July 29, 2024 • 38 mins
This Mama Got Drama is back with another Papa and this dad is the other half of an amazing power couple! Come along as we meet @BayAreaLivNG, Mr. Jonathan Ng-Carvajal who is not only an amazing dad of (3), but a loving partner to his wife and entrepreneur whose built a real estate business that puts family first! By the way, if you missed wifey’s episode - Pst Psssst - go back and meet his amazing wife Zherranne who we featured when we were talking Disney Mom Life, Real Estate and Building a Business with your partner. Jonathan shared his view of their heartfelt story of how their high school sweetheart love has lasted. It’s this foundation for their marriage that made their transition into being parents so smooth and what’s kept them rooted and ready to help more families! When he first took the dive into real estate Jonathon was able to help over 100 families in a very short time close on their own homes. He and his wife have gone on to launch Adapt Real Estate where they continue to help get families into homes and expand their real estate portfolio while building a flourishing team and creating jobs where employees are able to successfully adapt to whatever comes at them. Jonathan and his wife also pride themselves in building a business that celebrates family by creating a work space that features a kids playroom so employees and clients feel comfortable providing for their family and closing deals while their children play safely!
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
This Mama Got Drama. We're backfor another episode. I'm your host,
Lady Ray Our co host and producerDrina Gazala's will be back with us for
another episode. But right now we'rein the midst of it. I don't
know if you're gonna be listening tothis outside of June, but we're in
the midst of Father's Day month rightnow, which means around here on This
Mama Got Drama, we got tobring the dads on to talk about,
you know, how they're juggling beingfull time superhero Papa's, how they're maintaining,
(00:26):
you know, chasing after their goalsand still finding time for self care.
We're talking through all the drama thatis parenthood. And when I said
drama, I'm talking about, youknow the fact that we go through all
these emotions juggling as much as wedo. So I'm so excited to bring
on our latest guests. Let's goahead and give it up for Jona today
want to say give it up.That's just me yelling and screaming and excited
(00:46):
for you. Thank you so muchfor having me. I'm excited to have
you on because we had the opportunityto have your wife on a few weeks
back, and you know, aswe were having our conversation, I was
like, on Father's Day month isright around the corner. We gotta have
your other half on because you wantto hear you know, the other side
(01:06):
of this team. And a lotof times when we talk to our moms
that come on that's the part thatwe always touch on is either you know
the importance of having a village therewith you or the importance of having a
partner. So you're the other halfof this couple. Let's, you know,
before we jump in to the amazingthings that you guys have built and
the love that you guys have usedyour foundation, let's talk about our babies
(01:29):
first, because you know we wouldn'tbe parents without them, right. So
what is some new that you're thatyour three are doing or one of the
three? Yeah, for sure.I don't know if I said my name,
but I'm Jonathan. I have threekids at home. I have a
three year old, a six yearold and a eight year old and new
things. Gosh, we have ourthree year old in swimming and a lot
(01:51):
out there halfway, you know,depending if the coach or the instructors watching
halfways sinking, halfway floating kind ofthing. I also have to be watching,
which which is cool. He's he'suh, he's picking it up really
good. And then our girls juststarted tahesion dancing. So it's a whole
culture, it's a whole vibe.It's so far, we're about to go.
(02:13):
They're about to perform this July,so next month, and overall it's
a great experience. They're excited forit, they're very very happy for it.
And and right now the new thingis summer. So summer's here and
we have our three year old inschool and our girls are at home,
so we're juggling right now. That'sthe thing. Right Like when summer hits,
(02:36):
it's like you have to go intosuper paramode because you got to make
up for the programming. You gotto make up for the time that they
have. You don't want them tohit this regression. That big R word
is not a fun thing. Andlike you said, I'm excited for you
guys because I grew up around,you know, the Tahitian dance world.
I didn't compete. I didn't youknow, I learned the fundamentals. But
I have cousins that were in it, so I got to feel like I
(02:58):
was part of it. It's alot, it's a lot, but as
long as you are the kids areenjoying it, it's a great workout.
It's hell of fun. And thenif you get involved in the competition,
just that like family feeling is sogood, right because you got your team
of folks, your drummers, youryour musicians and all that. It's definitely
so great. And it was alwayscute to see the little the little little
(03:21):
ones come out there and get theirlittle are you're like, wait a minute,
with their skirts and their head dresses, yeah, all of it right,
and they got to, you know, break their hair out so they
can get the volume in their hair. It's a lot of tricks and techniques
that I'm sure you guys are gonnalearn along the way. But how exciting.
I mean, it can be alittle bit of I want to say,
(03:43):
more than a juggle, right becausenow that you're you got one in
swimming, you gotta bring them fromover here. You gotta get them ready.
I mean, but you're doing thiswhile running your own business, So
let's take them back first. Ormaybe they missed the episode with Zaran,
or they want to build on topof the episode that we have with your
wife. You guys, you guyshave been in this for a while.
Like y'all didn't just meet yesterday andsay boom, let's open a business.
(04:06):
No, No, definitely not that. So much has happened to even get
there. So, you know,I've known my wife since I was fifteen
she was or I was sixteen,she was fifteen. We've been together lash
eighteen years now, more than halfmy life now. And you know,
I going I went to San FranciscoState go Gators, and yeah, and
(04:30):
I got into marketing. Did thatfor four years, never really enjoyed what
I loved work with tech companies,basically helping these large tech companies get clients
to purchase the products. So mybackground is helping companies find clients. And
although I didn't really enjoy doing that, I was able to learn what the
(04:50):
process is and apply that to mycurrent business being in real estate. And
because right now, you know,doing the hardest part in real estate is
is finding clients, to be honest, after you learn everything else. But
yeah, so after you know,being in in after being in marketing,
(05:14):
I just said, you know what, I'm a middle child. I was
always against the rules. I neverliked following directions and I never liked orders
from anybody. So yeah, uh, and and I was never happy in
my career. So I'm like,what am I doing? I'm not happy.
I need something that fulfills me andwhat I do. And before,
you know, during college, beforeyou know, before college and getting my
(05:36):
degree, I was always in ahospitality role. So back in the day
when Discovery Kingdom was Marine World,Uh, worked there and that's where my
wife, my wife in the foodapartment, and and so like it was
always you know, serving food.In college, I was a server at
a nice restaurant in downtown San Francisco. Uh, you know, different environment,
(06:00):
same thing. It's just different levelof service. At the end of
the day, even though it's aservice job, it really fulfilled my cup
of you know, I'm helping somebody. Although you know, anybody can do
it, it's still helped. It'sstill filled my cup. Yeah. So
I think after, you know,even in college, before getting a degree
(06:24):
or knowing what I wanted to dowith my life, my wife Zaran and
I would always go to model homesand check them out, walk through,
just fall in love and you know, dream while we're there, and so
you know, walking through these homes, we think, oh my god,
one day we will we'll be here, We'll be we'll own something like this.
And not to say that I didn'treally believe it, but I think
(06:48):
doing that and actually visualizing it,setting goals, setting goals with the partner
really helped us get to where weare now because without actually, you know,
being there, we wouldn't have known. But yeah, from just from
that, I think, and abackground in sales, because growing up as
(07:09):
a kid, I grew up onthe lower end of the lower class.
And my parent they made enough topay the bills, They made enough to
survive, which yeah, I respectthem and I appreciate them for that of
course. And you know, Ibecause of that, I instilled in myself
that I want to do better formyself, better for my family. I
(07:31):
grew up in a place where youknow, every time I go to the
store, I want something, Iwas told you know what, no,
we can't have, right, AndI think we spoil our kids a little
bit more because of that. Butright, right, my kids are spoiled.
They just money just grows places.I'm like, come on. So
(07:53):
that was my main motivation. Soback in the day, I sold chocolate
during school. Like of course Iwas in band, that was in I
was in swimming and you know,we did our of course we were fundraised
there. Right after after I sawall those things, I kept the box,
(08:13):
the nice pretty box that the chocolatescame in, and I refilled it,
went to Costco filled it up.It was like, because you are
a entrepreneur, I was just thereto take the sales classes. Like the
incentive. The incentives were just youget to go to Great America. Back
then, I was like that's enoughfor me. Yeah, exactly. My
mother in law, like we planneda trip to go to Disneyland, and
my mother in law's like, hey, I'll take care of you. Just
(08:35):
pay for your ticket, and Iknow my parents are not going to pay
for it. So I was like, all right, as well, what
four or five boxes of chocolates atleast? So how old were you at
this point? Oh, I wasaround fifteen sixteen. Like that takes.
