The Counter Offer

From Corporate Employee to Luxury Home Builder: Dana Ambs’ Incredible Story

In this episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim sit down with Austin real estate agent, developer, designer, and builder Dana Ambs for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, and building a business around your strengths. Before becoming one of Austin’s most recognized names in development and infill construction, Dana was balancing a corporate career while renovating and improving her own investment properties on the side. What started with a passion for design, art, and creating beautiful spaces eventually grew into designing, developing, and building luxury homes throughout Austin. Today, Dana has built and renovated hundreds of properties while helping clients navigate development, investment opportunities, new construction, and real estate throughout Central Austin. (Dana Ambs - REALTOR in Austin Texas [https://www.danaambs.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]) Dana shares her journey from studying design and business to working in corporate America, taking risks, finding her niche, and ultimately building a career that aligned with her passions. The conversation explores how creativity, persistence, and a willingness to start small can lead to extraordinary opportunities. Meredith, Jenny, and Dana also discuss the importance of building a business around your personal brand, why ownership matters in entrepreneurship, and how eXp Realty has allowed them to grow businesses under their own names rather than someone else’s brand. They share lessons about taking calculated risks, creating opportunities, finding confidence in your unique strengths, and building a life that reflects your goals rather than someone else’s expectations. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered if it’s too late to pivot careers, start a business, pursue a creative passion, or build something bigger than they thought possible. Topics include: • Dana Ambs’ journey from corporate America to builder and developer • Building luxury ADUs and new construction homes in Austin • Real estate development and investing • Finding your niche in business • Entrepreneurship and career pivots • Personal branding in real estate • Building a business around your strengths • Women in business and entrepreneurship • Creativity, design, and real estate development • Why ownership matters for entrepreneurs • How eXp supports agent-owned businesses • Lessons from building a successful Austin real estate brand Follow Dana Ambs: Instagram: @danaambs Follow Meredith Alderson: Instagram: @meredith.alderson.heyday The Heyday Group: @theheydaygroup Follow Jenny Kim: Instagram: @jennykimrealtor June & Co.: @juneandcompany Produced and edited by Adam Walding Instagram: @adamwalding.heyday

The Power of No: Why Saying Yes to Everything Is Holding You Back

The Power of Saying No | The Counter Offer Podcast Why is saying no so much harder than saying yes? In this episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim tackle a topic that many business owners, real estate agents, parents, and high achievers struggle with: learning how to say no. When your income is tied directly to your effort, turning down opportunities can feel risky. In a commission-based business, every lead, meeting, event, and opportunity can feel like something you should say yes to. But over time, Meredith and Jenny have learned that constantly saying yes often comes at the expense of the things that matter most. They share honest conversations about boundaries, burnout, people-pleasing, and how they’ve learned to make decisions that align with their values, goals, and priorities instead of operating from fear. The episode also begins with a personal catch-up, including family celebrations, birthday season at home, and a major milestone as Meredith shares the exciting news that her son has officially chosen where he’ll be attending college. In this episode: • Why saying no feels so uncomfortable • The hidden cost of saying yes to everything • How commission-based professionals can set healthier boundaries • Recognizing opportunities that are distractions versus opportunities that align • The role fear plays in decision-making • How saying no creates space for bigger opportunities • Lessons learned from parenting, business, and leadership • Why protecting your time is one of the most valuable skills you can develop Whether you’re building a business, raising a family, or simply trying to create a life that feels more intentional, this conversation is a reminder that every no creates room for a better yes. About the Hosts Meredith Alderson is the founder of The Heyday Group, an Austin-based real estate team built on relationships, trust, and helping clients find their shine. After an 18-year corporate career, Meredith transitioned into real estate and has become one of Austin’s top-producing agents, known for her strategic approach, authentic leadership, and passion for helping both clients and agents build lives they love. Instagram: @meredithalderson.heyday Jenny Kim is a top-producing Austin real estate agent, business owner, and mom who brings a thoughtful, honest perspective to navigating entrepreneurship, family life, and the ever-changing real estate market. Known for her relationship-first approach, Jenny is passionate about helping clients make confident decisions while building a business that aligns with her values. Instagram: @jennykimrealestate Follow Meredith and Jenny for more real estate insights, business conversations, and behind-the-scenes moments from life as entrepreneurs, moms, and Austin real estate professionals. Subscribe to The Counter Offer for new episodes every week.

