Meet Barkley Romero | REALTOR ® With Gratitude & Actor-Singer-Model

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

Hi Barkley, what do you attribute your success to?
In my opinion, the word “success” is relative. But in a traditional sense, there are two important factors behind my “success.” The first is that I firmly believe that nothing ever happens ‘to you’ it happens ‘for you.’ The other is that there is always a purpose greater than ourselves. When we come from a true place of contribution, real miracles can happen.

I attended college at age 17 for Opera Performance, something nobody in my law-background family would have ever imagined or seen as ideal, in terms of a career path. I graduated Summa Cum Laude and decided to try out Grad School for Musical Theatre. One day, while I was riding my bike to dress rehearsal for the school show, I was hit by a car while riding my bike. Despite the crush injury of my foot and 2 months in a boot, I was given a beautiful gift – a modest settlement that bought me a one-way ticket and a few months rent in New York city to pursue my dream of acting.

I arrived in the dead of winter from Arizona, with no coat and only two suitcases of clothing to my name. I walked off the plane, dropped off my bags at my sublease, hit a Nordstrom Rack to grab an off-brand snow coat and boots, and began my adventure of fending for myself clear across the country.

While in New York, I overcame a ton of obstacles. I pulled all nighters working at a bar to go straight to auditions early the next morning, commuting multiple hours a day, to sing for two minutes, just to be told I was “too ethnic” and at other times be told I’m “not ethnic enough.” I lost my housing on more than one occasion, which led to couch surfing while keeping my two suitcases in the coat-check closet of the bar I worked at. I slept on subways and windowsills of the CVS on 8th ave and 34th st to kill time and have some place warm to be. I was almost assaulted multiple times and really learned to watch my own back.

Despite all of that, I lived out my dream of performing Off-Broadway on numerous occasions and won a competition that qualified me for a full-time scholarship to study with Susan Batson, the same acting coach that Nicole Kidman thanked in her most recent Emmy Speech.

My experience in NYC taught me that I could survive anything, as long as I did not get in my own way and never played the victim. After NYC, I went on to perform throughout the United States on stage and in film, television and commercials. I’ve always trusted that if I leap, the net will appear.

This mindset I learned from these experiences has made it a lot easier for me to take risks and think outside the box as an entrepreneur and has really helped me in establishing myself in the Real Estate Industry so quickly.

I have been selling Real Estate for awhile now, and up until the Pandemic, I was primarily generating clientele off of referrals from family and friends plus door knocking and open houses.

When COVID-19 hit, and open houses and door knocking were no longer an option, due to restrictions, I not only watched my entire basis of lead generation fall apart, but the multi-million dollar deals in my pipe-line also crumbled into oblivion. I felt mildly frightened about how I would provide for myself in the upcoming months, but more so, I was grateful that I had recently closed two deals and had more than most people did at that time.

In addition to my extremely small nest egg, I had a great desire to help and an idea to do so. Using my knowledge from social media influencing and being a millennial, I created a platform on Instagram and Facebook in order to connect my neighbors. There were people out there who needed me. I completely set Real Estate and Acting aside, trusting that when it was time for them to resurface, they would, and I devoted most of my day to reaching out to neighbors on Facebook and Instagram asking them if they would join the group and if there was anything they needed.

Instantly, I found neighbors that needed help finding groceries, toilet paper, cleaning supplies etc. and was able to connect them with other neighbors that were Grateful for the opportunity to help. I was told by my broker at the time that I was a liability and to not involve my Real Estate company, so I didn’t officially connect them. That being said, starting with the deals I had closed pre-pandemic, I decided to make it a practice to contribute 5% of my commission from every closing into the social platform, which I started calling Glendale Gratitude.

The first three months of the pandemic, I made absolutely no income. Not a penny. But I had partnered with local businesses and neighbors to bring coffee and cookies to Health Care Heroes and helped collect groceries for numerous people. I was over-all happy and healthy and grateful that my family was as well.