That takes I mean, you know, because I was when I was doing,
you know, selling chocolate was morelike elementary school, so you know,
obviously my mind wasn't let me starta business. It was more like,
(08:58):
let me get the incentive, right, but at fifteen, that does
still take that moment to be likeI could I could flip this and I
could actually make some of my ownmoney. And the way you did it
was like it wasn't in a waywhere you were compromising anything. You feel
what I'm saying like, and sothat was that's like, you know,
ingenius. Not everyone thinks to dothat, right, Definitely, No,
(09:22):
I think entrepreneurial entrepreneurial ship definitely isa set of mindset for sure. For
sure, anybody and anybody can getinto sales, but the drive has to
be there, like you have towant to do it. The drive has
to be there because people don't.Not everyone can take a No, not
everyone. And if you think aboutit selling candy, whether you're doing it
(09:46):
door to door or what I didis I actually talked to the management at
the big grocery store. I'm like, that's what the foot traffic's at,
right, so you know, andso I would sell there. But if
you think about it, you haveto have even tougher skin then, because
at least if you're selling it doorto door, you got about twenty steps
to regain your confidence at the grocerystore. You're going back to back like
you gotta be just you know.So it takes like a certain like you
(10:09):
said, not only dry, butlike a personality to not to let that
stuff roll off your back and nottake it personal and realize, you know,
hey, I'm learning here. I'malso getting communication skills here. It's
a lot, right and at fifteento be able to do that and then
start your own your own under thetable llc right exactly exactly, Yeah,
(10:33):
we'll see that, yes, rightright now. You guys, you know
have have like I said, you'reat that point. You were just meeting
your now wife. You guys havea beautiful love story. And I was
telling Israel, I'm like that.That caught my eye because I've been in
a relationship for our relationship just turnedlegal. We're at like twenty one years
right of like dating and all thatmixtand right. But it takes like a
(10:58):
certain lovel of vision and a certainlevel of like, hey, we're a
team, like I get it.Like we love each other. We you
know, we make each other's heartthump for lack of you know, sounding
all you know, sensitive or whatever, but all that is part of it.
(11:18):
But there's also that piece of likeyou said, you guys would go
to model homes and actually envision yourlife and actually say what are we doing
as a team to make these thingsa reality? And you brought up a
really good point, you know,talking about our elders and our parents.
You know, they did their partmaking sure we survived, making sure that
(11:39):
we got the education. Did itmean that we were going on lavish trips
every you know, spring break orwhatever. Maybe not, but we got
to a point now where we cantake it into our own hands and make
it bigger and be that next generationthat's better. So for you, when
you were at that point of like, Okay, this is what we want,
this is what we would like tosee ourselves living in. What are
(12:01):
those steps? What do those stepslook like to get there? Because you've
already got the foundation of like businessschool, you've already got the foundation of
this fifty year old entrepreneurial who learnedhow to take a know and still get
a yes. Right. How doyou then, you know, talk your
partner into hey, we got cooljobs, Like how do we leave that
(12:22):
and start something big? It wasdefinitely a leap of faith because in real
estate already, regardless if you knowwhat you're doing or not, it's still
an eighty eighty percent failure rate thatsome years or even right now. Right
now it's a really tough market whereif you get your license, you're not
(12:43):
going to have clients running to youright now during the pandemic is totally opposite.
You just say, hey, I'min real estate. You have five
clients just one week house right now. But no, back then, it
was just both of us actually wereunhappy with their jobs. She was getting
stressed from her job. She decidedto, you know, take a leave
(13:05):
of absence and just work work onherself, which is cool. Uh.
And then we just bought a house. So after that closed, Uh then
she uh, then she quit andthen I actually was let go and so
we just got a new house.She left the job and I just got
let go. Yeah, it washell atle scary, and you know,
(13:30):
I was let go because the driveand the passion for that job was not
there right right. So from there, you know, quickest thing to do
is just find something that I alreadyknow something so much what I'm doing,
and so I got a new job. I started studying for real estate.
On the job and at night Iwould go to sleep, like at three
o'clock in the morning, wake upand study at night, study during the
(13:54):
day during like have a different windowon my computer. And yeah, got
through it, study for four months, didn't It took took me three times
to take my test and pass itand I'm not a good test taker.
So but to get all that informationin four minutes, that's a four minutes
four months, that's saying something though. That's huge because not a lot of
(14:16):
people can get that dense information,even into the brains in four months exactly.
Unfortunately, you know, my wifedid find another job after a couple
of months, and uh we weregood with finances on the house, so
that was it was good. ButI think just that just knowing, you
know what, is just understanding andlooking at our current self of understanding,
(14:37):
we're not happy, so what arewe going to do? So because you
know, we have the passion forhomes in general, I personally liked sales
and I like helping people, andI was like, this is the great
combination of everything right right. Theworse it doesn't work out, I'll find
something else, but I do reallywant to try. We talked about it
(15:00):
for a couple of years before weeven do it. I took the step
and the leap of faith to doit just because there is fear, because
of the known of you know,am I going to succeed? Am I
gonna do well? Am I gonnalike it? Because I'm already here,
I already got my degree, I'malready working in this industry. But I'm
not liking it. It's like,did I waste my time? What's happening?
(15:22):
So uh, it's you know,I was just fortunate enough that I
stumbled upon or we both decided thatreal estate was something that we Actually my
wife wanted to try first, andshe blames me of stealing her career.
But she's licensed now, she's workingon the back end. You know.
(15:43):
It all kind of worked out.Fortunately. I joined the team after getting
my license. That was that providedprovided leads to me. So yeah,
uh. I was there at thatcompany for the for my first four years
in the industry currently six or sixand a half now, And by the
(16:04):
time I left, I had soldover one hundred homes in Jaleo. Wow,
and within my first four years,and that's something that most people don't
do in maybe fifteen twenty years.That's what I was going to say.
That's not that's nothing like that.You're being humble. But that was a
little bit of a flex though,because you were like lives around. She
(16:26):
wanted to be in this industry.But but no, she at the end
of the day was yes, yeah, so those are her numbers too,
Those are her numbers too, Yeah, exactly, those are her numbers,
especially now that she is, uh, she's fifty fifty fifty percent stay home
mom. Yeah, you know she'sshe's on call, is what I like
(16:47):
to say, Yeah, because Isound and support. Yeah, you need
that, right, like you neednot only somebody there to bounce your ideas
off, like you said, butyou guys have three children, Like it's
not that's a whole other job,Like being a parent is a whole job.
Like people who don't get that intheir brain before the baby arrives,
(17:07):
Like it's a it's an entire job. And I don't even mean that in
the sense of like complaining of likehow much work you have to do.
What I mean is that human deservesyour attention, That human deserves your love,
that human deserves your your knowledge,Like you have to pour into them.
And you brought up that earlier oflike finding something that fills your cup,
right, And what fills your cupis not only being able to provide
(17:32):
for your babies, but to havethe time to do all those other things.
And it looks like this business thatyou've been able to build not only
gives you the comfort to be ableto provide for them, but also gives
you the ability to say, youknow what we're gonna take today. And
I'm not going to put any meetingstoday or any showings today because I know
tomorrow I'm gonna go one hundred andfifty you know percent. But today,
(17:55):
let's let's go to let's go let'slet's take them old school to six Flags
over mom like that started. Westill get a discount at the I was
there, we recently brought them to, and I said, hey, this
is where we're mad. This isuh, we love it. And you
know these games people, they givediscounts if you buy more games. And
(18:15):
I'm like, right, right,right right, I just spent you know
so and so dollars over here.Can I yeah, that same promotion they
offered me over there, and I'mlike, no, I want to work
here. I was like, well, you know, I used to work.
