Storie: 0:16

Welcome back to Market it With Atma, where we share the tips, tools and strategies to help your business succeed the tips, tools and strategies to help your business succeed. Today we have on the show a very special guest founder and CEO of Shea Asset Management Group, ms

Shikilia : 0:33

Welcome. Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here.

Storie: 0:36

I am so glad you're here. You actually hold a lot of hats under this Shea Asset Management Group, right. Yeah, Shea's pretty diverse, so take us back. Take us back what encouraged you or inspired you to start Shea Asset Management Group in 1999?

Shikilia : 0:54

Yes, yes, tell me more. Oh, my goodness. Well, what inspired Shea is that I actually relocated here from New Jersey oh, wow, yeah, back in 99. And I was an insurance underwriter back then, oh my goodness. And a company moved me here and when I got here, the lady that hired me quit and took a job in Charlotte, north Carolina.

Storie: 1:19

The universal aligned, didn't it?

Shikilia : 1:23

I'm like, okay, what do I do now? Because. I know these people are not going to keep me on right at this price.

Storie: 1:31

Unless they need you right, Unless they need me.

Shikilia : 1:33

And so I said, okay, the writing's on the wall. So at my 90-day probation period I quit. And I went and got my real estate license and I'm like, yay, you know, if I'm going to change my life, I might as well go for the gusto right. so I changed my geography and I changed my career.

Storie: 1:53

Oh my goodness.

Shikilia : 1:54

And so after I got my license and everything, I said, okay, where do I see myself with this in 20 years? And so I wanted to be able to say, 20 years later, you know that I have 20 years as a realtor, you know. And so with that I started my business. I went on and yeah, I deviated and then, a year later, I incorporated.

Storie: 2:18

Wow. So . What? When you first started, did you envision it being what it is today?

Shikilia : 2:26

No, not at all.

Storie: 2:28

So did you exceed expectations or are you still? Are you still working towards your goal?

Shikilia : 2:34

I am really still working hard toward my goal. I practice giving myself small incremental goals so that I could celebrate, because sometimes if you don't do that and you can't celebrate the small wins and you're constantly chasing the big win, you can start feeling like a failure.

Storie: 2:56

Yeah or burnout,

Shikilia : 2:58

You feel like a failure. You feel like you know I shouldn't be doing this. This isn't for me. It's very discouraging, right? So if you just enjoy the walk, enjoy the process to getting there, then it's a lot easier to digest.

Storie: 3:16

I agree, would you say. I mean when you set out a goal 20 years ago. Goals evolve over time right. How has yours evolved? I mean, I feel like, as they evolve, you're constantly reaching another goal or another format of that goal, right? So how has yours evolved since 1999?

Shikilia : 3:35

All right, I'll give you a high overview. So the first goal was to get my license and stay in the business for exceed a year. Right, that was the first goal. Right, Because most agents they say about 80% get out of the business in the first year.

Storie: 3:52

Wow, I didn't know that.

Shikilia : 3:53

So my goal was just to hang in there.

Storie: 3:57

I'm going to get there and then I'm good

Shikilia : 4:01

and it should go, you should be on fire from there. And it should go, you should be on fire from there. But after I achieved that, then I wanted to get into mortgages, because my whole goal was to be a, an assistant and a receptionist. So we were doing pretty well.

Storie: 4:32

I feel like we could have a whole podcast at every moment of your journey.

Shikilia : 4:38

yeah, and so when the real estate market crashed, right, I had to pull back out my corporate hat and I ran for cover. It landed me at AAA.

Storie: 4:51

Oh, okay.

Shikilia : 4:51

AAA, texas. I started out as a life insurance specialist right, because nobody would hire me anymore to be an underwriter, because at that point I had been in business for myself. I'm in sales. In sales, you know, I have all these years of experience. They like lady you are not going to sit at the desk and paper push, so just stop playing.

Shikilia : 5:11

so I only got sales calls so that landed me in life insurance, and so I ended up in 18 months getting promoted with AAA to their uh sales manager. over uh the southern region.

Storie: 5:26

See, and that says a lot about any position you have, I mean, I know, through COVID and all the different hurdles, that the economy has hit. Maybe the universe is driving you to something you need to be at.

Shikilia : 5:37

Exactly.

Storie: 5:38

Because you really made the best of those situations.

