"Entrepreneurs are made."
Lauren Carroll Tweet
Lauren Carroll, a decade and counting Senior VP of Residential Real Estate Solutions thrives on finding her buyers the ultimate dream home. Using her superpower of refined property knowledge in a targeted area that she’s practically grown up in is one of her many strengths. Lauren exuberates a strong dedication and attentiveness to all she encounters throughout the beginning to end of the home buying process. With over $250 million dollars in residential sales under her belt, she is committed to fierce negotiation and yet can easily create a level of ease to complex processes for her clientele.
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Table of Contents
Thank you for joining us today. Please introduce yourself to our readers. They want to know you, some of the background story to bring some context to your interview.
Lauren Carroll: After receiving my bachelor’s degree in marketing at Miami University, I moved back home to the Boston area to focus on Commercial Real Estate. As my career and family grew I realized I wanted to shift gears into Residential Real Estate. Now, some people discouraged me that I would fail and stay where I was, but it’s always best to follow your heart and not give up on your dreams. Here we are 13 years in supporting my clients in selling or purchasing homes, I couldn’t be happier! The excitement never ends when it comes to what I do.
You are a successful entrepreneur, so we’d like your viewpoint, do you believe entrepreneurs are born or made? Explain.
Lauren Carroll: Entrepreneurs are made. Whether or not they have the desire to control their own fate in a sense, they are influenced by those around them. The possibilities in real estate are endless, depending on how hard you are willing to work. Entrepreneurs are generally people who put their work first, believe in themselves, and are willing to take risks.
If you were asked to describe yourself as an entrepreneur in a few words, what would you say?
Lauren Carroll: Resilient. Relentless. Compassionate.
Tell us about what your company does and how did it change over the years?
Lauren Carroll: The focus of COMPASS agents is collaboration rather than competition, which has significant value in and of itself. Until the chestnut hill location, COMPASS did not exist in the marketing place as it was new to my region. While they provide relevant online tools, many other firms are still based on a 1980s model, including print, newspaper, and flyers. Compass has made it into what it should be, an online platform that not everyone has access to. I’m proud to work with them.
Thank you for all that. Now for the main focus of this interview. With close to 11.000 new businesses registered daily in the US, what must an entrepreneur assume when starting a business?
Lauren Carroll: There are two strong recommendations I would suggest. First in having a network of other supportive business owners, other resources, regardless of what kind of business you start. Second, assume that they will not make any money. Not everyone can stomach that.
Did you make any wrong assumptions before starting a business that you ended up paying dearly for?
Lauren Carroll: I wouldn’t say that there is anything I paid dearly for, however, I do think, when people are looking to start a business, it’s important to have a safety net. It is vital, especially if you have a family, to keep some savings set aside so you can pay yourself when your business starts to take off.
If you could go back in time to when you first started your business, what advice would you give yourself and why? Explain.
Lauren Carroll: It is important to be patient, to recognize that I am hardworking, and to believe that certain things just take time regardless of the industry you work in. Building a name for yourself is not something that happens overnight. Be persistent and don’t give up.
What is the worst advice you received regarding running a business and what lesson would you like others to learn from your experience?
Lauren Carroll: That I shouldn’t do it. Many people, those who didn’t feel capable of succeeding themselves, thought I was crazy for going into this profession and that there was too much of a risk. In this case, I would advise you to trust yourself, be true to yourself, and don’t listen to the folks who say it can’t be done.
In your opinion, how has COVID-19 changed what entrepreneurs should assume before starting a business? What hasn’t changed?
Lauren Carroll: I think if I were starting a business today during these critical times, I would allow myself a little extra time to accomplish what I am trying to do. Consumers are more cautious, whether they are buying online or out in the world generally. With people losing their jobs, It has changed consumers’ mindsets and the way in which they spend their money, as well as their attitude towards the markets.
What is a common myth about entrepreneurship that aspiring entrepreneurs and would-be business owners believe in? What advice would you give them?
Lauren Carroll: You can create a business that is immediately successful due to social media and the digital realm. In reality, this is not the case.
- Regardless of the industry, a business plan is crucial.
- Once you obtain the contacts and resources needed, year after year, it does not seem as scary
- You cannot build an instant empire on social media
- Stay prepared, never give up, network constantly, and keep going even when times are tough
- Being proficient at what you do takes it to another level
What traits, qualities, and assumptions do you believe are most important to have before starting a business?
Lauren Carroll: My answer would be:
- Strong work ethic
- Determination
- Confidence
- A backbone
How can aspiring leaders prepare themselves for the future challenges of entrepreneurship? Are there any books, websites, or even movies to learn from?
Lauren Carroll: This is a fun question! I would say the Pursuit of Happiness is pretty amazing as a movie. The movie Rudy is one of my favorites, along with Good Will Hunting, although I am from Boston so that may have something to do with it. I also enjoyed Grit by Angela Duckworth.
Regarding the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, By Steven Covey, everyone should read it. Any book written by him would be a good start for those looking to start a business.
You have shared quite a bit of your wisdom and our readers thank you for your generosity but would also love to know: If you could choose any job other than being an entrepreneur, what would it be?
Lauren Carroll: I enjoyed Grit by Angela Duckworth.
I have thought about this question before during challenging times and I’ve always come back to this path of real estate. As an alternative, I’d like to become a full-time homemaker while assisting my mother with her interior decorating business.
Thank you so much for your time, I believe I speak for all of our readers when I say that this has been incredibly insightful. We do have one more question: If you could add anyone to Mount Rushmore, but not a politician, who would it be; why?
Lauren Carroll: What a question. I would add an inspirational woman. For me, Maya Angelou is remarkable. Among the few, she spoke, wrote, and created poems in a way that hasn’t been matched by others. She would definitely shake things up a bit up there!
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Lauren Carroll for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Lauren Carroll or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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