I threw in that car. Iwas like, I needed to work
here, She goes when you're ateenager. I was like, dang,
I'm not little a minute. Youknow what, we won't go over here
(18:36):
to this rise. I could blowmy face back a little bit. Oh
these wrinkles off my face a littlebit? Right, all right, not
at all, not at all.And I think she was just trying to
turn, you know, get youoff her back. And she was like,
this guy's a sales guy. He'sgonna sell me into it. But
I hear what you say, Like, it's dope to have those moments.
So it's like full circle moments,and to do it with your kids,
(18:56):
it is just like, oh mygod. Like I was talking to Zarana
about this because the other thing thatI love about you guys is that you're
a Disney family. I'm a Disneymama too, and I remember, you
know Disney. And this is thedope part about my job that I'm like,
I don't even feel like i'm workingright because they invite us to cover
when they have like an opening ofsomething, and we do live broadcasts,
(19:18):
and so I brought my kids outfor the holidays to one of the broadcasts,
and I was at the same timeas I'm like, this is such
a great benefit and so grateful,I was also kind of quietly going,
damn, these kids are spoiled now, like we can't come back here unless
unless they get to the front ofthe line pass and blah blah blah.
(19:38):
So it's like, it's interesting,you know, how you have you get
to have these moments with your kidswhere you get to be a big kid
with them, and you get toyou know, our parents did their best
to provide for us, and maybewe didn't get to go to Disneyland and
buy a sweatshirt while we were there, Like that was our we already got
in the door. Now you wanta sweatshirt and you want candy, and
(20:00):
that's what you're doing. Way youmight will you might want to share your
icy with your brother, how aboutthat? You know? So I mean
it's it's we're that next generation thatgets to do better, the next level
better. That way our kids cando better for the next right. And
so I feel like the other coolthing that you guys have done a really
good job of is incorporating this feelingof family into your business, right,
(20:22):
not only making other folks on yourteam that you've been able to build.
First off, you've been able tobuild a team, right Like that already
says something about your success, butalso making them feel comfortable to be a
parent and still have a job,right. I mean, that's probably one
of the number one things that youknow, we stress off of as parents,
is like, okay, am Igoing to be able to produce or
(20:44):
deliver the way I was before otherkids came along? I mean, how
do you how do you factor thatin to your business model? I think
fortunately enough because Zorin is also anagent technically, she's licensed, and she's
at home. She gives me thatsupport. So I look at myself as
(21:04):
a very involved dad. And youknow, although I do sometimes prioritize the
business over, you know, overthe smaller things that the kids need.
Uh you know, I do knowI have the support at home, so
that's why I do that. ButI'm always there for pickup, drop off,
(21:26):
you know, bath time, everything. So I'm very fortunate that we're
both able to be present. Butdefinitely we like to, like you said,
we'd like to involve have that familyculture even with the business. So
fortunately enough, I'm in a placein my career where I know what I'm
doing, so I know, andI have a team and a structure in
(21:48):
place where if I, you know, get the ball rolling one direction,
I know exactly what's going to happen. Who's going to do what My partners,
my lenders, my ESCRO officers,They're going to do their role.
I do mine. So I'm justwaiting for them to pass the ball back
right right? Uh. And thenand still like we have like you said,
we have a team. We havefive active agents total and five referral
(22:10):
agents, and and and we're likea family, like if they need anything,
I'm like, I'm I'm like thedad at home and at work.
She's a mom at work too.We're there to help everybody. We're there
to train everyone where there. Uhliterally, I even my agents say like
(22:30):
if I'm awake, they know I'mgoing to respond. So I'm available almost
twenty four to seven because I don'tsleep that much. But no, I
think just having that environment of like, because I am very also very selective
of who we bring onto the team, you have to be. We've had
people, you know, interview itwas not a right it wasn't a right
(22:52):
fit just overall, and unfortunately wehad to like decline and you know,
right now it's a good time tobring on any new agents and kind of
leave it at that. But yeah, protecting the culture and the energy of
the office is and has always beenmy priority. It's important because if you
don't have that, you know,that kind of that vibe, that that
(23:17):
culture, all of that, like, people won't feel comfortable in their space.
And when you're most comfortable, you'regonna do the best job that you
can, right. And if youfeel that communication is open and everyone can
can get their piece of it donein a way that's like cohesive, that's
when you got the key and that'swhat you got to Sawce. So,
I mean, I think it's it'sit's dope that you're taking the time to
make sure you're bringing on people thatare that are you know, you're protective
(23:41):
of your of your business, right. I think you you and I both
chuckled hard when when you brought upyou know, not getting enough sleep.
I mean it's it's a it's alreadyyou know, sleep deprivation when you have
the kids, right, but youknow you're you're in it in a hospitality
care type space. When it comesto finding someone a home, like you
really are accessible at odd hours causeyou gotta, you know, think about
(24:04):
your client. They're working their job. They probably won't have an opportunity to
talk to you until after their businesshours. So it's a lot of like
odd hours that you probably work atweekends, you know, is probably the
best time to meet with clients andshow places. So it's it's a lot
of shuffling, right, but it'salmost it's almost cool, and I can
kind of be right there with youon this on this token is you get
(24:29):
to go to places when it's lessbusy, right, because my hours,
you know, I do morning driveradio, and so we're we're in the
think of it with everyone when they'restuck in traffic. But when we're done,
and if we're you know, stayingon top of all we gotta get
done, I can get out andtake meetings later in the afternoon, so
I don't have to hit all thetraffic and I can do everything virtually.
So what I'm saying is is likeyou guys are similar in that, Hey,
(24:52):
why don't we take the kids toblah blah blah today? Lines will
be shorter, we can have agood time and then you know, it's
it's really about figuring out how yourbusiness can thrive, but then you can
also have space for your life toactually thrive, because what are we working
for if we're not, you know, able to enjoy it exactly. People
learned it the hard way or youknow the best way, should I say,
(25:15):
during the pandemic, because you wereforced to be in the house and
it was like, wait a minute, I ain't seen this wall and who
has that wall needed to be painted? Like because you're not in your house.
You weren't in your house at often, you were stuck in traffic,
you were taking meetings, you werelike, you know, paying for this
this place that you're living in thatyou were not doing any living in.
(25:36):
Right. So I think that wasone really positive thing that we were able
to get out of the pandemic,aside from you know, the negative stuff.
Who want to look for the valuethat we created there? Right?