The Truth About Work-Life Balance for Working Moms in Real Estate

In Episode 2 of The Counter Offer, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim catch up on life lately — from spring break plans with family and the realities of juggling busy schedules to behind-the-scenes conversations about Austin real estate, marketing strategies, and new construction homes. The episode also dives into real estate topics including FLEX listings, off-market strategies, private listings in Austin, and Jenny’s experience working on one of her latest new build projects. Meredith and Jenny share insights into how strategic marketing, relationships, and timing can completely change the outcome of a listing in today’s market. The main conversation centers around the idea of “work-life balance” and whether that phrase is actually setting working moms up for failure. As business owners, Realtors, and mothers, Meredith and Jenny get honest about the pressure to “do it all,” the realities of balancing family and entrepreneurship, burnout, mom guilt, ambition, and why perfect balance often isn’t realistic, especially in careers like real estate that never fully turn off. They also share lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers about boundaries, prioritization, motherhood, building businesses, and creating lives that work for their families instead of chasing unrealistic expectations. Whether you’re a working parent, entrepreneur, Realtor, or someone trying to navigate career growth and personal life, this episode offers a relatable and honest conversation about business, motherhood, ambition, and redefining success on your own terms. Topics include: • Working moms in real estate • Work-life balance and burnout • Austin real estate market strategies • FLEX listings and off-market homes • New construction homes in Austin • Real estate marketing and branding • Entrepreneurship and motherhood • Balancing business ownership and family life • Real estate advice from experienced Austin Realtors • Honest conversations about modern motherhood Follow Meredith Alderson: Instagram: @meredithalderson.heyday The Heyday Group: @heydaygroupaustin Follow Jenny Kim: Instagram: @jennykimrealtor June & Co.: @juneandcompany Produced and edited by Adam Walding Instagram: @adamwalding.heyday

The Career Pivot That Changed Everything | From Corporate America to Real Estate

The Career Pivot That Changed Everything | From Corporate America to Real Estate Before becoming top Austin Realtors, entrepreneurs, and business owners, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim were navigating careers in corporate America, learning firsthand what worked, what didn’t, and what they ultimately wanted their lives and businesses to look like. In the first episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith and Jenny share the personal stories and career pivots that led them into real estate — from burnout, ambition, and entrepreneurship to building modern brands rooted in authenticity, creativity, strategy, and long-term relationships. They discuss how their backgrounds outside of real estate shaped the way they approach marketing, leadership, client experience, branding, and business growth today. The conversation also dives into why today’s real estate agents need to think beyond simply being agents at a brokerage and start operating like true business owners and entrepreneurs. From personal branding and social media to systems, relationships, and reputation, Meredith and Jenny unpack what it really takes to build a successful and sustainable real estate business in today’s market. Whether you’re in real estate, considering a career pivot, building a business, or simply interested in entrepreneurship and personal growth, this episode offers an honest and relatable conversation about taking risks, building something meaningful, and redefining success on your own terms. Topics include: • Leaving corporate America for real estate • Building a personal brand in Austin real estate • Entrepreneurship and career pivots • Real estate marketing and social media • Why agents need to think like business owners • Client experience and relationship-based business growth • Lessons learned building modern real estate brands • Leadership, burnout, and business growth • What Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim wish they knew earlier The Counter Offer is hosted by Meredith Alderson of The Heyday Group and Jenny Kim of June & Co. — two Austin entrepreneurs having candid conversations about real estate, business, branding, life, and everything happening behind the scenes. Produced and edited by Adam Walding.