Shikilia : 5:41

and so I ended up. I was supposed to have just been passing through, of course right, and getting back to being the entrepreneur that I am. Yeah. But I ended up there almost 10 years. they kept promoting me and giving me different regions and things like that. So I had Houston, san Antonio, I had Vermont, maine, new Hampshire,

Shikilia : 6:04

I enjoyed it. I'm traveling, I'm getting to know different areas and all of that I'm hiring, I'm training, I'm doing onboarding, I'm doing training and development everything. So really, in hindsight, that position prepared me for where I am and where I'm going today.

Storie: 6:25

Being an entrepreneur. That's right, because you do, you have to hire, you have to let go, you have to research

Shikilia : 6:36

So when my husband and I split again, I'm at that pivotal point where I'm like if I'm a change yeah, if I'm going to change that, I'm going to be single again I might as well jump back off the porch and relaunch my business, but this time, instead of relaunching my business as real estate and mortgage, I relaunched as real estate and insurance financial services.

Storie: 7:01

Because you had that history.

Shikilia : 7:03

Now I'm 10 years.

Storie: 7:06

Right, why not offer?

Shikilia : 7:07

Correct. Okay, and so that's. That's henceforth Shea Asset Management Group.

Storie: 7:13

Wow. So underneath that, not only are you doing all those things, you've also managed to write, be an author to write a book. Your wealth is a mindset. Yes, what inspired you to move into that area of the world to help people? Or do you just like writing?

Shikilia : 7:31

I definitely. It's not because I like writing. That is definitely not it. It's definitely my desire to help and give information you know that.

Shikilia : 7:47

I know a lot of people don't pay attention to certain areas. So when I had my, when I was doing mortgages, there's a question on the mortgage application that asks do you have life insurance? And it used to frustrate me so much the number of people that said no and I'm like. So let me get this straight. You have a 200 back then a $250,000 home, $240,000 course between you and your wife or husband, your spouse, and you have 2.5 kids, 2.5. I love that.

Storie: 8:23

The average the 2.5 is the dog. I love that. I'm going to use that one.

Shikilia : 8:28

Right, Okay, and you're going to leave your spouse hanging with all of that. So I would intentionally put my pin down and say you know, you have to change that. So one day I was venting at home like why do we think this way, you know, and my dad goes. You know, Kaya, that's what he calls me. Maybe you should sell life insurance because you're real passionate. So it was just crazy. You know that I ended up that the crash of the real estate market really landed me into life insurance?

Shikilia : 9:07

And so who knew all the aspects of life insurance and how it's a financial vehicle and all of those things that I learned was just amazing. And so when I looked forward and said, in 20 years, what am I going to be doing? And things like that. I'm like I'm going to be sharing whatever information that I have gathered over those 20 years, Right?

Storie: 9:35

I say that's a true leader, right, you take what you've learned and you share it. Yeah, that's a leader in any industry, in my opinion for sure. That's a leader in any industry, in my opinion for sure. So the first book you wrote kind of goes over the do's and don'ts, things you wish you'd have known, correct.

Shikilia : 9:53

Okay, exactly so I was. What about 18 years old? When, I got my first life insurance policy. Wow, because you know, I'm out there acting a donkey and everything, I'm partying and everything. And my young mind said my parents shouldn't have to bury me because I'm in these streets acting crazy, right, right. And so I went and got a life insurance policy. Well, that agent didn't educate me at all.

Shikilia : 10:22

She sold me a 20 year life insurance term, a 20 year term at 18 years old, not telling me that I had the option for permanent insurance, that I had an option for a policy that could grow cash value. So in essence, you're saying I'm not going to be insured at age 38.

Shikilia : 10:45

Right, she didn't want to take the time to go through it with you she didn't give me any kind of education Because, even if she felt like I couldn't afford you know the policy at that time, you know a better policy at that time had she educated me, I would have known to go back, or that my term actually had a convertibility aspect to it and that I could have converted it once my career, you know, took off. She gave me no education, so that was the fuel to my fire Behind the wheel that I'm like no, we have to tell people and then you can make an informed decision, Absolutely.

Shikilia : 11:21

So if you make a decision not to invest, we're not supposed to use the word invest when we're talking about insurance, but in essence, you know, investing in yourself, in your future, in your family.

Storie: 11:32

Someone mentioned to me they use this phrase life insurance is the greatest gift you can give to a family member.

Shikilia : 11:39

Hallelujah, it really is Absolutely.

Storie: 11:42

Every time I think about that, I'm like do your family members really care if they don't have it?