I mean, how do you?I mean, it's like there's a lot
of people who want to get intothis space. They're like, I'm a
good salesperson. I know a lotof people I like houses, you know
(25:57):
what I mean? Like all thelittle thing a kind of there, but
it's not until you actually get inthe position, Like, how do you
prepare somebody for that? Because Idon't think people realize you when you come
see a house, you might bethere for twenty minutes max. That agent
might be there for eight hours,might be there for whatever. The breakdown
(26:18):
is, right, like, howdo you mentally prepare somebody for what the
job really is? I think,you know, really expressing that there is
no pay. There is no constantpay guaranteed, so you don't read unless
a home actually sells, right,and either if you're helping the seller,
helping the buyer. If that housedoes not sell, you are not getting
(26:40):
paid. And there are some monthswhere I'm working forty plus hours a week
and because things are delayed, theytransactions get canceled. This year, I
have not, you know, twomonths straight, I was not paid a
dollar so and of course you knowwe have reserves and all, but still,
right, that's something that you haveto be prepared for mentally, because
(27:03):
I have family members who have theirlicense but still choose the nine to five
because they can't, you know,mentally take on the toll of I have
to. I have to hunt myfood and you know, eat what I
what I you know what I've hunted. But you know, I think that's
the biggest picture of you know,you have to put in the work to
(27:25):
get the rewards, right, andreally, even agents who are looking to
be part time, it's still youhave this agent still has to treat their
job as a full time job.Right, So you're not taking on fifty
percent, You're taking on one hundredpercent on top of whatever your percent you're
putting in right now, right,And that's really the only way to be
(27:45):
successful, and that's why there's sucha large failure rate. But at the
end of the day, agents haveto understand, yes, you know,
you are an advocate for your client, whether regardless if you're helping them buy
or sell, and you have toreally be there for the client and not
for yourself because there are unfortunately,there are a lot of bad quote unquote
(28:10):
bad realtors or unethical ones, uneducatedones. Because the threshold of getting your
license is low, so where youput yourself after you get your license is
very important because that would dictate yoursuccess as well. Right Because you know,
I tell all my majority of ouragents agents are new and I tell
(28:33):
them you can't want to sell morethan the client. If the client says,
you know what, this is notthe house, or you know this
house has too many repairs, you'renot there to push them to move them
along to go and buy the house. You're there to help them figure out,
all right, well, if wefix things, is this you know,
if we were to repair things,is this I still want? And
(28:56):
at the end of the day,you're there to advocate for whatever decision they
want. So I think that's abig one where it's you're there to advocate
for the client. You are theircounselor you're there uh literally I have had
people flip out on me, gocrazy because of the stress. It's a
stress It is a stressful event intheir life because it's such a big one
(29:19):
and a large financial decision that that'stheir life. So it's your their emotional
counselor their financial counselor even though that'smore of a lender thing. I do
the job being like, hey,you know, this is my thoughts,
but you have to talk to alender about that. Yeah, uh,
you know, really everything so andyou have to plan for them, inspections,
(29:41):
you have to you know, ensurethat you know what they're doing after
they sell the house. So youhave to, you know, think of
everything the bigger picture when you're workingwith the client and not just your wallet,
because at the end of the day, if that's you know, you
can make a lot of money inreal estate. But at the end of
the day, if you're not therefor the client, then I don't think
(30:03):
you're going to be either successful orbe sustain yourself. Yeah, yeah,
exactly, because in this industry it'sI call it a popularity contest. The
more people you know, the morebusiness you'll have. If you start messing
up and you show say you're notthere for the client, everybody's gonna share
it with everybody else, and nobody'sgonna call you. Yeah, And I
(30:25):
think you I think you brought upa good point too. I mean,
and I think that's what separates you, right, is because you are leading
with ethics number one. You're leadingwith you know, wanting to do something
good for somebody, and in theat the end of the day, you
happen to get a nice check forit. So you feel good all around,
not only just for your career longevity, but also for your your your
(30:47):
your relationship with that person, You'reyou're helping them shape their life. Right,
But you brought up a good point. There are a lot of you
know, folks in the business thatmight not be taking that route, whatever
the reason is, whether it's lazinessjust good old fashioned greediness. I mean,
what, what are some of thethings that people should look out for?
Because right now, I'll tell youstraight up, like if you jump
on social media, if you jumpon you know, any of these sites
(31:11):
or whatever, you probably come acrossthe lines of somebody trying to say,
hey, if you come take mymaster class, you can sell, you
can flip. You can flip ahundred houses and have one hundred revenue streams.
Like, you know, what arewhat are some things that people should
look out for, not only fromlike a buyer's standpoint, but also from
someone trying to say, hey,you could you could have this as passive
(31:32):
income. Right. It's you know, I think that what you brought up
in terms of flipping homes and stuff, that's a whole different subject. That's
a whole but I think definitely interviewingmost you know, as many agents as
you can unless you know you alreadyyou know, have a following you fought
(31:52):
Like I've had people say I've followedyou for years and finally I'm ready.
So unless you follow them and knowwho they are, you know, you
can go ahead and hire that person. But if you don't know anybody in
the industry, I say, youknow, interview as many people as possible
so that you know who they areas a person, how they work.
You know, if they're good,they should have come in on the first
(32:14):
meeting showing information on their stats ofhow they perform, and and truly understand
who you're working with. Because atthe end of the day, whether you're
help and you're helping a client iseither purchasing or selling a home, they
have to have the confidence in theiragent sure that they're doing everything right by
them. Because it's such a big, big thing. It's a huge thing,
(32:37):
and it could set you up for, you know, a really good
financial place. It could set youup for creating, you know, lifetime
memories. I mean, it's it'sso much that goes into it. And
I really appreciate that you know,you and your wife and your guys's business
is leading with you know, yourheart and also in your heart in a
good place, right and that's whyyou guys have been so success. Yes,
(33:00):
well it's pretty plain to see,right, because you take your time
and you really look out for yourclient. I mean, I think the
the other part that I really wantto touch on before we wrap up,
because I already figure out we gotto we got to talk another podcast because
we got to talk about that otherthing. I planted the seed already,
and I think for that podcast,let's have you and your wife come back
on because I'm sure you'll both beable to provide, you know, some
(33:22):
insight when it comes to that.But you know, the biggest thing that
we always talk about on our podcastis you know, juggling all of this,
right, it's important to make timefor self care. You talked about,
you know, feeling like your cupwas filled. You can't you can't
feel anybody else's cup, meaning yourchildren, your partner if you're not feeling
(33:44):
filled yourself. So what are somethings that you do to make sure that
you know self care is a priority. Oh no, absolutely so. One
thing that we like to do asa couple is after putting them to bed,
we'll spend an hour, maybe twohours after just watching TV. We
just veg out because the whole thewhole day, you know, most of
the day, Like I can workfrom you know, the time of dropping
(34:07):
off the kids till eight nine o'clockat night. So right, because people,
like you said, people are availableafter hours, and my availability is
their availability at the end of theday, and we prioritize you know,
spending time with it with each otherat the end of the night. We
like to have date nights too,So being in this industry, you know,
(34:27):
when they're in school, we canhave like lunch dates, go you
know, drive drive an hour away, go to the you know, spend
some time together. Uh and andmaybe quarterly we'll just like we just went
to Sonoma or Sebastopol and you know, we just had like a it was
short, super super short, onenight's thing. You know. It's really
(34:50):
all that was needed is just thebreakaway of the constant, constant noise where
you know, we're not attending,you know, to feeding somebody else during
it's just really focusing on one another. And I think that has definitely because
that's something that we instilled early onthat has also helped our relationship too.
I love it. I love it, and it's it just it it makes
(35:13):
you. Like you said, itmight just be like a quick runaway for
a quick lunch, or it mightbe a quick overnight. Those little things
are maybe sure, but they theytheir impact is felt way beyond that time.
So it's important to do that.And a lot of times, like
you said, you might be attendingto your kids. I'll tell you,
like you didn't even realize, like, oh my god, like I haven't
even I haven't even fed myself.Hold on a second. So it's it's
(35:36):
a little things that you gotta doto uh, to make sure that you
care for yourself so you can carefor others. And that's that's that's dope
that you guys are setting it asa priority because it's tough. It's you
might you might look at your calendarand be like, Okay, I got
this one hour to get a workoutin, to breathe or stretched for a
second, and sometimes that hour canjust float away. You have one you
(35:57):
have one kid, have a tantrum, that hour gone. I need to
put you in summer school right exactly. So I mean, you know,
it's a tough thing to do,but I'm glad that you guys are making
a priority. I want you totell the people you know where they can
find you, how they can youknow, stay in touch with not only
your business but your family. Imean, you guys are dope and giving
(36:17):
out some some uh some entertaining contenttoo, for sure, for sure.
So I'm Jonathan. I'm I amthe founder and owner of adapt To Real
Estate. We service the Greater BayArea and we have agents across the Bay
Area as well, and you canfind us on Instagram. I am Bay
Area Living. Uh, my lastname is ing and as a Nancyg's and
(36:39):
George is a Bay Area Live andthen NNG and my wife is zoran At
Zoran z h E r r An n E. And yeah, we
have a We do everything Disney reallytravel and food. We love to eat,
We love to travel, and youknow, we love to relate to
(37:00):
you know, not we don't doit to relate to everybody, but we
love sharing what we're experiencing with everyone. Yeah, but yeah, I know,
feel free to follow what's your what'syour guys is go to right now
because I know, like once summertimehits as far as like foody and fun,
like we're my family. We've beenall about the water slides hitt up
the water slides. My kids arenow out the age where they can actually
(37:22):
you know, go down the waterslides. But it's like between that and
then we were doing a lot ofwe just came out of like cherry season,
so we were hitting up you know, all the fresh fruit picking and
stuff like that. Like what aboutyou guys, what's the what's the summer
foody or fun activity? Yeah,so right now every Thursday in Benetia,
there's a farmer's market in Napa onThursday. That's on Thursdays Sundays is Napa
(37:47):
Farmers Market. And then we liketo go to Gots a lot in Napa,
so there's there's something for everybody there. So it's great. Oh yeah,
you can get your burger or youcan get some corn if you just
want to stick to the plant basedstuff or the milk trait because you already
know the baby's going with some time. Sweet sweet goodness. So I love
it. I love it. Well, we're gonna have you back on for
(38:07):
another podcast, but I appreciate youcoming on this. Mama got drama,
all right, thanks so much forhaving me dope
This Mama Got Drama. We're backfor another episode. I'm your host,
Lady Ray Our co host and producerDrina Gazala's will be back with us for
another episode. But right now we'rein the midst of it. I don't
know if you're gonna be listening tothis outside of June, but we're in
the midst of Father's Day month rightnow, which means around here on This
Mama Got Drama, we got tobring the dads on to talk about,
you know, how they're juggling beingfull time superhero Papa's, how they're maintaining,
(00:26):
you know, chasing after their goalsand still finding time for self care.
