NOW

Ask The General With Michele Roderick

• Courtney Twiss • Episode 25

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Ever wondered how a nickname can shape your life and career? Join us as we uncover the origins of "the general," a name that traces back to a childhood under the influence of a United States Marine Corps parent. Discover how this upbringing instilled a discipline, structure, and relentless pursuit of excellence that permeates both personal and professional realms. We discuss the challenges and benefits of such a regimented lifestyle and how it creates a sense of security and drive to achieve goals.

Transitioning from pharmaceuticals to real estate might seem like a leap, but it's all about connecting and building relationships. In this episode, we share our journey into the world of eXp Realty, highlighting the critical importance of direct communication, not just with clients but with fellow realtors. By nurturing one's sphere of influence and staying adaptable, we explore the diverse paths to success available in the real estate industry. This chapter offers invaluable insights for both new and experienced agents navigating the field.

Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) while maintaining a successful career is no small feat. We delve into the realities of balancing a demanding pharmaceutical career with the challenges of MS, underscoring the importance of physical and mental well-being. We also envision future dreams, from retirement plans to relocation possibilities that support both travel and healthcare needs. As we wrap up, we emphasize perseverance and learning from failure, encouraging listeners to take action in their own lives. Don't miss the opportunity to engage with our content and explore potential collaborations with Now Nation!

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Speaker 1:

I gotta tell you, this morning Lauren Quinn is in my room. She says, mom, today's gonna be a big day. I don't know. Everybody said it is. And she says, yeah, libby might come over. Oh, yeah, they'll come and they can help with the pigs and I'm gonna ride Chisholm. I can't wait, I'll see you later. And she left and then left with her weight doing her rodeo wave in the arena. Girl, it was so cute.

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Now Podcast, episode 25. I feel like that's a big one. There's no like this is nice. It is nice, yeah, having the two of us on here. We are going to mix it up today.

Speaker 1:

No guest on the pod today, because it's time to ask the general. Oh, that's kind of funny. Yep, you're getting grilled by me this time. Yeah, okay, in the hot seat. How do you feel about that? Um, pretty good, I think so. Yeah, it's your turn. You know it's usually not about me, so let me get my, my, uh, your game by my about me cap on.

Speaker 1:

I see that you're lacking coffee. I think that's a bad move. Oh, is that a coffee in there? This is two shots of espresso, actually, and for those on YouTube watching, you can see her coffee on the side of her cup all drips down the edge of her. Hello, sunshine cup. You got me this. I did you remember? I busted it out today? I was imagining a cocktail in there in the pool. No, no, cocktail. Iced coffee for you. Iced coffee for me, something else for me? Yeah, all right.

Speaker 1:

So let's get into this. Okay, so we've got some questions for you. I have some questions for you. Okay, do you know the answers already? Probably, probably for most of them. I think I do, but we'll see, we'll find out, all right.

Speaker 1:

So let's start with the obvious one, right? Why? Why the general? Why does everyone call you the general? I feel like some of our listeners are probably wondering that. Well, the background story on that is when we worked in the boot jack office, when we shared boot jack, we shared twist realty with ranch fence, which is owned by your husband, jared, which I went to school with way back in the day. Um, I think I think it came from me, uh, at one point helping him with a proposal, and I told him that I it sounded like can we swear on this one, or should I? I mean, let's go for it. Maybe our editor will believe. Yep, that's a good idea because it's kind of important. I remember him saying, like when I think, and I said I think that sounds like. I think there's no, does it make? I gave him the, the cold hard truth, and I just remember him being like, oh my gosh, like okay general, and then you ran with general and then everybody just started calling me the general.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I mean, I think it has to do with your mannerisms too, more than just that which I was raised with, a United States Marine Corps Marine. So from the time I was birthed till the time I left, which was almost 18 years, when you're around that intensity, you can't probably help to avoid it imprinting on you. I've noticed. So there it is, I've noticed. General, yeah, you have all the discipline. Yeah, well, actually, okay, let's, let's, let's get into that.

