November 1, 2019

From Real Estate Sales to Management, Ownership, Leadership and Everything in Between, with Janene Johnson

Episode 65:

Originally from Philadelphia, Janene moved to Colorado after falling in love with the area while on a business trip in 1980. With over 25 years of real estate experience, Janene’s dedication, integrity and exceptional service have consistently made her one of the top producers in her area, and a leader in the industry. After raising 2 daughters in the ski town of Winter Park, CO, Janene and her husband Mark now get to share their love of skiing, biking, hiking and everything outdoors with their 2 young granddaughters!

What’s amazing about Janene is her passion for learning, and her continual involvement in the greater real estate community, beyond simply selling real estate. She is one of 8 owners of Real Estate of Winter Park, a well-established and leading brokerage in her region. Her impressive career also includes serving as the President of the Grand County Board of Realtors in 2007, Grand County Realtor of the Year in 2007 and 2015, member of the Colorado Association of Realtors’ Legislative Policy Committee since 2009, serving as Subcommittee Chair for three years, Vice Chair for two years and Chair for one year. Janene also served as Chair for the Government Affairs Division for the Colorado Association of Realtors for 2015 and 2016. In June of 2018, Janene was elected by members of the Colorado Association of Realtors to serve as their 2019 Chair Elect and 2020 Chair.

As if that’s not enough, Janene has a zest for life and adventure, somehow managing to balance her passion for real estate, family, fun, and everything in between! “Skiing with my family and enjoying all that the Winter Park/Fraser Valley has to offer are a few of my favorite things. I am so grateful that I live in this wonderful community and would love to share it with you!”

What You Will Learn:

  • Janene’s journey from the tech industry into real estate
  • Why you should be an educator instead of a salesperson
  • How to overcome the fear of entering a new industry and new role
  • How Janene integrated motherhood and entrepreneurship
  • Janene’s approach to building culture in a growing team
  • How Real Estate of Winter Park trains its new agents

Additional Resources:

Real Estate as a Vehicle for Flexibility

Janene Johnson is a long-time resident and business owner in Winter Park, CO, and she serves as the current Chair of the Colorado Association of Realtors. Before she got into real estate, Janene worked in the tech systems industry with a rigorous travel schedule. The constant movement was taxing, so Janene decided to get off the road and transition careers. At first, she found herself in accounting and finance roles, but she longed for more flexibility for her growing family, and stumbled upon Real Estate as the answer.

Educator vs. Salesperson

Janene’s philosophy is “we are not salespeople, we are educators,” and that mindset is part of the reason she fell in love with real estate after closing her first transaction. At the core, Janene believes that giving value, caring about your clients, and educating them through the process is what ultimately leads to success, not being great at ‘getting deals.’ Ironically, Janene didn’t come from a sales or educational background, but her experience in tech and finance gave her the wherewithal to know what a great service experience looks like.

What’s amazing about Janene’s journey was her willingness to go “all-in” from day one. She faced the same fears we all do when starting out, but her willingness to put her head down, learn, and get to work resulted in quick success. When you set out on a mission to educate, and focus primarily on learning your clients’ needs and helping them understand the process, rather than trying to figure out how to “sell,” you don’t need any gimmicks to build your business, because your business is built on trust. Janene’s story, like many, proves that this business is simple…though it may not always be easy!

Always Be Learning and Growing

Janene’s passion for growth and learning inevitably led her to leadership and involvement with the greater real estate community. She has been a pillar in the industry, locally, state-wide and nationally. She has been voted Realtor of the Year (twice!,) served as President of the Grand County Board of Realtors, is currently an owner of Real Estate of Winter Park, and was recently inducted Chair of the Colorado Association of Realtors…among other impressive titles! All this, while remaining close with her husband, daughters, and granddaughters…and still finding time for all the adventure Grand County, CO has to offer!

Janene has never lost her drive or her commitment to excellence, yet she’s one of the greatest examples I’ve met of someone who’s not willing to sacrifice her life, her family, or her priorities in the process. She’s a genuine person and an incredible leader, and I’m grateful she took the time to share her story with us! If you want to hear more about Janene’s real estate journey, listen to our podcast episode, From Life on the Road to Life in the Mountains, with Janene Johnson.