DANA FLANAGAN | CP Magazine | Business Woman

Dana Flanagan has been a Top Producing Realtor in Connecticut for almost 20 years. A native of Glastonbury located in Central Connecticut her clients come predominantly through referrals from clients and friends, many of whom she has known since elementary school. She has brokered deals all over Connecticut from Residential, First-time Home buyers, New Construction, and Relocation. Her listings have been featured on the popular HGTV show House Hunters. She has been featured on the cover of Top Agent Magazine and is Ranked one of the Top 1000 Realtors in the US by The Wall Street Journal. Dana got her start in real estate at a young age as she tagged along with her top-producing aunt from appointments to open houses in the 1990s. She knew then that Real Estate was her passion. Today she has grown her business to where she is recognized on a national level. In addition to assisting buyers and sellers, Dana also flips houses. Her eye for style, design, decor, and vast knowledge ofknowing what sells and what the buyers want, ensures that her properties don't stay on the market long. Dana is an avid skier and skis over 50 days a year. She has racing experience but really prefers free skiing and getting the runs in with other expert skiers. Her home mountain is Killington in VT with many favorites in VT, NH & ME and a few trips out west to places like Aspen, Vail and Park City to name a few favorites. In the summer she loves boating, golfand being outside. Without fail, you will find her at the gym or outside running before she starts her day. She's a firm believer in having a positive mindset and forming habits that set you up for success. She loves to travel to warm places and the beach just as much as the mountains, she especially loves to try new places as well spend time at her year-round vacation home in Vermont. With a very social personality, Dana is always looking to do something fun or try something new. Professionally, she is always setting the bar very high, and doesn't fall short ofachieving her goals.

•What does being entrepren eurial mean to you? Being an entrepreneur to me means building a business while also creating a life by design. Having the freedom to express your ideas and have your strengths shine through. When you see something that you have created take off, there is no better feeling than that.

• What do you work on? I have a real estate business, a house flipping business, am a model and I have begun to work as a social media influencer in my spare time.

• What was your motivation to become an ent repreneur? At a young age I knew I wanted to make really good money and not be tied down. I had the gift ofgab and the personality to take it somewhere. I loved the idea of working for myselfand reaping the rewards for the effort I put in.

• What were the biggest difficulties as a woman youencountered in this job? The competition can be fierce so you always need to stay a step ahead. I am constantly working on improving my business, honing my skills and working on myself professionally, personally, physically and spiritually.

• What is the most sacrificed to fulfill your dreams? I guess I would say a family. I didn't think I had time to have kids, which is a limiting belief. Now that I am with the right person and I have systems in place, it's definitely a possibly. are endless!

• How far would you be willing t o go to achieve yourprofessiona l goals? I am always looking for new opportunities to build on what I am good at. I really don't have anything holding me back so the possibilities are endless!

• Could you give us a definition ofwhat you un derstand by success? Being able to be doing what you love, while living a life by design. Whether that is spending more time with your family, traveling etc. For me I enjoy being able to create my own schedule, having financial stability and enjoying the things I love like skiing and traveling.

• How do you define your style, who are you ins pired by? There are many sides to meprofessional, sporty, casual, sexy so it depends.. I am inspired by people that have created something from nothing. People who have had road blocks in life and have overcome them instead of making excuses and therefore have inspired others to reach for the stars. I feed off authentic people with vision and positive energy- that's who I surround myselfwith.

• What have you learned from your previous su ccesses? Always go "Back to Basics'. Never get too busy or too big to send that handwritten note or to pick up the phone and call a client to see how they are doing. Don't underestimate the power ofa personal touch.

•Do you think that recognition has real value when youreceive it? I do- it's nice to be recognized, but the real feeling of recognition is when someone appreciates what I have done for them. Thanking me for my hardwoork, hugging me at a closing because they got their dream home. That is where the real value is for me.

•To almost finish the interview, being so young, what goals would you like to ac hieve? I'm not that young, but I have been successful since my 20s. I would love to write a book. I would also love to have a real estate show or be a host for a show.

• What advice would you give to women entrep reneurs, entrepreneurs or those who want to b ecome? 80% of everything you do is mindset. You attract what you think about most. Surround yourself with people that are going places and don't allow negativity in your life. Work smart, not hard. Be consistent in your plan and practice and don't let anyone bring you down!