Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another S.A.D.D. Meetup. Now, we have the absolute pleasure to have with us Holly Carole, who not only is a successful international real estate agent, but she's also a former Miss Canada and author of the book Selling Secrets. She's going to tell us all about the luxury mindset that you have to have in order to sell these amazing properties, not only in Muscoque in Ontario, but also internationally.
She's actually going to be joining us live from the Bahamas, and she's going to tell us all about her successful career and what it takes to reach that level. There she is. What's going on, Holly? Hi, how are you?
You're natural. I've seen you doing this podcast and videos, so many occasions for you. This is just like another day. I know that you're at the office, but you're joining us from the Bahamas, right?
Yeah, I got here yesterday. It's beautiful here. Amazing, amazing. Now, but as I was mentioning in the introduction, you're not only an international luxury real estate agent, but you're also an author of these amazing books Selling Secrets, and you were also Miss Canada.
Oh, there you go. That's the book. So you have a lot of different things that you've been doing throughout your career, and everything led to where you are today. You're selling some of the most beautiful homes, and everything is because of that mindset.
So we'll talk all about it. But thank you. Thank you for joining us. Thank you so much for having me.
This is wonderful. I will say that you're very well liked. I've gotten a lot of Instagram posts and messages about you personally, so from my other coworkers at the agency and some friends. So I'm happy to be here.
Well, thank you. Tell us about yourself. I mean, obviously it takes many years to be at that level, and you don't come just from real estate. You were doing other things.
I mean, former Miss Canada, and you were doing some other things. So what led you to where you are today? Yeah, so it's a good point, because I feel like everything that I've done up until now did lead me to this, and it made me who I am for this. I was an international model for about 17 years, so I love to travel.
I love to explore the world and see luxury. And then in 2017, 2018, I won Miss Canada Tourism. So I love branding myself already. I was sort of branding myself for a very long time, since I was about 11 years old.
So that helped. And I actually started real estate in the downtown Toronto. And I use that term lightly, because I really didn't get the plane off the ground that well in Toronto. It just didn't click.
And when the pandemic hit, I was going up to Muscoca a lot and just enjoying that luxury part of Muscoca. And I was envisioning myself selling there and selling beautiful luxury properties there. And I was like, why not? Like, why not?
Exactly. Yeah, real estate wasn't really happening in Toronto. Anyways, it certainly wasn't happening really for me, regardless of the pandemic. So I just started and it worked.
And I embodied that luxury real estate. I lived the lifestyle. I sold the lifestyle. I positioned myself.
I branded myself as a Muscoca waterfront specialist. And I started listing properties at that. And I started tracking buyers. And I never list a property that's inland.
I always do luxury waterfront. And I think that has a lot to do with just how I spoke, how I talked about it, how I branded myself. Now I'm the go to real estate agent for that particular product. You know, I branded myself as a Queen of Muscoca.
Because I'm a little bit like that. Well, there we go. Because it kind of goes with the pageant performance. I was going to say exactly the journey of you.
So that's amazing. You should do the runways. You know, do runways in the properties. Oh, yeah, totally.
And I even go a step further. And I totally up my brand with closing deals and heels. Like I love to be that person that I was. You know, when I first got into real estate, I wasn't me.
I wasn't the beauty queen. I wasn't the international model. I was this corporate holly. And it felt fake.
And it wasn't authentic. And so once I was like, you know what? Heck, it's through this. I'm going to be this whoever I want to be.
And I'm going to show up to the fact that I was a model and I was a beauty queen. And it actually went hand in hand in the end. And it worked out. A lot of people have that mindset of like, OK, what do I do next?
How do I brand myself? What would be one of the advice for you, for somebody building their brand? Well, first of all, I'd like to say anybody watching now or later, you can be whatever you want to be. Like, if you want to be a luxury real estate agent, you can do that.
We all have the insights to do that. But it's a commitment. It's going to be a commitment to yourself. It's going to be a commitment to your brand.
It's going to be a commitment to professional and personal growth. And it's going to be a commitment to integrity. So pick whatever you want and go for it. And then be accountable to your gold and your dreams and to yourself.
And then it'll all work out at the end. I wake up every day as a luxury real estate agent. Wherever that takes me, that takes me. But I wake up every day and I embody that.
If you notice, usually you see luxury real estate agents, it's not just a one off. They sell luxury real estate, right? They talk about luxury real estate agents. They're probably hanging out with all luxury real estate agents.
So it's not about how to become a real estate, luxury real estate agent. It's who? So they literally became that person. They embody that and they embody that every day.
Kind of somebody developed that mindset. A big, big, big thing I talk about a lot is visualization. So I literally visualize myself shaking hands. Oh, sorry.
I'm jumping right here. Oh, we got to talk about that. You still hear me? I hear you perfectly.
So biggest thing is visualization. So I visualize myself shaking hands with that multi-millionaire that just bought that house, visualize myself in those homes. I visualize myself showing those homes. I also go to all the luxury real estate that's in Mistoka, or wherever I want to sell or wherever someone wants to sell.
I also go to luxury hotels and I drink water out of a wine glass. Like I do all luxury. So I embody that. I feel that and then I proceed.
Well, how can you overcome the difficulties? Like, what's been something that you will say like, oh my god, this is so difficult, but this is what I learned from. I think it goes back to you having that commitment. Commitment to yourself and commitment to your goals and that accountability.
We all know as real estate agents, we probably get rejected more than we get the deal, right? So, you know, we're not going to have this sold every time. We're not going to have the listing paperwork signed. Like that's not going to happen every time.
So you have to wake up and have that commitment. Because if you don't have that commitment in that goal and strive for it every single day, then you're going to be all over the place. So, right? Right?
