Episode 05: You Are Enough. Act Like It. with David Serpa

In Episode 05 of Real Estate Rewind, David Serpa, Marine veteran, realtor, entrepreneur, and author, speaks with host, Nick Baldwin. David Serpa discusses why he left his very successful real estate team and how he reframed the way he views business after addressing personal trauma. He shares how his thoughts on real estate have evolved since writing his first book. 

 

Episode Highlights: 

• David Serpa and Nick Baldwin are both avid readers. They recommend many books in a variety of genres. 
• David decided to become a realtor after having a negative experience buying his first home. He felt he could help Marines like him buy homes.
• David’s first priority was to put service first and it worked. 
• In David’s second month as a realtor, he made $35,000 and closed seven escrows.
• At one point David Serpa made over $600k a year. But, at that time he suffered from stress, high blood pressure, and anxiety. He ultimately decided that he needed to pursue a more balanced approach.
• Real estate became a special interest that became too much for David, and everyone around him. 
• Nick Baldwin remembers a funny video David made about affirmations. He uses this as an example of how much David has grown since his early days in the industry.
• Why are we seeing lots of veterans get into the real estate business?
• Nick Baldwin asks about how David’s autism diagnosis has helped him.
• David Serpa talks about the evolution he underwent from writing The Machine Gunner’s Guide to Real Estate vs. his new project, Zen Business.
• Zen Business is about releasing the expectations of a peer group and a business plan.
• It’s easy to feel “less than” in the real estate industry. Nick Baldwin and David discuss the dangers of comparison.
• We spend a lot of time being told that we’re not good enough and that we’re broken. We can reject those messages.
• When David walked away from his team, he was at a point where he was pushing some people way beyond their comfort level. He stepped away from the industry and sought help.
• David Serpa tells us about his band, Prometheus and Mama Fancy with The Boot Band.
• You are enough. Everything is ok. 

 

3 Key Points:

1.   David Serpa left his very successful real estate team when he realized that his life was out of balance and he was no longer a leader worth following. 
2.   It’s easy to feel “less than” in the real estate industry. Many times the people who are preaching the loudest are leading lives that are out of balance.
3. You can choose to release expectations and decide that you are enough now.

 

Resources Mentioned:

• Nick Baldwin: LinkedIn  Facebook  
• Findessexandunionhomes.com
• David Serpa on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube
• The Machine Gunner’s Guide to Real Estate: Accuracy by Volume (book)
• All the World’s a Stage: Unmasking Asperger’s Syndrome (book)
• David Serpa’s funny affirmation video 
• Prometheus and Mama Fancy with The Boot Band

 

• Outwitting the Devil (book)
• Of Mice and Men (book)
• Gates of Fire (book)
• A New Earth (book)
• Writing My Wrongs (book)
• The Alchemist (book)
• Midnight in Chernobyl (book)
• Chernobyl miniseries on HBO (trailer)
• The Eye of the World (book)
• I’ll Be There For You (book)
• The Millionaire Real Estate Agent (book)
• Boulder Crest Retreat