month later (or longer). It isn’t just showing houses. It is marketing, budgeting, managing your own books and schedule, constantly learning and continuing your education, and being able to juggle 100 things at once. With a background in Property Management, I wasn’t nervous about working with figures, money, or contracts. The hurdle for me in the beginning was being new to Parker County and having no ‘sphere’ to lean on to easily get clients. I work in a referral business so how do you start when you have no referrals? Who do you call when you are new to the area, and an area with hundreds of other agents? It was scary to start from scratch and change careers after 10 years of doing the same kind of work. In addition, as a family we were trying to figure out this new life outside of the military and then COVID hit which we all know turned things upside down. But I was determined to succeed and knew God had provided an amazing opportunity for me so I hit the ground running. I had to cold call, pound the pavement visiting businesses, participate in local events, send out marketing materials, and put myself out there online. I shadowed other agents and took every opportunity to learn. All my hard work paid off, and within my first year I exceeded my personal goals and was named a Top Producer of my team. In my second year I have started to see referrals come to me from clients and other agents all of the country with whom I have developed relationships. I have once again surpassed goals I set for myself. I was able to contribute to Texas Realtor Magazine, I am a capped agent for eXp Realty, and I now mentor and sponsor other agents. I am building my business based on honesty, commitment, and a genuine care for my clients. Sure I want to make money, but I am highly motivated by positive feedback and achieving goals. Every positive review I receive from a client makes me want to work hard to get another one. It is my true belief that what we put out into the world is what we get back. This means I treat every transaction as if it were my own and I think that is how I stand out amongst other agents. I don’t just care because I want a paycheck. I care because the purchase or sale of a home is personal and often emotional for people. It is important to them so it is important to me. My clients can trust that I will work hard to achieve their real estate goals and will know I have their best interest in mind.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So many things to do in the DFW area. How does one choose? A visit to the Stockyards is a must. A visit during the day allows you to really see the history. You can watch a cattle drive, ride horses near the Trinity River, and shop for your new western wear. After a fun day strolling on the brick streets, it is time for some some live music and two-stepping at Billy Bob’s. I am never one to shy away from the dance floor, so whether I want to line dance or rock out to some 80s jams, there are many options in the Stockyards. One day would be spent riding bikes or taking a stroll along the Trinity River Trails. With my son in tow we can hit up the huge playground and enjoy a picnic in the shade of the trees. The Shops at Clearfork would also be on my list. We can stop for a glass of wine at CRÚ Food & Wine Bar and then window shop. We would end the day with a delicious dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants and maybe grab a macaron sandwich from JOY Macarons. So yummy! I also really love the Dallas Aquarium, the Forth Worth Museum of Science and the Fort Worth Zoo. I use my child as an excuse to visit these places, but really I go for myself! Oh, did I mention live music? We would catch all the live music possible at one of the many venues in the DFW area: Toyota Music Factory, Panther Island Pavilion, Dickies Arena, House of Blues or even the Parker County Icehouse right here in Willow Park. Lastly, we would take a drive to my little hometown of Jacksboro, Texas. It was a great place to grow up and it is well worth the drive to have a cheeseburger from Herd’s Burgers. This place has been open forever and the greasy, thin-patty burgers are still the best I have had anywhere in the US!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well, who do I start with? I am blessed with support from so many people both professionally and personally. I have my parents to thank for teaching me to work hard and be independent. You can’t start a business without those attributes in my opinion, and growing up my parents were true examples for me. They all run successful businesses and are able to give me sound advice on anything. My mom is my biggest cheerleader and reminds me that my faith will always lead me in the right direction. My siblings, all 5 of them, are amazing as well. Whether I need to vent during a stressful time or celebrate a triumph, I can count on them. My husband encourages me and reminds me I can be successful at anything. I supported him during his career as a US Marine as we traveled all over the country, and he always said when we made it back to Texas it would be my turn to go after my career. I have been able to do just that! Professionally, I am so thankful for my mentors. Deciding to join the Lynch Legacy Realty Group and eXp Realty was the best decision. The mentorship and partnership I get from Dani and Stacy with the Lynch family helped me jump start my career and become a Top Producer in my first year. I thank them for their patience and all the many questions I have had along the way.

Website: https://brandyjohnson.exprealty.com/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-johnson-71717385

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandyjohnsonexprealty

Image Credits
Clarity Homes at Wildcat Ridge and Kendra Robbins, owner of Parker County Photo