We're talking through all the drama thatis parenthood. And when I said
drama, I'm talking about, youknow the fact that we go through all
these emotions juggling as much as wedo. So I'm so excited to bring
on our latest guests. Let's goahead and give it up for Jona today
want to say give it up.That's just me yelling and screaming and excited
(00:46):
for you. Thank you so muchfor having me. I'm excited to have
you on because we had the opportunityto have your wife on a few weeks
back, and you know, aswe were having our conversation, I was
like, on Father's Day month isright around the corner. We gotta have
your other half on because you wantto hear you know, the other side
(01:06):
of this team. And a lotof times when we talk to our moms
that come on that's the part thatwe always touch on is either you know
the importance of having a village therewith you or the importance of having a
partner. So you're the other halfof this couple. Let's, you know,
before we jump in to the amazingthings that you guys have built and
the love that you guys have usedyour foundation, let's talk about our babies
(01:29):
first, because you know we wouldn'tbe parents without them, right. So
what is some new that you're thatyour three are doing or one of the
three? Yeah, for sure.I don't know if I said my name,
but I'm Jonathan. I have threekids at home. I have a
three year old, a six yearold and a eight year old and new
things. Gosh, we have ourthree year old in swimming and a lot
(01:51):
out there halfway, you know,depending if the coach or the instructors watching
halfways sinking, halfway floating kind ofthing. I also have to be watching,
which which is cool. He's he'suh, he's picking it up really
good. And then our girls juststarted tahesion dancing. So it's a whole
culture, it's a whole vibe.It's so far, we're about to go.
(02:13):
They're about to perform this July,so next month, and overall it's
a great experience. They're excited forit, they're very very happy for it.
And and right now the new thingis summer. So summer's here and
we have our three year old inschool and our girls are at home,
so we're juggling right now. That'sthe thing. Right Like when summer hits,
(02:36):
it's like you have to go intosuper paramode because you got to make
up for the programming. You gotto make up for the time that they
have. You don't want them tohit this regression. That big R word
is not a fun thing. Andlike you said, I'm excited for you
guys because I grew up around,you know, the Tahitian dance world.
I didn't compete. I didn't youknow, I learned the fundamentals. But
I have cousins that were in it, so I got to feel like I
(02:58):
was part of it. It's alot, it's a lot, but as
long as you are the kids areenjoying it, it's a great workout.
It's hell of fun. And thenif you get involved in the competition,
just that like family feeling is sogood, right because you got your team
of folks, your drummers, youryour musicians and all that. It's definitely
so great. And it was alwayscute to see the little the little little
(03:21):
ones come out there and get theirlittle are you're like, wait a minute,
with their skirts and their head dresses, yeah, all of it right,
and they got to, you know, break their hair out so they
can get the volume in their hair. It's a lot of tricks and techniques
that I'm sure you guys are gonnalearn along the way. But how exciting.
I mean, it can be alittle bit of I want to say,
(03:43):
more than a juggle, right becausenow that you're you got one in
swimming, you gotta bring them fromover here. You gotta get them ready.
I mean, but you're doing thiswhile running your own business, So
let's take them back first. Ormaybe they missed the episode with Zaran,
or they want to build on topof the episode that we have with your
wife. You guys, you guyshave been in this for a while.
Like y'all didn't just meet yesterday andsay boom, let's open a business.
(04:06):
No, No, definitely not that. So much has happened to even get
there. So, you know,I've known my wife since I was fifteen
she was or I was sixteen,she was fifteen. We've been together lash
eighteen years now, more than halfmy life now. And you know,
I going I went to San FranciscoState go Gators, and yeah, and
(04:30):
I got into marketing. Did thatfor four years, never really enjoyed what
I loved work with tech companies,basically helping these large tech companies get clients
to purchase the products. So mybackground is helping companies find clients. And
although I didn't really enjoy doing that, I was able to learn what the
(04:50):
process is and apply that to mycurrent business being in real estate. And
because right now, you know,doing the hardest part in real estate is
is finding clients, to be honest, after you learn everything else. But
yeah, so after you know,being in in after being in marketing,
(05:14):
I just said, you know what, I'm a middle child. I was
always against the rules. I neverliked following directions and I never liked orders
from anybody. So yeah, uh, and and I was never happy in
my career. So I'm like,what am I doing? I'm not happy.
I need something that fulfills me andwhat I do. And before,
you know, during college, beforeyou know, before college and getting my
(05:36):
degree, I was always in ahospitality role. So back in the day
when Discovery Kingdom was Marine World,Uh, worked there and that's where my
wife, my wife in the foodapartment, and and so like it was
always you know, serving food.In college, I was a server at
a nice restaurant in downtown San Francisco. Uh, you know, different environment,
(06:00):
same thing. It's just different levelof service. At the end of
the day, even though it's aservice job, it really fulfilled my cup
of you know, I'm helping somebody. Although you know, anybody can do
it, it's still helped. It'sstill filled my cup. Yeah. So
I think after, you know,even in college, before getting a degree
(06:24):
or knowing what I wanted to dowith my life, my wife Zaran and
I would always go to model homesand check them out, walk through,
just fall in love and you know, dream while we're there, and so
you know, walking through these homes, we think, oh my god,
one day we will we'll be here, We'll be we'll own something like this.
And not to say that I didn'treally believe it, but I think
(06:48):
doing that and actually visualizing it,setting goals, setting goals with the partner
really helped us get to where weare now because without actually, you know,
being there, we wouldn't have known. But yeah, from just from
that, I think, and abackground in sales, because growing up as
(07:09):
a kid, I grew up onthe lower end of the lower class.
And my parent they made enough topay the bills, They made enough to
survive, which yeah, I respectthem and I appreciate them for that of
course. And you know, Ibecause of that, I instilled in myself
that I want to do better formyself, better for my family. I
(07:31):
grew up in a place where youknow, every time I go to the
store, I want something, Iwas told you know what, no,
we can't have, right, AndI think we spoil our kids a little
bit more because of that. Butright, right, my kids are spoiled.
They just money just grows places.I'm like, come on. So
(07:53):
that was my main motivation. Soback in the day, I sold chocolate
during school. Like of course Iwas in band, that was in I
was in swimming and you know,we did our of course we were fundraised
there. Right after after I sawall those things, I kept the box,
(08:13):
the nice pretty box that the chocolatescame in, and I refilled it,
went to Costco filled it up.It was like, because you are
a entrepreneur, I was just thereto take the sales classes. Like the
incentive. The incentives were just youget to go to Great America. Back
then, I was like that's enoughfor me. Yeah, exactly. My
mother in law, like we planneda trip to go to Disneyland, and
my mother in law's like, hey, I'll take care of you. Just
(08:35):
pay for your ticket, and Iknow my parents are not going to pay
for it. So I was like, all right, as well, what
four or five boxes of chocolates atleast? So how old were you at
this point? Oh, I wasaround fifteen sixteen. Like that takes.