Shikilia : 11:47

Yes, you heard that term. They used to say, oh, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and I say no, no, he didn't have a silver spoon, someone just cared enough to leave him a legacy, that's right. To give him a spring.

Storie: 12:03

And that's amazing to have, and I wish I mean I don't know what inspired you to get life insurance at 18, because I really was not thinking about that at 18. But you've had mentors in your life, it seems like that have helped guide you. Okay, this is what's important. Go ahead and make your own decisions. None of them told me that.

Shikilia : 12:19

Really None of them told me that, and that's how it became a passion of mine, right, because, had I known, I would have been able to act quicker. Right, you would have made moves differently. I would have made moves differently, absolutely. Right. And so now, when you fast forward in current age, you know life and all the living benefits. You know life and all the living benefits, the things that life insurance offer, the strategies you heard of infinite banking, and all of that Infinite banking is life insurance.

Storie: 12:54

See, a lot of people don't know these things.

Shikilia : 12:56

Infinite banking is actually financed through life insurance. It's different strategies of funding various types of life insurance policies.

Storie: 13:13

Wow. So how do you come across typically in your flow? How do you come across people that need to be educated on this? Do you do it through advising them about financial wealth so they can purchase a mortgage? How do you leeway into advertising to your audience? They need to understand this information.

Shikilia : 13:27

All of the above so right, Because everybody have different needs. So my approach is to always do fact finding so that I can meet you where you are. I can't assume where you are based on where the last lady was. Right.

Shikilia : 13:45

So I have to be very good at fact-finding, and so it helped me create my money matters process. So I have what is called a money matters analysis, and it's a slew of questions that asks about where you are currently financially Okay. Do you own a home? Do you have 401K stocks, bonds, any of that? Do you have life insurance? How many children you have? Who are you responsible for?

Storie: 14:19

Oh wow, Is it your parents Do you have aging parents.

Shikilia : 14:22

What happens to them if something happens to you prematurely, right? So those are the types of things. So my whole first consultation with a client is fact-finding.

Storie: 14:34

Oh, wow. So in this, what I call a course that you just mentioned, it's a fill in the blank to help you realize where you need to be Correct.

Shikilia : 14:42

Okay, wow so first step fact finding. So now your mind is going because you're you're having a conversation you don't normally have. You may have portions of the conversation and you may have portions of the conversation in your head, but now that you're having to spew it out, to me. It's making you go wow, yeah, what does happen to mom? Oh, my goodness, if something happens to my sister or my brother, they probably are going to expect me to take care of their kids. You know what I'm saying. Absolutely so. All those things are thought-provoking.

Shikilia : 15:16

Yep, and then the next step, after the consultation and everything, is the review. So now I'm putting this into a report. Okay. And I'm reviewing this back to you, making sure I have my numbers right.

Storie: 15:32

Right, okay.

Shikilia : 15:33

And now that report is showing the gaps, if there are any, I see. The report also helps you celebrate the things that you have accomplished, because the report will say hey, you're on track.

Storie: 15:49

You know you provide almost a sense of peace to what they say is one of the most stressful things you can do in a marriage is buying a house and getting married.

Shikilia : 15:57

Right, that's right.

Storie: 15:58

Those are the two most stressful, but if I had known the things that you've just taught me, rather than going through the process and learning the hard way, it would be exactly what you imagine when you're a kid, right, that blissful moment. And so what are one instance of you being able to help somebody through your method that really resonated with you, that stuck with you over time, can you think?

Shikilia : 16:22

of one. Yes, I always have the perfect. This is the perfect scenario, and it just utilized every aspect of what Shea does Shea Asset Management does. I have a client who purchased a home with me 17 years ago.

Shikilia : 16:45

Oh my a home with me. Okay, 17 years ago. Oh, my Full circle. During the course of those 17 years, insurance I provided, you know, for her. I also was her financial coach, wow. So whenever she made moves as far as moving money around, investing in her retirement, all of that kind of stuff, we, we spoke, you know, we did that. So now she's approaching retirement and she says I want to move away. Oh wow, it's time for you to sell the house. So now I'm selling. At that point it was 16 years later, the very house I, I sold her.

Storie: 17:26

Oh my gosh, what a full circle moment.

Shikilia : 17:28

And we did her financial assessment beforehand to make sure she was ready for retirement.

Storie: 17:35

And was she.

