CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Tranquessa Taylor is the owner of Taylor & Associates Realty & Property Management Brokerage in Clarksville. She’s also the grandmother of eight boys.

But it wasn’t easy getting there. With courage, perseverance and faith, she made a much-needed career change, and now she’s living her dream.

She recently talked to Clarksville Now about what it took to get to this point in her life.

CNow: How did you become a real estate broker and when did your dream begin?

“In 2010, I decided it was time for a career change. I had been in logistics my entire adult life. I worked as a manager at a major retailer’s distribution center. … It took me training four bosses over me, and I was done. I was passed over so many times. I couldn’t get promoted. I needed a career change and a career that would work best for our family.

“I knew logistics was not what I wanted to do the rest of my life, and I always tell my children they have to have a plan – A, B and C. I had to take my own advice.”

Taylor became interested in real estate after buying her first home. Her agent didn’t give her a good experience, and it sparked her desire to learn as much as she could.

“I said, ‘I can do this.'”

CNow: What was your motivation and how did you reach your goal?

“Our boys were highly active in extracurricular activities at school and within our community. I wanted to ensure I was at every event,” she said. “I missed one game and they lost miserably. I tried to get there and almost had a wreck. I said I can’t do this anymore.”

Taylor took the leap at 40 years old and began realty school with the support of her husband, Curtis, and her children.

“My family is my ‘why.’ Every day, I get up and decide to go out and make it happen,” she said. “When I decided to become a real estate agent, I knew one day I would open my own brokerage.”

To reach her goals took a lot of prayers, self-confidence and family support, she said.

“I  became a real estate agent in August 2011, a broker in 2014, and opened my brokerage firm in September 2017,” she said.

CNow: What obstacles did you have to overcome and how did you do it?

“In the beginning, I felt like a fish out of water. It was scary,” Taylor said. “This was quite different from anything that I was used to. It was almost as if I was learning to walk and talk again. I didn’t know the depth of the study. I thought about quitting many times, but in my conscious mind I knew to persevere.”

At times when she became doubtful, her husband and children would give her a boost.

“They’d see me crying and would tell me I could do it. My children would quiz me or make flashcards. I couldn’t give up on them. They never saw me that vulnerable,” she said. “I have always taught my children to persevere. Now it was my time to follow my rules.”

CNow: What do you like about your profession?

“I love the personal fulfillment of helping families own their home or selling to start a new chapter. Few careers can offer such a rewarding experience,” Taylor said.

Her experiences have shaped her into giving each client undivided attention.

“Because of how I was treated, I will break my back to treat my clients good. Everyone should be treated with dignity. Everyone is a human being not just a number,” she said. “When you look at people like that, they know you care. … We pride ourselves on customer/client satisfaction. It’s more important to me to be a trusted and knowledgeable brokerage than being one of the biggest.”

CNow: Can you tell us about your business and what it means to you?

“My husband Curtis and I are business partners. Being a business owner is challenging and rewarding. I have learned a lot by trial by fire. I am blessed to have a loyal following of repeat business clients and friends, and I believe in building relationships around trust one key at a time,” she said.

Her children’s future success is extremely important.

“My husband and I would like to leave a legacy and a sense of pride for our children. When choosing a name, we knew we wanted our last name to be a part of it,” she said. “I will never forget when we showed our sons a picture of the sign on the building, they all said our name is in lights!

“I want them to know they can have ownership in life. I have really tall, dark-skinned children. It’s hard for them in the things going on in the world today,” she said. “I wanted them to not worry about a job and know this is our company – we own this.”

CNow: What are some things about yourself that you’d like other people to know?

Taylor was born into a military family, and her father was stationed in both Fort Campbell and Germany twice. Her husband retired from the military after 22 years, and three of her sons are “aiming high in the United States Air Force.”

Taylor is the mother of five children – one girl and four boys – and a grandmother of eight grandchildren, all boys.

She’s originally from Vidalia, Georgia, the “sweet onion capital of the world.”

Taylor is the sponsor of, Celebrating Black “HerStory,” a Black History Month series that recognizes Black women in Clarksville who are making a difference as professionals and entrepreneurs.

“It’s important that women empower women,” she said. “So many women get put down, and I’ve had so many breathe life into me. … We have to continue to empower each other and bring each other up. It’s important to pay it forward.”