Speaker 1:

So discipline, yes, routine, yes, structure, yes, those are three words I came up with to describe you. Yes, so why are those important to you and how do you think it elevates your business? So there's probably some safe, some feeling of safety with all of that secure, that discipline. I imagine, if, if I was analyzed by some type of therapist, that, if I like, have all this structure and it's all neat and tidy, then I'm and unsafe, and maybe so it makes me feel good to have that. So that was part one of your question. Yeah, and how have you used that in your business? Because I'm a little more chaotic than you are and I watch you and you're just so good. Yeah, I mean just time blocking just so good. Yeah, I mean just time blocking it's.

Speaker 1:

It's this relentless pursuit of excellence. To be quite honest, if I had to, like drill it down and, as a result, I'm constantly like, okay, where am I at with this, where am I at with that, and how can I be better, and where am I missing the mark, and where do I need help and how am I going to get it? That's all really great, but then your brain doesn't shut down. So there's two different levels of intensity, right? That makes sense. I don't think anyone that knows us would describe us as intense, just kidding. Yeah, I'm all okay, so, yeah, yeah, I'm all, uh, okay, so, yeah, well, and I think too, for you outsider looking in, you know you can, you can be disciplined, you can make, you can get your, be good at writing your to-do lists, schedule your time, but it's all down to the execution right.

Speaker 1:

I think I don't remember what the status like. It's high, 80 or 90 percent of people can do the plan, but then they don't execute it yeah, or follow through, and I think that's something that I've noticed that you're really good at. Because the thing is is that if you, if you plan and you execute right and if it works, then you know that if that works and I can do that with this thing over here right, rinse and repeat, yeah, even if it's a different goal. Do you understand what I'm saying? So if you're trying to lose weight, you're like okay, I've tried X, y and Z and these tactics that I deployed worked right. So if I'm going to do the same thing in this field, you know it's this if you don't execute and reflect and pivot and do all the things, it's not going to work. Well.

Speaker 1:

And with your weight, how much weight did you lose? I think it was 40 pounds. 40? Wow, it was 40 pounds. In fact, this time last year, there were two things that I did. One was my fishing license. Did I even tell you this? I don't think so. I went to get my fishing license renewed and they said is everything accurate on here and I'm like, oh yeah, I'm so used to saying everything's the same. And I'm like, oh, not that, not that way, not that way, you know. And the lady looked at me. I'm like you can change that. I earned the right, drop that middle digit down, and the same thing with my CCW license. They were like, is that all accurate? And I'm like, not that, wow, that's how good. So, yeah, that was 40 pounds. Yeah, wow. And you've maintained it for quite a while now actually, which is, in my opinion, almost harder it's not easy Than losing it. Yeah, all right.

Speaker 1:

So let's pivot a little bit to your background. Yeah, to your background, yeah, career, yeah, um, we've mentioned on some of the podcasts about you being top one percent. Yep, what, where? What industry, where did you work? What area? Pharmaceuticals, uh, in bakersfield, good old kern county. Um, you know, and it was not easy. But but I knew, gosh, I knew that I was going to be a winner. Not surprised, I was not. I mean, I never doubted myself with that. I just never thought it would be that big, that much of a winner. Yeah, when I got that phone call, I was all. I mean, my knees slightly buckled.

Speaker 1:

Well, it's a big deal, 1% in the world, like how many people worked for that company? Well, in the country at that time, we had about 6,000 agents in the United States. So, yeah, I represented the United States. It was a little bit like the United Nations in France, so legit. It was like the US had a little section and I had the headphones to hear it in English and we had the United States flag that we were waving and so it was. So is that all expense paid? All expenses paid Plus one, plus one. So your aunt, right, went with you. Yeah, yep.

Speaker 1:

So I was promoted into oncology sales and moved to San Francisco and I was living in the city and I got a phone call from the assistant to the president of our company. And I was like you don't get a call from an assistant from the president of the company. And she put me on hold to connect me to him and he's like, oh, I heard you got promoted. And I'm like, okay, I said, with all due respect, I have to believe that you have better things to do. And to you know, call me and congratulate me on my promotion. And he's like well, true, I'm just wondering if you have a passport. And at this time I thought I was gonna win a trip to mexico. So I again, I'm like yes, I have a passport. You know, I love mexico. You don't get phone calls when you win regional trips, right. And then that's when he said you're going to paris with a you know your top one percent. And I'm all I literally my knees buckled and then they just started sending me stuff. I got roses, I got like all the stuff about paris and italy sent to my apartment in san francisco and it was like red carpet rolled out. Wow, oh my gosh. And then he came back and you're probably flying hi. Oh my gosh. It was a trip of a lifetime, it was crazy, it was fun.

