#WCW & Mirella Nazarian

“Find yourself a mentor, wherever it is that you’re going to start working. Really, really listen to them and let them teach you what they know. This will help you grow…” – Mirella Nazarian

There are many people out there who are passionate about many things, but feel they must select one and focus all of our energies on that one priority. This week’s #WCW Spotlight Feature is a perfect example in how you can be successful in both. Not only is Mirella a successful, hard working Real Estate Agent, she is equally driven to give back and make a difference. It’s her passion for people that enables her to not only find her clients beautiful dream homes, but to fundraise and make a difference in the lives of those who need a little extra help. This week, she share’s her story and what keeps her motivated through the ups and downs.

Me: You live and breathe your job, it’s always something I’ve found incredibly inspiring about you. It almost feels like real estate is more than just a job to you. How did you get into it?

Mirella: It’s true that I live, breathe, and sleep my job in real estate. But you have to understand that I actually don’t even really look at it as a job, it is something much bigger than that for me. Yes, of course, it is technically a job and I’m happy to do it every single day of my life. What I mean by “it’s much more than a job” is that it entails so much more than just getting up in the morning, going to work and sitting behind a desk. I decided I was going to get into real estate many, many, many, many, years ago when something very unfortunate happened to my parents. They found themselves in one of those situations where the market had crashed and the housing market was just a nightmare and there were so many sharks swimming around them that wanted their house and wanted to take their house from them. Basically, people just wanted to take advantage of the unfortunate situation my parents were in. I remember looking at them and feelings so bad, thinking how hard they had worked to buy this house and how there were so many horrible people out there that were just jumping to take advantage of them. And that’s when I realized, that yes I completely understand what real estate is. We are acquiring investments. We are acquiring properties. This is a money business and this is a numbers business; I get that. But that’s when I realized you don’t have to be the greediest or the the sharkiest person in the business just to be in real estate.

You can have amazing amazing people skills, you can have a great sense for the market and always be a step ahead, and you can acquire all types of investments for your clients; and, most importantly, you don’t have to leave a trail of dead bodies, per se, behind you. So I decided that I was going to get into real estate and I was actually going to do it with a purpose and with a heart. And I remember when I started a lot of people looked at me and said, “you’re not going to succeed because real estate is not a business with heart.” My emotions don’t play any role in any transactions with my clients, but I also am a big believer that karma, whether in business or personal life, will come back to haunt you, so be very careful how you conduct yourself professionally and personally.

Me: What is your favorite part about being a Real Estate Agent? The things that get you up in the morning and working on the weekends?

Mirella: What I love about real estate is that I get to be around people. Quite frankly, when you’re really into real estate, you’re in it because you love what you do, you’re not just a realtor. You become people’s therapist. You become their temporary family member. You become something bigger than just a realtor and I can happily say that I’m friends with every single client that I’ve ever had since I started in this business.

Also, I want to point out that just because somebody passed our realtor exam doesn’t make them a real estate agent. It takes an immense amount of understanding of people and the market, and to always be one step ahead. Most importantly, to always, always, always, have your clients’ best interest at heart. That shouldn’t even be a second thought and anybody’s mind.

My favorite part about being a real estate agent is that I get to work with all kinds of people: from first time homebuyers to a lot of very seasoned investors to people who are retiring and want to travel the world. It’s amazing because I find myself in a different situation every single transaction that I complete. Also, I feel like because I’ve been so lucky and I’ve had some of the most amazing clients in the world. But I’ve also had some of the most difficult transactions, which is okay because you learn from each and every transaction you’re a part of.

Me: What made you decide to integrate such a generous charitable component to your personal business model?

Mirella: I like to think that I bring something different to the table with each client. Besides being a real estate agent, I volunteer for the Junior League of Los Angeles; nonprofit work is just as big a part of my life as being a realtor. I’ve been fortunate to be able to combine the two and I’ve had and amazing reactions from people. I think it’s everybody’s job – I think it is everybody’s duty, regardless of what you do for a living, to give back, that should be a no-brainer. I know these are hard times, trust me I understand the struggle a lot more than most people think. But I always feel like no matter how hard it is for me there is always somebody out there who doesn’t even have a roof over their head or know where their next meal is going to come from. If I can donate just a portion of what it is that I am making and give them just a glimmer of hope, that right there is enough reason for me to donate proceeds from what it is that I make. I know what it’s like to struggle I know what it’s like to be worried about how you’re going to pay your next bill. I’ve been there, especially now that my mother and I are alone; we have nobody but each other and we support ourselves. It’s been a very difficult, but I know what it’s like to feel all alone in the world. I never want anybody to feel that way. It’s scary, so if I can do something – anything – to help somebody else out there to realize that sometimes help comes from somebody you’ve never even met – to not lose hope, that’s more than enough of a reason to to donate a part of what it is that I make.

