Alissa Allphin Jenkins, 28
Realtor, CJ Brown/Latter & Blum
Residential real estate is a cutthroat business, particularly in an uber-competitive market like Baton Rouge. That makes Alissa Allphin Jenkins’ success all the more remarkable. With sales figures well into the millions in 2016, Jenkins was named to Realtor magazine’s 30 Under 30 earlier this year. Jenkins is passionate about helping people find their dream home. “I do not care what you are looking for or what you are trying to sell. If you are appreciative and a positive person to work with, I will work with you all day long,” she says. She’s a board member for the Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors, is part of Propel Women in Leadership and is a volunteer at Healing Place church.
NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
- Youngest member to serve on our local Board of Directors
- Realtor Magazine’s 30 Realtors under the age of 30 on a national level
- Being placed in the top 1% of all Baton Rouge area Realtors based off of production
TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.
- I volunteer at my church, Healing Place.
- I mentor to new Realtors in the business.
- I am a part of Propel Women in Leadership, an organization that encourages business women.
- I serve on subcommittees at the Board of Realtors: community funding, young professional network
NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.
No Other Gods.
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
As a young kid I wanted to be a lot of things: teacher, physical therapist. Once I was in college, I thought I would go into the corporate world, like my mom, and work my way to the top of a large company.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?
My first job was at Raising Cane’s. It was my favorite job. I loved the people I worked with, and they are very serious about their work ethic and positive attitudes. At that time, we were evaluated quarterly and given a raise based off of how we did (.25, .15 or .10/hour). It taught me early on that your attitude has to be up to par to succeed at anything. It takes ZERO talent or skill to have a good attitude.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?
I wouldn’t say strange, but I did work for a company that rented people for parties: bartenders and hostesses. I loved that job. I never knew where I was going or who I was going to meet. I went to people’s homes, wedding venues, barns, LSU suites and all sorts of other places. At one of the weddings I did, I was the last bartender there and the wedding was over. The father of the bride went and got a suitcase with three very old bottles of wine in it. He opened them and started pouring a small taste for him, his wife and his two friends who were still there. While I was cleaning up, he asked me if I would like to sample. Of course, I did. I sipped it thinking, “this is not good.” He then said, “I can remember when we bought this in Italy in 1986 when we found out you were pregnant with our daughter. We said we would drink it on her wedding night, and here we are.” I then thought, “WHY AM I SHARING IN THIS SPECIAL MOMENT?! YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW ME?!” Then he said, “It was totally worth the $3,000 per bottle.” I about fainted.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?
I love Juban’s Hallelujah Crab.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Professionally, I consider Realtor Magazine’s 30 Realtors under the age of 30 on a national level as my greatest achievement. Personally, I consider my little girl who is coming February 2017 to be my greatest achievement.
HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?
I love listening to podcasts, music and other sorts of motivational programs. Sometimes while I am driving to the meeting, I will call a fellow agent I look up to for advice and additional encouragement.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
I have closed over 200 transactions. There have been so many people and situations that blew my mind and changed my perspective and outlook on life. One of my smallest sales was my most rewarding. It was to a single mom who thought she would never be able to buy a home. I persuaded her to at least try, and she was approved! We started house hunting, found the perfect house, and now her mortgage is $400 less than her rent.
One time I had a couple I had been working with for months, and they just disappeared. They stopped returning my calls. Over the next year, my thoughts became negative as I overanalyzed what I had done wrong. Then out of the blue, over a year later, they called and wanted to see a house. I rushed over and was greeted by the same lady, minus her breasts and hair. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had been fighting that battle for a year. She apologized profusely for not letting me know. It made me realize that you have to think the best of people even when you feel you have been burned in a business transaction. You never know what people are going through in their lives.
WHAT WAS YOUR PROFESSIONAL “AHA MOMENT?”
In my first year, I was struggling with being a “salesperson.” I was in a slump and stayed home from work. While I was on the couch in my PJs the doorbell rang … great. It was our lawn guy. I answered the door, and he nervously asked me if I knew anyone else in our neighborhood who needed their grass cut and gave me some of his cards. I could tell it was hard for him to work up the courage to knock on the door and ask for the business, and my heart melted. I immediately wanted to help this kid. When I closed the door, I literally went “AHA!” I do not SELL anything! I help people who have a need to buy or sell a house! It taught me how to ask for referrals and help.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?
Give me my Mac, coffee and Pandora and I can accomplish anything. I love a change of scenery, so I am always at different coffee shops working. I will work pretty much anywhere that has good, free Wi-Fi. One time I really wanted a change to get re-inspired and I had tons of emails and phone calls to make, so I drove to New Orleans and found the cutest coffee shop and worked for hours. After lunch I worked in Central Park. It was the most refreshing and productive day.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED THE HARD WAY?
Not everyone is as loyal as I am in his or her business transactions. That will not keep me from being loyal.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?
I struggle. Thanks to social media, awards and recognition I have found that the people who know me think I never lose a deal and my business is all rainbows and sunshine. In the month of October alone, I lost four interviews. There have been some homes I have not been able to sell. I have had clients not be loyal. That small percentage of my business that does not work out upsets me more than anyone would realize. It is in those moments, I re-read Michael Jordan’s quote: “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK—CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?
