Gina Fosso-Schibley

 

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Q.        How early did you know that you wanted to be a real estate agent?

A.        Funny story, I used to play “Realtor” in my bedroom when I was about 10 years old. My aunt, Nancy Allee, was always a realtor, and I would pretend I was scheduling showings, showing people homes, and then rearranging my bedroom to create a different home for showings.

I believe in timing though. I was a professional dancer and a competitive coach for decades, and that was truly my first love and passion. I was not going to do anything else in the world until I exhausted my years in that arena. I originally got into real estate in 2005 and due to being a single mom of four young children, it was not the right time. I was also still teaching dance, and juggling both was not going to work.

It always bothered me, because if I start something or pursue something, I must achieve a successful level in my mind, or I am unsatisfied and regretful.  I could not wait for the right time to come back; it finally did.

 

Q.        What people influenced you the most?

A.        Honestly, it would have to be my children. Four of my children are adults; two of them are married with children of their own, and we have a 13-year-old daughter at home along with 3 step-children. However, I feel that being a role model and example to them will never end.  If I am alive, I am still an example.

There is no person other than God that I can say puts a buzz in my ear to keep going, be better, do better, never quit, etc.  I remind myself daily that if I wake up, He is not done with me, so I say, “Gina, get up and get moving girl!”

 

 

Q.        What are the positives/rewards of what you do?

A.        I find nothing more satisfying than helping people begin their journey in home-buying when they did not think it was even possible. To see someone, go from, “Really? You mean I could buy a house?” – to then end up at the closing table, see and feel their excitement, knowing how surreal it is for them is truly the greatest experience to be a part of - just unforgettable. 

 

 

 

 

Q.        What has contributed to your quicker success?

A.        Mindset.  Simply, mindset. Everyone has their routine and schedule blocking, etc. My days do not always look like that with routine. The only two things routine about my day would be working in real estate and waking up early and listening to inspirational videos on YouTube or a podcast. I typically listen to Nick Santonastasso, whom I saw speak in Las Vegas at EXPCON, and it was the most memorable, moving moment in my life. I might even listen to that very speech in Vegas ten times; it was that powerful.

The other person I love to listen to (and most people have no idea he does this) is Steve Harvey. Neither of these people are Realtors or RE gurus of any kind, but people who overcame every obstacle and chose positivity, faith, and perseverance to break down barriers and bust through negativity to get where they were going. You do not always know where that is, but to have real faith, you just go blindly and trust where you are being led. 

 

 

 

 

Q.        How do you define success?

A.        If I accomplish something I had not accomplished before, then I succeeded.  If I finish what I start, then I succeed. If I succeed in something I set out to do, I go again and climb the next step on the ladder. I never started out with a plan to sell X number of homes or to set a volume goal that I must reach; I had no idea how long it would take to get my first deal!

I was not going to create numbers of any kind and I decided that if I focused on that, I would be focused on the wrong thing. The goal was to learn, close some deals, and grow. Success is not about how much money anyone makes; it is about achieving what you set out to do.  That goes for anything in life.

 

 

 

 

Q.        What other interests do you have?

A.        I love being competitive with the family in just about anything - cornhole, volleyball, bowling, etc.  I love making cakes and cooking Italian food. I love music of all kinds, and traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I like to volunteer for non-profits, and I was an Indiana Pacemate.

 

 

 

Q.        What advice would you give to those considering real estate?

A.        Real Estate can be the greatest career on the planet, but you must not only work hard at it, you must truly care about clients and their home buying or selling experience.  If you get into it JUST for the money and plan on ONLY selling luxury real estate from day one because you have seen SELLING SUNSET, you probably will not make much of it!