Shikilia : 17:36

And I was able to send her her report with a huge you know congratulations, you are ready for retirement. Wow. And when I tell you it was a celebration for me just as much as it was for her that that was everything that Shea is built to be.

Storie: 17:59

Exactly what you envisioned.

Shikilia : 18:01

Exactly what I envisioned.

Storie: 18:02

That is incredible To be your one-stop financial resource not only that, you're creating relationships and I, we, we talk about that a lot. Atma is you can't sell to people, I I would never consider myself a salesperson, but I can create relationships. I can talk to people and understand them, and for you to be a part of their family for that long, I mean you must take a lot of pride in that.

Shikilia : 18:25

I do, it was, I mean I can. It makes me emotional just thinking about it, because that was just. I couldn't have asked for anything better in that situation.

Storie: 18:40

Honestly, you're a blessing to all those people as well. Can I share another one with you?

Shikilia : 18:43

Absolutely. This one right here was such a challenge. It tested all of my critical thinking. Okay, I want to hear about this one. Problem solving. Learning, learning moments, thinking outside of the box Creativity. It took everything to get this particular deal done. This was a real estate situation. I am, I have my senior designation, so I have I'm certified to work with the senior community.

Storie: 19:19

Oh, wow.

Shikilia : 19:20

Okay, and also certified in probate real estate.

Storie: 19:24

Oh, my goodness.

Shikilia : 19:24

And so in this particular case she fit both. She had lost her husband and she wanted to sell the house so she could move closer to her family. Well, in Texas all community property is held 50-50. And so he had children from a prior marriage and so when he passed away, most people think automatically the property becomes the spouse. But it actually became 50 50 his uh ownership to his heirs passed on without a will, unless you have the will Okay.

Shikilia : 20:04

Correct. Okay, so he passed without a will. So his 50% went to his children. Well, two out of three of his children were deceased.

Storie: 20:16

Oh my.

Shikilia : 20:18

And the one child that was living hates the wife, of course, because he felt like she was the cause of the demise of his parents marriage. So he could not stand her. So I had to get in there and put my psych hat on.

Storie: 20:36

Referee psych yeah.

Shikilia : 20:39

And talk to him about what her options are, and so you could either benefit right by signing or I'll just help her lease out the property. She holds it and you get nothing until something happens to her.

Storie: 20:54

Smart move, very smart move.

Shikilia : 20:55

I'm like, and we see here that you owe child support, and so what we can negotiate is the attorney general taking this lump sum, pay off your child support and you finally get to keep your income tax every year.

Storie: 21:09

And you would not have been able to offer that if you didn't do your research right. There you go.

Shikilia : 21:16

Then the two that were deceased. One didn't have children, so his inheritance went to his mom. So now, the new wife had to break bread.

Shikilia : 21:29

With the other wife With the first wife, and then the third child that was deceased, or the second of the two that was deceased. Her child was in prison, oh Lord. So I had to get in touch with the warden because he had to sign. Oh my goodness, so you went and made a trip to the prison. No, no, oh Lord. So I had to get in touch with the warden because he had to sign.

Storie: 21:47

Oh, my goodness, so you went and made a trip to the prison.

Shikilia : 21:50

Oh, okay, no, we were able to get it done, get a notary there and all that, wow. But I'm telling you so, when people talk about the job of their realtor, this, that and the other, your financial professional, and all of that, this, that and the other, your financial professional, and all of that you have no idea what goes on on this side.

Shikilia : 22:11

Crisis management is one of the biggest reasons to have a financial professional on your side. Yeah, to even consult, because you don't know what you don't know, so you don't even know what to ask if you don't know, right, I think a lot of people rely on attorneys for that. But y'all don't know what you don't know, so you don't even know what to ask if you don't know.

Storie: 22:27

Right. I think a lot of people rely on attorneys for that, but y'all don't understand. That is a hefty cost per question. There you are. So having what you do and someone like you with such a variation of knowledge is almost invaluable to me. Anyway, thank you. It's hard to find people you can trust, you know, to guide you in the right direction, but you're not actually opening these accounts for them, you're directing them in the right direction, where to go and what to do.

Shikilia : 22:51

When you say opening these accounts, what type of account?

Storie: 22:54

Like you're not a bank, no, not a bank.

Shikilia : 22:56

You're not going to give them a loan, but exactly Right, but I do provide them with the insurance vehicles, the financial vehicles you know, but through major companies. You know National Life, you know New York Life, all of that I broker, so I am able to write the fit the best product to my client instead of vice versa.