I have a casual, laid-back personality, so I would love to dress that way most of the time. However, I have found I have to dress per my client. When I go on a listing interview, I treat it as a real job interview and may wear a suit. When I am showing homes, I tend to be more casual and comfortable but still professional. One time I went too casual, and the neighbor asked my clients if I was their daughter … After that embarrassing moment, I stepped it up.
WHY PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?
My favorite part of my job is working with and meeting appreciative people. I do not care what you are looking for, or what you are trying to sell. If you are appreciative and a positive person to work with, I will work with you all day long. The worst part about my job is disappointing people. If I cannot sell their home, or if I have to deliver bad news, or the deal falls through, it crushes me just as much as it crushes them.
WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?
About two to three times a month I have Realtors from my company and other companies ask to meet me for coffee to pick my brain about what I am doing to succeed. This always flatters me, because I forget that my success is not the norm. I feel like a normal Realtor, but it is the encouragement of my peers and bosses that remind me that my success is extraordinary.
MAC OR PC?
MAC!
ARE YOU ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA? IF SO, ON WHICH PLATFORMS ARE YOU MOST ACTIVE?
Yes! Facebook is my No. 1, and I love Instagram.
HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?
Oh Lord … hundreds? Maybe like 50-70 emails, 50-70 texts/calls. I actually teach an email class about keeping your emails under control. If your inbox is clear, so is your mind!
HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET (IN %) BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?
10% begins the panic attack.
HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?
Zero—part of my class 🙂
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?
Waze. As much driving as I do, it is a lifesaver.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?
Texting and online clerk of court maps.
WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?
5:50 a.m.
BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?
Breakfast used to be on the go, but now that I am pregnant, breakfast has to happen within 10 minutes of waking up to accomplish anything the rest of the day!
THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU ‘BEING’ TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?
The business world is tough, and I am not always the toughest, most aggressive person. I thought this would hurt me in my field, but it has actually proven to be the opposite. My sales are where they are because people feel comfortable with me; I am non-threatening. I want to show people you do not have to be an ass to get things accomplished in the business world. In fact, the more you love people, the more they love you back.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP?”
When I went to file taxes for the first time and did not realize that being a 1099 employee meant there were no taxes being paid out of my checks. My tax guy said I owed $11,000 and I asked him where that money comes from.
WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?
I love Washington, D.C. I stayed at a B&B and decided that is the only way to travel. Staying at an actual house in a city you are visiting allows you to experience the true culture of the area.
FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?
Icees after school.
WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?
I wish I could have the super power of not caring what other people think.
WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?
Issa Minou.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?
I am not too superstitious.
WHO FASCINATES YOU?
My favorite people are the happy ones. The ones that laugh and are not easily bothered.
FAVORITE DRINK?
Latte breve—or water. I drink about a gallon of water a day.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?
I love all music too much to pick!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?
Cinderella Man, Ever After, The Patriot, He’s Just Not That Into You.
WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?
As a kid, I was scared of the dark, literally. Now I am scared of being left in the dark. If a client is unhappy, I want to know. I never want to be left in the dark when it comes to my business.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?
Live at home so you can travel more.
PETS?
MY FAVORITE!!!! I have three dogs and they are my babies. Soldier—Rhodesian Ridgeback; Roscoe—French Mastiff (like Turner and Hooch); Rufus—American Bulldog.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?
I have never been star struck or a follower of celebrities. When people talk about celebrities and movies, I usually ask “who?”
TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
Before I got pregnant, I had a lot of fear and anxiety about starting a family and what it was going to do to my life and my business. It kept me up at night, overthinking about it. The moment I found out I was pregnant, this unexplainable peace came over me. I am five months in, and the fear has not returned, which is very unlike me. I have never been so stress-free, so calm, so sure. I love this feeling, and I hope it sticks around!
WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?
My baby girl, Haven, gets here in February. Of course I plan to take on the mom role, but I also have a plan to show people that just because I have a baby, my business will not end. I want to be an inspiration to people and show them you can have it all: family and career. There are haters out there who say I am successful because I do not have kids yet. I want to prove all of them wrong.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?
I am a control freak, and I want my plans of motherhood and business to succeed.
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?
God has never let me down before, so I do not see Him letting me down in the future.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?
Do not work to achieve the awards. Work because you love the people and the job, and the awards and recognition will come.
DO YOU PLAN TO BE IN THE CAPITAL REGION FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? WHY OR WHY NOT?
Yes. I was born and raised here, and all of my family is from here. My business cannot succeed anywhere else. This is home.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?
I hope that all the negative attention and events we have experienced will make people take it a step further and see how we have handled it. An executive from IBM who moved here from California said something along the lines of, “Seeing how Baton Rouge has handled their crisis has made me believe that Baton Rouge is running on something stronger than themselves.”
DO YOU HAVE A BUCKET LIST? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS ON IT?
I do not have a bucket list, but I always have goals that are modifying and changing.
