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

Hi Adilene, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’ve never been one to follow the beaten path. Seeing my friends start careers and families earlier than me felt scary and discouraging at times. Instead, I dropped out of college, traveled the world, and chased adventure instead of a steady paycheck. This resulted in a more profound understanding of myself and my passions. It gave me a clearer picture of who I was and most importantly who I no longer wanted to be.

Yes, there were many teaching moments in my twenties.

Guiding me to becoming who I am now. A thirty-something published children book author/ entrepreneur with an optimistic fighting spirit and a willingness to take risks.

When I decided to to start my journey in real estate I’ll be honest, I had no idea what I was jumping into. I was looking for a career change and a friend of mine suggested I got my real estate license. A year later I passed my exam the first time and joined a brokerage. The first few years were extremely hard. No one prepares you for the ‘reality’ of real estate. Everyday you are unemployed until you have a client and close an escrow. If you don’t close escrows you don’t make money and you can’t feed your family. Especially when your first year was during a world wide pandemic!

It hasn’t been an easy road, but I’m persistent. I’m happy to announce I’ve became the go-to agent for many Angelenos.

Not only have I been honored to help them find a house, I am also grateful for the opportunity to help them understand how real estate can help them build wealth for future generations.

I am living a purposeful life where I can work for myself, fulfill my passions, and in turn help as many Angelenos as possible reach one of their biggest goals in life – homeownership.

None of this would have never been possible without taking risks. Without ignoring the noise, and just going for it.

Yes, it was scary at times. Yes, there were days where I’d rather stay in bed and binge on my favorite TV shows instead of doing activities that would increase my business like cold calling or doorknocking. Yes, people have told me, “No” more often than “Yes”

It has not been easy but I can tell you that it’s definitely been worth it.

Remember, great things never come from comfort zones. So yes, take a chance on your dream, but most importantly, take a chance on yourself!

They say if you want to live a life you’ve never lived, you have to do things you’ve never done. That’s true in life and in business. I’ve learned pretty quickly that it’s one thing to imagine taking chances but quite another to actually do it.
Starting something new is always challenging.

Without risk there is no gain but your first step is just starting.Through trial and error I have learned that The secret to building a successful business is not just inspiration. It takes discipline, planning, following proven systems, getting comfortable doing the uncomfortable, a lot of money, a lot of hard work and a sparkle of luck!

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m proud to be the go to Angeleno Realtor for many Angelenos currently living or choosing to relocate to Los Angeles. Right now there are over 25,813 real estate agents in LA County and some people think we are all the same but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

While providing my clients with a high quality experience in whatever real estate goals they may have is important. I like to do things a little differently than most agents. Not only do I help them buy their first house, sell their existing home and look for something better suited to their next phase of life, or work closely with investment properties.

My main goal is to also create a human connection that makes the experience process both educational and successful, as well as approachable and attainable.

“I make real estate REAL for YOU”.

Aside from my constant communication during the entire transaction process. As part of my one of a kind concierge service, I arrange little surprises for my clients to make the buying/selling process memorable, in addition to giving them the keys to their new home and closing gift at the end. I also provide a list of nearby restaurants, events, shopping malls, and grocery stores so they can become familiar with the local area.

When I decided to to start my journey in real estate I’ll be honest, I had no idea what I was jumping into. I was looking for a career change and a friend of mine suggested I got my real estate license. A year later I passed my exam the first time and joined a brokerage. The first few years were extremely hard. No one prepares you for the ‘reality’ of real estate. Everyday you are unemployed until you have a client and close an escrow. If you don’t close escrows you don’t make money and you can’t feed your family. Especially, if you start during a a world wide pandemic.

It hasn’t been an easy road, but I’m persistent. I became the go-to agent for many Angelenos. Not only am I glad to be able to help them find a house, I am also grateful for the opportunity to help them understand how real estate can help them build wealth for future generations.

I am living a purposeful life where I can work for myself, fulfill my passions, and in turn help as many Angelenos as possible reach one of their biggest goals in life – homeownership.

I would have never been able to help people like this without taking risks, without ignoring the noise, and just going for it. Yes, it was scary at times. Yes, there were days where I’d rather stay in bed and binge on my favorite TV shows instead of doing activities that will increase my business like cold calling or doorknocking. Yes, people have told me, “No” more often than “Yes”.

It has not been easy but I can tell you that it’s definitely been worth it.

Remember, great things never come from comfort zones. So yes, take a chance on your dream, but most importantly, take a chance on yourself!

If I’ve learned anything while being in real estate is that I am not for everyone, and everyone is not for me.

While I can help and service anyone looking to buy residential real estate, I specialize in relocation and first-time buyers and sellers and I get to do it in the best city in the world, Los Angeles.

With that said, the foundation of the transaction truly lies in the relationship between you and your agent.

If the wrong expectations are set or you chose the wrong agent, it will set the tone for how the next few weeks (or months) will turn out.

Here are a few things you can always expect from me:

1. Communication: I will keep you in the know even if there is nothing knew to be shared. It can be extremely frustrating feeling in the dark especially when we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars. Identifying communication expectations is always number one.

2. I will never give you false hope or mislead you: There are times when market expectations don’t line up with market realities. No matter what the situation is, we will identify where you stand and how to move forward.