Then, out of the blue, my whole life shifted. The relationship I had invested years into and seen as my future and one stable thing amongst the 2020 chaos, began to fall apart. I tried everything in my power to make it work but found the more that I tried to force things, the worse it all got – another huge learning experience for me.

I ended up spending the majority of 2020 living with my ex, commuting into Los Angeles from Big Bear and couch surfing with loyal friends. I’d be lying if I said there were not times when I felt sorry for myself. I even found myself on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds at one point. In addition to the professional help I sought, I began meditating, exercising daily, reaching out to my friends and family for support and really tapping into the fact that I am merely a human form being used as a channel to help others.

Despite all the turmoil going on inside my head, I listened to my heart, started speaking my truth and kept putting other’s needs ahead of my own discomfort. I also started to see the impact that a mere 5% of my commission could make on a community and decided to formalize the relationship between my Real Estate company and my giveback platform – and “The Real Barkley With Gratitude” was born.

Over the year, we collected thousands of items for donation and were able to help out thousands of families in the Los Angeles area and I was able to pull myself out of the scariest headspace of my life.

Then one day it all started clicking, people started reaching out to me for Real Estate advice on the platform. I was generating more Real Estate business than I had ever gained from door knocking or doing open houses. In addition, agents from all over the country were reaching out to me to find out how they could work with me in order to practice Real Estate while making a positive impact on their local communities!

Now, I have a team in California and Arizona and new offices opening throughout the United States that practice Real Estate with Gratitude. I, along with all of my affiliate agents, are committed to using a portion of our commission, at no extra cost to our clients, to give back to the local community. We do drives in order to support the local non-profits in the areas that we close in and we partner with local business to run giveaways for our donors, who we call Neighbors with Gratitude.

As far as acting goes, with the help of my phenomenal manager, I am still auditioning regularly and working as an actress and model. I am finding that I am less lonely than I was in a serious relationship and I truly love myself in a way that I am able to care for others out of the kindness of my heart, as opposed to seeking validation in return for my care.

There will always be hardships, that is literally the blueprint of this existence. By staying present and grateful, asking for and accepting help when we need it and always looking for the learning experience – we can do anything. There is no such thing as success or failure – there is only the Now and what we can do to help.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The biggest obstacle I had to overcome was starting a business without any money behind me. My family was able to help as they could, but I have worked since I was 16 and ultimately have supported myself throughout my endeavors. I had to make sacrifices and really lean on my family and community for housing this past year. I needed to set aside my ego and comfortability in order to make things work. It pushed me to get my license in my home state of Arizona and I have and continue to live Nomadically, between California and Arizona.

My goal is still to end up in California, but I am the epitome of going with the flow and trusting where the journey takes me. I always saw coming home as a limiting factor, but instead it has allowed for copious amounts of growth.

I travel for work and it allows me to have a greater sense of the market throughout the country as opposed to a small fraction of it. I am grateful for tech tools, hot spots and the ability to work remote for most of my day to day operations as well as a team to support me when I need feet on the ground.

My financial struggles this past year have been a gift. They gave me empathy for those I work with and have allowed me to see things from perspectives others may not be able to see.

As far as the Real Estate Industry goes, it is behind the curve and has been seen as an “unclean” business since the beginning of time.

Gentrification is unfortunately a very real, yet unavoidable thing and causes hardships for many people. People have literally been slaughtered over land to benefit other parties. As a descendant of the Mayans and the Native American people, my ancestors have seen this first hand.

That being said, lucky for us, humans are inherently Nomadic, Survivors and we adapt well to change when we allow it.

It is important to honor the original keepers of land plus the culture and energy that they have provided and facilitate a way to make this turn over more equitable.

As Real Estate Agents, I see this as our duty and responsibility to the communities we work in. I am proud to have found a way for my team to make Real Estate Transactions that have a cleaner feel to them as opposed to being all take for benefit.