I think that also when you back that up with the why. Why you do what you do? Because you can have that vision. But if it's backed up with a why, then that commitment becomes stronger.
Because you might have a goal. But if there's nothing that really backs up why you're doing that, it might fade away quickly. So... And there's a lot of...
Sorry. No, no, it's very interesting. Yeah. And there's a lot of people that probably will want to tear you down too, right?
And they'll get in your head. But if you have a clear goal and you're embodying that, then it won't matter. Listen, if you're the queen, if you're the queen, you're the queen. Nobody's going to think that way.
There you go. You brought yourself the queen. Everybody respects that. Now, listen, I think that is fantastic.
Obviously, I wanted to ask you about your book, selling secrets. Like, tell us a secret. I mean, tell us a secret. What's it there?
What is it about? So I'm basically giving away the secrets. It's a basic book that I wrote for one accountability, but I also wrote it for sellers. Obviously, if you read the book, you still should get a real estate agent.
Don't try and sell your house by yourself. But it's back to basics. It's back to basics. It's about curb appeal.
It's about staging. It's about negotiating. All of the really basic things that we tend to forget about, or at least we tend to complicate. So I think that everybody watching, go ahead and get a copy.
You know, maybe you can give it to the seller that you're working with or to get that information for yourself, to beam the mindset of what would you do if you were the actual owner of the property. So I think it's fantastic. And congratulations. It takes time and effort to write a book.
I'm writing a book myself, and I know the commitment that it takes. So we go back to the same thing, commitment. Now, let me ask you, Holly, the mixture between the model career industry and real estate, it seems like you've done a great combination in there. But what is one thing that you will say have helped you from that past career with real estate?
Self-worth. Self-worth. Yeah, self-worth. I think before, too, because I was trying to be somebody else, I didn't truly believe I was worthy of it.
I was worthy of it. So I had to really do some deep personal growth, and then it didn't matter anymore. Then it was like, I'm shining my light from the inside. So yes, you see this model, Miss Canada Tourism outside, but it's all from the inside.
And that's why it's OK for people to be around me, and I track these type of people, because it's my inner growth that I've worked on. I love it. So this also leads to branding. I know we touched base about it quickly, but I wanted to ask you this question.
So when we talk about personal brands, you're selling yourself. And I see a lot of the people that are in the real estate space that they only showcase properties in their profile. They don't show the behind the scenes, or they don't open up with what their life looks like. It's not just a product.
But some other people are very personal. They show everything to their babies, and what they're having for breakfast. So is that a fine line between or what route do you think is a good one? I think the best way to sell anything is to create emotion, and you can't create emotion with a still photo of a property.
Create emotion. I like that. I like that. You need to reach the heart.
It's a heart! Yeah, people still have those hearts out there. There's still emotional people out there. So I agree with you.
No, because with social media, would you say that there is a specific platform that should be a go-to? Is Instagram the tool? You know why? I love Instagram because I know how to use it.
I don't really have time to learn a new method at the moment. And it's been really, really well to me. I'm really grateful for the clients that I brought in and the things that I've attracted. OK, this interview.
But I think whatever you use and is doing well for you, and you have the time to do, stick with that. I don't think you should move on because somebody else told you to. Obviously, there's probably the big three, which is Instagram, TikTok. And I would say probably YouTube.
But I'm not really a huge social media expert, but I have found a lot of success on social media. Amazing. No, I love it. Now, the word luxury, I always ask this question because it comes in so many different shapes and forms.
What is it to you? Luxury is a lifestyle. Lifestyle? There we go.
I love it. Are you in it? I mean, the queen is to live a luxurious lifestyle. No, I think it's fantastic.
And I agree with you. That's what we're selling the lifestyle. And that's what a luxury real estate agent does. It's not just a property, it's a lifestyle.
So, well said. Out of entire career as a model, now in real estate, what is one big takeaway that you will share with us today? Be fearlessly authentic in everything you do. I like it.
I like it. Fearlessly authentic. I like it. I want to write that one down.
I'm going to play in my notes for the morning, but I'm not interested in visual arts. I have information. I will say one more thing too. I mean, real estate is the vehicle that I got into, but I want to create an impact in the world.
The kindness is still a thing out there. So, I think that whatever vehicle you want to get into, still try and make an impact in the world and be kind and help other people. I really love that you use the word vehicle, because I always say that. It's about visualizing the type of lifestyle that you want to have.
If your current vehicle is allowing you to get there. So, that vehicle, it could be your business, it could be the project that you're on. And in this case, it's real estate. The vehicle to allow you to live that lifestyle.
And that lifestyle, it's going to include making that impact in your community or doing certain things. So, I do believe that as long as you are building that vehicle around the lifestyle that you want to have, everything is possible. So, it's been a pleasure hearing your insights. I know you have some really good stuff going on in Bahamar, so we'll wait a little bit to care more about it.
But definitely wishing you well. Thanks again. Is there anything else that you would like to share? No, that's perfect.
And thank you so much for having me on. I appreciate this. No, of course. Thank you, Holly.
And thank you for everyone else that has been watching or listening. And make sure to follow Holly and everything that she's doing, because it's fantastic. And I cannot wait to see you here in Miami or up in Ontario. Or Bahamar.
Oh! I actually would love to have this. It's really close to Miami. It wouldn't be bad to take away there.
All right. That was good. Well, Holly, wishing you well. I will speak very soon.
OK? OK. Bye. Thank you.
Bye. And thanks again for everybody tuning in today. We hope you enjoyed it. And remember, embrace its beautiful success in life.
My name is Alvaro, and I'll see you next time.