"Happy Anniversary" the caller said. Late afternoon Sunday evening my phone rang and I heard these words. Immediately my mind raced to what I forgot - what anniversary was floating out there which slipped by and how much trouble was I going to be in.
"What do you mean?" I responded.
"Do you know 30 years ago TODAY you joined RE/MAX?"
My thoughts immediately went back to that day and who I was and frankly to where I am now.
So, who was I back then and what was I thinking? At that time, I had been in the business of real estate for about 7 years, building up a reasonably good business servicing the many clients I now had. My start was different from most.
I moved to Toronto from Alberta and got into the real estate business because I knew I always would. I didn't sell real estate out west, but when the opportunity surfaced in Toronto, I jumped. I didn't know anyone in Toronto, no friends, influencers or family. Just a desire to make it and a way of thinking of the possible not the impossible.
The first three companies I went to interview, with my freshly certified license, wouldn't return by call, didn't show up for the scheduled appointment or wouldn't hire me because in his mind, I wouldn't make it. Not the kind of start I expected but I didn't care what they thought or did.
I jumped into the industry knowing I wouldn't fail, that I had found what I was meant to do. Were the first few years tough - absolutely. Did I waver from my belief that success was right around the corner - never.
Eventually this new start up called RE/MAX began appearing in our industry. At first I wasn't "ready" to be interested but the more I thought about actually running my business as a business, the more my interest peaked. For you see, being a realtor was never about selling houses to me, it was about and remains about running my business.
When I joined RE/MAX in 1986, my mindset automatically changed. I now was working in a different environment, surrounded by realtors who worked this business differently. I started building a business within the company I worked for. For me it was a major shift, a shift which created my future.
I stopped chasing the deals, instead I focused on building my career for the long haul. Possibilities occurred to me because of the work I did and the environment I now called home.
My business eventually took me to ownership and now 30 years later, all I can say is I am grateful. Grateful for the people in my life, grateful for the opportunity of working in an industry which allows me to flourish. Grateful to be able to ride alongside the many many outstanding people in my RE/MAX family.
To all who have helped me along the way, I thank you.
It doesn't end at 30 years. I continued to be engaged, fulfilled and encouraged about the next 30 or so years. I am not tired by it all, but so excited about the journey ahead. Opportunities to grow, to make a difference and to experience.
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