Janice Corley, Founder and CEO of RE/MAX Collection Premier by Janice Corley, has confirmed its franchise’s expansion in the Chicagoland area with three new offices — Hyde Park, the North Shore, and Hinsdale — starting at the end of 2021. RE/MAX Collection Premier by Janice Corley provides end-to-end training, development, and business services for over 90 new and experienced agents in commercial and residential properties.
Janice added, “Reflecting on my 32+ year career in real estate, I’ve realized that the single characteristic behind my success is the passion for what we do —and the commitment to exceed our client’s expectations. We are proud to be opening up three new offices in the Chicagoland area and creating opportunities for talented agents to serve clients. This brings us one step closer towards our international expansion to Italy, slated for 2022.”
Headquartered in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, RE/MAX Collection Premier by Janice Corley oversees over 90 agents and support staff dedicated to serving clients in luxury markets in commercial and residential real estate markets.
Janice’s experience in real estate has been an interesting ride — nothing short of a rollercoaster. She says, ” I’d like to think that in my 32+ years of hard work, I’ve learned enough to be able to lend my perspective in a valuable way to others. My story is one of business, perseverance, and a pattern of ignoring the “unwritten rules” — and charting my own course.” Janice shares her five unwritten rules to not follow:
1. You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know…
I’ve always had a business mindset. Not because I’m a woman. Not because I’m black. But because I’m a businessperson. It’s as simple as that.
When I first started doing real estate in Chicago, I didn’t realize that certain territories were “carved up” or claimed by existing brokers, agents, and businesses. I didn’t realize it because there weren’t any signs up in the neighborhoods that regulated a “right of passage” — just the preconceived ideas that others had decided on.
It wasn’t a decision to abide by these standards because I truly didn’t know about them — and that became my advantage. I went on with my days working hard and being dedicated to the work, and because of that, I gained traction. Bottom line: not knowing [or not abiding by] something can be to your benefit. Go for it — break the rules. You don’t know what you don’t know.
2. Never Let Them See You Coming…
When I first started working in Chicago, I think many people underestimated me because I was from the south, and to them, that meant that I was dumb. Hey, it was a different time — at least, I’m being honest.
I could read this in the way that folks would talk to me. It wasn’t always overt, but it was apparent in many of my business dealings and exchanges. The truth is, I never let it get to me — ever. I went on with my day, my week, and my business dealings. I didn’t need to earn anyone’s respect or endorsement to move about my day. As a result, this became a tactic, to never let them see me coming. Let me also mention how rewarding the feeling is when they are in shock that you proved them wrong. Do it for you — enjoy the victory lap.
3. Be The Man…
As a woman who has worked in a male-dominated industry — I’ve learned to navigate the terrain. You can learn a lot from the men surrounding you when you are a woman in a male-dominated industry. Listen to them negotiate. It’s different from how women negotiate. Perhaps there is socioeconomic science to this, but I’ll summarize with a brief anecdote: I was looking to buy a company for 3 million dollars a while back. Before finishing the deal, the owner of the company wanted to meet with me in person. While we were in our meeting with each other, he was smoking a cigar and blowing smoke in my face. He proceeded to ask me. “Am I bothering you?” I looked at him and said, “There is only one thing about this cigar that is bothering me, and it’s that you didn’t offer me one.” It is so important not to let men think of you as a weak and under-qualified woman. You are more than that, and you shouldn’t be afraid to remind them.
4. No Never Means No…
It is common for people to feel discouraged when they hear the word “no.” Often, people use that as a reason to give up. It is time to stop letting the word “no” scare us as human beings; it is just a word after all. More than likely, you will hear the word no hundreds of times in your life, if not more. However, no does not mean no. It means you haven’t said the right thing to get a yes. No never means no. You need to hear the word no ten times before it’s really a no. If you keep getting a no, it’s your fault that you don’t know what to say. You don’t know how to overcome the objection. Instead of letting the word “no” discourage you, look at it as a way to improve yourself and what you want until you receive a “yes.”
5. Don’t Take Things Personally…
The problem with women, and the problem that I have with women myself, is that they take things way too personally. It isn’t personal, and it is never personal. In the workplace, things aren’t always going to go the way you want them to go. Men will mistreat you, people will underestimate you, but you can’t let it get to you.
Early in my career, I was knocking on doors when a white woman answered the door and said “we don’t want any colored folks here.”
My response: “So, What Color Do You Want?”
You use these situations as a reason for you to come out stronger than ever and show those people that they are wrong. I don’t have time to get angry, and I can’t allow anyone to make me angry. It’s just not what I’m going to do. I am going to use my time to grow and improve professionally, and that is what is most important.
Janice Corley is a global business entrepreneur, investor, and Founder and CEO of RE/MAX Collection Premier by Janice Corley, a Chicago, IL-based real estate brokerage firm with offices throughout the Chicagoland area, and Houston, TX. In her 32+ year career, Janice has been responsible for over 5,000 residential, industrial, and commercial properties and has earned over $1 billion in sales volume. She specializes in luxury markets.
