Sarah Dykema

The success of Sarah Dykema and her four-woman team in the ultra-competitive Los Angeles market serves as a poetic echo of her favorite quote: “Be the smallest minnow in the biggest pond.”

Since diving into real estate five years earlier, Dykema has evolved from solo agent into the rainmaker of a small team of four that closed 40 units in its first year with $22 million in sales while servicing the San Gabriel Valley out of the Chino Hills (Calif.) market center.

“We are a group of working moms, and so we are going against all the demands life has for us and taking what we call the limits off them and making them limitless with possibilities to be successful,” she says.

Here’s an example of how Dykema pushed back on her own limiting beliefs to free herself and her team for growth. When she studied up on the accomplishments of the agents she’d be sharing screen time with during her upcoming Family Reunion panel, “Run Lean to Succeed With a Small Sales Team,” her initial feelings slunk toward intimidation.

“Those are the big fish,” she said of her fellow agents on the panel. “I looked up to them, and there were a lot of things I learned. What I would love for someone to hear when they’re watching the panel is ‘You’re in the right room.’ If we run away from the things we’re uncomfortable with, we will never be able to grow. So stay in that room, stay in that seat, keep doing what you’re doing, know who you are, and how you determine success. You’ll get there. You’ll just look different.”

In Dykema’s case, different helps pave the way for small team success – all while staying true to the business’ set of values, and providing a culture where her team members can thrive.