That takes I mean, you know, because I was when I was doing,
you know, selling chocolate was morelike elementary school, so you know,
obviously my mind wasn't let me starta business. It was more like,
(08:58):
let me get the incentive, right, but at fifteen, that does
still take that moment to be likeI could I could flip this and I
could actually make some of my ownmoney. And the way you did it
was like it wasn't in a waywhere you were compromising anything. You feel
what I'm saying like, and sothat was that's like, you know,
ingenius. Not everyone thinks to dothat, right, Definitely, No,
(09:22):
I think entrepreneurial entrepreneurial ship definitely isa set of mindset for sure. For
sure, anybody and anybody can getinto sales, but the drive has to
be there, like you have towant to do it. The drive has
to be there because people don't.Not everyone can take a No, not
everyone. And if you think aboutit selling candy, whether you're doing it
(09:46):
door to door or what I didis I actually talked to the management at
the big grocery store. I'm like, that's what the foot traffic's at,
right, so you know, andso I would sell there. But if
you think about it, you haveto have even tougher skin then, because
at least if you're selling it doorto door, you got about twenty steps
to regain your confidence at the grocerystore. You're going back to back like
you gotta be just you know.So it takes like a certain like you
(10:09):
said, not only dry, butlike a personality to not to let that
stuff roll off your back and nottake it personal and realize, you know,
hey, I'm learning here. I'malso getting communication skills here. It's
a lot, right and at fifteento be able to do that and then
start your own your own under thetable llc right exactly exactly, Yeah,
(10:33):
we'll see that, yes, rightright now. You guys, you know
have have like I said, you'reat that point. You were just meeting
your now wife. You guys havea beautiful love story. And I was
telling Israel, I'm like that.That caught my eye because I've been in
a relationship for our relationship just turnedlegal. We're at like twenty one years
right of like dating and all thatmixtand right. But it takes like a
(10:58):
certain lovel of vision and a certainlevel of like, hey, we're a
team, like I get it.Like we love each other. We you
know, we make each other's heartthump for lack of you know, sounding
all you know, sensitive or whatever, but all that is part of it.
(11:18):
But there's also that piece of likeyou said, you guys would go
to model homes and actually envision yourlife and actually say what are we doing
as a team to make these thingsa reality? And you brought up a
really good point, you know,talking about our elders and our parents.
You know, they did their partmaking sure we survived, making sure that
(11:39):
we got the education. Did itmean that we were going on lavish trips
every you know, spring break orwhatever. Maybe not, but we got
to a point now where we cantake it into our own hands and make
it bigger and be that next generationthat's better. So for you, when
you were at that point of like, Okay, this is what we want,
this is what we would like tosee ourselves living in. What are
(12:01):
those steps? What do those stepslook like to get there? Because you've
already got the foundation of like businessschool, you've already got the foundation of
this fifty year old entrepreneurial who learnedhow to take a know and still get
a yes. Right. How doyou then, you know, talk your
partner into hey, we got cooljobs, Like how do we leave that
(12:22):
and start something big? It wasdefinitely a leap of faith because in real
estate already, regardless if you knowwhat you're doing or not, it's still
an eighty eighty percent failure rate thatsome years or even right now. Right
now it's a really tough market whereif you get your license, you're not
(12:43):
going to have clients running to youright now during the pandemic is totally opposite.
You just say, hey, I'min real estate. You have five
clients just one week house right now. But no, back then, it
was just both of us actually wereunhappy with their jobs. She was getting
stressed from her job. She decidedto, you know, take a leave
(13:05):
of absence and just work work onherself, which is cool. Uh.
And then we just bought a house. So after that closed, Uh then
she uh, then she quit andthen I actually was let go and so
we just got a new house.She left the job and I just got
let go. Yeah, it washell atle scary, and you know,
(13:30):
I was let go because the driveand the passion for that job was not
there right right. So from there, you know, quickest thing to do
is just find something that I alreadyknow something so much what I'm doing,
and so I got a new job. I started studying for real estate.
On the job and at night Iwould go to sleep, like at three
o'clock in the morning, wake upand study at night, study during the
(13:54):
day during like have a different windowon my computer. And yeah, got
through it, study for four months, didn't It took took me three times
to take my test and pass itand I'm not a good test taker.
So but to get all that informationin four minutes, that's a four minutes
four months, that's saying something though. That's huge because not a lot of
(14:16):
people can get that dense information,even into the brains in four months exactly.
Unfortunately, you know, my wifedid find another job after a couple
of months, and uh we weregood with finances on the house, so
that was it was good. ButI think just that just knowing, you
know what, is just understanding andlooking at our current self of understanding,
(14:37):
we're not happy, so what arewe going to do? So because you
know, we have the passion forhomes in general, I personally liked sales
and I like helping people, andI was like, this is the great
combination of everything right right. Theworse it doesn't work out, I'll find
something else, but I do reallywant to try. We talked about it
(15:00):
for a couple of years before weeven do it. I took the step
and the leap of faith to doit just because there is fear, because
of the known of you know,am I going to succeed? Am I
gonna do well? Am I gonnalike it? Because I'm already here,
I already got my degree, I'malready working in this industry. But I'm
not liking it. It's like,did I waste my time? What's happening?
(15:22):
So uh, it's you know,I was just fortunate enough that I
stumbled upon or we both decided thatreal estate was something that we Actually my
wife wanted to try first, andshe blames me of stealing her career.
But she's licensed now, she's workingon the back end. You know.
(15:43):
It all kind of worked out.Fortunately. I joined the team after getting
my license. That was that providedprovided leads to me. So yeah,
uh. I was there at thatcompany for the for my first four years
in the industry currently six or sixand a half now, And by the
(16:04):
time I left, I had soldover one hundred homes in Jaleo. Wow,
and within my first four years,and that's something that most people don't
do in maybe fifteen twenty years.That's what I was going to say.
That's not that's nothing like that.You're being humble. But that was a
little bit of a flex though,because you were like lives around. She
(16:26):
wanted to be in this industry.But but no, she at the end
of the day was yes, yeah, so those are her numbers too,
Those are her numbers too, Yeah, exactly, those are her numbers,
especially now that she is, uh, she's fifty fifty fifty percent stay home
mom. Yeah, you know she'sshe's on call, is what I like
(16:47):
to say, Yeah, because Isound and support. Yeah, you need
that, right, like you neednot only somebody there to bounce your ideas
off, like you said, butyou guys have three children, Like it's
not that's a whole other job,Like being a parent is a whole job.
Like people who don't get that intheir brain before the baby arrives,
(17:07):
Like it's a it's an entire job. And I don't even mean that in
the sense of like complaining of likehow much work you have to do.
What I mean is that human deservesyour attention, That human deserves your love,
that human deserves your your knowledge,Like you have to pour into them.
And you brought up that earlier oflike finding something that fills your cup,
right, And what fills your cupis not only being able to provide
(17:32):
for your babies, but to havethe time to do all those other things.
And it looks like this business thatyou've been able to build not only
gives you the comfort to be ableto provide for them, but also gives
you the ability to say, youknow what we're gonna take today. And
I'm not going to put any meetingstoday or any showings today because I know
tomorrow I'm gonna go one hundred andfifty you know percent. But today,
(17:55):
let's let's go to let's go let'slet's take them old school to six Flags
over mom like that started. Westill get a discount at the I was
there, we recently brought them to, and I said, hey, this
is where we're mad. This isuh, we love it. And you
know these games people, they givediscounts if you buy more games. And
(18:15):
I'm like, right, right,right right, I just spent you know
so and so dollars over here.Can I yeah, that same promotion they
offered me over there, and I'mlike, no, I want to work
here. I was like, well, you know, I used to work.
I threw in that car. Iwas like, I needed to work
here, She goes when you're ateenager. I was like, dang,
I'm not little a minute. Youknow what, we won't go over here
(18:36):
to this rise. I could blowmy face back a little bit. Oh
these wrinkles off my face a littlebit? Right, all right, not
at all, not at all.And I think she was just trying to
turn, you know, get youoff her back. And she was like,
this guy's a sales guy. He'sgonna sell me into it. But
I hear what you say, Like, it's dope to have those moments.
