RE/MAX Hallmark Blog

Another 30 year anniversary........

Sometime last week I received a call in the early evening. "Happy Anniversary," the caller said. No hello or hey - just right into "Happy Anniversary."

I have to come clean - the first thought which raced through my mind was - damn - I am in trouble - I forgot an anniversary....

The caller went on to congratulate me for 30+ years in RE/MAX. Whew - my mind settled and we went on to discuss some of the many aspects of the real estate journey I have been on. It has been incredible and I am so grateful. This kid from Red Deer Alberta is living the dream - started so many many years ago with my first door knock and open house. I was lucky to start from literally nothing and to expand that start to where I am. I cherish every up and down which formed me along the way and continues to. 

It's not over yet, my engagement is stronger than ever and I am so excited about the future and all it has to bring.

But along the way I made a significant shift with myself.

This week I was reflecting on the 30+ years when it hit me - not only have I been blessed to be part of the RE/MAX family for all of these years BUT I also have another celebration of sorts to be thankful for. 

30 years this August I quit drinking - haven't had any alcohol for all of these years - not a drop. I don't think about it very often - but the RE/MAX anniversary brought it to my attention.

I remember when I drank and how I felt. I was what one would call a silent drinker - no one really ever knew I had a problem. I would abuse alcohol alone, tucked away safely in my home late at night. My habit at the end was to literally drink myself to sleep, wake up the next morning with the after effects and start the day as any other. This pattern continued until I was able to recognize it as a pattern. I got scared and aware.

It wasn't easy for me to quit, took me several visits to my doctor and three attempts at cold turkey to have it lock in. I have now come to understand that everyone who quits is different with varying degrees of success. I consider myself lucky.

The impact of not drinking on my life has been profound - the choice of drinking today or not drinking is an easy one for me. I have been able to take that distraction away and focus on what really mattered and matters in my life. The discipline required at first was difficult but I was determined and frankly stubborn. I wanted to live a full life and realized having alcohol in it would not allow me to experience all that life had to offer.

I am incredibly thankful for this anniversary and for the decision I made 30 years ago for me.

 

 

 

10 Things I love about being a Realtor

 

No one can come along to make me redundant - my destiny depends on the work I do and how I do it

Each day and week is different

Each client is unique, makes the job more fun and interesting

I don't have to buy inventory (houses - condos) to sell it

I get paid for being me, don't have to put on another hat "at work"

Never have to retire

Men and Woman are rewarded for the work they do, not their gender

Never a dull moment when I am working with clients or other realtors

If I do it right, the money isn't bad

People are actually grateful for the work I do when I do it right

 

This list is in no order of importance - what can you add to it?

 

 

 

30 Years

"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.