Entrepreneurship is not a venture for the timid. Ryan Serhant, the prominent figure from Bravo’s Emmy Award-nominated Million Dollar Listing New York, climbed his way up from being a ranch worker in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to becoming a real estate mogul in Manhattan.
Growing up with an investment banker as a father, who consistently highlighted the importance of understanding hard work and the worth of a dollar, Serhant credits his upbringing with instilling a victorious mentality within him. “As a kid, I toiled as a ranch worker and, among various responsibilities, I had to handle picking up manure. I quickly understood that unless I put in the effort, I’d end up being a professional manure collector [for the duration of my life].” Although being a ranch worker wasn’t what life had in store for him, a greater amount of hard work lay ahead.
Initially, Serhant relocated to New York to audition for the role of Evan Walsh in As the World Turns. During that period, he had no plans or aspirations for a business career—however, after his character met an unfortunate fate, a friend encouraged him to explore opportunities in real estate.
And so he embarked on that path. Lacking vital connections and formal education in the field, he had to employ innovative strategies. He encountered his first client in a neighborhood Starbucks. “You look wonderful… and it seems you’re looking for a bigger space,” he remarked to a pregnant woman, who, as luck would have it, was indeed searching for a larger residence for her expanding family. Unsurprisingly, he succeeded in making the sale.
His relentless attitude has borne fruit in his professional life. Within just five years, he generated close to $1 billion in real estate sales and earned a spot among the top 20 brokers out of 28,000 in New York City according to The Real Deal Magazine.
Despite Serhant’s considerable success today, it wasn’t without its share of missteps. “I’ve encountered significant errors throughout my career, but I’ve learned equally notable lessons from them”—such as improving his skills as an advisor and a broker of people, which he emphasizes is “extremely crucial across all industries, but particularly vital in real estate.” Why is that? “In real estate, you’re constantly interacting with people. How deftly you manage those interactions is essential for your achievement.”
The challenge, according to Serhant, is that “In the business world, individuals frequently become overwhelmed by the ‘thing’ they’ve created and overlook the people involved. That’s not something you can afford to ignore… I require every team member to participate in improvisation classes to sharpen essential skills such as listening, confidence, and openness, as ultimately they are always selling themselves.” This approach has led to a notable surge in transactions.
Anyone has the potential to succeed in real estate—or any other realm—by establishing a brand that is attractive, character-driven, distinctive, and strategic. But how? “If you excel in endurance, improvisation, communication, and delegation—if you commit to practicing these daily, you can achieve success.”
He doesn’t shy away from expressing his “ambition to be the absolute best.” The fear of unfulfilled potential propels him. His mantra, “Expansion. Always, in all ways,” motivates him to perform. “I concentrate on delivering quality work each day. From the moment I rise, I dedicate myself to achieving success.”
Currently, Serhant is on a nationwide promotional tour for Noah Baumbach’s film, While We’re Young—which had its wide release on April 10. Lauded as “the standout talent in the film” by critics, he portrays a supporting character alongside Ben Stiller, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried, and Naomi Watts—further adding “movie star” to his repertoire of achievements.
At just 30 years old, he is merely beginning. Expansion, always. In all ways, indeed.
