Living a Dream
Date: 2004-06-01
Through faith, dedication and passion for what she does, Tess Rodrigues is rapidly making her way up the ladder of success. Noami Paul reports on this go-getter.
Speaking to Tess Rodrigues is like encountering the dispersion of white light into a magnificent multitude of colour. E xpect to find an honest woman, no afraid to show the world all her facets. Her warm, sensitive and sunny personality draws you into her world. Listening to her makes you realize what a long way she has come by believing in herself, being spiritual and taking ownership of her dreams.
Opportunity Knocks
For Tess, some opportunities come in disguise. So did the opportunity for her to enter the property industry. It all started when she made her first transaction in property: buying a house. Her skill in obtaining financial aid was noted and she was offered a job as a bond originator.
She rose above difficult personal circumstances in that time and started her own company, Property Factor. Her honesty and drive to succeed ensured the growth of her business and made Tess a candidate for the BWA Regional Achiever Award for Start-up Business.
Life Strategy
As an Angolan refugee, Tess had to learn how to cope with leaving behind everything she knew at a young age. The way in which her parents dealt with relocating set an example that still carries and grounds her today.
Living one day at a time is key. She’s developed the habit of embracing all that is positive and living out her dreams as if they had already come true. “Envisage yourself doing what you dream of, then be bold enough to take measures as if you already reached that goal”. Tess recently made an offer for a property and went ahead to arrange financing even before her offer had been accepted. She just believed she would own that property. She now does.
Making It
To Tess success is not a destination, but a companion: the constant creation of small moments of success that ultimately accumulate into a big moment of success. She believes in creating her own reality through guidance from a higher power.& nbsp; “Make your dreams known to God, take action and ask God’s blessing.”
She has mastered the art of living in the present, living one “momentous moment” to the next. Part of this philosophy entails dealing with fear as it arises. Fear is “when your nearby future seems bigger than you”. She believes in order to counteract fear, you should identify your fears and address them one by one. “What we fear is often not real.”
Downtime
She is not shy to admit that she is not only a businesswoman but also a partner, friend, daughter, sister and (she spontaneously smiles) a “proud single mother” of two. How does she cope with juggling business and home life? She switches off at home and sets time aside for her children. However, she believes motherhood is not only about domesticity and caregiving and therefore raises her children to see the businesswoman in her. Winning a business deal is always celebrated with her children to make them part of her life outside the home and to equip them for the world of work they will one day be part of.
EveTalk - June 2004
Naomi Paul