Speaker 1:

So how many years were did you do the pharma? Four, uh, no, no, no. Um, I got into pharma. I was with sanofi for almost six years um, like eight years, yeah, maybe a little bit longer and I finally talked you into getting into real estate. Well, I had, I had abandoned ship on pharma to be a mommy. And then I met you and you were like come, and I'm like no, no, mm. Hmm, yeah, you're relentless, you didn't stop. No, I'm a winner as well. Right, and I see another one, yeah In you. Relentless, you didn't stop. No, I'm a winner as well. Right, and I see another one, yeah in you.

Speaker 1:

So you know, for those that don't know, michelle was part of my leadership team for a long time and and had multiple roles with marketing and brand manager and helped um, you know, helped guide all of our team. Basically, I was gonna say herd cats or whatever for a number of years before you actually got licensed yes, and you were more behind the scenes management versus production. Now you're doing some more production. Yep, how's it going? How are you? Any of your tricks of the trade from your prior career that you're like, oh, this is, I'm doing this. That worked there.

Speaker 1:

Your whole rinse and repeat you talked about, yeah, any of that going on right now? Yeah, for sure. I don't even want to like spill the beans, because I gotta get all the beans and we need some gold nuggets in this one. Well, I think one of the things that I did really really well at in pharma actually in all my sales experience is being the connector. We talked about that at our event.

Speaker 1:

So I'm thinking about the fact that now that we are aligned with eXp Realty, it really there's so many great things about that business decision that you made, but one of the things that it allows me to do is think about ways that I can utilize eXp's international business model, because it's international. This is not, you know, just specific to the United States but how can I use that to help our clients here locally and all over, all over? And so I'm really excited to work on that and I think that that's an opportunity for us. It's a relationship building on a larger scale. Yeah, it is pretty cool, especially with us having had an independent brokerage for 11 years. We didn't have those kind of connections or support, so it is pretty eye-opening to have 90,000 agents just amongst the fee that you can. You know we needed a lender for a really specific property. Oh, let's go ask like that. Or you know an agent in a certain area. We also have ProInsight that we're members of, which is a great referral network.

Speaker 1:

So I mean, imagine being the preferred real estate brokerage for a large international organization Mm-hmm, you know what I mean Like an employer that has employees all across the country and worldwide, and to partner with folks like ourselves. Imagine that. Does that make sense? Pretty cool. So and I have no problem picking up the phone and calling people and saying what are you doing to help your employees win in the real estate market and how can we partner with you to help them do that? You're definitely not afraid to pick up the phone, no, and if someone walks by that office, you're out there talking to them, correct? So newer agents in the market right now, because you're up the phone. No, and if someone walks by that office, you're out there talking to them, correct? So newer agents in the market right now, because you're a newer agent on paper. Yeah, what do you tell them?

Speaker 1:

The thing is, I have to remind myself that it's not easy for everybody. I had to do this with your team our team, however you want to say it because I constantly sat up here with you and there would be people out there doing nothing. Yeah, just doing nothing and being busy, maybe, but not shopping on Amazon, growing their business. I mean, my daughter would come and hear me like your people are doing nothing. I watched that. Am I wrong? Sometimes, most of the time. Anyways, I'm not going to digress, but I have to remind myself that new people, even Carissa, she's a new agent, she's never been in sales, she's a teacher, she's a, she's in marketing. So I have to remind myself that not everybody is me and I don't think you have to be me to succeed Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

There are tons of people out there that aren't even on social media and they're killing it. So I can't say you have to pick up the phone. What I will say is I feel like you're missing the mark if you're not doing that in some capacity, because if you're not at least calling your sphere right, right and nurturing those relationships and your sphere could be like I was telling you. I called Autumn Hutching yesterday, who's just the president of Parent Club and someone that is in the community and my first one, my first clients, that I mean. If you're not telling people like that, saying like who do you know I have a house, or whatever, then you're missing the mark, in my opinion. I agree and I think so. I actually was having a glass of wine with a top producer Laura, if you're listening or I'm either, and we were talking about this.

