Sheila Jones always dreamed of living somewhere else. Growing up in suburban Dublin, Ireland as the youngest of four, she had “tons of freedom” and plenty of friends, but her sights were set far beyond the neighborhood streets she knew so well.

“I always dreamed of leaving Ireland and living somewhere else,” Sheila says. When the U.S. began offering green cards in her twenties, she and her best friend took a leap of faith. “We moved with about $100 in each of our pockets,” she recalls. “Slept on floors and couches for the first few months until we could afford a security deposit. I loved every minute of it!”

That decision would shape the course of Sheila’s life. She spent over a decade in New York City, navigating an eclectic professional journey that included stints in the garment district, where she worked in a clothing showroom, and later in the ad sales department at NBC/USA. But it was love that eventually led her away from the city that never sleeps.

She met her husband during her time in New York, and the couple ultimately relocated to St. Louis in 2007. That’s when the pieces started to fall into place for her next chapter.

A friend, who happened to be a Realtor, first planted the seed. “I knew I wanted to get back to work at some point after staying at home with my second child,” Sheila explains. “A friend was a realtor and told me how he thought it would be a perfect fit for me and my life.”

In 2014, she began her real estate career. Today, Sheila works as an individual agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Alliance, based out of the company’s Clayton office.

Her journey to success in the real estate world wasn’t a straight line—but it was grounded in the same core strengths she’d developed over the years. “My jobs before this have been customer service, marketing, sales,” she says. “I feel like I can be a fully rounded agent that understands the needs and wants of the buyer/seller from beginning to end with the decades of experience I have in different fields.”

That perspective has paid off. Over the years, Sheila has been recognized with accolades including the Rising Star, Superstar, and Presidential Award. But she says the real reward is something simpler. “Most fulfilling is to make my clients happy with their transactions,” she shares. “To make them feel like it was the easiest experience for them.”

Still, it hasn’t all been easy. “The challenge to overcome is to juggle family and work,” she admits. With a husband who travels frequently and two daughters who are active in sports—“the oldest plays volleyball, the youngest basketball”—free time often means sitting courtside rather than kicking back.

“When I’m not working, honestly I love watching my girls play,” Sheila says. And while she no longer has to drive them to practice, “that took up 100% of my free time” for years.

For Sheila, balance remains both a goal and a work in progress. “My personal goal is to better manage work/life balance— is that even possible in real estate?” she laughs. “Business goal, to continue to grow my business and reputation in the community.”

Community is important to her. Her brokerage supports the Sunshine Kids Foundation, an organization similar to Make-A-Wish. And on a personal level, she stays grounded through walks in Forest Park, borrowing audiobooks from her local library, and reconnecting with friends over food and conversation. Trips back to New York remain a favorite.

Sheila’s advice to others trying to make it? “Double check everything, get everything in writing and take the extra time to make sure the job is done correctly,” she says. “Don’t expect anyone else to do it right the first time.”

But perhaps the best insight into her mindset comes from a favorite quote. “You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage,” she says, referencing a line from We Bought a Zoo. “Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it.”

Sheila’s life is proof that sometimes, saying yes—and being brave enough to try—makes all the difference.