Sarah Marie: Pioneering Finance and Investing with SMHavice Investments

As part of the Morning Lazziness series about empowering women who encourage and do incredible things with their ideas in society, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Marie. 

Sarah Marie is an industry expert in the realm of finance, investing and creative business solutions, working as the founder of SMHavice Investments. She has experience for the last 22 years in real estate, commercial and residential property investing, digital assets and crypto currencies. She is a female entrepreneur rewriting the rules, as a single mother, she has beaten all the odds as the underdog, proving people wrong. Shining in the face of adversity.

Here’s what we found out about Sarah‘s daily routine, followed by an exclusive Q+A.

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business? 

My journey as an entrepreneur began with a deep desire to create a meaningful impact while balancing my roles as a mother and a professional. The inspiration stemmed from witnessing gaps in the market that resonated with my personal values and experiences. Motivated by a drive to innovate and a commitment to family, I embarked on this journey, fueled by the belief that entrepreneurship could empower not just myself but also contribute positively to my community and beyond. 

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the business world, and how have you overcome them? 

Face-to-face networking is by far superior to social media, in my opinion, but it can be tough to do. But in saying that, I also recognize that social media is like a personal resume and so many people from various industries can see your content, and that can be huge in the realm of business. To be taken seriously in this industry, I recognized that in some cases, you have to pay a high ticket price at conferences to get in front of the right people,  get into the inner circles. It also helps to invest in yourself and your mentors to further your connections and knowledge so that you can meet the right people.

How do you approach mentorship and seeking guidance in your entrepreneurial journey?

I always ask for help. I hire coaches for all areas of my business and life, such as life coaches, fitness coaches, finance coaches, business coaches, mindset coaches, and even spiritual mentors. 

It’s important to surround yourself with people who are better than you because you can learn so much more that you can incorporate into your own life. 

Can you share the story behind your journey as an entrepreneur? What inspired you to start your own business?

I lived with my mom and two sisters, and we were raised in extreme poverty. My dad was a successful entrepreneur and owned his own business as an electrical engineer. I worked with him in the summers, pulling wire, climbing in attics, drilling concrete, and also seeing him run this business. I learned about the hard work, dedication and grit it took to own and operate a business, and I also saw the lifestyle that always drew me in because I had nothing if I didn’t work.

Being self-employed was a way of life that I wanted for myself. I would always find a way to make money, and as I became older after college, I started looking into ways to invest to try and set myself up well financially. At the time, I was living in an extremely expensive foreign country.

So, on a trip I took when I was just 24, I found a house, put in an offer, signed paperwork for closing at the US embassy, and rented it out 2 weeks later. And it made sense to me to continue to do this as a business. 

What challenges have you faced as a woman in business, and how have you overcome them? 

The biggest challenge of mine is not being taken seriously and being overly sexualized. Men try to blur the lines in business, and you have to hold your ground. I have had to walk away from contracts, deals, partners and jobs in order to maintain integrity, purpose and my right to work. I also meditate and pray daily as well as work out to keep my head clear from negative feelings associated with these life experiences.

How do you balance your professional and personal life as an entrepreneur? 

I make sure that all my tasks have allotted time as part of my daily routine. In the busy years of my life I have pulled my kids from school to homeschool to be able to have more time with them. I make adjustments as needed, as being somewhat flexible also helps with time management.

My Pillars for the day are: (1) Time with God, (2) Time with yourself, (3) Time with family/ friends. (4) Focus on your big rocks for the day.  If you can master those 4 things, you can be proud and know that it is a successful day.

Can you talk about a specific setback or failure you’ve experienced in your business, and how you bounced back from it?  

Over leveraging assets, with a high risk tolerance there have been situations in my life where the investment deals or things do not go as planned, a closing gets pushed out, partnerships being tested, deals falling through etc and when you overleveraged you put unnecessary stress on yourself , business and others.  I have learned to consult for bigger decisions and utilize clear systems and structure with investing and making decisions.

In what ways do you prioritize diversity and inclusion within your company or startup? 

I hire and work with people based on heart and soul. Hire for the soul, Train for the role. Culture and community are everything.

How do you stay motivated and resilient during tough times in your business? 

Morning affirmations and strong faith in God and the abilities he has given me and an unshakable knowledge that I have a real purpose and goals helps. Knowing that if I can just tackle my to-do-list in a day then I am another day closer to winning and achieving the dream.

What advice would you give to other aspiring women entrepreneurs who are just starting out? 

We are better together. It can be isolating at the top. It’s important to remember that the competition is not with other women or businesses, it is only with yourself. Enjoy the journey.

Can you share a memorable success or milestone that you’ve achieved in your entrepreneurial career? 

A few stand out more than others. Working my way from the bottom, and being able to work with celebrities and royalty as clientele is certainly at the top. It’s a pretty fun job perk to meet some of the most famous people and get to work alongside them.