Meet Kelly Miles | Real Estate Agent and Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Miles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’ve always been the entrepreneurial type. So, to be completely honest, there wasn’t a lot of thought behind starting my own business, it was more so the natural progression to what felt most natural and comfortable for me. I’m a very self-motivated person and a self-starter. If I want something, I go for it. I’ve always been a firm believer that anyone can do just about anything, if they want it bad enough and they’re willing to work for it. I grew up in a family business, and I come from a longline of entrepreneurs and successful professionals on both sides of my family. Growing up around so many driven and accomplished people rubbed off on me; I am a product of my environment and I think business is just in my blood. After college I took a corporate job at a luxury hospitality company in Los Angeles where I oversaw marketing for some of LA’s coolest venues at the time. As a girl in her 20s, this was the ultimate dream job; access to the coolest nightclubs and restaurants in LA and the opportunity to rub elbows with Hollywood’s elite and famous on a daily basis. I poured myself into the job and gave it my all, but after a while the long hours and low pay took a toll on me and I started to grow resentful. I realized that my hard work was making a lot of other people a lot of money, while I personally was barely making enough to get by. So, although this was a great experience, it also showed me that a day job in Corporate American long-term wasn’t going to be a good fit for me; when I left this job, I decided I never wanted to work in a salary position again. As they say, no risk, no reward! Next up I went into business with a friend. We had an apparel manufacturing business in Los Angeles; this actually was a fairly successful business, and I gained invaluable experience running and operating a company, but the biggest lesson I learned at the time was having a partner is tough; if your goals and work ethic don’t align, it’s not a partnership that’ll last. So, after a few years, it was time for me to move on. At this time, I was ready to go into business with myself, which led me to real estate. Real estate is an extremely difficult industry, but my personal success has been entirely dependent on how hard I’m personally willing to work. Looking back, all of my past business experiences led me exactly where I am today. Through all the long hours and the relentless pursue of success over the years, life showed me what I want, what I do, and ultimately guided me to exactly where I am today.

What should our readers know about your business?
Being successful in Real Estate is anything but easy; it’s a tough industry, and definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s been a long road to get where I am today. My past experience as a marketer and an entrepreneur laid the foundation for my career in real estate; my work-ethic and determination are what keep me in the game. Real estate is a constant hustle that requires long hours, nights, weekend, holidays and bending over backwards, all while keeping a smile on your face. Real estate is also constantly changing, so being knowledgeable in my industry, and always up to date and well-informed is of the upmost importance to me; I am constantly learning and growing for the benefit of my clients. My brand is me; when you work with me, you get me; my work-ethic, my high standards, my compassion, my empathy. I treat my clients as if they’re family, and I treat them how I would like to be treated if I were in their shoes. I’m finally at the point in my career where my business is mostly referral based, and this is a direct reflection of my client’s happiness. Making sure every client is over the top happy with their experience every-time is essential to my continued success in this industry. My client’s needs come first always; I fight for their best interests, and work tirelessly to help them achieve their real estate goals. I’ve had success quickly because I am willing to work for it, but also because I just genuinely care about my clients and their overall happiness and I think that’s what sets me apart.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live and work in La Jolla, which is the Jewel of San Diego! We have so many fun things to do and see here, and the most breathtaking views in all of San Diego. If a friend was visiting, I would start the day with brunch at the cottage, a quaint breakfast spot with a great patio. Then I would head over to go Kayaking in the La Jolla shores. La Jolla has really cool Caves right off of the shores, with all sorts of cool history – these caves were once used by Pirates and for smuggling in booze during prohibition. After Kayaking, I would head to the La Jolla cove to check out the seal at the La Jolla Children’s pool. This area was originally built to be a protected swimming pool for kids, but the seals took over! Now it’s a gathering spot to see tons of seals right on the sand. This area has long been an area of controversy, so it’s a great conversation starter. After that, I would stop at my all-time favorite hotel, the La Valencia for an afternoon cocktail in the lobby bar, La Sala, followed by a quick dip in their pool. This pretty blush pink hotel is iconic and boasts some of the best views of the La Jolla Cove. We’d then make a quick stop at the Compass office on Girard to answer a few client emails, then ride beach cruiser to Bird Rock to check out all the shops and scenes along the way. At the end of the day we’d head back to the Cove to Eddie V’s to close out the night with martinis and lobster! And that my friends, is a great day La Jolla!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom has always been my mentor, and my biggest source of inspiration. As a child, I watched her go back to school and work her way up the corporate ladder after taking time off to be a stay-at-home mom to me and my sister. There is no one who works harder and is more determined, and she makes it seem so effortless. She is always cool, calm and collected, humble, sharp and determined. She has dedicated herself to a life of growth and improvement, always reading, taking classes and bettering herself on a daily basis. No matter what she’s doing, she is always striving to be the best version of herself, for both work and family. She is just genuinely a good, kind, selfless person. She is my #1 fan and biggest source of support, whenever I doubt myself she is always there to reassure me that I’m capable of anything.

Website: https://www.kellymilesre.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyemiles/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyemiles/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellymilesre

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-INkcjbEx0oK55VlG_1kiA