“Don’t be afraid to take risks. Not every business venture will be successful. Keep trying.”

Kevin Small is the owner and operator of Absolute Auction & Real Estate Co., offering hunting land and farms for sale in northern Missouri. He became a participant in Cabela’s Trophy Properties in April 2011. In one year’s time, he recorded $4.7 million in sales. You can find their large list of
farms for sale here.

MO: What inspired you to launch your business?

Kevin: I saw an opportunity to put my knowledge of the outdoors and my years of experience to use in an ag-related and recreational business.  I realized over the years in dealing with other real estate professionals, there was a demand for someone that was knowledgeable about farms, rather than just residential properties.

MO: Do you have any recent success stories that you’d like to share with our readers?

Kevin: In my first year of being a participant with Cabela’s Trophy Properties I received the 2011 Trailblazer Award, which granted me recognition for being a new Cabela’s Trophy Properties affiliate who demonstrated a complete understanding of Cabela’s Trophy Properties and took that knowledge to the field to acquire new listings and sell recreational properties.  It was a surprise and an honor.

MO: What has been your biggest challenge as a business owner and how have you met that challenge?

Kevin: As a new average Joe farm and land real estate company, my biggest challenge is how to advertise to get myself seen above the other real estate companies.  In real estate, in my opinion, the #1 necessity is advertising.  For a new company this can be difficult to overcome.  In order to advertise a local listing on a national level, it could cost you thousands of dollars to market that listing in the correct manner.  I was very fortunate with the timing of my new brokerage, as my current territory in Cabela’s Trophy Properties just happened to become available.  The actual start-up cost was expensive, but the advertising I gained more than pays for itself.

MO: Have you had any mentors or role models that have influenced you? Describe the impact.

Kevin: My dad is my role model with his hard-working ethics and pure honesty.  I feel like a man’s word is all he has to his name and honesty is important.  My dad’s values have impacted every facet of how I do business on a day-to-day basis.

MO: What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs and business owners? What do you wish someone told you?

Kevin: My advice would be “Don’t be afraid to take risks.  Not every business venture will be successful.  Keep trying”.  I wish someone would have told me to “Go for it” a long time ago.

MO: What’s the biggest risk that you’ve ever taken and how did it turn out?

Kevin: I opened an outfitters business in a time when that type of business was new to our area.  I recently sold that business and in looking back feel that it was very profitable both financially and personally.  The hundreds of friends that I have made over the last 17 years have been priceless.