I want the world to know that myself and team, comes from a place of wanting to be of service not only to the client, but to the transaction, the community and ultimately the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite things about LA are the wonderful outdoor spaces and the vast array of eateries.

My office is in Pacific Palisades and I love Will Rogers Beach, so I would highly recommend picking up food at Erewhon and having a picnic on the beach. Staying in that area, one of my favorite places on Earth is Topanga Canyon. A hike in that area is a must. Maybe even some rock climbing up in Malibu!

Being primarily plant based, I find that Los Angeles is quite conducive to my way of eating. All the usual spots like Sage, Gracias Madre, Cafe Gratitude are at the top of my list for vegan food. I love, LOVE Nic’s on Beverly – but a visit there wouldn’t be complete without the Electric Daisy Cocktail. Be warned, it is basically the EDC Festival for your mouth – it’s a trip.

I also love the views at Yamishiro Hollywood and the food never disappoints. It’s an experience to say the least.

The Glendale area is a place that supported me greatly while I was starting out and I would be amiss to not mention some of these wonderful local spots.

Ideaology Coffee always has the best seasonal lattes and great pastries to pair them with. Brick and Flour does a fun take on tradition taco cart food. Din Tai Fung has some of the best vegetables I have ever eaten in my life. I CRAVE their green beans some times. Red Coffee Cube makes some extremely creative lattes and has multiple locations in LA. I highly recommend giving them a shot. Treat Yo’Self Baked Goods doesn’t have a store front but they offer Filipino inspired baked goodies with pick up in Noho. Rob Beans is similar. No store front but roasts coffee out of his garage ever Sunday and they always leave my car smelling divine.

I have found that I’m rarely disappointed in Los Angeles and wherever I take my clients and friends, we usually enjoy ourselves!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost my family and friends – old and new. Your vibe attracts your tribe and it’s wild to see how many people you lose once you start living in your truth, but it’s even more wild to see the people you gain. I am so grateful for the ones that rose to the occasion when I needed you, especially when there has been a couch involved. I know it can be scary to watch the journey from the outside and I’m grateful for the support, despite all the last minute changes and grey hairs I give you.

Also, my team – especially my head of Philanthropy in California, Susan. Thank you for seeing the vision from the get go and diving in head first with me. It is not me doing this solo and I would not have been able to help anyone without your contributed time and energy. You are all what will make this thing grow and create REAL Impact.

All of my Real Estate and Business advisors and partners – Tristan Ahumada, Harvey Good Bitler, Anne Russell, Eddie Watters and Chris Estrada. I know sometimes you think I am crazy and I have to convince you I’m not, but I know you are always there for me when I have a wall to break through and I am so blessed to have access to all of the knowledge you have.

As far as books go, there are so many but these were life changing for me:
– Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés (for embracing the wild feminine)
– The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron (for overcoming childhood traumas to open up to your greatness)
– The Deepest Truth of Human Existence by Eckhart Tolle (a meditation on staying present and releasing victim mentality)
– Reboot by Jerry Colonna (Growing up and stepping into a role of leadership)
– Abundance by Steven Kottler (Abundance Mindset to overcome fear)
– Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis (not allowing societal norms and expectations of being a woman to limit you)
– The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (novel about a shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure)
– The Story of My Life by Charlotte Barkley (an auto-biography written by my Grandmother that helped me learn a lot about my ancestral traumas and tap into where I come from and what my family has already overcome) If you have any journal entries or writings from family members YOU HAVE GOLD.

Website: www.therealbarkley.com

Instagram: @therealbarkley_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-barkley-romero-8b4884196/

Twitter: @therealbarkley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealbarkley

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/c-barkley-romero-philanthropic-realtor-pacific-palisades-2

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMR8EzlhJsnzjCqa-xU6hw

Other: tiktok: @barkleytoks