Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Pierce.
Hi Alex, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Wayzata, MN, and graduated from Wayzata High School in 2018. After my second year of college at the University of Minnesota, I decided to take a gap year because I had no idea what I wanted to do or study, and with the pandemic quickly unfolding, taking some time off of school began to make a lot of sense. At the time, I was fascinated with the idea of gaining financial independence through passive income and naturally gravitated toward real estate.
I was most interested in real estate investing and decided that getting my real estate license would be a good start toward expanding my network and saving up to start investing. At 20 years old, in the middle of the pandemic, I got licensed and months later joined what is now the To The Twin Cities team. Check out our YouTube.
I decided to take a second gap year because I was enjoying working as a real estate agent and business was beginning to pick up. During those two gap years, I continued earning college credits through a community college and eventually applied to the Carlson School of Management, where I currently am studying Finance and will be graduating in the fall of ’23.
I also work as an analyst at Atland Ventures, a student-run venture capital fund at the University of Minnesota that invests in startups solving problems faced by Gen Z. Through that I have connected with so many other ambitious students, founders, and entrepreneurs!
For the past several months, I’ve also been working on a startup of my own. It is a social music app that connects like-minded people who share similar musical preferences, interests, and experiences. I’ve also participated in a business pitch competition for it!
I’ve always been very passionate about music, having played piano and drums throughout high school, as well as producing my music. Earlier this spring, I decided to lean more into my passion for DJing and have DJ’ed several events around the cities and love it.
All in all, I’m a student studying Finance, an analyst at Atland Ventures, a real estate agent, DJ, and a founder. My friends joke that I live four different lives and sometimes it feels that way. I’ve found myself to be happiest when I lean into what I’m passionate about to see how I can take it to the next level.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not.
First off, starting as a real estate agent at 20 years old is not easy. I didn’t have a network established to tap into, and even if I did, I was so young and new that I felt most people probably wouldn’t feel comfortable using me as an agent anyway. So I had to focus on learning as much as I could as fast as I could. To demonstrate my expertise I began making YouTube videos and focused on having a social media presence. At first, it was uncomfortable to put myself out there, but it ultimately gave me the confidence I needed to grow my business.
A consequence of going all-in on social media and YouTube was a HUGE feeling of imposter syndrome, but with time and experience that began to fade. It’s not an overnight thing, but it’s more of a muscle you develop with time to be able to just focus on your craft and not care what anybody thinks. Thankfully, my friends and family were all supportive!
Another challenge was the first year of work. It took several months before I had my first closing, so there wasn’t exactly a flood of money coming in either. During that time, I had to work other side hustles to make ends meet like running groceries and such.
Fast-forward to the past two semesters as a full-time student, I’ve had to learn how to balance school, work, and Atland Ventures, as well as trying to have a decent social life, and stay physically active! There are times when things get crazy and I feel like I’m drowning with no way out, but it’s in those moments that you gotta learn how to swim!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about To The Twin Cities?
I work as a real estate agent on a team called To The Twin Cities. We are relocation experts that serve Minneapolis, St. Paul, and all surrounding areas of the Twin Cities! I serve both buyers (from out-of-state and in-state) and sellers.
We specialize in creating the most in-depth and helpful YouTube videos of the Twin Cities and its neighborhoods. On the sell side, we leverage our social media presence and YouTube channel to provide high-quality marketing for listings toward a large audience. I’ll work harder for you than anyone else out there.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Tap into your existing network and set up times to meet with people to discuss their work. People love to talk about their own experiences and want to help you out. Just be confident in yourself and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tothetwincities.com/
- Instagram: @alextothetwincities
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlexPierceRealty
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex–pierce/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToTheTwinCities
