Alright, welcome back ladies and gentlemen to another SFU meetup. I'm super thrilled to have one of our special guests today She's a superstar when it comes to real estate her name is Kayla Cardona And I'm sure you've seen her on the Netflix show Sally They will see she's part of the open-hand group and she's gonna tell us how she's done from growing up in Santa Ana in Orange County to be coming now one of the most successful upcoming real estate agents in such a competitive market That's all about Orange County amazing real estate and also about yourself because I gotta tell you wow What a what a career what a story I mean, I know a little bit about it But for those that don't know I want you to tell us how Kayla Cardona from growing up in Santa Ana Orange County from a really rough a really rough Beginning now you are you know becoming a superstar in real estate having your space in the Netflix show like all these things are happening to you It's just unbelievable. Yeah, thank you for that. Um, yeah, well, it's been quite the journey You know as we all know journey is never end so I just try to get better every day But um, yeah, I mean in the shortest term is possible You know, I had you know a very harsh childhood growing up and you know, I Had a very young age.
I was kind of forced to grow up very fast and you know, I think it was just coming from a place of Knowing what I don't want and so I just kind of had to figure it out on my own You know being a young mom a teenage mom really had me grow up really really fast and so You know, I've always had multiple jobs at one time You know two to three jobs at one time I tried even going to college because I thought that was something that you were supposed to do and that it might work out So, um, you know, I really started Gaining traction as far as where I was going in my life and that kind of started with the beauty industry I was in the beauty industry close to ten years. Yeah, that's how I started the whole entrepreneurship Learning how to run a business and getting clientele and keeping clientele and you know, just building that You know book of contracts in the beauty industry and I loved it very much. I built a great book of business All in Orange County and I ended up in Newport Beach with a higher end clientele And that's how I got exposed to the real estate world half of my clients were either in real estate or invested in real estate And we would have these conversations and I you know never thought you know, I don't think any of us really woke up one day said Oh, you're a real estate agent like no one thinks that So, you know, I just heard left and right from clients like, you know, he would be really good people You know, you have this that so I was like, you know, maybe let me just let me just see let me just get my license You know, and I always was that type of person that like always wanted to learn more grow more take on new tasks Which could be a good thing and a bad thing because you know jacks of all trade, right? Oh, yeah, I have like I have like my license to like I just I've always Want more voice number for more.
Yeah, so anyways, I decided to get my license And it became kind of fun thing. I decided something with my friends. We're like we should just go together So we ended up doing it. Um, and then honestly, I just made the decision that you know, I gotta make a career change I do need it, you know, just I'm just gonna say make more money.
I'm a sole provider single mother You know, I just I was always on my feet. My hands were getting really, um, you know, like carpal tunnel I'm like cutting hair and something like okay. I'm waiting on to for this to be happening I gotta make a decision and it's scary it's scary to start all over again, you know, and you're and people know you as The hairdresser or barber and it's like getting into a whole new career. So, um, it was really scary So when I first started into real estate, you know, I had to find um someone to kind of Uh, assist and also cutting hair while also working in that club So, but I mean it worked Did you have a specific mentor or a role model that you looked after when you got into real estate?
You know, I had several mentors not so much. Um, it's physical form where like online mentors that kind of got me started as far as like my mindset And where I was going but starting off in real estate. I think that um, you know, I was referred to Uh, there was a few brokers that I was kind of interviewing trying to see if it would be a fit for me and then I am I just got um um referred to a team that um offered mentorship which For anyone listening now if you're new into real estate Uh, that's what I would highly recommend to find a team or brokerage that offers mentorship programs or training that are very hands-on Not the type that you're sitting in a classroom taking notes and stuff like that That's not how you're gonna learn. You gotta get in the dirt.
You gotta get dirty. Um, so that's kind of how I started When you were working on your mindset, were you also manifesting to be on a TV show like you are today? You know, you're the first person that has asked me that question and I love it. Thank you and yes, I did manifest it Um, I I'm a writer.
I love writing in my journal. Um, I would love to say I do it every day, but I don't I do it often as I can but it was funny because I was going through my journal She's going back and I was like, you know, I wrote something along the lines of um one day Uh, no, no, I write in terms of as it already happened. So I say I say, you know, I'm so happy and thankful that I am on a show that inspires millions of people Every single day and I was thinking in terms of like you two but you know, it ended up being that slick switch. Thank you.
God Wow So the manifesting is the biggest thing was like the number one challenge for you and what did you learn the most from it? The thing is that for me like I work best under pressure like I need to be pushed on the edge like I'm crazy I will put myself in very uncomfortable situations for example, I started closing One to deal the month in my last brokerage. I was killing it. I was doing so good And I ended up getting uh in a rent that I couldn't even afford But I knew that if I put myself up against a wall now, I'm not I'm not telling people to go and do this I'm just crazy.
