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Occasionally, I come across an individual on social media and become inspired by the moves they share via their platforms, such happened with Steve Dunlap Jr. Currently CEO of Made Properties, a Real Estate Investor, and teacher in the heart of south side of Chicago (Chicago: his hometown), Dunlap\u2019s hustle has thoroughly inspired me throughout my time of following him on Instagram.<\/p>\n

With approximately 5 minutes of your time, join me as Steve\u2019s GRAYT PEOPLE profile cultivates an inspirational adamancy and persistency in going after your dreams\u2014sharing on his life, journey, [graytness,] efforts & motivations.<\/p>\n

INTRODUCTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

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What is it about Real Estate and Education that compels you to pursue them dually? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Steve and I opened our conversation on what compelled him to pursue Real Estate and education, dually. Steve explained that education granted him the opportunity to make an impact on the Chicago community and challenge the negative stigmas about the kids in his city. Simultaneously, real estate granted Steve the opportunity to profitably flip many of the abandoned homes that cultivated negative stigmas throughout Chicago, by \u201c[changing] the houses and put[ting] families in these homes\u201d to ultimately \u201cchange the neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
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How were you able to surpass any of your own doubts or the doubts of others to embark on such a journey?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
As the first to graduate college, one of the first to pursuit entrepreneurial ventures, and one of the first to actively aspire to escape the lower middle class socioeconomic ceiling within his family, Steve\u2019s mindset and subsequent actions acknowledged a need for a shift within his family and within those neighborhoods he wanted to change.<\/p>\n
Steve\u2019s pursuit of success yielded a fearlessness. Steve\u2019s fear of being regular or unsuccessful continuously evicted any habitation for doubt. How did Steve continuously do this, he attributes his ambition and perseverance to \u201cinvesting in myself, learning, and destiny itself\u201d<\/p>\n
JOURNEY<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
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What are three defining moments that strategically prepared you to flourish as the CEO of MADE Properties and your other entrepreneurial ventures, such as the New Chicago? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Three defining experiences in Steve\u2019s life contributed to his continuous pursuit of success:<\/p>\n
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Being an athlete<\/u>: As a walk-on Division I college athlete, Steve explained, \u201cI had to prove myself, to coaches to players and to self [that] I\u2019m supposed to be here.\u201d<\/li>\n
Parenthood<\/u>: Proving himself further transcended into parenthood, as balancing college and fatherhood further re-enhanced Dunlap\u2019s pursuit of cultivating value for those around him.<\/li>\n
Father\u2019s cancer diagnosis<\/u>. In 2015, seeing his father fight and seeing his father live, ultimately fueled what Dunlap identifies as his differentiating factor among other real estate investors and entrepreneurs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
GRAYTNESS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
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What do you identify as your differentiating factor among other real estate investors or entrepreneurs? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Put simply, Dunlap emphasizes \u201cPurpose over passion,\u201d where his purpose continuously drives him to maintain a student mindset where he\u2019s \u201cNot [being] outworked & always learning!]. That is Dunlap\u2019s identity.<\/p>\n
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What advice can you give to an aspiring real estate investors or entrepreneur about the art of branding yourself? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Identity is significant when it comes to what he believes as integral to branding yourself; Steve shares, \u201cYou can be yourself forever. But as soon as you try to be someone else, if it\u2019s not in your veins, you\u2019re going to fall off!\u201d<\/p>\n
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What are three (3) routine practices you implement to nurture and sharpen your differentiating factor?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Sharing on ways he does not fall off, Steve shares three routine practices he implements to nurture his strengths and sharpen his weaknesses, exclaiming:<\/p>\n
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\u201cI put myself throughout pain everyday\u201d<\/li>\n
\u201cStaying connected with people\u201d<\/li>\n
\u201cStaying connected to God\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
EFFORTS\/ETHICS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
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What and\/or who inspires you to excel beyond [good] and embrace your [graytness]?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Whether it be throughout working out, reading a book out of discipline, or doing more research out of discipline, Steve is adamant about excelling beyond [good] and embracing his [grayt]; when it comes to the individuals who inspired him to do so, Steve shares:<\/p>\n
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“My Dad”<\/li>\n
“Jesus”<\/li>\n
“Puffy (Sean \u201cDiddy\u201d Combs\u201d)”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What makes you challenge the status quo in the housing market and\/or in life? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Noting that real estate can be an \u201cold man sport,\u201d the inspiration from his Dad, Jesus, and Diddy fuels his presence within the Real Estate Sector\u2014his presence being what challenges the status quo. In Steve\u2019s quest to remain \u201cyoung & hungry,\u201d he further shares the importance of, \u201c[Staying] all the way locked in to those who have done it before me; never too good to learn. Always learning and always reading; how\u2019d they get it and add to their skills.\u201d<\/p>\n
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MOTIVATION:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n
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What are three (3) defining philosophies that you use to guide your life?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Being young, hungry, and eager to learn, Steve navigates his life with these three prevalent quotes:<\/p>\n
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\u201cGet a little bit better, everyday\u201d<\/li>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t stop, don\u2019t quit\u201d<\/li>\n
\u201cOn to perfect manhood\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What was one moment of personal failure or personal success that would motivate someone else to continuously press towards fulfilling their dream?<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
After sharing that the \u201cWolf on Wall Street\u201d movie and Jay-Z\u2019s \u201cYou Don\u2019t Know\u201d song were two motivational pushes in attaining his goals and dreams, Steve shares one moment of divine difficulty that further shaped his perspective on attaining his goals and dreams.<\/p>\n
Thinking back to his first Real Estate deal, Steve shared, in conclusion of our conversation, that he encountered faulty contractors, over budget spending, unexpected death of lawyers, excessive time expended in closing the deal and more. Eventually closing the deal, Steve reflected on the fact that when, \u201cPurpose [is] \u00a0behind me\u2026nothing can stop the purpose!\u201d<\/p>\n
****************<\/p>\n
[GRAYT PEOPLE] Profile Series curates an informational collective of inspirational individuals who have shown what it means to mobilize confidence to challenge [GOOD] and mobilize courage to champion [GRAYT]\u2014highlighting their past, their journey to their [graytness], their efforts and ethics, their motivation, and their aspirations.<\/strong><\/em><\/h6>\n
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