Podcast:
In our most recent podcast episode, we had a conversation with entrepreneur Daryn Vucelik, a leader in the real estate industry residing in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Let’s delve into the insights she generously shared with us and explore how her endeavors empower her to show up like a superhero in her own distinctive and impactful way.
Before we dive in – if you’re like us, you’re probably already wondering who Daryn’s favorite superhero is. Well, Daryn chose Xenon, a 21st century superhero who saved the international space station and the entire earth.
Now, let’s get to it …
Superpowers Start with Super Rituals
Daryn starts her day with a ritual that actually keeps her in bed just a little longer. She keeps a notebook with Dreams and Schemes written on the cover, and every day she writes a new affirmation, just one line to live into that begins with “I AM ____.
Sometimes she writes the word that she “is” that day. Sometimes it’s a word she’s feeling, other times it’s a word that expresses how she wants to live into even if she isn’t feeling it yet. Putting down how she will show up sets her intention for the day.
This simple ritual also allows her to run through a mental list in her head and reflect on what she’s thankful for. It’s not always an exhaustive list, and it’s not always a complex ritual; sometimes she’s simply grateful to be resting in bed.
Afterward, she leaves herself open to the day. If she’s feeling a creative spark, she might journal. If she’s feeling low energy, she’ll get right to breakfast. It’s about following where her brain and body take her, rather than forcibly going where she used to think she “should” or “needed” to go. It’s about remaining fluid, intuitive, and true to self.
Daryn spoke of how she used to feel pressure to have a strict morning ritual; wake up at 5:00 a.m. for example, and hit the gym for an hour. While that works for some people, it didn’t serve her well, and we all agreed it doesn’t serve everyone. It’s important to be willing to embrace what works for you, even if it’s waking up and deciding in that moment how your day is going to look.
Daryn Vucelik as a Real Estate Professional
Daryn began her professional career as the Director of First Impressions for a local Keller Williams office, which she says is a “fun title for a receptionist.” She was obviously pretty great at what she was doing, because within just a couple of years she was promoted to the position of
Team Leader and CEO of that same Keller Williams office. She learned quickly and grew through the roles that were given to her within the company.
Daryn says being given the opportunity to grow into the role she wanted was important to her. She took on a position in finance for the company for a time, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that there was not a lot of joy for her in numbers and spreadsheets. As a Team Leader, she learned how to operate the business. Daryn calls it being paid to get an MBA in real time. She operated a real estate brokerage of about 280 agents.
What’s interesting is that Daryn has her real estate license, but she’s never actually sold a home herself.
Her job was to help agents learn how to grow and run their business like a business. She couldn’t help them write a real estate contract, however she could coach them on how to grow and structure themselves for success. She could help with setting goals, recruiting team members, and ways to become more profitable.
Daryn admits to having a bit of imposter syndrome at first, wondering how she could help a Realtor® be better if she wasn’t actually a practicing Realtor® herself. She overcame that quickly as she learned to lean into her superpower.
Discovering a Superpower
So, what exactly is that superpower Daryn discovered for herself?
Daryn and her team recently had a retreat where they talked about just that – superpowers. Daryn believes hers is the ability to inspire others to live a joyful life and to recognize that they are worthy and capable of the opportunities for greatness that are right in front of them.
When an opportunity arises, you need the confidence to go for it. This is not something that everyone possesses; the ability to believe that they’re capable and worthy.
Helping people see and seize their own opportunities is more than a superpower, Daryn says, it’s a true joy. This kind of work fills her cup.
Every Superpower Encounters a Kryptonite
So what is Daryn’s kryptonite? It sounds like being too scheduled might work against her.
We asked how she handles the stress and pressure of growing in her career, and the structure that’s required in a path forward.
Daryn says it’s about being mindful and aware of the stress.
When stressed by something, Daryn finds that there is usually an underlying issue that’s triggering that stressor. Deepening her awareness came largely through her own personal coaching and the inner work involved in that. Having greater awareness has been really impactful for her.