So it's like full circle moments,and to do it with your kids,
(18:56):
it is just like, oh mygod. Like I was talking to Zarana
about this because the other thing thatI love about you guys is that you're
a Disney family. I'm a Disneymama too, and I remember, you
know Disney. And this is thedope part about my job that I'm like,
I don't even feel like i'm workingright because they invite us to cover
when they have like an opening ofsomething, and we do live broadcasts,
(19:18):
and so I brought my kids outfor the holidays to one of the broadcasts,
and I was at the same timeas I'm like, this is such
a great benefit and so grateful,I was also kind of quietly going,
damn, these kids are spoiled now, like we can't come back here unless
unless they get to the front ofthe line pass and blah blah blah.
(19:38):
So it's like, it's interesting,you know, how you have you get
to have these moments with your kidswhere you get to be a big kid
with them, and you get toyou know, our parents did their best
to provide for us, and maybewe didn't get to go to Disneyland and
buy a sweatshirt while we were there, Like that was our we already got
in the door. Now you wanta sweatshirt and you want candy, and
(20:00):
that's what you're doing. Way youmight will you might want to share your
icy with your brother, how aboutthat? You know? So I mean
it's it's we're that next generation thatgets to do better, the next level
better. That way our kids cando better for the next right. And
so I feel like the other coolthing that you guys have done a really
good job of is incorporating this feelingof family into your business, right,
(20:22):
not only making other folks on yourteam that you've been able to build.
First off, you've been able tobuild a team, right Like that already
says something about your success, butalso making them feel comfortable to be a
parent and still have a job,right. I mean, that's probably one
of the number one things that youknow, we stress off of as parents,
is like, okay, am Igoing to be able to produce or
(20:44):
deliver the way I was before otherkids came along? I mean, how
do you how do you factor thatin to your business model? I think
fortunately enough because Zorin is also anagent technically, she's licensed, and she's
at home. She gives me thatsupport. So I look at myself as
(21:04):
a very involved dad. And youknow, although I do sometimes prioritize the
business over, you know, overthe smaller things that the kids need.
Uh you know, I do knowI have the support at home, so
that's why I do that. ButI'm always there for pickup, drop off,
(21:26):
you know, bath time, everything. So I'm very fortunate that we're
both able to be present. Butdefinitely we like to, like you said,
we'd like to involve have that familyculture even with the business. So
fortunately enough, I'm in a placein my career where I know what I'm
doing, so I know, andI have a team and a structure in
(21:48):
place where if I, you know, get the ball rolling one direction,
I know exactly what's going to happen. Who's going to do what My partners,
my lenders, my ESCRO officers,They're going to do their role.
I do mine. So I'm justwaiting for them to pass the ball back
right right? Uh. And thenand still like we have like you said,
we have a team. We havefive active agents total and five referral
(22:10):
agents, and and and we're likea family, like if they need anything,
I'm like, I'm I'm like thedad at home and at work.
She's a mom at work too.We're there to help everybody. We're there
to train everyone where there. Uhliterally, I even my agents say like
(22:30):
if I'm awake, they know I'mgoing to respond. So I'm available almost
twenty four to seven because I don'tsleep that much. But no, I
think just having that environment of like, because I am very also very selective
of who we bring onto the team, you have to be. We've had
people, you know, interview itwas not a right it wasn't a right
(22:52):
fit just overall, and unfortunately wehad to like decline and you know,
right now it's a good time tobring on any new agents and kind of
leave it at that. But yeah, protecting the culture and the energy of
the office is and has always beenmy priority. It's important because if you
don't have that, you know,that kind of that vibe, that that
(23:17):
culture, all of that, like, people won't feel comfortable in their space.
And when you're most comfortable, you'regonna do the best job that you
can, right. And if youfeel that communication is open and everyone can
can get their piece of it donein a way that's like cohesive, that's
when you got the key and that'swhat you got to Sawce. So,
I mean, I think it's it'sit's dope that you're taking the time to
make sure you're bringing on people thatare that are you know, you're protective
(23:41):
of your of your business, right. I think you you and I both
chuckled hard when when you brought upyou know, not getting enough sleep.
I mean it's it's a it's alreadyyou know, sleep deprivation when you have
the kids, right, but youknow you're you're in it in a hospitality
care type space. When it comesto finding someone a home, like you
really are accessible at odd hours causeyou gotta, you know, think about
(24:04):
your client. They're working their job. They probably won't have an opportunity to
talk to you until after their businesshours. So it's a lot of like
odd hours that you probably work atweekends, you know, is probably the
best time to meet with clients andshow places. So it's it's a lot
of shuffling, right, but it'salmost it's almost cool, and I can
kind of be right there with youon this on this token is you get
(24:29):
to go to places when it's lessbusy, right, because my hours,
you know, I do morning driveradio, and so we're we're in the
think of it with everyone when they'restuck in traffic. But when we're done,
and if we're you know, stayingon top of all we gotta get
done, I can get out andtake meetings later in the afternoon, so
I don't have to hit all thetraffic and I can do everything virtually.
So what I'm saying is is likeyou guys are similar in that, Hey,
(24:52):
why don't we take the kids toblah blah blah today? Lines will
be shorter, we can have agood time and then you know, it's
it's really about figuring out how yourbusiness can thrive, but then you can
also have space for your life toactually thrive, because what are we working
for if we're not, you know, able to enjoy it exactly. People
learned it the hard way or youknow the best way, should I say,
(25:15):
during the pandemic, because you wereforced to be in the house and
it was like, wait a minute, I ain't seen this wall and who
has that wall needed to be painted? Like because you're not in your house.
You weren't in your house at often, you were stuck in traffic,
you were taking meetings, you werelike, you know, paying for this
this place that you're living in thatyou were not doing any living in.
(25:36):
Right. So I think that wasone really positive thing that we were able
to get out of the pandemic,aside from you know, the negative stuff.
Who want to look for the valuethat we created there? Right?
I mean, how do you?I mean, it's like there's a lot
of people who want to get intothis space. They're like, I'm a
good salesperson. I know a lotof people I like houses, you know
(25:57):
what I mean? Like all thelittle thing a kind of there, but
it's not until you actually get inthe position, Like, how do you
prepare somebody for that? Because Idon't think people realize you when you come
see a house, you might bethere for twenty minutes max. That agent
might be there for eight hours,might be there for whatever. The breakdown
(26:18):
is, right, like, howdo you mentally prepare somebody for what the
job really is? I think,you know, really expressing that there is
no pay. There is no constantpay guaranteed, so you don't read unless
a home actually sells, right,and either if you're helping the seller,
helping the buyer. If that housedoes not sell, you are not getting
(26:40):
paid. And there are some monthswhere I'm working forty plus hours a week
and because things are delayed, theytransactions get canceled. This year, I
have not, you know, twomonths straight, I was not paid a
dollar so and of course you knowwe have reserves and all, but still,
right, that's something that you haveto be prepared for mentally, because
(27:03):
I have family members who have theirlicense but still choose the nine to five
because they can't, you know,mentally take on the toll of I have
to. I have to hunt myfood and you know, eat what I
what I you know what I've hunted. But you know, I think that's
the biggest picture of you know,you have to put in the work to
(27:25):
get the rewards, right, andreally, even agents who are looking to
be part time, it's still youhave this agent still has to treat their
job as a full time job.Right, So you're not taking on fifty
percent, You're taking on one hundredpercent on top of whatever your percent you're
putting in right now, right,And that's really the only way to be
(27:45):
successful, and that's why there's sucha large failure rate. But at the
end of the day, agents haveto understand, yes, you know,
you are an advocate for your client, whether regardless if you're helping them buy
or sell, and you have toreally be there for the client and not
for yourself because there are unfortunately,there are a lot of bad quote unquote
(28:10):
bad realtors or unethical ones, uneducatedones. Because the threshold of getting your
license is low, so where youput yourself after you get your license is
very important because that would dictate yoursuccess as well. Right Because you know,
I tell all my majority of ouragents agents are new and I tell
(28:33):
them you can't want to sell morethan the client. If the client says,
you know what, this is notthe house, or you know this
house has too many repairs, you'renot there to push them to move them
along to go and buy the house. You're there to help them figure out,
all right, well, if wefix things, is this you know,
if we were to repair things,is this I still want? And
(28:56):
at the end of the day,you're there to advocate for whatever decision they
want. So I think that's abig one where it's you're there to advocate
for the client. You are theircounselor you're there uh literally I have had
people flip out on me, gocrazy because of the stress. It's a
stress It is a stressful event intheir life because it's such a big one
(29:19):
and a large financial decision that that'stheir life. So it's your their emotional
counselor their financial counselor even though that'smore of a lender thing. I do
the job being like, hey,you know, this is my thoughts,
but you have to talk to alender about that. Yeah, uh,
you know, really everything so andyou have to plan for them, inspections,
(29:41):
you have to you know, ensurethat you know what they're doing after
they sell the house. So youhave to, you know, think of
everything the bigger picture when you're workingwith the client and not just your wallet,
because at the end of the day, if that's you know, you
can make a lot of money inreal estate. But at the end of
the day, if you're not therefor the client, then I don't think
(30:03):
you're going to be either successful orbe sustain yourself. Yeah, yeah,
exactly, because in this industry it'sI call it a popularity contest. The
more people you know, the morebusiness you'll have. If you start messing
up and you show say you're notthere for the client, everybody's gonna share
it with everybody else, and nobody'sgonna call you. Yeah, And I
(30:25):
think you I think you brought upa good point too. I mean,
and I think that's what separates you, right, is because you are leading
with ethics number one. You're leadingwith you know, wanting to do something
good for somebody, and in theat the end of the day, you
happen to get a nice check forit. So you feel good all around,
not only just for your career longevity, but also for your your your
(30:47):
your relationship with that person, You'reyou're helping them shape their life. Right,
But you brought up a good point. There are a lot of you
know, folks in the business thatmight not be taking that route, whatever
the reason is, whether it's lazinessjust good old fashioned greediness. I mean,
what, what are some of thethings that people should look out for?
