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

Hi Jordan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I needed something different. Before starting my Real Estate business, I was in the “Corporate World” working for a global freight logistics company. The day to day was competitive and exciting, which I loved, but I was working 60 to 80 hours a week – zero work life balance, sporadic sleep schedule, and constant stress. Not fun!

I wasn’t making a positive impact on other’s lives. I’ve always wanted a career where I felt fulfilled and had the opportunity to help others. Most importantly, I wasn’t living the life I wanted and my family deserved more of me.

In 2021, I quit my job…without a backup plan! I’m a planner, so this was out of my comfort zone. I was an MBA graduate driving DoorDash and donating plasma so that I didn’t have to dive into my savings.

I’ve always had an interest in Real Estate and I knew from my personal experience when buying a home that a Realtor makes an enormous difference in the process. I also had a passion in personal finance. Combining my two interests was my “ah ha” moment!

Beginning a career in Real Estate was scary. I had no sales experience. And I had to learn a new industry on top of that. I hate speaking in front of others and I have horrible anxiety. The odds were not in my favor.

I knew I had to succeed. My “why” – Giving my family and I the life we deserve to live! – kept me going through all the ups and downs. And there have been many of those moments.

My goal was to learn something new about sales or the Real Estate industry daily and talk to as many people as possible about Real Estate. I don’t consider myself as a salesperson. My philosophy is “I’m here to serve, not to sell” and I always remember to put the person first. Money comes second.

Consistency is key and working with written outlined goals is a road to success!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a Realtor. I’ve learned the word ‘Realtor’ tends to trigger people. I’ve heard it all:

– “Realtors are just door openers…”
– “All they do is put a sign in the yard!”
– “They’re overpaid.”
– “Anyone can be a Realtor.”
– “All they care about is their commission.”
– “I know more than most Realtors. All they do is point out upgrades in a house.”

It’s unfortunate, but there is a stigma for Realtors.

I think what separates me from most is that I strive to put the person first. This goes for families I serve, Lending partners, Title companies, Appraisers, Home Inspectors. Everyone in the process. A successful Real Estate business comes from fostering relationships and building trust.

Genuinely putting a person first – actively listening, emphasizing with them, working to accomplish their goals – takes a lot of effort. But it is absolutely worth it!

My business philosophy is that “I’m here to serve, not to sell.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Truth be told, I’m a bit of a home body, so this is a tough question to answer. I’m a fan of good food and good whiskey. Lucky for me, most of my friends share the same love for food and whiskey!

I would start the week in Denton, TX. The Downtown Square has many restaurants and bars. My favorite restaurants are LSA, 940’s, and Barley&Board. We would go to each of those restaurants that week and make sure we visited bars like East Side, Miss Angeline’s, and Pascall Bar. Those restaurants and bars have a fantastic environment and a diverse selection to give different options. Another staple of the Denton Square is Beth Marie’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream. Delicious ice cream and mouth-watering waffle cones!

Next on the list would be the TX Whiskey Ranch. Their whiskey is top notch and the venue is gorgeous! It’s a blast spending a few hours there and then visiting downtown Fort Worth after.

A recent discovery, that is now one of my favorite places, is the Oak&Eden tasting room in Fort Worth. This was the coolest whiskey experience I’ve had and a must for anyone visiting. Very educational AND we were able to make our own bottle. Yes, I’m a whiskey nerd.

There are so many places in the Dallas, Fort Worth, and North Texas markets, not to mention all the professional sport teams.

I forgot to mention, I would force anyone who visits to become best friends with our three rescue dogs, Blue, Cash, and Ollie who absolutely love meeting new people!

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?
There are so many people that I can thank for my success. I’ve had amazing mentors in my life and so much guidance since I began my Real Estate journey. The two people that have had the greatest impact on my life are Sammie Madrid and Taylor Karnes.

Sammie Madrid was my boss at my job in college. I was a skinny freshman with long Shaggy-like hair, and I had no idea what I was doing in college! Lucky for me, Sammie either felt sorry for me during the interview, or she realized she needed someone to work the weekend shifts and had to hire me. Either way, I was fortunate.

Whether she knew it or not, she started teaching me from the start. She taught me the importance of paying attention to details, working with consistency, and that no matter where I am in life, I’m never too high and mighty to do the dirty work…and yes, that did occasionally mean cleaning the bathroom!

Sammie became one of my best friends, and we developed a big sister-little brother relationship. She was there giving me relationship advise, life guidance, and how to write research papers. She did it all. Talk about a rockstar! I don’t think I would have graduated from college if it wasn’t for her. And I know I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.

Taylor Karnes, my wife, the love of my life. I promise not to get sappy and romantic here! She was my biggest supporter from day one. Taylor was the one to tell me to quit my job to pursue my passions. Let be known that she told me this knowing I purchased an engagement ring and that this would push the engagement and wedding back. What an incredible woman!

Starting a successful career as a Realtor is no easy feat. There were many, many times I thought about quitting because I was stressed and worried about money. Taylor told me to keep doing the work and trust the process I was doing. Thanks to her, we are closer than ever in accomplishing our goals!

Website: http://jordankarnes.brixrealtydallas.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/doghonest_realty

Facebook: http://facebook.com/jordankarnes.brixrealty

Other: RepCard for Client Reviews: https://app.repcard.com/jordankarnes

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