My parents always told me that education was super important and it was the only way to get ahead in life. They were both teachers, yet did not encourage my siblings and me to follow in their footsteps. We were all told to go to college, get a job and find our own “Camelot.”
Great advice I thought.
So, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Communications from The University of Tennessee. Go Vols!! Came back to Michigan and got my first job as a computer sales rep. in Ann Arbor, MI.
I met my first husband shortly after that. We fell in love, got engaged, and got married. I was laid off from my sales position shortly after that. At that point, I was tired of sales and pursued health and fitness for a few years until I became pregnant with my daughter. We quickly had two more kids and I became a stay-at-home Mom for twenty-plus years.
I really loved raising my kids, but was getting lonely at home and wanted more. I really wanted my own business, more money, and to travel more. But had no idea what or how.
Unfortunately, we got divorced after 23 years of marriage and I was forced to find a new career quickly. My niece had become a realtor in North Carolina and it piqued my interest. When I mentioned it to my lawyer, she lit up and connected me with her good friend and broker.
We met and I decided that it sounded like something that I would be interested in. I very quickly took my real estate class, passed my test and became a Realtor. They say that nearly 9 out of 10 agents fail within the first 2 years. That's super scary and I really didn't have a choice but to make it work. I've always been a goal-setter.
My parents taught us that if you can see it, you can make it happen. So, I set a goal to have at least 4 transactions in my first year. I had no idea what that even meant. Then I talked to every realtor I knew to find out if I could shadow them. Most were happy to talk to me but didn’t want me tagging along.
I finally found one that agreed to let me be her buyer’s agent. I learned quickly and after one year as a buyer’s agent, I went out on my own. I have set and reached my goals every year since then. Luckily, I absolutely loved working in real estate and I was ready to expand my business to be able to leave a legacy to my family.
I’ve been a Realtor now for 8 years and have become one of the top agents in my area. I’m happily remarried and my new husband and I have become part-time travelers. I love meeting new people every day and helping them find their new homes with My Pink Agent Process. All of my kids are now grown and launched, so I am also an empty nester.
All of my past life experiences in sales, as a Mom, a divorcee, a down-sizer, and an empty nester have added to my skills to help my clients find their next home. Life is full of unexpected ups and downs and I understand how stressful those ups and downs can be. Being a realtor is definitely part salesperson and part therapist.
I love being a part of those “big” moments in people’s lives. I learn something new every day about humanity and also see my clients grow through this process. It’s such a privilege to be able to do what I do.