We had the good fortune of connecting with Bryan Cody and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bryan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Since I was young I have always dreamed of being a business person. I love the idea of creating something that allows for efficiency and innovation in an area that clearly needs it. There is so much opportunity in the world to ‘make things better’ and I needed to be a part of that. When looking at the individual business sector, I didn’t necessarily know which area I wanted to enter. What I did know is that I wanted creative ability, a large network opportunity, and multiple streams within a sector. That landed me in real estate as there are so many different avenues you can be a part of without necessarily being chained to one part for the entirety of your career.

What should our readers know about your business?
Cody & Co. is a Real Estate and Property Management Brokerage. Our tag line is ‘Everything Real Estate’ because we do just that, everything in real estate. Our main focus is to look at Real Estate as an investment no matter who you are. Whether you have just a single family home, a second home on a lake, or a 10 unit portfolio, we want to analyze them all through the eye of investment. How can we make what you have into what you want. This has lead us to do short term and long term property management if it serves our clients.

In addition, we have started ‘mid term’ property management. A term I coined to highlight a stay more than 30 days but less than 365 days. Typically the stays are 1-5 months and the property is fully furnished. This is a need throughout Michigan as we have traveling professionals, families in between homes during the buying or selling process, and people who travel while retired but want to stay for a few months at a time. The beauty of this is that it allows for owners to get extra income off an otherwise vacant home that maybe they only use in the summer or winter. It also allows for these people traveling to have a space to stay that is homey and furnished.

What sets us apart is the ability to do all of this under one umbrella. You need long term management? Mid term? Need to buy or sell? We can do it all and will analyze to let you know what our suggestion would be to get you the most from what you have. Building generational wealth is the American dream. Leveraging your assets in the best way possible is a way to accomplish that.

Getting here today has absolutely not been easy. Nothing in life worth doing is easy. Entrepreneurship is full of obstacles. In my opinion that’s the whole point. You are put in a position to solve problems and make it work. That’s the invigorating part of it. Stressful, yes, but a rush none the less. I’ve had to overcome several obstacles since starting my real estate career. First the knowledge and the ability to handle the deals mixed with finding clients who need to buy or sell. I had to get creative and I tried everything there was until I found things that worked for me.

One of the difficult parts of entrepreneurship is life is still happening. We all have life struggles and things can go wrong anytime, and sometimes often. Being able to balance life and business is challenging. I would call it a practice because you have to constantly improve that ability. For me, I faced a hard and challenging disease that could very well have made me quit long before I even got started.

Back in 2011 I woke up with a pain in my jaw. At first it wasn’t terrible, but as the days went on it got worse and worse. Some days it would be a little less intense, others I couldn’t believe something could be so painful. At this point I was a junior in high school and this pain continued with me for the next 8 years of my life. During this time, my parents and I went to specialists, chiropractors, surgeons, dentists, and anyone else who could potentially diagnose the issue.

Diagnosis didn’t come until 4 years in. I went into the chiropractor and that day there was a woman doctor. I state woman because I think it is important to recognize how instrumental woman are in all things, especially medicine. She asked what I was going through and with some hesitation I began to tell her. Hesitation because it didn’t only hurt me to sleep and eat, but talking was not pleasurable at all. As I described my symptoms she tells me she has just read a book on this exact thing and thinks she may know what I am dealing with. That was the first time I heard of Trigeminal Neuralgia, which is also known as the Suicide Disease.

She referred me to an upper cervical chiropractor where they did an MRI and they did in fact diagnose me with TN. After 4 years having a diagnosis was incredible. This lead to the next 4 years where we then tried to cure the pain. I had a massage therapist, a homeopathic doctor, and my chiropractors all trying to help, but to no avail. Finally, in 2018, when the pain was severe and dampening my spirits, we thought to try the Cleveland Clinic. Sparing most of the details which had many ups and downs, in December 2018 I had a decompression brain surgery which completely relieved me of my pain. The first Christmas in 8 years that I was able to eat, talk, and sleep with no pain. There are no words to describe the feeling.

Being able to be healed changed my life. I will say that for a long time I thought all the problems in my life were caused by this pain. That notion was quickly disproven once I was able to function as a real human again with obstacles still coming. No matter what you are going through, work to solve, heal, or change it. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it. I look at Cody & Co. as the beacon of what I was able to overcome. It is a part of me and I cherish the ability to be the Owner and Broker.

