May 11, 2026
The Truth About Balancing Business and Family
What does it actually look like to balance business, family, and ambition
In this episode of Commercial Real Estate Secrets, Aviva Sonenreich revisits a powerful conversation with Gary Vaynerchuk, better known as Gary Vee, about the truth behind entrepreneurship, parenthood, personal growth, and giving yourself grace through different seasons of life.
Whether you are building a company, growing your career, raising children, or navigating change, this episode offers a grounded and honest perspective that deeply applies today.
👉 Learn more about Aviva Sonenreich and her approach to commercial real estate, branding, and business growth:
https://warehousehotline.com/commercial-real-estate-brokers-denver/aviva-sonenreich/
1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880
All my buddies who struggle that
their kids like their mom, the
2
00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,320
mom, more than them, I'm like,
bro, we're in that.
3
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,560
I'm like, there's only so much
we could do as dads.
4
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,080
They're like, like we're in them
physically in them.
5
00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:12,920
Like.
I always find that fascinating.
6
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,600
Of course, there's a different
thing with your mom.
7
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,920
Commercial Real Estate Secrets
listeners.
8
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:23,680
Over the next few episodes I am
actually bringing back segments
9
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,880
of a conversation I had with
Gary Vee, the man better known
10
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,920
as Gary Vaynerchuk, about a year
and a half ago.
11
00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,840
If you don't know who Gary
Vaynerchuk is, he's an all time
12
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,840
business professional, probably
the most documented influencer
13
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,080
of all time, but he's got a few
9 figure exits under his belt
14
00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,280
and is the real deal.
What he is breaking down isn't
15
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,920
about trends, what he's breaking
down is about psychology,
16
00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,640
attention, business.
And essentially what has been
17
00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,280
overwhelming to me is the way
that I have still come back to
18
00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,000
this conversation and it still
applies to today.
19
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,720
So if you're a commercial real
estate professional, a
20
00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,960
professional looking for life or
business advice, this episode is
21
00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:09,040
for you.
You're going to love it.
22
00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,760
It was certainly a life changing
episode and I hope you enjoy it
23
00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,280
as much as I do.
So thank you for listening and
24
00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,640
let's jump in.
I am 8 months pregnant with my
25
00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,760
first child.
Wow.
26
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,680
Yeah, amazing.
I know, How do you manage a
27
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,680
family while still being a
thought leader in your field?
28
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,720
By not beating yourself up and
giving yourself grace to go
29
00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,800
through what you're going
through, both amazing, like what
30
00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,240
you're about to go through, and
even challenges, You know, a lot
31
00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,240
of people been getting a lot of
emails lately about people
32
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:41,280
grieving.
Yeah.
33
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,680
You know, like, unfortunately,
you know, I'm getting older.
34
00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,840
So some of my friend groups or
some of the people that have
35
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:47,760
been following me for a long
time are also getting older.
36
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,600
When you get older, you know,
there's a lot of great things
37
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,880
that come along with it, wisdom,
appreciation, perspective.
38
00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:55,080
But there's also challenging
things, which is you start
39
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,600
getting into those life cycles
where you start losing loved
40
00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,160
ones.
And my answer has been give
41
00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,120
yourself grace.
Like somebody with the other day
42
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:02,680
was like, how do I keep crushing
my business?
43
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,040
It's been doubling year over
year.
44
00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,760
But I just lost.
He lost his mom and dad in a six
45
00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,400
month period for separate
reasons.
46
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,960
I just said, brother you, it's
OK if you don't.
47
00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,400
Yeah, like, you might be cliche
and like, lean into your work
48
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,280
and you might triple.
It's not sustainable.
49
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,520
And you're gonna have to get
that pain out at some point.
50
00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,640
So I would say you would be
like, you know, first child
51
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,560
being the mother.
You know, fathers have different
52
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,120
variables than mothers.
You know, this child's in you.
53
00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,360
I always tell all my buddies who
struggle that their kids like
54
00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:30,960
their mom, the mom more than
them.
55
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,800
I'm like, bro, we're in that.
I'm like, there's only so much
56
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,800
we could do as dads.
They're like, like, we're in
57
00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,560
them physically in them.
Like, I always find that
58
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:40,960
fascinating.
Of course there's a different
59
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,760
thing with your mom, like you
grew in there.
60
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,000
So you know, for me, I look at
it as again, if we're best
61
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,200
friends since grammar school and
we're like just talking on the
62
00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,400
phone, I'm saying to you like,
hey, be like just fucking enjoy
63
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,040
this first year.
First of all, you've no idea how
64
00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,960
you're going to feel, right?
There's all that stuff, right?
65
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,120
Is it easy?
Is it hard postpartum this like
66
00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,440
support from like they're just
like it's real life.
67
00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,840
Sure, you know, it's real life.
I think giving yourself grace
68
00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:11,400
that this next year, who knows
what it's going to be and but
69
00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,640
but I want to be 70 and look
back at that.
70
00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:16,440
I gave it my all for the child
more so than the business.
71
00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,680
But don't also if on the second
day of the child's life, if
72
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,560
you're like excited to grab your
phone and like e-mail a client,
73
00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,880
you're not a horrible mother.
