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July 2023 ~ Rising Star - Noel Miller with Fluid Realty
Noel Miller, Fluid Realty
By Brandon Jerrell and Photos by Scott Gomic
It is no secret that a genuine love in helping others is one of the keys to becoming a great and successful REALTOR®. There is a big difference between a person who helps others simply as a duty of their job and a person who is passionate about helping others.
Noel Miller with Fluid Realty genuinely loves to help others, and real estate gives her an opportunity to do just that.
“I love to help people. I love to mentor people. I love being a REALTOR®. I love the thrill of being a ‘personal shopper’ for my clients and there is nothing better than finding the perfect property,” Noel says.
PASSION AND DISCIPLINE
Noel is from Gainesville, Florida where some of her family, including her parents, still reside. She attributes much of what she is today to her parents. “My mom is the original ‘Boss Babe’ and I watched her accomplish a very successful career in healthcare as a physical therapist. Her passion for what she does and her ability to connect with people is enviable. Both qualities I have from her,” she explains.
Noel continues, “My dad was also very successful professionally in the banking industry, yet it is his discipline that I feel has shaped me personally. My dad has been an athlete all my life. His commitment to being an athlete is like no one I’ve ever known. I watched him accomplish goal after goal by being consistent and applying discipline to all aspects of his life. I think that my mom’s passion and ability to relate to anyone and my dad’s discipline are characteristics that have helped me be successful.”
Noel earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of North Florida. “I met my husband, Tripp Miller, in college and we’ve been married 25 years.” She adds that Tripp is a fourth generation Jacksonvillian and is an incredible resource to her.
YEARS OF TRAINING
Before becoming a REALTOR®, Noel worked in healthcare for 20 years. “I started my career as a case manager and worked my way into hospital leadership as the Director of Case Management. I managed a multi-million dollar business line and was sought after as an expert to speak at national conferences or sit on expert panels to help lead changes in healthcare,” she says.
Noel says that although her past work experience seems very different on the surface, it’s all very similar at their core: they are service professions. With that said, she says that the 20 years in healthcare was perfect training for the real estate industry.
“Both fields are all about building and maintaining relationships. As a case manager and then director, my success was largely due to networking in our community with resources for my patients, their families, or my staff.”
TIME FOR A SHIFT
Despite her massive success in her previous career, Noel explains that it had to change once she became a mom. “As a hospital leader and mom, it was difficult to give 100 percent to both my personal and professional lives. While I was fine with using Shipt, InstaCart, or other conveniences to make life ‘easier’, I was not fulfilled with my presence in my family and as a mom to my daughter. Covid presented the perfect opportunity to reevaluate my priorities and ultimately was the right time for me to jump into a new career as a REALTOR®.”
Noel adds, “I’ve always thought being a REALTOR® looked like the best job, and I thought that maybe when I retired that I would pursue it. Then, as I was considering leaving healthcare, I had a couple of heart-to-heart conversations with friends that are REALTORS® (Julie Giessman and Britt and Laura Sanders). They were incredibly encouraging of both the career and me as a fit. I took a leap of faith and went for it. Now, I am actively in the best job ever that allows for the work and life balance that I desired. I am excited to be a REALTOR® and know that I can do it for the rest of my life because I love it!”
Like all great REALTORS®, Noel has a few essential things she focuses on in how she conducts her business.
“For me, it is all about my client’s experience. I have only succeeded if their expectations are met. That means everyone working on the transaction is part of the team and we rise and fall together.”
“I thrive from feedback and always ask my clients to provide it – positive or constructive. When I am getting to know a new client, I always tell them that they will never hurt my feelings and that I want their feedback to help me do the best job for them. I can’t be the best at my job without it.”
Noel says she has higher expectations of herself than her clients do. “While I might over-communicate at times, I think it is important. The real estate market has been a volatile space since I entered, and I think it is incredibly important to hold my client’s hands through these complicated transactions. Plus, I love what I do and I think that all of my clients feel it. Many become like family after we close.”
FAMILY-FOCUSED
Noel is committed to being there for her family. She and Tripp have a daughter, Presley, who is 11 years old. Noel says that the three of them are “water people.” They love to spend their time on the beach, surfing, boating, or just about anything that involves water. They also love to travel, and will be going to Alaska for the first time this summer.
Noel adds that her daughter attends the same school her husband graduated from, Episcopal School of Jacksonville.
“Becoming a mother is hands down the most pivotal moment of my life. I wasn’t someone that knew I had to be a mom and I am so glad that I didn’t miss out. Being Presley’s mom reminded me who I really am, what my priorities are, and what ultimately inspired me to pivot into being a REALTOR®. She is my biggest fan and it has been fun to reinvent myself with her watching.”
“I also think it has been a valuable life lesson for her to see her mom change careers. Life is not always predictable and sometimes it is important to take a calculated risk and work really hard to achieve what you desire. Presley has watched me do this and I hope that she takes this with her as she finds her path in life,” Noel says.
Congratulations to Noel Miller, this month’s Rising Star. Her genuine love for helping others is unquestionable.
WEBSITE: FLUIDREALTY.COM