But that is an example I will push myself up against the wall and I have no choice but to make it work. How have you find the best approach to market these homes? Well, obviously marketing is obviously the most important. I think, um, you know, me being with the Oppenheim group I mean that in itself is huge everyone knows as a world like brand so, um, you know, I feel like I have that extra leverage than a lot of people And other bookages, but it's really marketing obviously, um, putting in, you know, you have to put a lot of money into your own business And so um, and then also yourself marketing yourself, right?
So it's so important to now, you know, I wasn't always like this I had to and I'm still trying to get better as far as talking to every single person that you see if you see someone in an elevator You say hi, I have small talk things like that because not only does it help you meet more people and get more in front of more faces But it gets you a lot more confident and speaking of people and and you know, um, going to networking events and things like that And that's something that I do a lot I go to and I support a lot of local businesses here in Orange County And I try to support as many people as I can and and they will naturally want to support you as well And I think the best business is really come from referrals. I'm curious to know for personal branding What would we recommend somebody that is living on just in real faith but in the luxury space and one a brand themselves? Would you go more from a position of vulnerability? I saw your Instagram You're showing your workout where you are like you're very open like a lot of people engage with that But you are afraid of showing too much of their life.
How would you go about that? Um, I think there's so much power and vulnerability period, um, you know, like you just said earlier, you know, this is a people's business And um people need to get to know you for you and not just on a business standpoint. They need to know you on a personal level Um, you know, obviously you don't know everything but um, you know, I think that that is super important because No one's gonna work with people that they don't know right? They're gonna work with people who they know like and trust Another thing I would like to add to that is um, you know being more on video, you know, my emails are not just typed out I send bomb bomb videos to Yes, they're so easy and so you just you know record yourself.
Say hi like right now I love this time of year because it's the holidays perfect times to reach out to your past clientele or your c oi or you know Uh people that you're nurturing, you know, I still have people that I've been nurturing for the last two and a half years and all every year I'll send them, you know, happy Thanksgiving. Hope you and your family's been doing well. Merry christmas, you know And don't ever expect a response back but it's funny because like six months later down the line. Oh, hey, by your email Like, you know, and people will go see you.
You won't hear from them for a long time Then out of nowhere out of the blue they're gonna be like, oh, hey, and you're just like, hey So true. I love that. What's the the most fun thing about being on the show? Honestly for me specifically it was just getting super dressed up About you called them glad so you like that It was fun.
It was you know, I wore colors and patterns that I never thought I would ever and that was fun But no, um, I would say um, it's just a new experience, you know Just going through the whole production parts and and um, you know, we ended we did have fun for the most part We had fun. Yes, the drama is real. Yes, it was there but at the end of the day I think we were we all had fun and um just getting together a bunch of strangers and you know, it was very entertaining, you know, very strong Personalities and um, it was it was a very it was a fun experience for sure. Well, when it comes to the world luxury what comes to your mind?
Mindset. I like that lifestyle. It's um, you know, obviously it's gonna be different for everyone But it's definitely definitely a mindset. I would like to ask you just one last thing because I know you're busy just starting there with a lot of things Finance.
So what's the biggest takeaway? I think the most biggest the most important thing really is having a good heart I think, you know in this industry you have So many people it's so it's full of people that are just in it for themselves And they just want to make more money and you know, whatever it takes whoever they're gonna step on I'm talking about agents and clients You know, they'll go around you I think having the biggest heart and really truly listening and caring for people that you're, you know, servicing towards Um and being honest and having integrity and working really hard and working around the clock I think that way there in itself like I haven't been in real estate for that long, but I think you know, people see through Experience versus having a having a good heart, right? So people will see how hard you're working for them I definitely recommend everybody that is watching right now or later to please follow K-Labs. She's fantastic If you haven't seen the show go and watch it and hopefully are we gonna see you next season?
Um as soon as we find out you guys will know, trust me, but You're coming here to Miami at some point. We'll have to show you around if I'm coming over there. We'll obviously as well Yeah, thank you. I would love to um that's definitely on my to-go list I've been wanting to go all my friends have been there Um, but if you're not if you're not busy later five o'clock my time here I'm actually gonna do a live with Eileen Jimenez.
She's from Designing Miami on Netflix Of course, yeah Join us, stay at my time Your time right? Yes. Yes. Oh my god.
That's amazing. Yes. Yes. That's fantastic Because they just launched the Netflix show here in Miami and it's so much fun.
No, she's great And well, I look forward to cueing you both and thanks again. K-Labs. I appreciate it mucha gala. Yes, and we'll speak very soon.
Okay. Thank you You too. Bye. Bye And thanks again for everybody tuning in today.
We hope you enjoyed it And remember embrace it's beautiful success in life. My name is Alvaro and I'll see you next time