It also helps her to remember that life is cyclical and nothing is forever. That’s a good thing.
There will be seasons and there will be days and there will be weeks and months and years. Some will be more challenging. There’s no need to shy away or try and escape the hard times, because running away only prolongs the problem. Sit in it, recognize it, accept it, let it in, and then find a path forward.
Daryn likes to think about buffalo that run headfirst into a storm. They run together into the storm, and in doing so help to protect each other and get through it much more quickly. Plus if they were to run away from the storm instead, it would continue to follow them and last a whole lot longer.
Having experienced depression in the past, Daryn knows not to run from that storm. Talking about struggles in a healthy way and reaching out for help is essential. She doesn’t like to fall into self-pity for too long. She’ll give herself a day and then do whatever has to be done to put it behind her. Daryn understands that true, clinical depression can last for a long time, however you can still achieve things. You can still impact other people’s lives.
Nature does not rush, Daryn reminds us. Bears know when it’s time to stop hibernating. Bees and butterflies operate on their own schedule, too. Things happen on their own timeframes.
Daryn goes back to the part of her superpower that is joy. She says that joy is different from happiness. When you’re looking for happiness, you have to understand that it’s fleeting. Joy can persist. Even in challenges. Even during depression.
What Would You Say to Your Younger Self?
Still pretty young at 30, Daryn paused to consider what her 15-year-old self would think of her 30-year-old self.
- That she’s pretty cool.
- That she has pretty cool vibes. For example, there’s a pink chair in her house. • That her life turned out pretty much how she always wanted it to be.
The younger Daryn would want to know how all of this was achieved; the house by the beach, the ability to travel and meet new friends, speaking for a living … she believes younger Daryn would be proud.
Anger as a Secondary Emotion
It’s always interesting to know how people – especially Superheroes – deal with anger.
Daryn says she doesn’t get angry much. She calls it a secondary emotion that is usually very busy masking something else. People become angry when they feel hurt or let down or betrayed.
The emotion Daryn uses instead is sadness. She shared a recent example of feeling very sad. After moving across the country to take a new job in real estate, she quickly realized she wasn’t enjoying it the way she expected to. She felt disconnected and missed her friends and family. Someone who gets angry might have gotten infuriated with herself for making the choice. She might have been mad at other people for the way the situation played out.
Instead, Daryn realized she had the power to make a different decision and another choice.
Winners do quit. They quit anything that’s not serving them. They quit anything that’s not getting them to their goal, that’s not aligned with their values. Daryn says this is a lesson she’s still learning, and it’s been a tough one for her.
Community: Gathering Your SuperFriends
Daryn says she collects friends like key chains. She used to confuse her mother by referring to people that she met one time as “friends.” She recently hosted a “Friendsgiving” and there were 25 people gathered around her table. This is what her community is.
Daryn gravitates towards young professionals like herself, and she has people in her community at all different phases and stages of life. She has friends who are on their third marriage and friends who are just exploring dating. She has friends who have kids and friends who never want kids. It’s a rich, diverse community, and the one thing everyone has in common is that they’re open to opportunity. They’re all working on being more, doing more, and finding joy.
If you want a friend, start first by being a friend.
What a great message to conclude our first SuperFriends podcast.
We’re grateful to have talked with Daryn Vucelik, and if you have any thoughts or questions we hope you’ll contact us at Inside Outlooks.
A Few Takeaways
- Find a routine that works for you rather than one that you feel like you “should” do. • Be like the Buffalo and run into the storm. In other words – take action! Don’t run away from the storms in your life, because they will stay with you far longer by trying to avoid them.
- Seek out ways to deepen your awareness around your own thinking. One idea – seek out a great coach. 😉
- Happiness comes and goes, but you can live in joy year round.
- If you want to make a new friend, start first by being a friend.