Like you're a human being that
74
00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,400
is lucky that they're passionate
about what they want to do and
75
00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,360
like balance comes in all sorts
of shapes and sizes.
76
00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,800
So my answer to you is give
yourself grace.
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880
All my buddies who struggle that
their kids like their mom, the
2
00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,320
mom, more than them, I'm like,
bro, we're in that.
3
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,560
I'm like, there's only so much
we could do as dads.
4
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,080
They're like, like we're in them
physically in them.
5
00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:12,920
Like.
I always find that fascinating.
6
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:14,600
Of course, there's a different
thing with your mom.
7
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,920
Commercial Real Estate Secrets
listeners.
8
00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:23,680
Over the next few episodes I am
actually bringing back segments
9
00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:27,880
of a conversation I had with
Gary Vee, the man better known
10
00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,920
as Gary Vaynerchuk, about a year
and a half ago.
11
00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,840
If you don't know who Gary
Vaynerchuk is, he's an all time
12
00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,840
business professional, probably
the most documented influencer
13
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:42,080
of all time, but he's got a few
9 figure exits under his belt
14
00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:45,280
and is the real deal.
What he is breaking down isn't
15
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,920
about trends, what he's breaking
down is about psychology,
16
00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,640
attention, business.
And essentially what has been
17
00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:56,280
overwhelming to me is the way
that I have still come back to
18
00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,000
this conversation and it still
applies to today.
19
00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,720
So if you're a commercial real
estate professional, a
20
00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:07,960
professional looking for life or
business advice, this episode is
21
00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:09,040
for you.
You're going to love it.
22
00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,760
It was certainly a life changing
episode and I hope you enjoy it
23
00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,280
as much as I do.
So thank you for listening and
24
00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:17,640
let's jump in.
I am 8 months pregnant with my
25
00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:19,760
first child.
Wow.
26
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,680
Yeah, amazing.
I know, How do you manage a
27
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,680
family while still being a
thought leader in your field?
28
00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:32,720
By not beating yourself up and
giving yourself grace to go
29
00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,800
through what you're going
through, both amazing, like what
30
00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,240
you're about to go through, and
even challenges, You know, a lot
31
00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,240
of people been getting a lot of
emails lately about people
32
00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:41,280
grieving.
Yeah.
33
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,680
You know, like, unfortunately,
you know, I'm getting older.
34
00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:45,840
So some of my friend groups or
some of the people that have
35
00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:47,760
been following me for a long
time are also getting older.
36
00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,600
When you get older, you know,
there's a lot of great things
37
00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,880
that come along with it, wisdom,
appreciation, perspective.
38
00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:55,080
But there's also challenging
things, which is you start
39
00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,600
getting into those life cycles
where you start losing loved
40
00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,160
ones.
And my answer has been give
41
00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,120
yourself grace.
Like somebody with the other day
42
00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:02,680
was like, how do I keep crushing
my business?
43
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,040
It's been doubling year over
year.
44
00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,760
But I just lost.
He lost his mom and dad in a six
45
00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,400
month period for separate
reasons.
46
00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,960
I just said, brother you, it's
OK if you don't.
47
00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,400
Yeah, like, you might be cliche
and like, lean into your work
48
00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,280
and you might triple.
It's not sustainable.
49
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,520
And you're gonna have to get
that pain out at some point.
50
00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,640
So I would say you would be
like, you know, first child
51
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,560
being the mother.
You know, fathers have different
52
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,120
variables than mothers.
You know, this child's in you.
53
00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:29,360
I always tell all my buddies who
struggle that their kids like
54
00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:30,960
their mom, the mom more than
them.
55
00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,800
I'm like, bro, we're in that.
I'm like, there's only so much
56
00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,800
we could do as dads.
They're like, like, we're in
57
00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,560
them physically in them.
Like, I always find that
58
00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:40,960
fascinating.
Of course there's a different
59
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,760
thing with your mom, like you
grew in there.
60
00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:48,000
So you know, for me, I look at
it as again, if we're best
61
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,200
friends since grammar school and
we're like just talking on the
62
00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,400
phone, I'm saying to you like,
hey, be like just fucking enjoy
63
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,040
this first year.
First of all, you've no idea how
64
00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:57,960
you're going to feel, right?
There's all that stuff, right?
65
00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,120
Is it easy?
Is it hard postpartum this like
66
00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,440
support from like they're just
like it's real life.
67
00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,840
Sure, you know, it's real life.
I think giving yourself grace
68
00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:11,400
that this next year, who knows
what it's going to be and but
69
00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,640
but I want to be 70 and look
back at that.
70
00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:16,440
I gave it my all for the child
more so than the business.
71
00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:20,680
But don't also if on the second
day of the child's life, if
72
00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,560
you're like excited to grab your
phone and like e-mail a client,
73
00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,880
you're not a horrible mother.
Like you're a human being that
74
00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,400
is lucky that they're passionate
about what they want to do and
75
00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,360
like balance comes in all sorts
of shapes and sizes.
76
00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,800
So my answer to you is give
yourself grace.
