Meet John Streit | Real Estate Agent, Dancer, Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Streit and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, how do you think about risk?
This is a great question, and honestly one I find myself coming back to again and again.

I’ve kind of adopted a mantra over time:
If life starts to feel too comfortable, it might be time to make a change.
Now I don’t mean the comfort of kicking back on your couch after a long day, that’s earned. I’m talking about the kind of comfort that leads to complacency. When life stops feeling challenging or purposeful, when you’re just going through the motions, not thinking deeply about what matters or where you’re headed, that’s when you need to check yourself.

Sometimes, the answer is simply to turn the dial up a notch or two.

When it comes to risk, I like it. A lot of people talk about “calculated risk,” and I think the calculation part is this:
You don’t just jump, you make a plan. You know what you’re trying to achieve. You break it down. You figure out, you know. I think, What skills do I need?, What resources or tools do I need, What knowledge or connections do I have?

And then you look at what you’re missing. That’s the real risk assessment: Can I acquire what I’m missing? If the answer is yes, then it’s just about committing. Doing the work. Every day.

No matter what the goal is, that’s how I look at risk:
Break it down. Fill the gaps. Show up consistently. And go get it.

What should our readers know about your business?
The more I grow up, the more I realize that consistency wins the day. I think doing my job and doing it full out definitely sets me apart, but I also try to surround myself with people who approach their work the same way. That makes it easier to stay motivated, especially on the days that feel harder than others. I really believe that consistency is key.

What I’m most proud of is my resilience. The past few years have had their tough moments, and I’m proud of how I’ve navigated them. I’m excited about what the future holds, especially for my son. On the business side, I was a dancer and teacher for a long time, and I still love both, but I also had other goals. Starting a family brought changes, and a while back I found myself in a tough spot. That’s when I kicked myself into gear and decided to go after something I had wanted to pursue for a long time: real estate.

I’ve been learning about marketing and finance for quite a while now, and I even enrolled in the MBA program at Emory University. Since starting that program, I’ve been all in. I never really saw myself in sales, but in some ways I was already doing it in my previous work. I realized that I enjoy talking to people, and I don’t need to be pushy or aggressive to succeed. I bring a lot of knowledge and value to the table, and while I don’t know everything, I have an incredible mentor who helps me grow. I’m proud to say I can offer clients guidance, service, and results that truly matter.

I love learning about the financial side of things, negotiating deals, and helping people get great outcomes. It’s not easy, and I’m still learning every day, but I also have an amazing mentor and broker.

One of the biggest challenges is sticking with the daily habits that lead to success. One of my coaches, Brandon Mulrenin, always says, “Choose your hard.” Everything is hard. If you’re unhappy with your health, it’s hard to start exercising and eating right. But it’s also hard to live with the consequences of doing nothing. That idea really stuck with me.

I went through a process to change things. I made a vision board, mapped out my five and ten-year goals, found quotes and examples of people living in the way I wanted to live, and started adjusting my mindset and schedule. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m getting better at sticking with the things that drive results.

One lesson I’ve learned is to be grateful. Gratitude helps you take a step back and reset, no matter what is going on. I’ve also learned how important it is to communicate. So many of us feel misunderstood simply because we don’t express ourselves clearly. For me, being honest, being real, and staying true to myself is at the core of everything I do. I’m not perfect at it, but it matters deeply to me.

As for my brand and story, I just finished a strategy project at Emory for our company, Direct Link Realty (DLR). What’s wild is that we are a team of artists who live in the Decatur, Avondale, and Sandy Springs area. Every one of us has spent years perfecting our craft. That kind of focus and dedication translates incredibly well into real estate.

Our culture at DLR is all about excellence. We are relentless in our study of the market, the trends, the data, and how to communicate and negotiate effectively. We have deep mentorship built in, and we really believe that what we offer goes far beyond what most others are willing or able to do.

At the end of the day, brand is about relationships. It’s about delivering real value that people don’t expect or even know they need. And because we’re local, we don’t want to just be seen as the real estate agent down the street. We want to be the approachable expert who knows the neighborhood and shows up in it.

In the fall and spring, we host events like community barbecues. I actually compete in barbecue competitions, and we team up with local musicians too. One of our neighbors has lived here since 1962. Last time we did it, we had around 75 to 80 people just hanging out, having a good time. That’s what it’s about for me–community.

Ideally, I want to do even more for our community. I believe real estate, art, and community all fit together beautifully.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d start with Revolution Doughnuts–no question, they’re the best donuts on the planet. Then we’d grab coffee at Banjo Coffee, which is always fantastic. For food, The Iberian Pig is a must, and if we’re craving Italian, we’re heading to Sapori di Napoli in downtown Decatur. It’s the most authentic Italian pizza around.

I love the city of Decatur and Avondale Estates, and there’s so much to explore. We’d definitely hit some local breweries like Wild Heaven and Little Cottage Brewery, plus Independent Distilling is just down the street.

At some point, we’d probably make our way to Fox Bros Bar-B-Q because you can’t visit Atlanta without trying it. If there’s an Atlanta United game while they’re in town, we’d go. Last time I went, we had tickets that included free food, which made it even better.

For entertainment, I really enjoy Dad’s Garage and Whole World Theatre. And of course, we’d have to stop by Ponce City Market and walk the BeltLine. Maybe dinner at Wahoo Grill.

Honestly, there are so many more cool places I could take them, but that would be a pretty great start.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, any success I’ve had would not be possible without a whole lot of people. There are so many who have played a role, and I am not sure I could name them all. Some days I feel really successful, and other days not as much. I have had opportunities I passed on, not regrets necessarily, but moments where different choices might have led to different outcomes.

That said, I am incredibly grateful. First, to my parents for being so loving and supportive. To my wife, who has truly been my rock and has stood by me through everything. I have also been lucky to have a great coach and broker in Richard Reid, and to be part of an amazing business coaching program with Brandon Mulrenin. These people have been central to my growth lately.

Of course, there are many more I could name, but these are the ones who come to mind right now.

Website: https://streitrealtylife.com

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Image Credits
Richard Calmes Photography