Exploring Life & Business with Tonya Pruett of Rise High Real Estate Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Pruett.

Hi Tonya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I spent 25 years as an Executive Recruiter. In 2017, 2 years after getting sober after a long struggle and a near-death experience from the drinking, I decided to get into Real Estate. (Longer story on the drinking/sobriety, which is the crux of who I am today, can be talked about in the interview) My career flourished very fast, and in a short 2 years, I ran the team I still run today called Rise High Real Estate Group. I have and continue to be very successful in the business. I am always been in the top 10-20% of my Brokerage since starting as well as being selected to sit on the Associate Leadership Council (group of hand-selected leaders to help guide brokerages decisions, spearhead community events, inner-office team building events, giving to the community, teaching, and education along with many other tasks). I spent some time as a Productivity Coach, guiding, training, coaching, mentoring brand new agents, and helping them find their way in this crazy world of real estate. I am blessed to have 2 of my daughters working with me as my Lead Admin and my Social Media Director. It is amazing to watch them grow in their positions and see them blossom right before my eyes. Today I live a life I never imagined I could live. I am grateful and know my story can bring hope to many. I am currently 1 of 5 Leaders of a group within Keller Williams called KW Clarity. Our vision is to provide a continual haven in which agents in need of recovery, in recovery, or with loved ones in recovery have the support & resources needed to achieve lives worth living & businesses worth having in an otherwise substance-heavy industry. We are in the infant stages and already seeing the impact of the group with positive outcomes of our fellow agents helping spread the word of this new outreach and initiative company-wide. We hope to “launch” KW Clarity nationwide at the largest annual KW gathering called Family Reunion in Feb 2023.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Living in recovery as a public and outspoken Recovering Alcoholic has its challenges. The myths, scrutiny, and discrimination are real things. Real Estate is a very demanding career, and social media is a huge part of my business. Sharing sobriety birthdays, talking about recovery, and extending a hand when you see someone else struggling in a public forum is risky to speak up! Now they know you are one of them”. Now I have been labeled. So I decided about 2 years ago that I would no longer be silent. I decided that if people didn’t choose me as their Agent because they knew I was in recovery, they weren’t the right client for me. What I discovered was the opposite! It is stressful. Being in recovery sometimes has its own struggles on top of Real Estate. The Journey is never easy but always rewarding in the end for both.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rise High Real Estate Group?
Rise High Real Estate is a Team brokered by Keller Williams Memorial, Houston’s largest full-service real estate company in Houston, Tx. Selecting a Brokerage is a big deal in this business. I chose KW Memorial for several reasons. Craig Owen, Michael Bossart, and Larry Frawley bring the experience, knowledge, genuine care, and concern to the table with all of the Agents at KW Memorial. They are the backbone of my continued success, and I am blessed to be in business with them. The level of education and the trainers they pay to bring in so that we can be the best educated in this industry is far beyond the level of education I see at other Brokerages. They see that when they invest in us, we do better, which in turn gives us “businesses worth having and lives worth living.” (Gary Keller quote) The programs and back-end help we get at KW Memorial are beyond phenomenal, allowing me to be out and about building relationships with my clients all over the city instead of behind a desk doing paperwork! As far as Rise High Real Estate Group goes, you will always get “Elevated Above the Ordinary”! That’s the level of service we provide to our buyers, sellers, investors, and tenants.

We are known for our unique marketing approach, knowledge of the industry and trends, and our expertise in negotiations for our clients. The other thing that stands out more than anything is our energy! My brand, the Phoenix, is a symbol of my life. From the ashes. Symbolic of my recovery. I even have a 1/2 back tattoo of the “story” of my 1st 5 years of sobriety, which started with the Phoenix and later became my company’s logo. If people are looking for a fun real estate experience with lots of energy, quick turnarounds, and superior knowledge on how to win in any market, Rise High Real Estate Group is the place to call.

What’s next?
We are growing again. We will be adding a full-time Showing Agent in 2022 as well as 2 full-time Exclusive Agents. We are in the baby stages of starting a podcast called “Through the Fire,” which will be the name of the book I plan to write. We will continue to add talented high-energy people to the team and prepare to be in the top 1% of the Houston Market within the next few years.

Contact Info:

• Website: tonyapruett.kw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/risehighphoenix
• Facebook: https://www.tequiladimante.comfacebook.com/RiseHighKWM
• Twitter: @tonyapruett4

Image Credits
Anchored Photography Carrie Jay Studios