We had the good fortune of connecting with Funke Fagbohun and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Funke, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
When I first began my career as a Real Estate Agent I was working almost 24/7, always accessible, and never had a clear start/stop time in my work. Now that I have been in the business for a few years, I have realized the importance of having balance. I now have set business hours, I communicate expectations with clients in our initial consultation, and when I take a vacation I’m actually ON VACATION (I would be lying if I said I don’t peek into my email once or twice though). However, I have realized the importance of taking time for yourself and for your family. If you are constantly running on empty you won’t have anything left to contribute. I do my best work and provide my best service when I am refreshed and have taken time for priorities outside of work. Since I have started placing a priority on work/life balance, my business has grown exponentially, I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are two aspects that set me apart from other Real Estate Agents: the first is how I tailor the selling or buying process to my clients and the second is that I’m just brutally (and lovingly) honest. When I meet a client for the first time I evaluate how each individual operates (for example, are they a type A or type B individual) and begin to learn personality. I then tailor my process to their specific needs in order for them to best understand and take ownership of their buying/selling process. No two people are the same, so it’s important to have flexibility and not be bound to a cookie cutter process. I walk hand in hand with those who want a more hands on approach and encourage independence (while providing essential details and communication) for those who prefer to be more autonomous. Additionally, I pride myself on being brutally honest-I have learned that “ripping off the band-aid” will always benefit my clients at the end of the day, so I make it a point to be brutally honest when I know something isn’t working or a decision a client makes will be to their detriment. I do this even if it means losing out on a deal. I always prefer to walk in integrity and know that I’ve helped my client make the best decision possible. Integrity builds trust, trust builds relationships, and it’s my personal goal to have a lifetime relationship with my clients! Lastly, more than anything, my business is my ministry! I believe that everyone has the ability to touch lives in whatever field of work they are in. I don’t just sell houses; I have an opportunity to show the love of God to everyone I meet. I do my very best to ensure that any person I work with walks away with a little more joy than when I found them.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Oh snap, this is hard… In no particular order, here are 10 of my favorite places 1. The Tipping Point – A coffee lover + sneaker lover’s dream 2, Houston Graffiti Building/Wall – for the best photo ops 3. Turkey Leg Hut 4. Jupiter Pizza & Waffles 5. Buffalo Bayou Park 6. The Address – split a section and pop bottles with your friends for Sunday Funday! 7. Discovery Green (Bonus: Rent bikes and ride around downtown) 8. Sleepy’s Po-Boy’s – ask for the gumbo (yum) 9. Barbarella 90’s night – you will not regret it 10. The Breakfast Club

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my amazing fiance’, my family, and my friends. They continuously support me not just in my work but in my personal growth and development. They are always there to celebrate wins, provide encouragement and constructive criticism (with love) when I need it most, and they are always working with me to build my business. – Thanks for being and sending clients! Who you surround yourself with is so important and I truly have the most incredible tribe. I am so blessed!

Website: https://funkefagbohun.kw.com/
Instagram: @funke_fresh
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olufunkefagbohun/
Twitter: @funke_fresh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FagbohunRealEstate

Image Credits
Ricardo Bourne (my fiance’)