Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Herrell.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Redmond, Washington, which is a suburb of the Seattle area for those who aren’t familiar. As I neared graduation with a degree in business (with an accounting concentration) from the University of Washington, I decided it was time to leap completely outside of the comfort zone I had enjoyed for so long and put space between myself and everything I had ever known (including my entire family and network of amazing friends, many of whom were from childhood) and explore new surroundings.
I found myself at Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California, in the fall of 2002. My three years there were some of the most exhilarating and challenging of my life. The greatest blessing from that chapter was the opportunity to meet the love of my life, my husband, Judson (“Jud”) Campbell.
Following graduation, I was recruited to the San Diego office of an international law firm, where I practiced real estate and project finance law as an associated attorney. The work was exciting, the attorneys and staff at the firm were outstanding (and brilliant) people, and I carry what I learned during that time with me to this day. I am grateful to still call many of them dear friends.
After welcoming our first child, our son, in 2009, I found it very challenging – or near impossible – to balance mothering an infant with the demands of a large law firm position. I decided to hit “pause” on my professional life, bulldoze my slate clean, and enjoy time with my baby boy. I still treasure that time, but it also had me really looking in the mirror from all angles and evaluating what I truly wanted the future to look like. I knew that I wanted to build something of my own that would support my family, fuse with my natural abilities, honor my background and education, and also allow me to stay connected with and serve others. I decided to get my real estate license just to see what doors I could open with it in the greater San Diego area.
I started in what was pretty much the thick of the short sale and foreclosure market in San Diego in the aftermath of the “great recession.” We all had to work a lot harder for any compensation, but I didn’t know any better or different and was just excited about any income while learning the ropes of the residential real estate industry. People told me that it was “a terrible time” to try and start in real estate. I didn’t care. I kept my blinders on and remained focused on doing the work, staying in front of people, growth, and forward movement.
Within a few years, as the market had climbed out of the distressed sale climate, I found myself extremely busy working for multiple home seller and buyer clients and connected with a professional real estate coaching company, Buffini and Company, and personal coach to build my real estate business. I found that I could work relationally and genuinely connect with others while discussing their real estate needs and goals, and the byproduct of that was a growing business and pipeline of clients who wanted to work with me because of my core values, how I operate, and who I am.
As I continued to grow my real estate business, we also welcomed our two daughters. My husband joined the San Diego Police Department shortly after we wed in 2007 and now runs the homicide unit for the City of San Diego. Our 3 children (now 14, 11, and 8) and careers keep us busy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.
After 13 years in this industry, I can say that at I am so grateful for this business. It’s a profession that is full of rewards, and the feeling of helping people achieve dreams or goals while serving as their real estate advisor is hard to describe. Real estate also comes without any guarantees and certainly has its challenges. The best part is that the potential for personal growth and success is unparalleled. There’s no school you can attend to experience this kind of character-building if you are truly invested in the continued growth of your own business. Answering yourself each day is a double-edged sword but also the greatest vehicle for self-improvement. I am forever thankful for all those who have supported my business, been a friend, and, most of all, believed in and trusted me.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a very good road but in no way has it been a smooth road. I think any seasoned Realtor would agree with that statement on some level. We all face rejection at some point in this industry. That’s, of course, never fun for any business owner. I think it might be easier to shake off with more time in real estate, though. Every client is on their own journey. In general, I’m also someone who has always been exceptionally hard on herself. I’m always working on that part! I’ve been fortunate to be hired and the Realtor of choice a vast majority of the time, but the reality is that this is a highly competitive industry full of real talent and hard workers.
And then there are the challenges that can come with each escrow. It’s pretty rare to have no obstacles whatsoever when you have a seller or buyer under contract. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something new pops up, and here comes another learning opportunity! Once again, it’s the stuff you would never get in a classroom.
When problems and challenges do arise, I think I’ve become much better at being less reactive and taking the time to step back and think about solutions first. With good agents involved, there’s always a solution! So many sellers focus solely on marketing and advertising when selecting a realtor, which is indeed very important and key for the agent you hire. I don’t want to discount that. However, beyond that, every client should have a professional agent who is in their corner and can work through just about any issue that comes up with the right attitude, follow-through, connections, and finesse. Experience can be essential when challenges arise, but new agents can provide the same level of service to any client with the right mentoring. I am eternally grateful to all of the brokers, managers, and mentors who have invested in me along the way.
