I’m often asked how I became the Bowtie Coach. It’s not just a fashion statement; it is a story of transformation with a pinch of nerdy charm.

In 2015, I was brainstorming what my brand would look like as a real estate agent. I wanted something catchy that screams Stephen without scaring clients. Usually, I wore the standard desert real estate agent uniform of slacks and a dressy polo shirt. I found it boring.

A buddy of mine showed up at a networking event with a bowtie on. It was memorable and made an impression. That was a light bulb moment for me. It was nerdy, classy, and just the right touch of quirky. I knew I would be comfortable sporting a bowtie.

As I began the hunt for bowties, Burlington, Ross, and TJ Maxx became my best friends. Then I hit the jackpot of bowties…Amazon. Of course, everything is on Amazon.

Learning to tie a bowtie was a different story. Imagine a grown man repeatedly watching YouTube video tutorials, endlessly tying knots on his neck. After some frustration, I realized that it is the same freaking knot as tying a shoelace. I mastered the knot and created a YouTube video, one of the first on my real estate YouTube channel.

I began rocking the bowtie look with a dress shirt, slacks, jacket or vest, and, of course, a bowtie. It became a hit. And in the months of scorching temperatures, a pair of dressy shorts and a short-sleeved dress shirt accompany my bowtie.

To complete my branding, I needed to tie the bowtie into a signature tagline. At the time, I was working for HomeSmart. Their tagline was “Making real estate fun and easy.” I thought it was great, but not very Stephen. My tagline needed that bowtie twist.

Inspiration struck me at a commercial real estate course I was attending. Looking at my bowtie casually, a classmate quipped, “Dude, you’re taking the knots out of real estate.” EUREKA! The Angelic choir began singing.

Stephen Burchard, The Desert Bowtie Realtor, Taking the knots out of real estate, was born. This tagline was memorable and stuck.

A proven tagline was easily modified for my coaching business when I began my coaching services. Stephen Burchard, The Bowtie Coach, Taking the knots out of business. Why mess with a winning formula?

This journey taught me that branding is like a bowtie: it needs adjusting, a bit of flare, and collaboration. From my bowtie-wearing buddy to a classmate who nailed my tagline, it has been a group effort.

Now, I am turning my 22 years of experience in real estate and entrepreneurial adventures into helpful wisdom. Let’s face it: sometimes, business and life throw some real knots our way. Who better to untangle them than a guy who has mastered the art of the bowtie?

“One of the most exciting things about coaching is the buzz you get when you push out of your comfort zone, come up with a plan and put it into action! Life takes on a whole new meaning as you re-create your life the way you want it.” – Emma Louise Elsey

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