Andrea's Childhood and Academic Journey

Andrea shared her idyllic childhood growing up with her twin brother in a neighborhood with many children, where she experienced love and freedom. She discussed her connection with her twin who she felt a deep emotional bond with but no longer shares that connection due to living in different states. Andrea studied mathematics at the University of Southern Colorado, where she attempted to pursue a minor in art but was discouraged by her advisor. She expressed her preference for strategic thinking over accounting, and reflected on her confident and kind-hearted nature at the age of 13, which she still strives to build upon today.

Career Paths and Personal Journeys

Andrea and Jean discussed their educational backgrounds and career paths, with Jean sharing her experience as a former math major who switched to journalism and Andrea mentioning her math and art studies with a business minor. They also talked about Andrea's early life, including meeting her first husband in high school and their subsequent marriage and children.

Breaking Free from Abusive Marriage

Andrea shared her personal story of staying in a mentally abusive relationship for 32 years, influenced by Catholic beliefs and a desire to protect her children. She eventually left the relationship after receiving wisdom from a friend's elderly mother about the importance of leaving while still able to make a new life. The relationship was marked by mental abuse, manipulation, and narcissism, culminating in a violent incident where Andrea's ex husband attacked their son, prompting her to finally take action.

Near-Death Experiences and Healing

Andrea shared her personal experience of near-death experience. Andrea described being overdosed after surgery and having a vivid near-death experience involving a beautiful, warm light and her deceased mother. Andrea believes that everything happens for a reason and that there are no coincidences.

Faith Journey After Near-Death

Andrea shared her personal journey of exploring and strengthening her faith after a near-death experience, which led her to question and reflect on mainstream religious teachings. She expressed confidence in her beliefs, which include her continued faith in Jesus and God, while noting that her understanding of faith is a personal journey. Jean and Andrea discussed how joy can evolve over time, with Andrea mentioning horses as a long-standing source of joy and her new husband as a recent source of joy and support for exploring her ideas.

Personal Growth and Freedom Journey

Andrea shared her experience of personal growth and freedom in exploring her true self, contrasting it with her first marriage where she felt pressure to conform. She discussed her current career in property management, which she enjoys, and her recent visit to see long-time friends and their grown children in Virginia.

You can reach out to Andrea at andreaawhisler@gmail.com

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.

Global Experiences for Real Estate Success

Darlene Streit, a top real estate broker with over $2.2 billion in career sales, discussed her background growing up in Toronto, Canada, and her extensive international experiences, including studying in Switzerland, Southeast Asia, London, New York, and Rome. She credits her diverse global experiences and education in economics and psychology for helping her understand different cultures and client needs in real estate. Jean and Darlene agreed that living in different countries and understanding diverse perspectives are crucial prerequisites for becoming a successful real estate agent.

Women's Success in Real Estate

Darlene shared her journey into real estate, starting as an investor in a new urbanist subdivision and learning the ropes with her husband, who is a developer. She highlighted the importance of a strong team, including her husband, a marketing director, and others, in managing her successful real estate operation. Jean noted the time-consuming nature of real estate and emphasized the significance of having a supportive partner, which she believes is crucial for women's success in the field.

Real Estate Agent Experiences

Darlene discussed her experience as a real estate agent, emphasizing her ability to assess whether a property is right for potential buyers. She expressed her preference for both listing and representing buyers, highlighting the importance of building relationships. Jean shared anecdotes about her experiences as an agent, including having her son assist her and dealing with buyers who bring their children along. They also discussed the management and ownership of Sotheby's and Corcoran Group, with Darlene praising Pam Liebman's leadership at Corcoran.

Darlene's Real Estate Passion

Darlene discussed her passion for real estate, which consumes much of her time, and shared her hobbies and interests outside of work, including golf, tennis, and biking. She emphasized the importance of helping all types of people and maintaining a broad understanding of humanity, which she believes has made her wiser over the years. Jean and Darlene agreed that success in real estate requires a deep commitment, love for the job, and a passion for helping people, qualities that Darlene possesses.

Darlene shared her websites, SantaFerealestateproperty.com and DarleneStreit.com, where people can learn about her and her team.

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.

Vanda's Journey to Coaching

Vanda shares her background, including growing up in Colorado, becoming a CPA, transitioning from public accounting to consulting, and eventually finding her passion in mentoring and coaching.

Vanda shared her experience growing up in a resort community in Colorado, where she spent her childhood skiing and participating in sports. She discussed how this lifestyle shaped her independence and strength, and how sports played a crucial role in her development. Vanda's Accounting and Entrepreneur Journey

Vanda discussed her career path, starting with an accounting job at Arthur Anderson after graduating from the University of Denver, following in her father and grandfather's footsteps. She emphasized the importance of accounting as a foundation for understanding business, sharing her experience of applying these skills across various sectors.

She shared her journey of transitioning from a career in accounting to running her husband's successful commercial real estate appraisal company after they moved back to Denver. After her husband's motorcycle accident, she took over the business and eventually sold it in 2007 to an outside buyer. Vanda emphasized that while hard work is crucial (citing 80% importance), success also involves elements of luck, and achieving success requires focusing on small, incremental steps rather than aiming for large, immediate goals.

Vanda's Journey to Leadership Coaching

Vanda transitioned from a career in accounting to leadership coaching after realizing her passion for people-focused work, obtaining her coaching certifications and leveraging her extensive business experience. She explained that her coaching practice primarily helps women leaders, including a controller client who needed guidance on presenting data without taking criticism personally and an attorney who became a CEO and required weekly support. Vanda emphasized her preference for working with people rather than numbers, and highlighted that referrals have been her main source of business growth since restarting her consulting practice.

Women's Coaching and Career Transitions

Vanda discussed the importance of self-reflection and coaching for women to identify their own wants and values, particularly after significant life events like marriage or children. She emphasized the value of coaching as a supportive process distinct from therapy, and shared her website for potential consultations. www.vandadyson.com

To learn more about Jean and the Be Joyful podcast visit www.bejoyful.love.