Midlands Business Profiles
Midlands Profiles
Susie S. Carlson
Why should she? As an enormously successful Coldwell Banker Realtor with 25 years of experience in the market, she's at the top of her game.
"When you love what you do so much, you enjoy the aspect of helping people and you want to continue to do that," said Carlson (formerly Satterfield until her recent marriage). "I just don't know any other speed than go-go-go."
It's her fierce drive to serve the customer first that has earned her the professional reputation she enjoys as well as most every piece of hardware Coldwell Banker can throw at her, from the prestigious Circle of Excellence and Multi Million Dollar Producer awards to the coveted International President's Elite, given only to the top four percent of agents internationally.
But it wasn't always honors and prestige. Coming out of the University of South Carolina with a degree in marketing (magna cum laude, no less), Carlson wasn't certain exactly which field to pursue.
"After graduation I was starting to interview with companies like Proctor & Gamble, banks, and I realized I wanted to kind of be my own boss and get paid for the work I was willing to put in," Carlson said. "I had a friend who suggested Gordon-Gallup Realtors and said I should see if I liked it. So I interviewed with Dick Gallup, he gave me a test to see if I was right for it, and I became the youngest person they'd ever hired. I loved it immediately."
Good thing, because it wasn't money immediately! "I struggled," Carlson said. "It was straight commission, and I had to use my savings to get by so I wouldn't starve. I sacrificed a lot.
"It also was a tough market then; interest rates were 16-17 percent and the market was tight. So, I followed every lead, cold called a lot and worked literally almost all the time.
"My friends would be doing fun things on weekends, and I'd beg off because I'd have open houses to do."
During that time, Carlson did everything she could to increase her knowledge base and skill set.
"I took about every class and training class possible," said Carlson, who is a designated Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) a member of the Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI) as well as a Cartus Relocation Specialist and a Coldwell Banker Previews Property Specialist. "Those years were really why I am where I am today."
So what's the secret of her success?
"There is no secret," Carlson said. "Number one, do what you love and do it with integrity and honesty.
"Attention to detail is paramount to success, as is being able to calmly walk people through a time that's typically very stressful. Give the personal touch; anyone can look at an Internet listing, but making someone feel valued and listened to is key.
"And finally, know your product and community. If you do those things, there's no way you can't succeed."
