Community Highlights: Meet Shanta Jackson of Jackson Realty Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanta Jackson.

Hi Shanta, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by telling us how you got into real estate.
A Dream

All I ever wanted to be was a teacher. My mom was a teacher, and she is my hero. She changed lives and I knew from a very early age I wanted to do that too. Working toward my goal, I earned a degree in English Education at Winston-Salem State University. Then, my dream came true when I became a middle school English teacher. And it was amazing. After a few years, my voice started fading throughout the day. I dismissed it at first, but it became more apparent that something was wrong. I didn’t just lose my voice during the day, I lost my voice for weeks on end. I went to an ENT specialist and learned that I had nodules that needed to be removed on both of my vocal cords. Once the surgery was over, recovery was my  top priority. Once the healing was finally complete, I was devastated that my voice was not restored. After a second surgery to restore my vocal cords, I was told I should not continue teaching, because my vocal cords just couldn’t handle it anymore. My dream was shattered.

Following the Breadcrumbs

While at home trying to find a new purpose and direction for my life, my sister-in-law asked me to go with her and her real estate agent to look at houses. She told me I always asked all the good questions and provided a good second set of eyes. (Breadcrumb) So, off we went! After a few weeks, we would venture out without her agent to open houses. I was often mistaken for the agent. How could people think I was a real estate agent? But, after this happened several times, I just got used to it. (Breadcrumb) When it was time for me to look for my new house, I went to work. I visited every new subdivision, researched the communities, and found the perfect floor plan for our growing family. My poor husband! Every weekend, I dragged him to so many subdivisions. What I didn’t know is that this would be the foundation for my future.

When I left my teaching job, I didn’t have anything else lined up. My husband and I had just bought a house and had our first child. Without skipping a beat, my husband suggested, “Why don’t you try that real estate thing?” (Breadcrumb)

And after I borrowed money to take the real estate class, my real journey began.

The Leap

What they don’t tell you about entrepreneurship is that it will test your limits. You will discover things about yourself you never knew. Your strengths will be amplified but so will your weaknesses. So, although I believed in myself, that did not equate to money in my pocket. The learning curve in real estate is steep and the fees are great. I had to borrow money to take the real estate class and get my license. I put my head down and got to work. But my sobering moment came quick…  my first year in real estate I only made $11,000. Eleven. Thousand. Dollars! Had I just thrown away my career for a nightmare? I didn’t have a plan “B’, so I was going to have to figure this out and find a way to make it work.

Sharing the Blessing

After years of hard work, honing my skills, and putting my clients first, I am proud to have a business that not only provides for me and my family, it has also given opportunities to other real estate agents. By creating a brokerage that believes in gratitude and service, we get to change the lives of families throughout the Triangle, making my original dream come true after all, in a way I never imagined. Looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
They say the harder the struggles, the bigger the reward. The first struggle I encountered was balancing not getting a regular paycheck. So, I learned pretty quickly that when you are in survival mode, some things (like car maintenance) go undone until you get your next commission check. I can remember in my first year working real estate, I had my Chevy Cavalier from college. That little car got me everywhere I needed to go, until one day it didn’t. I was showing homes in northwest  Raleigh to a new client. I tried to back out of a parking space, but my college Cavalier refused to shift into reverse. I can still feel the deep pit in my stomach as I recall this story. It was years before Uber and Lyft, so I had to call my supportive husband to come pick us up. He came and got us as quickly as he could, but we all had to fit in his two-door Beretta. So, you can only imagine how horrible I felt when my clients piled in the car and I folded myself contortionist-style into the trunk area. It’s hard to feel professional when you’re folded like a pretzel. I never heard from those clients again.

But the biggest obstacle I had to overcome was myself. The first five years of my real estate career, I was a mess. I never trusted my instincts. I often felt like a failure. I didn’t know if I had what it takes to be successful. For entrepreneurs, your business is only as strong as you are. If you are down or depressed, your business will be down and depressed. If you are upbeat and open, you will see opportunities instead of  problems. I am not saying I have become immune to fear or doubt, but after 18 years in real estate, I now know the ebb and flow of the business, can plan accordingly, and have the patience to ride the waves. Stay focused on your clients and keep hustling. It’ll pay off.

We’ve been impressed with Jackson Realty Group, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I always love Maya Angelou’s quote, ” I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” At Jackson Realty Group, we know that how people feel after working with us is important. Our business philosophy is simple. We care. It’s who we are. We lead with gratitude. We are service oriented. We are accountable to our clients and to each other. We are a residential sales and property management company. Our goal is clear. We want to assist you and take care of you as you make one of the biggest investments of your life.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck. My faith and my belief in God has sustained me all my life. I have learned if something is meant for me, it will be. Business is not about competing, It’s about giving more than you take. Not everyone will work with me but that just means that they are not MY clients.

Learning those lessons has strengthened my resolve and allows me to celebrate others freely.

I want my business legacy to be the positive impact I make on the people I serve, rather than how much money I make.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.JacksonRealtyNC.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonRealtyNC 
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Creative Impressions Media