The biggest lesson is to never give up and never take no for an answer.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Grand Rapids has been growing exponentially since I have arrived. Each year we get more to do and more options for restaurants, events, shopping, and more. I live in Heritage Hill which borders the cities east side. It is one of the largest Historic Districts in the country with gilded mansions still standing that were built from early to mid 1800s through the early 1900s. Being so close to downtown and in such a vibrant and historic neighborhood, there is no shortage of things to do.

If my best friend came I’d start them off with a walking tour of Heritage Hill to show them the history and the homes. We would grab coffee and Lyon Street Cafe and a pastry from Nantucket Bakery which are walkable within my neighborhood. For some venture outside of city center we would visit Frederik Meijer Gardens, John Ball Zoo, and if it was fall we would visit Robinettes for some apple cider and doughnuts.

Dinner could be at several locations such as: Bistro Bella Vita, Lumber Baron Bar, MDRD, Winchester, Olives, San Chez, or Gin Gins. All of these are some of my favorites with a great variety of food and drink. After dinner we might hit Mojos, the dueling piano bar and club. Maybe hit a few speak ez bars like IDC or Sidebar. To end the night we would dance at Rumors!

I’m a part time golfer and with over 25 golf courses throughout the city we would definitely have to play a round. The lake shore isn’t far, so I’d take them to see Lake Michigan and have some fun in Saugatuck. A great beach town to see the lake, eat and shop. Chances are I’d get ahold of a friend so we could hop on their boat for the day!

All in all, I’d want them to visit each of our great neighborhoods such as the West Side, Easttown, EGR, North Monroe, and downtown. A great way to do so would be on the scooters!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people in my life that have helped me get to where I am. Without them I would be a very different person. First and foremost, my parents, Pete and Karen, and my sister, Karisa, deserve so much credit in my success as an entrepreneur. The three of them are my rock. They believed in me from the beginning and have nothing but love and support in the ups and downs that come with the business. I cannot express how incredible it has been to have their backing in everything that I have done. It makes it worth it to know that they are there in my corner, keeping it real, loving me for the person I’ve always been while accepting the person I am becoming.

In addition to them, there is another person that I feel had an incredible impact on my journey that I must mention. An advisor at MMC, formerly MMCC, Tammy Alvero. I joined Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for community college student, when I was attending MMC and she was, and still is, the advisor. I had never had anyone ‘see me’ so clearly and take action to help me accomplish what I knew I needed but didn’t have the courage to do. From public speaking, next steps on education, and my path forward, she provided an absolutely amazing space for me to develop as a human being and become what I wanted to be.

Of course those are not the only people that have helped me get to where I am. I believe your network is everything. I believe how you interact and build your network can make or break you. When I moved to Grand Rapids it was another opportunity to create a group of friends, colleagues, and individuals that would push me out of my comfort zone. They say you are the average of the 5 people you hang around the most and I agree. My mission, though, was not just to grow a network. It was to create a community where I could live and work with wonderful people.

This is where I got really intentional with who I spent my time with. I met Sarah, my best friend today, when I first moved here. She and her family have been incredibly instrumental to my success. I started a networking group called PGR where I met and developed strong professional relationships that turned into great friendships. A group of people who wanted success, but also wanted experience and relationships. Through other avenues I have been able to meet others like Ric who has become a huge part of Cody & Co.’s launch and growth.

Books have been a huge source of inspiration and education. I cannot get over the baffled feeling I get when I think about how much books offer to the world. How incredible it truly is and I hope others are able to recognize that. My top books are Never Split the Difference, Emotional Intelligence, and A Short History of Nearly Everything. So many others I would recommend, but I’ll keep it short.

Furthermore, the environment I experienced when I started real estate was incredible. I have met so many wonderful people in the industry who have aided me in getting where I am. Too many to name, but they know who they are. All the way through today when I have my own brokerage, I have people to call on in time of need and I am forever grateful for that and them.

Website: https://www.cody-company.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codyandco.realestate/ and https://www.instagram.com/itsbrokerbryan/reels/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-cody-903116175/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Cody-Co-Real-Estate-100093003557982/?paipv=0&eav=AfZ_oN1bGFxeY6-0E9F5ydSmGNJK32ZN0gmDDlV26NOl0tRpdQR_Fi_oolhELfJHRdg&_rdr

Image Credits
Ricardo Cottengim, Karisa Cody, Isaac Mogck, Sean Larson, Lily Kampf, Karen Cody, Margie Ulewicz, Chris Kappen, Phil Gabel, Cindy Schneider, Patti Cross, Mary Chapin, Taylor Foster, Jacquelyn Eyke

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