Storie: 23:21

Making it stress-free almost Correct. That's incredible.

Shikilia : 23:24

That's the mission.

Storie: 23:25

So, in terms of marketing, all of the different things you do, what strategies have been most successful for you? Do you use social media? Do you use your website to draw in people? Do you go to networking events? What would you say is your strongest attribute in terms of marketing?

Shikilia : 23:43

I'm a walk it, talk it girl. Attribute in terms of marketing. I'm a walk it, talk it. Girl, I do better in person.

Storie: 23:59

COVID forced me to get creative, to show my skill on video right, so I host my Girl Flip course online.

Shikilia : 24:02

Tell me about that. What is that? So? Girl Flip is an investment training course that I wrote and created to give women a safe space to invest in real estate. Learn how to invest in real estate Wow. To become investors, because a lot of times, you know, the hesitance is I don't know what to do. Or where to start. Where to start?

Shikilia : 24:24

So a lot of people will go to these high-level investment seminars and all of that kind of stuff and it sounds great, but they're frozen into inaction because, I don't know where to start. So what my program does is actually walk you through step by step, from structuring your company all the way to getting financially fit and purchase ready right and then deciding how do you know what type of funds to go after. Do I do private funding? Can I qualify for traditional funding you know all of those things to building your team. Wow.

Shikilia : 25:03

Right. What questions do I ask a contractor? What is the process If I'm trying to determine whether I'm going to keep this property for income? Or I'm going to fix it and flip it. How do I determine that? Yeah.

Shikilia : 25:17

So all of that I walk you through step by step. I tell everybody this is not an information session. So if you are not ready to do the work, because you get homework and there's things you're supposed to do to move the ball forward, right. So if you're just coming to collect information, you probably should wait until you're ready to do work.

Storie: 25:38

You want to give them actionable next steps on every portion of it.

Shikilia : 25:41

Correct. So right now, where we are in the process, for instance, this particular class, their assignment, right now that they were given on Tuesday, is here is your due diligence list. I had them previously pick a property that they would actually be interested in Wow. So now they have to do their due diligence on that property. What you know, what are is it has the items been permitted? What type of zoning is it? What are you allowed to do? You know?

Storie: 26:15

Wow, all the things they'll need to know, correct. But you give them kind of the structure,

Shikilia : 26:20

Yeah, no they got to turn it in.

Storie: 26:21

Wow.

Shikilia : 26:22

So before next class.

Storie: 26:27

So they have to turn that list in. Are you putting this um coursework in the order of which they will need to use it?

Shikilia : 26:31

in the order that's so. so you're going through the whole process wow along the way.

Storie: 26:40

Now let me circle back, because I didn't let you answer. One question is how you think is the best marketing tool. But really you did answer it. It's all of the above.

Shikilia : 26:51

And word of mouth. I can't really say that I've gotten any business off of social media. Right, it's more informational Social media is the first place people go, just like you did, to look me up. So I have to make sure my branding is there, my presence is there, because it just kind of certifies whatever conversations that you and I have had.

Storie: 27:16

Yeah, it makes you look valid, correct. What's funny is I reached out to you on social media, but you're actually a client of ours, aren't you?

Shikilia : 27:24

Yes, and I thought that that's why you reached out to me. Wow, not at all. No, I didn't even know. You're a client, and then one of my co-workers was in my office. They're like you have a podcast with her and I was like yeah, and they're like she's one of our clients, and so of course, I gotta go look at everything, like, do we need to do everything right? So the all this time when I was communicating with you, I thought it was because no?

Storie: 27:50

no, but you know what?

Shikilia : 27:56

yep, I thought that's why how we founded each other.

Storie: 28:00

No, but I am so proud to say that you've been with us for since the inception of Advent Trinity. Absolutely, so that relationship is very strong yeah.

Shikilia : 28:10

back when they were in uh, uh, what is it over there? Not Arlington I?

Storie: 28:16

honestly don't know. Pantigo, pantigo, yeah, yeah, when they were in Pantigo.

Shikilia : 28:20

See, and you're still with us today.

Storie: 28:22

I'm so proud to say that. So the website, for instance, that you mentioned just gives you the credibility Absolutely. It shows you what you say is backed by all the information.

