Today we’d like to introduce you to Ki-ana Williams.
Hi Ki-ana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am originally from New York, but I’ve been living in Georgia since I was 11 years old. I am the owner of Ki-Ana Williams LLC and KSW rental enterprise LLC. Both of which are real estate ventures. I find it funny that I decided to become an entrepreneur because I am an introvert in the truest sense. I’ve been an introvert my entire life and yet all of my friends and family are extroverts. My whole life, I’ve had to push myself out of my comfort zone because as we all know, growth doesn’t happen inside of the comfort zone, it happens when we are uncomfortable. So, my life has been a series of constant what can I do now to make myself comfortably uncomfortable? that I will be proud of later. In middle and high school, I was captain of the cheerleading team and worked at a fast food restaurant as a cashier. In college, I took communication courses, which consisted of a lot of standing up and talking in front of your fellow peers. After school, I became a floor manager and then store manager at a footwear franchise that was located throughout the US. Moving on to working at one of the largest airlines in the world as a flight attendant for the past 8 years, where you’re constantly in people’s faces. To now, becoming my own boss and getting my real estate license.
I started my flight attendant career back in 2015, and even though I was enjoying myself traveling the world and laying over in different cities and countries, 401k benefits. I had real estate in the back of my mind. Maybe it’s because a lot of flight attendants are also real estate agents too because of the flexibility, but I knew I didn’t want to just fly and wanted to spend more of my time on the ground. I was comfortable though so I didn’t push too hard to get my license, just thought about it heavily over the years. It wasn’t until Covid-19 first happened that I had a major wake-up call. I was furloughed from my career, I had six years on at that point and we didn’t know when we would be coming back. We heard talks of a few months to maybe even a few years. At that point, I said to myself “now is the time” because this showed me that at any moment, things can change and don’t be so dependent on a job where you work for someone else. I had just purchased my first home five months prior, which also made me take a strong interest in real estate even more. Actually going through the process firsthand and seeing how it is behind the scene. I took that time of furlough, which ended up being only five months and just did so much research, prepared myself mentally for what I wanted to do and what I wanted my future to look like. I got my real estate license the beginning of 2022 when I was “hungry” for it. I knew 100 percent that this is what I wanted to do and no one, not even myself was going to get in the way of that. I would constantly look on my favorite Georgia real estate agent’s Instagram pages and see how they were out here killing it, closing deals left and right with so much grace and power and I knew that I wanted to do that too. It just took me getting out of my own way and lots of talks with God. I took a two weeks accelerated real estate course vs. the 6 weeks that the class usually is. I passed that and set up for my state exam. I was sure by the last 20 minutes of the state exam that I wasn’t going to pass it because I was so overwhelmed and it was just so much, but when I walked out of the testing room and the proctor told me I passed, I knew it was really in Gods plan for me to do this.
After obtaining my real estate license, it encouraged me to start KSW rental enterprise LLC as a way to create financial freedom and generational wealth. I purchased my first home almost three years ago, and my goal during that process was always to eventually turn it into a rental property. Whether that be for fellow flight crew members to use as a crash pad, start hosting on a short-term rental site such as Airbnb, or to rent out to traveling nurses passing through Georgia. My mentality was well, I’m already here, might as well go big or go home. But really it was the step of faith that I took and I’m so happy that I did.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life throws curveballs quite often. But, if I had to say what my biggest obstacle was, it was myself. Getting out of my own head, stop believing the negative self-talk, the “what if I fail” conversations, the “maybe it’s not for me” conversations and taking that leap forward to the life I wanted and knew God wanted for me. I had to believe in me, for it to work. I’m super grateful for my support system, but even they couldn’t do it for me, it was an internal battle of me vs. me and thankfully we see which me won.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am a licensed REALTOR® servicing Atlanta and surrounding areas. I help buyers, sellers, and investor clients. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, military personnel that needs to move around every so often, or you are looking to start or are already established in your short-term rental company, I am here for all of those needs. I’ve been in the customer service industry since I was 15 years old. So over 13 years of experience. I’m passionate about helping people, it truly brings me the upmost joy to see a person/people light up inside and knowing I was a part of it. Being a homeowner myself and going through that process, I want people to know that I will go above and beyond for them and want them to feel it when they work with me. As a REALTOR®, I am held to a higher ethical standard and must adhere to a Realtor code of ethics. Which ultimately means that my clients will have an assurance that they will receive fair and top-notch service from beginning to end.
I started KSW rental enterprise right after I got my real estate license. KSW rental enterprise is a rental business that will be geared towards short-term renting tenants. That includes being open to hosting travel nurses, flight crew members, and/or Airbnb guests. With my experience in real estate, I intend to provide the upmost best professional service and comfort to all future guests.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes. I would have to say the Covid-19 crisis taught me that nothing is promised to you. That at any given moment, things and life as you knew it can change, but it’s all about how we adapt to that change in those moments. What is the thing that you’ve been putting off due to being busy, or not carving the time out, or other excuses that pop up. For me, it was anxiety and just being so comfortable in my career that I let procrastination win every time. But, due to being furloughed and my life as I knew it being altered drastically within a few months, I decided to step out on faith and go for it because at that point I couldn’t make any more excuses.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kianawilliamsrealtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ki-Ana-Williams-Real-Estate-102791275887208/
Image Credits
JLavii photography