Speaker 1:

As far as the relationship building and needing to be comfortable with picking up the phone, not even to prospect with leads, but to talk to your fellow realtors and be like hey, on your listing that sold me. I had multiple offers. How many? What was the tone? What was it like? Or you know, hey, I'm sending over an offer. Here's the scoop, not like everything by text or your voicemail spool. Pet peeve of ours, pet peeve, right. And it's just so important. With all the changes coming down the pipe here in a month, with our paperwork, we as realtors are going to be negotiating, our income concessions will be coming via conversations and negotiations. So I think it's a to your point. You've got to get over that in order to to succeed.

Speaker 1:

And people and you're almost like, if you're not calling the people that you know, um, like shame on you, because they're, they're expecting you to do. You know what I mean. Like, literally like, if you have a cousin, an uncle, an aunt, a distant cousin of an old roommate that I reached out to last week that, by the way, her sister's now the principal at Yosemite High School, there you go. That's what I'm saying. It's like, oh, if you're not picking up the phone and just saying hi and reconnecting with people, then they're not. It's like shame on you, number one. And then number two, no one knows who you are, so you could put all the stuff on social media you want. You could send all the text messages you want, but that doesn't mean that it's going to translate to people knowing who you are and what you're doing. No, I agree.

Speaker 1:

I was listening to Jared James podcast this morning and he mentioned on there that people only remember three in an industry Three doctors, if you had to ask them to list some recommendations. Three attorneys, three realtors If that we all have more than three realtors in our community yeah, like, how are you going to be one of those three? Yeah, and then they don't even know. Like, look at how long I worked for you. Like, all the phone calls I'm making, they're like oh, we didn't even know you were in a realtor. Yeah, so how would they know? Right, unless they're following your social. But it's not that everyone sees every single post or every single story. Yeah, consistency Well, I agree with that for sure.

Speaker 1:

Healthy Lending Company. We help guide clients towards healthy home ownership. Lending doesn't have to be confusing. We make it easy to understand. Find options that work for you. Related I want to know. I think I know the answer to this. I'm going to see what you're going to say. Guilty pleasure, you totally know the answer to this.

Speaker 1:

Okay, specific to food, let's say yes. Or like a snack, yes, a snack, yes, that's what I'm thinking. I like an icy, a cherry icy, icy, yes, slurpy, whatever, um. And like a hot cheeto talky, right, it's well, it's been hot cheeto. Oh, either one to me is so disgusting, they're so gross.

Speaker 1:

And I bought a bag for lauren for vacation because we're going on vacation and I might have been eating them last night, and boat looked at me and goes. Remember when you asked me to intervene if I saw you doing something you shouldn't? And I'm like, yeah, he goes. This would be that moment. And I'm like, thanks, babe, he's good, he never does that, that's good, save you from yourself. Took the bag away.

Speaker 1:

I remember stopping a couple times over the years and you'd get those and oh yeah, I don't even think you could pay me to eat. They're gonna like Cheetos. I don't like they're. They're terrible. I have my own things, but that is not one of them. I'll take the slushy though, but it'd be a coke slushy. Yeah, yeah, okay, and I was right about that.

Speaker 1:

All right, how about this? How many countries have you lived in? Lived in, lived in, or, and, or, oh, yeah, oh yeah, well, only two countries, because it was Pakistan and the US, right, yeah, I don't know. So I'm making sure, yeah, pakistan and the US, so two countries. And then where was I born? Long Beach, in fact. I just looked at my birth certificate with my dad.

Speaker 1:

So then when you lived in Pakistan, you were really little, two years old, or do I remember. In that I think it was like, yeah, three, three, three, four. Because we came back to the states and I started kindergarten, okay. So, yeah, interesting. And I do actually have two memories. I don't really know if that's how that's possible, but I remember my father killing cockroaches on the wall. Ooh, this flip-flop, nice Childhood memory of Pakistan. Yeah, okay, okay, moving on, moving on, love us in Pakistan, yeah, okay, well, no, cockroaches on the wall in Mariposa, and we were evacuated, like twice. But I don't remember that. Lysos in the military yeah, child trauma, well, okay. So I wanted I want to definitely think we should hit on this, if you're comfortable with it um, I want to talk about ns. Oh, okay. So you know you're very vocal on your social media.