3. Transparency: I’m not scared to be honest with you. I’ll give you the good and the bad. I’m not going to simply agree with you earn a sale. You deserve the best and that means being honest with you even when you don’t want to hear it.

4. Trust: This is MUST HAVE ! It’s a team effort, which means we need to trust each other to make it through.

Lastly, if we ever work together, know that it never ends at the closing table for me. It’s not rare for us to become friends!\

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am so glad you asked! This is exactly, what I was talking about that I specialize in. Firstly, any itinerary is always determined by the personality and interests of the individual.

Suppose this friend was visiting Los Angeles for the first time. If flying into LAX, I’m sure they’d be hungry after a flight, so I’d take them straight to In N Out, but not just any In N Out. I’d take them to the one on Sepulveda Blvd. This is a hidden gem not everyone knows but oh well, no gatekeeping here!

Not only can they satisfy their hunger but do so while sitting on the grass watching airplanes pass by.

Next, I would suggest the following places to visit so they can have the ultimate week in LA.

Day 1 – Hollywood

Hollywood Sign Hike

After a good night rest, let’s start the day with a morning hike to the super famous Hollywood Sign. If hiking is not your thing but you still want to take the famous picture then you can simply drive to Lake Hollywood Park and either picnic or just take a memorable instagram shot.

Brunch

Next, let’s go to brunch. There is nothing more than Angelenos love than brunch and endless mimosas so you have to visit Eat This Cafe. The lines can get long so just be prepared to wait for a table. Don’t worry, it will be worth it.

Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Note this isn’t as exciting as you think it may be. The neighborhood is not the nicest and you will most likely not bump into any celebrities aside from the entertainers willing to take a picture with you on the street. Which can be pretty fun. You can also choose to take tours and try to match your footprints with Marilyn Monroe’s by the TLC Chinese Theater with other famous people. Ultimately, it’s a good spot to get some souvenirs.

Day 2 – DTLA

Grab something to eat at Grand Central Market

As you know LA is a city buzzing with multi cultural cuisines visiting the Grand Central Market is a must do to taste different foods all in one place. Don’t forget to visit the Kobe mural by the staircase leading to the bathrooms.

Visit the Last Bookstore

No it, not literally the last book store but it is one of the coolest ones you’ll ever experience. Even if you’re not a big reader, go upstairs and wander through magically aligned books set as tunnels and great photo ops!

Laker Game

We will definitely want to check the calendar to make sure there is a sports game while you’re in town but if there is catching a Laker Game at the Crypto Arena is a must.Don’t forget to buy an LA Hot Dog from the many vendors you will encounter at LA Live. Trust me, you won’t regret it!

DAY 3 – Westside LA

Santa Monica

You cannot visit LA without driving through PCH and visiting Santa Monica Pier. You can visit the Venice sign and then walk to Erwin Hotel Rooftop for a few cocktails overlooking the pacific ocean and Venice boardwalk.

Next, walk to Pacific Park, an amusement park on the Santa Monica boardwalk where you can go on the roller coasters, play games and grab some ice cream or churros.

Venice Beach Boardwalk

You can either walk or rent a bike and stroll through Venice Beach boardwalk. Check out Muscle Beach and watch skaters perform gnarly tricks and end your day watching one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world over the pacific ocean.

Day 4 – Malibu

Malibu needs no introduction.

Zuma Beach

Pack your swimsuit and get ready to relax under the sun on Zuma Beach.

Paradise Cove Beach Cafe

Once you’re getting hungry, head over to Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, pass through the restaurant and claim one of the empty beach chairs overlooking the ocean. You can head to the outdoor kitchen and order some fresh seafood while enjoying the California sun.

Rosenthal Wines

Once you are fed, head over to Rosenthal Wines for an unbelievable wine tasting in their patio. On weekends they usually have live music. It’s a great casual vibe!

El Matador State Beach

Finish your day watching the sunset at one of the most instagrammable places in Los Angeles. It’s considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the West Coast for a reason.

Day 5 – Little Tokyo

Make sure you take comfortable shoes and a big appetite. Start wby exploring the Japanese Village Plaza filled with lanterns
Eat Ramen and Mochi

You will find lots of ramen restaurants here so pick one that you want to try the most! They are all delicious.

LACMA

Finish the day by driving to the Los Angeles Museum of Art. One of the most beautiful places to take a picture. Known for its urban light installation

Tacos

There is no visit to LA without experiencing LA’S Tacos. You will find taco trucks or stands throughout the city. Make sure you have cash with you and enjoy!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe an individual is shaped by a variety of circumstances and people who at some point guided, supported, and helped them develop into what they are today.

For me that has been my family and most importantly my aunt Mable and grandmother Esther and God.

It can be challenging to have stability when you’re an entrepreneur, but they were always there for me even when my path was not what they wanted or thought was better for me.

They’ve supported me when I was at the lowest point in my life as well as celebrated my accomplishments with me. I don’t think I’ve ever met two individuals as selfless and supportive as them. I’d like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

It’s my sincere hope that I can provide a comfortable life for them for the rest of my life.

Website: Adi.FredSedGroup.com

Instagram: theangelenorealtor

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adilene-adi-rodriguez-84999091/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adileneadirodriguez1763

Image Credits
Personal photo credits to Dots Cafe and Bakery Wall.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.