Shikilia : 28:33

that's listed and it goes in the detail right. So now you can read the certifications that I have, because I can't spew everything out to you in 20 minutes you know, and so now you can go and take a deeper dive to kind of again verify what I've already told you you know, and dig a little deeper.

Storie: 28:54

Okay, this makes a lot more sense as to why my web developer was like, yeah, she's, she's an author and she's this and she's this. And I'm like, how do? You oh this makes more sense now, exactly. So you've built a strong foundation. We really focus on build launch grow scale at Atma. Where would you say you are in that build launch grow scale methodology?

Shikilia : 29:18

I feel like I kind of am consistently and constantly fitting in all of the areas, you know, and that's how you become successful right. Yeah, I'm like I'm constantly there because any I guess achievement that I make, then it's okay. What's next? So I'm constantly in growth mode, I'm constantly in launch mode, right, because it's the next thing and I already have, like it might be 15 things that say that I want to achieve. Right. So once I check off these five, it's on to the next five.

Storie: 29:59

You never stop. Would you encourage others who are starting out as entrepreneurs or even just working on branching out on their own in a new life, like you did, um to always continue growing?

Shikilia : 30:13

well, no, I don't, that's not I. I never make general statements because what's for me is for me and what's for you is for you that's right so it's about finding your sweet spot and it's's about finding what. That's why the book is called Wealth is a Mindset, Because what you feel wealth is may be different than my definition of wealth. Now, of course, we have what the statistics say wealth is right. And what's that margin and that magic number? But for me reality is just like success is relative, so is wealth.

Storie: 30:56

Everything is relative, almost, and I love that you came on the podcast because I didn't know this much about you, but it's very similar to what our view is here at Atma customizing it. People come to us so many times asking okay, well, how much do you charge for this, how much do you charge for that? Well, do you want something everybody else has or do you want something made for you? Correct, and what's your budget? Why would I just throw a number at you if you can't afford it? Right, let's get where you need to be, right, exactly, and that's exactly how you framed it.

Shikilia : 31:23

Yeah, because some people are like we have different ideas of retirement, right? Yes, One person's retirement looks like I'm sitting on a porch with my iced tea.

Storie: 31:36

The tea. I was just going to say the same thing, and that is my idea of retirement.

Shikilia : 31:40

So what I need financially for retirement is going to be totally different.

Shikilia : 31:45

Where my retirement looks like I wrote the book and these courses specifically for my retirement. You're like huh, how's that retirement? Because my retirement looks like me spending two, three months in the Bahamas, right Calling it work, because I'm doing some speaking engagements. I'm doing a course, a series, you know and everything. So now I'm doing some speaking engagements, I'm doing a course, a series, you know and everything. So now I'm getting to travel, I'm getting to. Once I get off and finish speaking to you guys, I get to go lay on the beach.

Storie: 32:15

You know, that's my vision absolutely would you say that's a common misconception when, in terms of wealth building for people is we're not all the same, not all the same, not all the same Would you say that's the biggest misconception.

Shikilia : 32:29

or what would you say is that is one of the biggest misconceptions and I can't really think of another one A close second, maybe a close second. I think a close second may be legacy. You know, misconception of what legacy is, or maybe not even paying attention, or having legacy on your radar, right, Some people come from the school of thought of hey, I had to get it in the mud, so should you.

Storie: 33:12

I think I was raised that way.

Shikilia : 33:13

Yeah right. But what I'm coming to understand, and trying to get people to understand, is that preparing legacy is also going to give you a whole other realm. And what's the word? I'm looking?

Storie: 33:34

for Sense of security.

Shikilia : 33:36

Thank you so much as if that's not the first line in the book Security.

Storie: 33:41

And I have not read the book.

Shikilia : 33:44

That's like the first chapter in the book.

Storie: 33:47

I love it.

Shikilia : 33:48

So, absolutely, it's going to give you a sense of security while you're living and then that is going to pass on to your heirs. You know that security is your legacy. It really is, so it's one and the same. And we can make it fluid.

Storie: 34:08

With the right education, it feels like Correct. So what's one powerful piece of advice that you would give to people that are looking to secure their financial future? What's one piece of advice you would give our audience, whether it be business owners or clients?

Shikilia : 34:28

Individuals and business owners. Every coach needs a coach. So the first order of business is to find someone you trust. Get a financial professional on your team right. So, whether you're an individual, you should have a financial team.

Storie: 34:45

Okay.