Speaker 1:

When were you diagnosed and how? This is the main question I have how do you manage a chronic illness and a thriving career. Because I think I could be wrong. I don't have a chronic illness, let's count scol 19. So, basically, I don't really know anything different, right? So I had my first symptoms when I was 19 in Burbank. I was out having drinks with some friends and my legs went numb and they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, which was a miss. And they diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, which was a mess, and then the symptoms resolved and when I was 23, they came back. So, essentially, from 19 to 47, how many years is that? A lot, a lot. So I don't really know anything different.

Speaker 1:

I guess in my adult life in terms of living with it and working Right, right, life in terms of living with it and working right, right, right, you have to work right, survive, so in some capacity, um, so it's never really been either. Or for me, because so you're having too young. Yeah, I mean, that's like all I know. It's not like I was diagnosed later in life, although I don't think that that's. Even if I was, I don't think it's an option. Granted, the first 10 years of the diagnosis were pretty significant and I was not well. So I suspect I could have 100% not been as successful as I was In fact, in the pharmaceutical industry.

Speaker 1:

When I was working in that capacity, I didn't tell my leadership that I had MS because I felt like I got to like go prove what I can do without them knowing what I'm dealing with. So I kept it a secret from people that I worked with for how long. When I first got into pharma the first year and I didn't even tell my manager and I remember telling him when I basically made him, I was always like I want to do well so that the people that I work for do well. That was always kind of my mindset. Like if I show Courtney that I can help her succeed, if show Todd, if I show Michelle, like if I make them look good, then ultimately it's reciprocal right, like you'll want me to succeed if I help you succeed. And I just remember one year, the first year, telling Todd he was like holy shit, like you, of all people, have an excuse not to to work and in fact, of the 12 people on my team, you know you're the top producer. Do you know what I mean? So I think I just always in my mind was never going to let it get in the way of me kicking ass. Yeah, period, it just wasn't an option, not an option. I don't know if I answered your question, but no, I mean, I, I think. So I can see it now. Yeah, to this day, yeah, I think you you probably, I would imagine, over the years have gotten better at recognizing maybe some of your limits if you're gonna, you know, be exhausted or yeah, you know, there, obviously, you've managed it very well with stamp through Stanford.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, well, I think there have been times where I have not felt as well as I do, and I, and right now, in this stage of my life, I can tell you that the, the weight loss and the eating, is like 100%, the most important for everybody, for everybody, if anybody's listening to this like it doesn't have to take a chronic illness for you to recognize that you have to take care of what you're eating, okay, right, how much you're eating, and what you're doing to take care of your physical well-being. So, if it's walking, swimming, whatever, 100%, if you don't have some kind of concept of Some kind of outlet physically, something, yeah, no, I agree, and it ties into your mental Yep, your mental state, yep, you know, depression, all that. There's a lot of correlations, okay, well, that makes sense, all right. Well, that makes sense, all right. Well, I would say we're going to end this on this question here. Okay, this one you might have to think about, maybe not, I don't know. Okay, fast forward five years. Yes, where do you see yourself? Ooh, that's easy. So I, physically I don't know the answer to that, just let's.

Speaker 1:

What I do know for sure is I want my husband retired. So he's been living his whole career in law enforcement and he's a diabetic and I want him to be retired and live his best life with me. So, that being said, lauren's going to be in college. Crazy to think that. Yeah, actually, and smoke, I want him retired and I want to be somewhere where we can logistically be able to travel easily and get to a doctor easily. So it's been Texas, as you know. So we'll see.

Speaker 1:

I don't know for sure, I'm not sure Could be wherever, but we're going to definitely be. He's going to be retired. I will not be retired because I'm going to be working with you. Still, you better be. I'm not retiring in five years. Yeah, I'm not retiring in five years. I would like to not be doing production in five years, so, but I want us to be in a place where our organization is plentiful across the country and doing some traveling with you, and so I think, I think, from a professional perspective, I see you and I. You know where we want to be. Yeah, which is you living in Texas, and we likely still in Cali, yeah, although I would hope to have a beach house. First. The pool, yeah, yeah, then maybe the beach house. We'll see, we'll see. Here's the thing about that. I've told Bo this recently. I, and this will be good that we have this recorded because we can look back on this. Okay, that's like a time capsule A little bit.