Because right now, I'll tell youstraight up, like if you jump
on social media, if you jumpon you know, any of these sites
(31:11):
or whatever, you probably come acrossthe lines of somebody trying to say,
hey, if you come take mymaster class, you can sell, you
can flip. You can flip ahundred houses and have one hundred revenue streams.
Like, you know, what arewhat are some things that people should
look out for, not only fromlike a buyer's standpoint, but also from
someone trying to say, hey,you could you could have this as passive
(31:32):
income. Right. It's you know, I think that what you brought up
in terms of flipping homes and stuff, that's a whole different subject. That's
a whole but I think definitely interviewingmost you know, as many agents as
you can unless you know you alreadyyou know, have a following you fought
(31:52):
Like I've had people say I've followedyou for years and finally I'm ready.
So unless you follow them and knowwho they are, you know, you
can go ahead and hire that person. But if you don't know anybody in
the industry, I say, youknow, interview as many people as possible
so that you know who they areas a person, how they work.
You know, if they're good,they should have come in on the first
(32:14):
meeting showing information on their stats ofhow they perform, and and truly understand
who you're working with. Because atthe end of the day, whether you're
help and you're helping a client iseither purchasing or selling a home, they
have to have the confidence in theiragent sure that they're doing everything right by
them. Because it's such a big, big thing. It's a huge thing,
(32:37):
and it could set you up for, you know, a really good
financial place. It could set youup for creating, you know, lifetime
memories. I mean, it's it'sso much that goes into it. And
I really appreciate that you know,you and your wife and your guys's business
is leading with you know, yourheart and also in your heart in a
good place, right and that's whyyou guys have been so success. Yes,
(33:00):
well it's pretty plain to see,right, because you take your time
and you really look out for yourclient. I mean, I think the
the other part that I really wantto touch on before we wrap up,
because I already figure out we gotto we got to talk another podcast because
we got to talk about that otherthing. I planted the seed already,
and I think for that podcast,let's have you and your wife come back
on because I'm sure you'll both beable to provide, you know, some
(33:22):
insight when it comes to that.But you know, the biggest thing that
we always talk about on our podcastis you know, juggling all of this,
right, it's important to make timefor self care. You talked about,
you know, feeling like your cupwas filled. You can't you can't
feel anybody else's cup, meaning yourchildren, your partner if you're not feeling
(33:44):
filled yourself. So what are somethings that you do to make sure that
you know self care is a priority. Oh no, absolutely so. One
thing that we like to do asa couple is after putting them to bed,
we'll spend an hour, maybe twohours after just watching TV. We
just veg out because the whole thewhole day, you know, most of
the day, Like I can workfrom you know, the time of dropping
(34:07):
off the kids till eight nine o'clockat night. So right, because people,
like you said, people are availableafter hours, and my availability is
their availability at the end of theday, and we prioritize you know,
spending time with it with each otherat the end of the night. We
like to have date nights too,So being in this industry, you know,
(34:27):
when they're in school, we canhave like lunch dates, go you
know, drive drive an hour away, go to the you know, spend
some time together. Uh and andmaybe quarterly we'll just like we just went
to Sonoma or Sebastopol and you know, we just had like a it was
short, super super short, onenight's thing. You know. It's really
(34:50):
all that was needed is just thebreakaway of the constant, constant noise where
you know, we're not attending,you know, to feeding somebody else during
it's just really focusing on one another. And I think that has definitely because
that's something that we instilled early onthat has also helped our relationship too.
I love it. I love it, and it's it just it it makes
(35:13):
you. Like you said, itmight just be like a quick runaway for
a quick lunch, or it mightbe a quick overnight. Those little things
are maybe sure, but they theytheir impact is felt way beyond that time.
So it's important to do that.And a lot of times, like
you said, you might be attendingto your kids. I'll tell you,
like you didn't even realize, like, oh my god, like I haven't
even I haven't even fed myself.Hold on a second. So it's it's
(35:36):
a little things that you gotta doto uh, to make sure that you
care for yourself so you can carefor others. And that's that's that's dope
that you guys are setting it asa priority because it's tough. It's you
might you might look at your calendarand be like, Okay, I got
this one hour to get a workoutin, to breathe or stretched for a
second, and sometimes that hour canjust float away. You have one you
(35:57):
have one kid, have a tantrum, that hour gone. I need to
put you in summer school right exactly. So I mean, you know,
it's a tough thing to do,but I'm glad that you guys are making
a priority. I want you totell the people you know where they can
find you, how they can youknow, stay in touch with not only
your business but your family. Imean, you guys are dope and giving
(36:17):
out some some uh some entertaining contenttoo, for sure, for sure.
So I'm Jonathan. I'm I amthe founder and owner of adapt To Real
Estate. We service the Greater BayArea and we have agents across the Bay
Area as well, and you canfind us on Instagram. I am Bay
Area Living. Uh, my lastname is ing and as a Nancyg's and
(36:39):
George is a Bay Area Live andthen NNG and my wife is zoran At
Zoran z h E r r An n E. And yeah, we
have a We do everything Disney reallytravel and food. We love to eat,
We love to travel, and youknow, we love to relate to
(37:00):
you know, not we don't doit to relate to everybody, but we
love sharing what we're experiencing with everyone. Yeah, but yeah, I know,
feel free to follow what's your what'syour guys is go to right now
because I know, like once summertimehits as far as like foody and fun,
like we're my family. We've beenall about the water slides hitt up
the water slides. My kids arenow out the age where they can actually
(37:22):
you know, go down the waterslides. But it's like between that and
then we were doing a lot ofwe just came out of like cherry season,
so we were hitting up you know, all the fresh fruit picking and
stuff like that. Like what aboutyou guys, what's the what's the summer
foody or fun activity? Yeah,so right now every Thursday in Benetia,
there's a farmer's market in Napa onThursday. That's on Thursdays Sundays is Napa
(37:47):
Farmers Market. And then we liketo go to Gots a lot in Napa,
so there's there's something for everybody there. So it's great. Oh yeah,
you can get your burger or youcan get some corn if you just
want to stick to the plant basedstuff or the milk trait because you already
know the baby's going with some time. Sweet sweet goodness. So I love
it. I love it. Well, we're gonna have you back on for
(38:07):
another podcast, but I appreciate youcoming on this. Mama got drama,
all right, thanks so much forhaving me dope
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