When asked what influenced her approach to business and success, Anne Koons is quick to credit her father as “the best teacher.”

 

Hard work and dedication were instilled in her at a young age, and Koons recalls a pivotal moment in her childhood that helped pave the way for her success.

 

“I’ll never forget when I didn’t want to go back to overnight camp at the age of 13. He said, ‘OK, fine, you have to get a job then.’ And I’ve been working ever since. That’s the way we were raised,” she says.

 

We spoke with Koons about her career as a real estate agent and business owner and what she has learned about success along the way.

 

I’ve always enjoyed what I’ve done. I mean, there have been times where it’s been a little stressful, sometimes there’s ups and downs, and bumps along the road, but you get through it, you learn from it and you go on. I believe that if you truly like what you’re doing, you will be successful.

 

But, you have to take baby steps before you start jumping. I would tell anybody, whatever industry you choose, make sure you learn everything about it from the ground up so you will always know what you’re talking about.

 

I just have a driven personality. I just turned 74, but I am still working every day. The thought of not working—forget it. I don’t even have that thought process. I want to stay working as long as I’m successful, and I think it helps to keep you younger and more with it.

 

I had the best teacher in the world, my father. He had to stop working in 1993 because he got dementia. But in the meantime, he had outlasted most of his peers. And he wasn’t working because he needed the money. He liked what he did. Even after he became successful, he never stopped working.

 

I’m proud that I’ve been successful, but I’ve worked very hard to get there. I like what I do and I think that’s a really big factor. A lot of people are in certain jobs and are there just for the money or for the hours, but don’t really enjoy what they’re doing. I think that makes a big difference.