Speaker 1:

For some reason, my gut is telling me that Lauren's going to end up in California. I know there's a lot of colleges here that are really good and she is a Cali girl. What I mean by that is that she likes the beach, she likes the ocean, she likes the weather, she likes the people, and I don't know that, while I think she's courageous to go somewhere else, I think she has the courage to do that and likes an adventure and likes an adventure, I just don't know. That being said, if she's in California, you might still see her. I'm like hon, we might need to get a condo in Carlsbad. There you go. Do I need? Well, we'll share the beach house. It's not like we're going to use it enough for one of us. So there you go, we got our plan. I only say that.

Speaker 1:

And I told him I'm like I was telling him this the other day. I said, you know, I'm pretty realistic in that Lauren and I are so close, right, that I don't know if I like. If she says, hey, mom, I want to have dinner with you on Friday, like when Bella goes to college in San Luis. If she says, mom, I want you to come or I need you to come, yeah, I'm only a few hours away. You're only a few hours away, right, right, so I'm only a few hours away. You're only a few hours away, right. So you could literally go down there on a Friday and spend the weekend with her. Could I get on a plane and do the same thing? I could, but I don't know. It's like a six hour flight. That's what I'm saying.

Speaker 1:

So I don't know if she's in California, I don't know. Might keep you longer. I've never seen a mariposa, I don't know. You know, but you know you don't be happy that I'm planting the seed, that it may not be five years. You know, um texas, if she's in california, okay, so I know my campaign. Yeah, so, lauren, we'll have her visit bella quite often here's. The thing is this I have not said this to her. I don't know, like I don't want to make her feel like she needs to do anything. I've never wanted her to feel that. You know what I mean. Yeah, I've never been like you're gonna be in california or anywhere, so I don't, she can do whatever she wants. I don't even care. It's just, I'm pretty realistic that if she is in New York City, then I don't know, I'll see you being in New York City, but we'll see, We'll see. I don't know. I'm just saying We'll see the five years staying physically. I'm not sure it will not be in Mariposa because we want to go. Yeah, okay, yeah, all right, fine, we'll take that, we'll take that, all right.

Speaker 1:

Any words of wisdom to leave our listeners with as we wrap up our 25th episode? Words of wisdom, you know, 47 years old and chronic illness. I just don't want people to ever think that, that they can't do whatever they want to do, and even if they don't know what it is, um, that at the end of the day, you are the creator of your destiny. So, um, I think having some foundation of faith is so important. I didn't find that until much later in life. All the people that I know that are cool and loving and compassionate individuals are all really grounded in their faith. So I think I would close with that.

Speaker 1:

I think it's super important in some capacity, and if you don't know how to find your way there, like, just lock arms with someone, because that, I think, is so important and it will pivot you into where you need to be. And if you don't know where that is, you'll find it by having some faith. Okay, we'll end on that. Yeah, have some faith and know that you can do it. You can do it, I can do it.

Speaker 1:

47.

Speaker 1:

If you can do it, anyone can do it.

Speaker 1:

Anybody can do it.

Speaker 1:

I mean, you have to do the work, you gotta do the work, you gotta do the work, you gotta do the work. If you don't have it, if you're, if you're, if you're scurred, get over it. If you're scurred, then you're, then that's good. Actually, you should be, because the last thing you want to be is comfortable. Yeah, if you're scurred and you can't like be comfortable with failing, then I don't know, you just have to keep doing it. Yeah, over and over. Fail forward, yeah, all right. Okay, well, people can find you. Ask the General Yep On Instagram. All things twist Now Nation. Now, nation is our organization. If anyone wants more information on working with us, if you're liking what you're hearing on our podcast, please give us a review and share it with your friends. Make this worthwhile for us to keep doing these weekly episodes, because I know we're enjoying it. We've got some really great speakers or, excuse me, guests coming up in the next couple months, so, anyway, we'd appreciate five star and reviews and sharing and all that fun stuff. All right, have a good one.