I think a lot of times what happens is people are so busy working; overwhelmed with work and clients and trying to get the best deal – trying to get the most money for their clients. Instead, they need to stop and remember that there’s actually something something more to what we’re doing. We can make a huge difference. Yes, we are making a big difference in the real estate world, but there’s another world that we have to take care of.

I’m a big believer that you have to take care of both the professional and the larger world around us because it doesn’t begin and end it with business. There are a lot of people out there that can use our help and we have the opportunity to help them. As long as I am able to work and as long as I can this will be part of my business model for the rest of my life.

Me: Has philanthropy always been an important part of your life?

Mirella: I decided at a very young age that I was gonna do non-profit work. That was a given. My parents raised me to always have that in the back of my mind. Philanthropy for me started at a very young age when I was still living in Italy and would give my toys to the less fortunate children I would come across on the street.

Me: How do your clients react when you tell them about your charitable donation on the closing of each house?

Mirella: All my clients love the fact that that I do this and are so happy. To know that at the end of the day, a portion of the commission is going to help a family or a child, I’ve gotten nothing nothing but positive feedback on this.

Me: You recently moved to a new firm, how has that transition gone for you?

Mirella: Keller Williams Beverly Hills is the perfect fit for someone like me. They are such a charitable company and give back in so many ways. We have our own non profit called KW Cares and we raise money and help organizations around the nation and world. We also work with Habitat For Humanity. I am very involved in putting together fundraisers and they are nothing less than supportive! Real Estate and non profit – it’s exactly what I live for.

Me: Most people look the life of real estate agents and think glitz, glamour, special events and beautiful houses. What is the one thing you wish people knew about the realities of what you do on a daily basis?

Mirella: I know that a lot of people think our life is very glamorous; especially since I made the move to a Beverly Hills office. Everybody thinks, “God, your life must be so great.” And, in all reality, I will say this – I work with some great people and they are actually what makes the job great and I’m so lucky to have them. But it’s a lot of work. Nothing is handed to you. Especially when you don’t come from a real estate family (which I do not). Real estate, contrary to popular belief, is a full-time job. It is not a part-time job that you can do when you’re bored from your house – not if you want to become a successful realtor. I work all the time – and I tell my clients they can contact me 24-hours a day, seven days a week. And, in reality, I do have some clients that call me at 3 AM. And I have clients who call me at midnight; and some that will call me at six in the morning. And that’s okay – I’ve told them that they can do that.

I cannot stress enough this is not a job that you should be doing part time when you have nothing else to do. Not if you want to succeed and be taken seriously. I am always happy to mentor others and show them the ropes. It’s amazing when you can spot leaders – the best feeling in the world. When you raise yourself as a leader in your business it’s amazing. And yes, I understand that we are very, very competitive business but there’s enough business to go around for everyone and believe me when I tell you, you get out of it what you put into it and treating people right, treating people well and taking care of those around you is one of the best things that you can do in real estate. So like I like to say I am “always in a real a state of mind” (I’m getting that trademarked) which is amazing and I’m so lucky to have been able to find something that I love so much but I am also very lucky that my clients and my office and everybody around me has allowed me to incorporate nonprofit work with my career and that right there makes it priceless for me and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world and I cannot wait to see where this journey takes me.

Me: What has been the most surprising part of your journey? The most Inspiring?

Mirella: I think the most surprising part of this whole journey was my client that has been a hard one and I decided to do it a little slower, but do it correctly and set of climbing up all at once. And the support that I get from my vendors and my friends and the people in my life has been has been unbelievably amazing. And their respect that I’ve gotten from from colleagues that have been in the business a lot longer than me and are very respected in this field is amazing; they’ve been so supportive of me and sometimes I pinch myself thinking that such agents take the time to work with me and they really really respect my business model and a really respect that I not only have made real estate my entire world but I’ve also decided to give back to the world while practicing real estate.

Me: What is the one piece of advice you would share with others who want to follow in your footsteps of using their talents and life experiences to give back?

Mirella: I just want people to know that real estate is a lot of hard work. It requires a lot of networking and knowing your market. It’s going out there and looking at neighborhoods; crunching numbers; and always, always, always training yourself to never stop learning. This is what differentiates you from other realtors. I tell people that want to get into real estate please – understand that it’s going to take a lot of hard work to be successful. I also recommend that you find yourself a mentor, wherever it is that you’re going to start working. Really, really listen to them and let them teach you what they know. This will help you grow as an agent. I also like to tell younger generations of realtors that you need to be held accountable. You need to have a schedule. You need to responsible. You also need to be very organized. And you need to have a schedule for yourself.