Top Left: Hanging with awesome co-workers who I am proud to call friends Bottom Left: RED Day supporting BookSpring Top Right: Example of our fun, creative, and competitive spirit — the award winning CANville structure Bottom Right: Friends from near and far sporting tutus at Red Rally supporting Austin Pets Alive!
A little less than a year ago, I joined the Keller Williams Realty International (KWRI) team. If you know me, you are WELL aware of this fact because each day, my social mediums are “blown up” with something fun, exciting, challenging, and inspiring tied to this amazing company. On Friday, Keller Williams received an Austin Young Chamber FAVE Award as Best Local Living Company. This morning, I was escatatic when the Austin American-Statesman named Keller Williams No. 2 among large companies in their 2014 Top Workplaces of Greater Austin list. I am thrilled, but not surprised!
A few weeks ago, the Statesman team popped by to film this video that captures the heart, spirit, and mindset of our organization. It’s a “must see!”
As I read the brief article and watched the video for the seventh time (critiquing my cameo), I reflected on why each day I bound out of bed, eager to get to KWRI early.
People are Our #TheONEThing
Big Hearts
It sounds like a cliche, but my colleagues literally make magic happen. We have a phrase, “coming from contribution,” which perfectly articulates the giving nature of our team. From helping our co-workers enduring unexpected hardships through our H.E.A.R.T. Fund to the commitment to volunteer service, our team is eager to drop everything to help make someone else’s life better. The entire company stops business on RED Day to serve communities across the globe. It is an amazing culture that starts with hearts!
Talented
In addition to having big hearts, there is so much talent in our office it is unbelievable. Our hiring process, Recruit-Select, ensures that we identify the top professional talent for each position, which is why we are able to support our 110,000+ real estate associates throughout the world. It is also why you will often find a KWRI team member speaking on panels at conferences. The talent expands far beyond the professional scope. We have some of the city’s most renowned actors and actresses, athletes who coach high school students, active musicians, philanthropists, dance enthusiasts and that’s just scratching the surface.
Fun Loving
Most importantly, this crew has fun. On any given day, you will find some sort of friendly competition in action. On Halloween, teams go overboard to win the best decorations and costume. I was both amused and shocked to see our COO and an unnamed top executive battle it out during an egg on the spoon relay race. And don’t event get me started about the battle for a spirit stick. Birthday celebrations are epic and practical jokes are found, well, everywhere!
Growing
What’s really special is that no one is comfortable — in a good way. Our team is committed to growth both professionally and personally. Each employee has a growth plan and stated goals. You better have your personal goals on there too or you will get sent back to revise your plan. It’s astonishing! The company provides numerous internal trainings and is quick to support external opportunities. Everyone is reading something: real estate, business, personal wealth, inspirational, and spiritual titles. This growth leads to opportunities within the company and in the industry.
My Personal Note
When I accepted the position, I knew that I was landing my dream job, a combination of philanthropy, recruiting, and public relations. What I NEVER saw coming was how quickly my life would change in the best way possible. I have always been a positive, productive, successful and happy person. I am now all of that times 1,000! I am not kidding!
I have the good fortune of shadowing our vice chair of the board, Mo Anderson, and the CEO of MAPS Coaching, Dianna Kokoszka. I now have my own real estate business. I have had the great fortune of driving the launch of a new Keller Williams business, the KW Young Professionals Division. I am surrounded by supportive new friends both in Austin and around the globe who are cheering me on and sharing their knowledge to help me succeed. And, if I don’t succeed, I know I am supported by a company that believes in “failing forward.” Meaning, I will learn valuable lessons that will set me up for even greater success.
Join Our Family
If you are looking for a career change, consider joining the Keller Williams family! The best part of our growth is the opportunity to hire new talent at corporate. There are open positions in our market centers too. Or, consider a career in real estate which is also an opportunity to build your own empire. To learn about more opportunities email me at holly.priestner@kw.com or tweet me at @hollypriestner.
Tags: career, empire, fun, heart, join us, Keller Williams Realty International, people, philanthropy, positive, real estate, recruiting, success, Talent, Team, Top Workplace