Shikilia : 34:46

If you're a business, you should have a financial team, and so you have to find people that you trust, that you, that can expose you to things you may be unaware of. That could help give you the security you're looking for.

Storie: 35:04

So would you do? You still have mentors and coaches that you refer to Absolutely Really, even after?

Shikilia : 35:13

Listen, I just posted today and I said I forever a student, that's my hashtag, hashtag forever a student. I'm gonna.

Shikilia : 35:25

I'm gonna forever be learning and I can't deliver information to you if I'm not currently taking in information. That is very true, so I have to consistently, and whatever I know today, look at the changing times. So what is so today? That's why, as a licensed professional in more than one or two areas, One, two, five. It's consistent continuation education, continuing education. Why? Because the market changes. So, even the state dictates that I have to constantly be learning so that.

Shikilia : 36:02

I'm delivering the right information to you. So, aside from what they make me do right, I go out and seek information so that I can better serve my clients right.

Storie: 36:15

So being able to optimize your strategy as a salesperson, a marketing person or an entrepreneur, you have to be able to do. That seems like what you're saying.

Shikilia : 36:24

Yeah, so be successful because it's it's. It's so much out there there is no way you can ever get to the point that you feel you know it all, because it is changing too much and it's still so much out there to learn. Brian will tell you that with the first class that I took, when he was trying to force me to learn technology, I wanted to cry and throw things at him.

Storie: 36:52

He is a teacher. He's a teacher.

Shikilia : 36:56

And then he will be all calm. Shikilia you, you ain't. And I'm like I want to kill you right now, but I had to stop saying in the last year or so. I'm like I have to stop calling myself technology challenge, because now, when I compare myself to others, you're up there now oh my goodness,

Storie: 37:17

-- --tw-pinch-- --tw-pan-y --tw-pinch- data- --tw- put out some new courses. Did he shameless plug? No?

Shikilia : 37:21

okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna seek some out yeah so. But I have been really just making myself because in my mind I kept thinking oh my goodness, it's taking me two hours to do this and somebody else will come in here and do it in 10 minutes. But what I am learning and finding that if you're really honing in on the technology, even the experienced person it may. They may have to sit there and tinkle with it for an hour or two.

Storie: 37:48

I will say every day, yeah, every day, I have to learn something new or an update to a technology and how to do it correctly, exactly.

Shikilia : 37:56

And as soon as you learn that piece of technology, they update it and tweak it and change it, and now you've got to figure out how it works again. Facebook, for example, totally different than you know three years ago as far as how you can navigate on it.

Storie: 38:11

And so I'm no longer this is my announcement to the world I'm no longer technology challenge, I am in technology growth you really are and would you say, at whatever point you are, you finally reached a point where you're like you know what this is a full time job learning the marketing technology.

Shikilia : 38:39

Let me get a team on my side Would you say that's helped you. Yes, and so I don't have the team that I want yet, but I have. My team looks totally different than it did a year ago, two years ago, and so definitely in growth mode, didn't I say?

Storie: 38:52

There we go, constantly growing.

Shikilia : 38:54

Constantly growing and so I do have a good team that is very patient, that is very patient with me and everything. But I definitely am trying to get to the point where I have that right hand person Back when I had my mortgage branch, my assistant. She will tell you what my answer would be, separate from what her answer would be. That's how well she got to know me, how I move and how I think I need her back, I know right.

Storie: 39:29

And so, yeah, that's what I'm looking for looking well, hopefully in the next year or so you'll come back on and be like you know what I found my person so to point that out. If people want to know more about you, to learn more about your courses or the books you've written, or just your story even, yeah how can they reach you?

Shikilia : 39:49

well, a couple of ways. You could definitely reach me on social media under Shea Assets. When you put in Shea Assets, it will come up, okay, with an S on the end. You also can reach me via email. Info at sheaassetscom. Okay. And you can reach me on my website. I have a stay in touch contact tab there. You can reach me there and also call me 469-510-5182. 469-510-5182. Shaquille at Shea Assets.

Storie: 40:28

I love it. I will also be adding it to the bottom of this podcast. This was probably one of the funnest podcasts I've had and I really appreciate you coming on.

Shikilia : 40:37

Thank you so much Thank you, shane, it was really a pleasure.

Storie: 40:41

Well, we're going to talk more soon.

Shikilia : 40:43

Love it.

Storie: 40:43

And to our audience. Thank you for returning to another episode of Market it with Atma. We'll see you next time.