HEATHER EWING: The CRE RUNdown

Ep. 38 From Car Crash to Marathons + Real Estate Success

• Heather Ewing, CCIM • Season 1 • Episode 41

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Ever wondered how to break into the competitive world of commercial real estate while juggling personal and professional growth? In this insightful episode of The CRE Rundown, host Heather Ewing sits down with Isaac Ewing, a seasoned expert in the commercial real estate industry. Isaac shares his journey, from the early challenges of establishing his career to the successes that have shaped his approach today. Together, Heather and Isaac explore the strategies that helped Isaac build a thriving career, discussing everything from market trends to leadership skills and the importance of fostering strong relationships in the industry.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into how Isaac overcame obstacles, including how he navigated economic downturns and leveraged mentorship to elevate his success. Isaac also dives into the critical role mindset plays in achieving long-term goals and how he applies a disciplined approach to both his professional and personal life.

Whether you're new to the commercial real estate space or looking to level up your career, Isaac’s experience provides a wealth of knowledge. You’ll also hear practical tips on networking, building community, and finding balance in a fast-paced industry. Tune in to discover Isaac’s perspective on the current real estate landscape and how you can make your mark. Don’t miss this engaging conversation packed with actionable advice and inspiration for anyone eager to grow in the commercial real estate field!

Isaac Ewing:

Welcome to another episode of Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown, where today you are joined by not one but two Ewings, and we're doing something a little differently today. In this episode we're going to put Heather in the hot seat and then we're going to ask her some questions. Be kind, be kind oh we're going to be very nice and we'll see what she has to say.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

How are you doing today? I'm doing great, Isaac. I'm really excited for this. I've been looking forward to it. I have no idea what you're going to ask me, so it's fun and exciting. It's an adventure.

Isaac Ewing:

Well, I've been looking forward to it as well, so we'll see where it goes. So I'd like to start off by asking you why do you run? I know that's something that you talk about a lot, and it's obviously something you hold very near and dear to your heart. So what drives you to run and why do you continue doing that?

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Yeah, definitely. I would say the biggest thing that I love about running and how it entered my life really was it's kind of a solace within the storm and with that I would run little bits. When I was younger and it was actually in 2015, when I got into commercial exclusively the retail and restaurant sectors that it was a lot of stress, a lot of demands, a lot of new things, a lot of learning and with that I was like what's a healthy way to offload some of this? And so that's where the running came in, and then I ran. I think it was about 25 half marathons. That's very impressive, thank you.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

And then I was like you know what? You're a little too comfortable, heather, it's time to up the ante. And then your parents, in 2019, were like, heather, do you want to run a marathon? Because I had ran my very first with your mom, gosh, in my late twenties, so advanced 17 years later, 2019. And I was. I was on the fence. I said let me sleep on this. So I dug deep and I was like, okay, there's some fear in there, it's time to up, level, break through it. And that really changed the trajectory. And I think, going many years back, that it was in my car accident that I just realized how fragile the human body can be and really how strong it can be. And it was that duality that really drove me and that's why I do see my body as a temple and with that that, you know, the sky is the limit in performance, whether it's mind, body, spirit, they're all interrelated of just up, level it and bring it up. So that's a long answer to that question.

Isaac Ewing:

Well, that's great, I appreciate it. I think it's really cool to hear how you obviously started with a marathon. You said no way, but you were open to coming back to it and trying it again. I think that was a great decision for you.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Thank you. I agree too, because I could not imagine not having it in my life. It's such a part of me, and it's a great way I call it a moving meditation really that it's connecting with myself. People would joke what are you running from? I?

Isaac Ewing:

get that one a lot too yeah.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Here's the thing for those that don't run it's actually running too, because you really connect with your truest aspect of self. You connect with those old stories of it's too hard, it's this or that, or I don't have the capability for this or whatever it might be. It might be some of the old garbage that we hold on to from childhood and everything else, but it really does break barriers and it really brings you to your truest self.

Isaac Ewing:

That's great, thank you. And so, continuing off of that topic, then, another thing that you and I talk often about is how running transfers directly into commercial real estate and how that mindset is the same whether you're running or you're working on a deal. Could you explain a common thread, something I really feel like the two are interwoven.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

And with that, with marathoning, it's seeing the big picture and then it's breaking it down into actionable steps, both from a monthly to a daily or for a race, and with that there's going to be days where you're feeling strong, you can go with the wind. Other days you're going to feel like you've never ran, kind of like with some of this 90 degree weather we've had. And it's really staying true to the goal, the path. Sometimes you do have to tweak and adjust. You know, maybe something's bothering you in a leg, a hip or something, so it's giving it that immediate attention. Maybe you need to do some foam rolling, something else additional stretching, shift, how you're stepping, how you're pushing off different things of that nature. But all of those components go into commercial real estate because deals take months or years. And with that it's seeing the big picture. This is the goal, this is your client, this is what we're doing with a development or a deal and it's breaking it down into the sections of the architect, the contractor, the zoning, the build. Out all of these different facets municipal approvals, patio approvals, alcohol. Out all of these different facets municipal approvals, patio approvals, alcohol. You get the drift of breaking it down and moving towards it.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

And in commercial real estate, like marathoning or running, is that there is inevitably something that pops up that you need to adjust to. So it's keeping the right mindset and for me that marathoning the mindset, it's so much mindset because what you tell yourself is what transfers through in your words, actions and your body. And in bringing those deals across the finish line, it feels great because you're fulfilling someone's dream. You're helping them in the process. Maybe it's their third store, maybe it's their first, maybe it's a national group that I'm bringing to southern Wisconsin and that's really exciting, too is utilizing all that different knowledge and mindset makes or breaks people. You see a lot of talented people, whether they're in commercial real estate, any career arena, running, you name it. If the mind's not right, the rest is going to fall apart and you're going to have short-term wins, not a long, long-term win.

