Success doesn't come easy

With social media, it seems like others' success happens overnight but what you don't see, behind the scenes, are the hours, months, years that people put into this journey to become successful.

A couple of years ago I flipped my real estate license back active. Several people saw me become successful in what looked to be my first year in real estate. What most people didn't know was that I've had my license since 2005 and it was not an easy journey. My mother & I got into real estate together right before the market tanked. I was in it, but struggling, for 5 years.

I had my daughter at the end of 2009, so at the beginning 2010, I put my license on inactive status and started my next phase of real estate...the "behind the scenes" phase. I answered phones, I helped with marketing for the company, I was the listing coordinator, closing coordinator, you name it! I wanted to learn it all because I KNEW I would flip my license back active in the next few years.

Then in 2012, I had my son. Somewhere around that time (I blame it on mommy brain) I forgot to do the necessary steps and my real estate license lapsed. NOOOOoooo!!!  I was SO mad at myself!

A few years later, I found myself starting over again. I was going through a divorce and unsure of my future. I decided it was a good time to get my license back. I took the real estate course AGAIN and thankfully passed the first go around. I am a terrible test taker, so I was genuinely nervous about taking that test. All the while, I was teaching/training agents for the Broker at the time.

I put my license on referral for awhile. My intentions were to get back into selling, but once again, life happened. I got remarried in 2017, had my third child and gained three bonus children. My goal was once again put on hold, but I finally had the support I needed and someone to encourage me to go after my dreams. I told my husband Chris that I wanted to get back into selling real estate and work on my future & my success. We set ourselves a goal of when I wanted to flip the switch.

At that time, I was a licensed assistant for the Broker. She always knew my goals & always helped me learn as much as I could. I cannot thank her enough, for everything she did for me in my personal life and my professional career!  It was a very hard decision that I had to make and the most emotional conversation I've ever had to have with her. So, in August 2018, I started on my real estate journey again, but this time as a single agent. Many people thought I was insane to quit my job, while we have a family of 8 to support. I was told over & over again, that I couldn't do this job with young kids, but I knew if I wanted to provide the life I wanted, for my kids, I had to make the scary jump. It has been THE BEST decision I have ever made!  Not only did I double my income in the first full year, but I have been able to spend more time with my children and husband and that has made all the difference!