My wife started her own business six years ago. It was a daunting task, to say the least. She’s a very talented interior designer who always had a passion for styling every room in the home. She launched her Instagram account around the same time period, not knowing what would come of it. I remember when she crossed the 1000 followers threshold and she couldn’t believe that many people wanted to view her posts. When she crossed over the 10,000 follower milestone we were elated! She kept posting, photographing, styling, and speaking from her heart, as this was and still is her passion. Next up, 25,000 followers. How about 50,000? Yes! Would 100,000 followers be a reality? An emphatic, YES! She kept working and refining and hit 200,000 followers and we simply could not believe it. Today, her account sits at 256,000+ followers as it ebbs and flows in an upward trajectory. She’s been hired by premier brands in the home decor industry and is thought of as an inspirational figure in her industry. Amazingly, she did all of this without much assistance from anyone else. Authenticity is very important to her and her success is attributable to her tenacious work ethic coupled with following her passion.

So, why is a real estate professional sharing this story with you? Similarly, I started my own business 18 months ago. It was an unplanned venture as I have always worked for new home builders and luxury sales & marketing firms in the real estate industry. Enter the uncertainty of Covid which, in part, led to this change. My wife and I were on vacation in Laguna Beach, CA when I received the phone call informing me that the developer was ending the agreement in place with my employer. Welcome to free agency.

In truth, I saw this coming. And for the first time in a long time, I had options. I had always been able to find a home in my industry. I’ve been blessed with wonderful companies, personnel, locales, products, etc. throughout my real estate sales career that began in 1999. I have maintained relationships across the spectrum from trainers to managers to sales professionals. Also, I’ve typically been able to build rapport with hiring managers and internal & external customers alike. What did I want to do with this opportunity?

My wife had always encouraged me to “go out on my own” and pursue my own real estate business. And that is exactly what I did. Was it an easy decision? Yes and no. I am passionate about all things real estate. I simply enjoy helping people buy and sell real estate. Was it scary not having the security of an employer as the foundation to my sales platform? It was. This was the best professional decision I’ve ever made. This post is about pursuing your dreams, embracing change, and knowing that you are exactly where you are supposed to be in this moment. Embrace it.