Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Watkins.
Hi Samuel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a public school Educator & Real Estate Agent in Houston, TX. I am stepping into my 10th year of Teaching and have changed lives in the classroom as a master math & science teacher, along with in the gym as a PE coach. Currently, in the gym, everyone calls me “Coach”. I am passionate about making health and fitness enjoyable and obtainable for my kids.
I love my job as a gym teacher. It allows me to invest in students’ lives and to leave a lasting impact on their health, self-worth, sense of discipline, and attitude towards both food & overall health.
I began my career as a Realtor 3 years ago and immediately saw it as an opportunity to future serve my community by using my natural strengths as an educator. I quickly gained a passion towards helping families start or continue their legacy with homeownership or real estate investment.
So that’s me. Family man. Coach. Master Educator. Realtor. Investor. I wear a lot of hats. Somehow they all work together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Hmmm….smooth? Well, we are in the middle of a pandemic & doing our best to educate & protect our students (public school) in the midst of that. That’s all I’ll say about that. The challenge right now (in Real Estate) is definitely the market! There are so many people who have their real estate license but to be honest all Realtors are not created equal. My biggest challenge right now is earning trust from clients who have rightfully been burned by their previous real estate agent. In this tough market, so many realtors show themselves to be uncaring and unkind. Only in it for the check. This hurts the entire reputation of the field.
For sure, this field has its challenges. One must be fully dedicated to continuing their education to keep up. Seriously, you have to be dedicated to lifelong learning and flexibility to be successful at this! I think coming into Real Estate with that mindset automatically set me apart.
A part of the battle for a Realtor in 2021 is that you have to stay on top of things. It can be intense! On top of the market trends. On top of communication with your client & other parties involved in buying or selling process. & now more than ever: ready to negotiate terms & conditions to get deals in favor of your clients.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Education is my first love and real estate is my passion. I knew I wanted to be a teacher as a kid. My grandmother, Alma Watkins was a master educator and influencer way before social media was a thing. She played a big part in raising me and was all about developing people and community. I carry on much of her legacy in the way I live my life.
Education is simply a part of me. I became a certified teacher and started my career in the classroom teaching elementary math and science and soon transitioned to physical education where I teach kids how to care for their bodies and minds while exposing them to sports & fitness (one of my other passions).
Where does real estate come into play? Glad you asked. Being a public school Teacher gives me the flexibility to be a dedicated family man and to have a second career as a Real Estate Agent and Investor. I first saw real estate as a means of making extra money for my family but quickly began to see it as more than just another source of income.
Real Estate allows me to play Match Maker. I get to match people to their perfect home or property and as a result help healthy communities form or grow! I help people build memories and change their story through home ownership. I also love playing a part in helping families with wealth building through education and guidance on real estate investing!
My clients get the advantage of me being an Educator, first. It’s my mission to stay up on the trends of the ever changing real estate market so my clients can relax through the home buying process.
As a Realtor, my role can be multifaceted, depending on the need of my clients. But it all stems from the position of being a dedicated family man, life-long learner, and enthusiastic master educator.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thanks for taking the time to listen to my story. I appreciate all the people I serve, and I hope that my story touches and inspires others to follow their passions.
Contact Info:
- Email: sam@brawnsterling.com
- Instagram: @mrsamwat
- Facebook: facebook.com/sam.watkins.7161
Image Credits
Charlene Jones (@ipoeticphotographers)
