Cole Strickland

COVER STORY

PHOTOS BY SHAWNA MCDUFFIE, PEAK RES | STORY BY ZACH COHEN

"Conventionally, being fearless means that you are not afraid, or that, if someone hits you, you will hit him back. However, we are not talking about that street-fighter level of fearlessness. Real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. You are willing to open up, without resistance or shyness, and face the world.”

– Chögyam Trungpa

As the youngest of three boys, Cole’s childhood helped shape him into the man he is today.

“It’s a constant joke in the family, but the reality is that I learned not to be afraid of much,” Cole quips.

Cole was often left to compete with his two brothers — who were five and seven years older than him. That normalized situations that most others would consider challenging.

“This type of upbringing made me feel that I could accomplish anything I put my mind to,” Cole reflects.

The Professional Path

Cole’s willingness to step into challenging situations was on full display when he was in search of his first job in medical sales. By 20, he had long known that he desired a career in medical sales. He sold copiers around the state for two and a half years to build up his sales resume, and at 23, finally landed an interview with Stryker Navigation, the company he hoped to work for.

“It took me three interviews with Stryker to land a role with them. The first two were good, but not good enough to earn the job. I was extremely young, green, and lacked the experience truly needed,” Cole reflects.

But in interview three, Cole was able to show his worth.

“I was able to use my biggest strength I have always had since I was younger. I just figured it out. I’ve always just figured things out. I started out the interview explaining what kind of person I was and wanted to be and how my biggest goal in life was to provide for my family and how I only wanted to work for Stryker regardless of what the job entailed. [The regional manager] asked me about two questions in the first five minutes and proceeded to share a moment with me I’ll never forget. He said, ‘I like you and you are my guy. I want you for this role.’ He went on to be my biggest professional mentor and I cannot thank him enough for trusting his gut with me that day.”

The Tides Turn

During his 12-year career in medical sales, Cole began to take a personal interest in real estate. He and his wife, Lindsay, began remodeling their personal homes and selling the FSBO. What began as a fun way to level up turned into nine flips in nine years. They also started buying rental properties. By the time Cole became a real estate agent in 2017, he had overseen north of 25 transactions.

“Since my entire career was based on sales, [a transition into real estate] was a great fit,” Cole explains.

Cole began his real estate career with the intention to improve upon the processes and services he witnessed in the existing real estate market.

“I made a promise to myself that I would try to always be available to my clients regardless of what time of day it is or if I was on vacation. My goal is to answer every call when possible and address any need regardless of the timing.”

This strategy, combined with the skills he learned in his 12 years in medical sales, have served Cole well. In 2021, he closed nearly 80 transactions for over $60 million. He is the co-owner of Metro Mark Real Estate alongside his business partner, Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler, and Hunter Hibbard is his partner with the newly formed Cole Strickland Group.

On Family and Balance

One of the primary drivers behind Cole’s transition into real estate was his family. as he recognized a greater opportunity to be there for his three kids as a REALTOR®. And yet, as any real estate agent knows, actualizing the promise of balance isn’t easy.

Cole and Lindsay have three children, Everett (12), Annie (9), and Corbin (4).

“This industry is complicated as it’s technically open 24/7,” Cole reflects. “It’s important to find time for myself and my family but in order for me to fulfill my client’s needs, I need to be available whenever they need me.”

So, as Cole steps into the future, he keeps balance at the top of his priorities, always reassessing what it will take to be fully present for his clients and fully present for his family.

Above any success or accolade, Cole wants to be remembered for his integrity and compassion.

“I always try to do the right thing and what’s best for others. I love people and my relationships are extremely important to me.”