Real estate agents — and anyone who may be struggling with self-esteem — are really going to enjoy this week's guest on Chiseled.
For years, Janell Schmittling seemingly had the tools to become a successful real estate agent — but she lacked the biggest one — self-esteem. Why? Perhaps due to a lack of support from her brokerage, a lot of spinning wheels without getting results, and a husband who was suffering from alcoholism, which she blamed on herself.
"I was really struggling," she said.
Dealing with her husband's addiction, trying to raise young children, and not closing enough deals, Janell debated whether to leave real estate altogether. But something changed that turned everything around.
"When things finally started shifting for me was when I finally started praying for myself, instead of (my husband). And that might sound selfish, but I started praying to God that he would change how I reacted to him. And I asked God to change me instead of him," she said. "I started focusing on myself ... and then because I made changes in myself, that actually helped my husband hit his rock bottom and realize he needed help for himself. So, it was kind of amazing."
That's also when Janell discovered Buffini and Company. After watching a series of Buffini success stories on the Internet, she jumped all in. That was more than eight years ago. Janell started learning the systems she needed to succeed, got a great coach, and started meeting like-minded individuals.
"The people I surround myself are growth-minded and they know that we are always a work in progress," Janell said.
Janell now runs an all-female real estate company in O'Fallon, Illinois. They sold 200 homes and achieved $50 million in sales last year. By the way, her husband has been sober for eight years.
Janell still suffers bouts of self-doubt, but she knows now, as she describes in the clip above, that she's not alone.
And neither are you. Janell is paying it forward, especially by hiring and training women to be the real estate success she has shown they can be. Want to talk to Janell about lifting your own self-esteem? You can reach her on her email, through her company website, or call her at the number she shares at the end of this week's episode of Chiseled.