Heidi R. Burkhart is the President of premier New York City affordable housing brokerage and consulting firm, Dane Professional Consulting Group (Dane PCG). If that wasn’t enough, she is also the founder of cause marketing company, Saxon/Hart. Heidi is an expert at what she does! She has facilitated the closings of over 10,000 affordable housing units, totaling well over $1 billion in sales. Pretty awesome!
She wanted to continue to commit her time and resources to her community, so Heidi founded Saxon/Hart in 2013. The inspirational cause marketing company re-invests its net profits into direct impact, giving forward initiatives. Saxon/Hart seeks to lift up (and share the stories of) remarkable individuals who are faced with adversity and challenges – the people who ultimately find growth and fulfillment in the makeover experiences provided by Heidi and her team. In just its first year, Saxon/Hart has already built a strong network of altruistic health, fitness and beauty professionals united around the motto “give to live, live to give.”
Now, with all of these successes under her belt, Heidi has sat down to share her wisdom with us. Here are the “3 Things” that she wishes she could tell her 20 year old self:
Don’t question your work ethic. Along the way, many people told me to stop working so hard, to “enjoy” my twenties. They made me question my work ethic and my drive, when in fact I shouldn’t have. I was hustling – in “grind mode” – making things happen. I developed key relationships within my industry; people I now consider some of my closest mentors, allies and friends. I kept focusing on my goals and in the process, was living a balanced life…for me. When I closed a deal, I would take a much-needed vacation, but I’d also find time for work. The key was working efficiently and effectively, which allowed for plenty of relaxation, rejuvenation and productivity. So, as frequently as outsiders may have questioned my work ethic, I’d tell my twenties self to drown them out and just keep doing you – keep getting at it!
The journey is the reward. I wish I’d heard this Steve Jobs quote in my twenties. It’s my favorite because it’s so true. Each day – with the ups, the downs, the deals lost, the deals gained – it’s important to remember that every experience is a learning experience, to be enjoyed along the way. We are what we make ourselves to be, so take what life throws your way and make the most of it.
Scale back to scale up. In my twenties, as I was just getting my career started, I felt the need to do it all…and to do it all well. This just wasn’t a successful approach. I wish I’d heard this simple piece of advice back then – scale back to scale up. Today, it helps keep me on my game. When needed, I take a step back, look at all in front of me, find ways to focus and scale back. Each and every time, it leads to scaling up in ways I didn’t originally think imaginable, resulting in new relationships, partnerships and opportunities along the way.
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