Isaac Ewing:

It just which is what you need thank you yes, agree, and within the training plan as well. Obviously you have months in advance, like you said, before a race, just how a deal goes on for months, so you really have to be able to avoid thinking too much about momentary setbacks, like maybe a small injury or maybe somebody is being difficult while you're trying to work with them, but you get over those small hurdles and you keep going towards the real goal.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Exactly, and like you said it's, it's focusing on solutions, not the problems, because there's endless problems and that's just a way of life, career, anything in life. Right, and going back to the running, again we're in Wisconsin. We have icy, cold winters. I'm not a fan of cold. I turn this beautiful hue of purple in the wintertime.

Isaac Ewing:

So do I.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Yeah, it's the beauty of being a Ewing, but it's again you're really reaffirming your why for every run so that if it's a slower day you're kind of reaffirming that you're rejuvenating, you're taking care. You know those slow miles add up and are just as important as the days of speed workouts and some of these other things. And in the commercial real estate deals and brokerage it's again you'll have weather components that do affect properties ice, unforeseen issues with storms, surprise insurance, you know doubling and things of that nature. So it really helps you to focus on the win and putting it in a positive light so that you can serve everyone.

Isaac Ewing:

Exactly, and so that you can do the best that you, oh my goodness, the best job that you, best job that you possibly can.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Exactly, it's overcoming those little little road bumps and you're back in. Exactly Yep.

Isaac Ewing:

So moving forward, then I know you live by the saying live fully. I do A very good one, I'd like to add. But where did that come from, and why is that something that you stand by?

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

yeah, but that's a. You have some real doozies good ones, um, doesn't surprise me, but um, so, living fully, that came again, you'll notice. So many things go back to my car accident in my early 20s and with that I realized that, you know, I have been given a second chance at life and it's really meant to prosper, not only for myself but also other people, of how can I bring out their best and how can I revolutionize things that I work in so that people are living fully. And I think it's really a self-excavation and it's asking those bigger questions who am I? What am I? What do I want to do? What's my purpose? How do I best serve people and how do you really lift it up?

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

And I think it's easy to get stuck in the noise and the stress and the emails and the messaging and everything else and trying to live up to other people's standards, that until you dig deep and find within what speaks to your heart, who you are and how you can best help that you can live a a good life. But it's not going to be full. So it's self-excavation and really I love performing at my best and it's one of those. It's always a moving target. Some days we feel like, oh, that was tough, other days like nailed it, nailed it. So it's all part of that. And again, life is interwoven. We don't live in silos, so it's putting it all together and living fully through a career, through fitness, running loved ones, friends, everyone else.

Isaac Ewing:

So bringing your entire life together and doing what you can to the best of your ability.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Very succinct and perfect. We know who the long winded one is here.

Isaac Ewing:

Well, you also have a lot of good information to share, so there's nothing wrong with laying it out for everyone, thank you. So I guess we'll do a little uh 180 here and maybe take a step back, do something a little less serious okay do you have any interesting stories of a run where you thought, wow, I never expected that to happen or that went terribly wrong, anything along those lines?

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

I've had a few of those. I think one was it was like a lake loop and it was just a storm that seemed to come out of nowhere and it was just relentless and just raining so hard through the entire thing. And that's where, again, like the mindset of like you love this, I got this. But it was also just kind of fun. It reminded me of when I was little and jumping in you know the water and making a mess of things. So it was just very freeing and something almost silly and it was fun. So I'd say a little silly and, um, it was fun.

Isaac Ewing:

so I'd say that one pops up that's good and that's another thing that I enjoy about running myself is that it gives you a lot of time to think and reflect on yourself, maybe remember something that happened in the past, or imagine your future as well. Yeah, yeah, definitely. It just gives you that time where there's nothing else going on, nothing that you need to focus on or that distracts you, so you can really focus in on what you're thinking about.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Yeah, that's so true. I think too, that's where I get some of my greatest epiphanies and just different ideas for different deals or fun things to do, or where to run the next marathon. What country? Which always a good question. Yes, yes, so yeah, it's great for that.

Isaac Ewing:

I agree, yeah, all right. Well, I think that this has been a very good conversation and I really enjoyed hearing some of your insights and what you've had to say.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Thank you for talking with me Well, of course, isaac, and thank you so much for being gentle and kind on this, which I knew, and you did a great job. This is fantastic, and I think we need him to do more podcasts. What do you guys think?

Isaac Ewing:

Maybe, I think. Maybe next time you'll have to put me in the hot seat so I can hold up your standards.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

Oh, you did a great job. So, folks I think he's offering, would you say, yes, we'll see. Yeah, maybe we'll tune in from school one day not in class, but during the school year as a surprise.

Isaac Ewing:

What do you think? I think that would be a great idea.

Heather Ewing, CCIM:

All right, great job.

Isaac Ewing:

Thank you and we'll see you in the next episode of Heather Ewing, the CRE Rundown. Thank you for listening.