I’m so excited to share our second Member Q+A with Val Vandervort. Val is a real estate agent in the San Francisco Bay Area who brings thoughtfulness, balance, and a deep sense of awareness to both her work and her life. 

In our conversation, she reflects on what accountability means to her and how it has helped her stay consistent and make meaningful progress. I love how she ties accountability not only to goals but also to the small daily practices that create a life worth living.

Here’s a preview of the interview along with a few highlights from the transcript.

Introduction ​(0:27)​

My name is Val Vandervort, and I’m a real estate agent in the San Francisco Bay Area.

My True North/WHY is ​(0:45)​

I have pondered this question for many years, and for me, I think I’ve just concluded that it’s living a good, balanced life and working to be the best you can be at something, and do a good job at what you’re working at. So it’s not like my children or, you know, some charitable thing. Balance is really important to me. It’s not about working so hard that I don’t have balance. My true north is finding this blend between good productivity and living a good, happy life that is worth living.

My Expertise/Zone of Genius is (​1:50​)

My area of expertise is, you know, residential real estate in a small area. Right? Like, I can’t be an expert for real estate in a large area. There’s just too much to know for each specific area. And then my zone of genius, I’ve never been asked that question. I think it’s just having an awareness of people, how they’re feeling. One thing that people around me hear from out of my mouth a lot is, timing is everything. I think one of my zones of genius is timing in delivering information to make for the best outcome for everyone.

What are your daily practices? (3:00)

So my children, I have one who headed off to his junior year in college the other day, and then I have two. I have twins that are seniors in high school. I think that’s important information, because my daily practices have certainly changed as my children have gotten older. I tend to wake up early. And there’s people who get up way earlier than me, but six o’clock is about the time that I get up, and then I have this wonderful morning routine that’s developed over the last couple of years, where my children are more independent and getting themselves ready. I do Wordle, it’s the very first thing I do in the morning. And then this year, I’ve been reading the Daily Stoic every morning, which I love. So now I’ve got to find what’s my next kind of daily dose book that I’m going to read for next year, and journaling. This is really stuff that the Daily Stoic and the journaling is something that’s pretty new to me this year. And then I do the mini crossword. And this is all over my cup of coffee I make via AeroPress, very particular about how to make my coffee these days. And well, actually, what’s typically next is some sort of exercise. So I do boot camp some days, I go for a walk other days, and then it’s into the workday. Then I really try and be home and make dinner for the family. And then I tend to hit bed by like 10 o’clock at night, which is my kids have gone to bed later than me for a few years now, but now that they’re older, it’s doable.

What is your favorite indulgence? (5:24)

I think it’s my morning routine. I like it! I love it so much. I have a hard time sleeping in, and I almost wonder if it’s because I’m just ready to start, you know, my morning with my morning routine

What are you reading, listening to, or watching? (5:55)  

I have a variety of Audible books going at one time, and the one that I’m enjoying a lot right now is Buy Back Your Time. Really, really interesting to listen for me. I listen to a variety of podcasts. I try and kind of keep on top of, just generally, what’s happening culturally in our world. 

And I listen to a lot of the night’s Bad Blood, the book about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos. I’m obsessed with that story.

What is accountability to you? (7:27)

For me, it’s this combined piece of making a promise to myself and to somebody else who is listening in on my world. And it’s amazing how having that other person hear what you say you want to do for the week is this weird mind trick that then makes you really feel like you’ve got to get it done, that you can’t, you can’t say these things that you’re going to do, and then just not do them. 

it’s amazingly helpful and such a simple little thing, but so, so helpful.

How has Accountability Works helped you? (8:16)

Make good daily progress and break down a year into little chunks that make goals accomplishable for me. 

If people want to connect with you or learn more about what you do, where can they find you? (8:42)

Thank you so much to Val!  

If you want to learn more about our program, click here. 

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