Callaghan O’Connor was born and raised in Victoria (British Columbia). She is a veteran investor and real estate agent.
He was very interested in sports and especially hockey throughout primary and high school. He played for the Western Hockey League and British Columbia Hockey League after he graduated.
Callaghan hoped to play professional hockey, but he decided to not put all his eggs in one basket. He studied simultaneously for a degree both in business and sports management. During his university years, he also managed several businesses. Callaghan O’Connor decided to give up his dream of playing in the National Hockey League. He took a position as a media relations officer with the Vancouver Canucks. He switched to football and became a media liaison officer for the BC Lions, another Vancouver-based team.
Callaghan was eventually inspired to get into the real estate business. He primarily focused on Vancouver’s commercial properties for the first five years in his new career as an investor and real estate agent. Callaghan decided to move to Victoria to work with residential properties. This allowed him to pursue his long-standing interests in interior design and landscape art. Callaghan O’Connor, a local resident, has established a high-end residential realty business. He intends to stay in Victoria, which he loves and considers a great place to raise his children, for a long time.
What are you doing at work?
I am both a real-estate agent and an investor. My day is spent helping my clients find properties. Although I primarily work in the residential market, I also have an interest in industrial and commercial real estate. Some of these properties I lease, some I sell, and some I keep as long-term investments. I am also able to negotiate sales and purchases for various clients.
What inspired you to start your business?
It’s funny, but I always thought that I would be working in the sports industry someday. I was a young hockey player when I was younger. Later, it became clear that I wanted to work in the front office. Although I had no illusions about staying with one team for thirty or any other length of time, or any particular sport or league, I knew I would be involved in some form of sports. Real estate was the next step in my life. I fell in love with it. It makes sense to me that I have always been interested and passionate about interior design and landscaping. However, I cannot imagine doing anything else at the moment.
What is your business model?
Integrity is what I want to be known for in my business. I try my best to be fair and humane with people.
Can you share the keys to productivity?
I find that getting seven to eight hours sleep each night is the key to staying productive. I find that I perform better at work and in all other areas of my life if I am well rested. Exercise and healthy eating are key. I find that just keeping my body in top physical condition is the best thing for me.
Give us a long-term goal for your career.
I would love to one day own a professional rugby team. It’s a sport I have always loved and that I played well as a child. It’s possible, but it is not likely. It’s especially important in Canada where rugby is less popular than hockey. However, owning a team would be a lot of fun. Rugby Canada was a passion of my father so it is evident that the passion runs in the family.
What would your younger self say to you?
There is no situation that is as difficult or as positive as the other. Do not settle, but never give up. Be consistent in your behavior and how you treat others. You will find that there will always be bad times. It all comes down to how you handle the present and plan for tomorrow. Everything will be okay if you are able to remain calm and collected despite the many challenges that life brings.
What is the most important lesson that you have learned in your career?
Establish a solid daily routine that is based on health, happiness, building wealth, and integrity. Then, you can use this as the foundation for everything else. It will eventually define you and the way you behave.
What advice do you have for others who want to be successful in their field?
There is no single piece of advice that guarantees success in the real estate business. It all boils down to recognizing good opportunities when they present themselves and then taking them up. Some guidelines that I have found to work for me are: ‘Don’t follow the crowd’, ‘always be aware of local trends’, and ‘plan ahead’
What’s your favorite thing to do outside work?
You can usually find me on the water, or at the golf course during my off-days.
Which books and websites are you most proud of?
Angela Duckworth’s grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance is a book I highly recommend. She is a psychologist and takes a deep dive into how people achieve success in their lives. The central idea of her book is that talent does not guarantee success. It is persistence. The mindset of persistent people is then explored by her. There are some truly fascinating insights in the book.