Each market also has its own challenges. As I mentioned previously, the market I started in was tough – fortunately, I just didn’t know any different and had a “you’ve already jumped off the cliff, and it’s too late to turn back” attitude. Failure was no option. In some markets, you deal with low housing inventory, and in others, you deal with too much inventory or lack of buyers. You have to step up and manage expectations for sellers and buyers upfront in any market. Some markets are lucrative but far from enjoyable. The “covid” markets were financially rewarding for most Realtors, but I’ve never seen such extreme burnout and more professionals exhausted and on edge than I have at that time. Nothing about it was easy.
On the personal side, I look back on the years we welcomed babies and had toddlers and young elementary school kiddos, and it’s kind of a blur. We had wonderful daycare and preschool providers before our kids entered kindergarten, but we never had any family nearby or a nanny or in-home support. I acknowledge that being self-employed does allow me some flexibility and control over my schedule, but real estate is really a 7 days a week profession, and there are critical times when your seller or buyer clients need you present. My husband and I worked as a team (sometimes improvising!), and somehow, we got through it, and the kids were happy and loved. Then and now, it can be a matter of one day at a time (or a few hours at a time) when juggling family and careers. Sometimes, the demands of Jud’s job in law enforcement would come first, and other times, it was the needs of my clients and business that had to be put front and center. I remember long stretches of Jud working nights while we had a toddler and newborn to care for at home (not to mention the ongoing needs of my growing business) and how spread thin we were. I am grateful to Jud’s law enforcement family and all of his current and prior supervisors and colleagues who understand the needs and sometimes unpredictability of a young family.
I find that I’m sort of working all of the time, but more perspective with added years in this business – and my coach – have forced me to become more intentional when I’m with my family and also with my clients. It’s not without stress and some anxiety, but it works out. The world somehow keeps turning!
I think the key is to try and remind yourself to keep a flexible attitude and a healthy sense of humor and continue evolving with each day while trying to give yourself a pass at times (which I suck at). Each market also has its own dynamics, which can really change from day to day. Every single client and transaction is a true learning experience. Focus on the relationships and the process and not the commission. The success and rewards (both personal and professional) will come if you do the work and prioritize the people involved.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think that if you asked any of my clients, they would say that I’m known for my honesty and focus on relationships. Many of my past clients would also likely share that I told them what they didn’t necessarily want to hear, but in retrospect, it was helpful when they needed to hear it. I’m guessing my clients would also say that I’m kind but very assertive when needed. I’m always trying to come up with creative solutions when a complex problem arises. I believe that there’s always an answer if we all put our heads together. Strategizing can be hard and sometimes draining, yet also fun and rewarding. I make it a priority to celebrate my clients and their support and friendship. I regularly host client appreciation parties and events as a way to stay connected and show my endless gratitude for their trust and business. I also believe in giving back to our local community and organizations. My client events often incorporate fundraising or donations for nonprofits that need our support.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was a social child and loved time with my friends, but I was also a little intense (and still am) at times and kind of an old soul. I enjoyed more serious conversations about life and the future and have been told that I asked A LOT of questions. I hated recess in elementary school. I found it to be a waste of time. The flip side was that I also had a good sense of humor and loved a good laugh with friends or a joke or prank (given or received). I have always appreciated sarcasm and clever wit. I participated in sports and was fairly competitive, but never an exceptional or memorable athlete. My main focus was always academics, which is where I really excelled.
From the time I was very young, I thought of school as a very serious job and was no-nonsense when it came to achievement and performance in every class. The habits I formed, and my discipline in school came in handy when I attended college and law school. The practice of asking questions from a young age has also stuck with me and helped me in everything that I do. When I was in school, you could usually find me with a teacher or professor before school or in office hours, trying to master the content for the next exam or assignment that was due.
Today, I find myself constantly asking questions of industry professionals or trying to find out more details about anything I’m involved in. I bought my first horse last year and am learning about riding and horsemanship. Everyone has been patient with all of my questions! If you don’t ask, you don’t learn. I truly believe that asking questions filters information for the way that you specifically gain an understanding of anything, and that is the foundation for success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lindsayherrell.com
- Instagram: lindsayherrell
- Facebook: Lindsay Herrell
- Linkedin: Lindsay Herrell
- Yelp: Lindsay Herrell
Image Credits
Zoetic Photography
Chad and Lindsey Tuthill
