The Beginning

“For a long time, I struggled with trying to fit all of my interests and desires into one distinct career path. I had to accept that there wasn’t ‘one’ singular thing that I wanted to be in life.”
For a long time, I struggled with trying to fit all of my interests and desires into a distinct career path. I had to accept that there wasn’t ‘one’ singular thing that I wanted to be in life. Yes, I was exceptional as a manager and corporate executive, but what I ultimately realized, about myself, was that I loved helping people, sharing knowledge and most of all I wanted to be able to have a lasting impact.
Fast forward a few years, to my early twenties, I was a young newlywed, with a family, even more bills and another job that I hated – and no you can’t call it a career either because it wasn’t going anywhere. I was an assistant to a top producing Realtor at the time. I was confused and overwhelmed; and I felt defeated every day. One night, following a brief disrespectful after-hour phone call from my boss, my husband had had enough. He told me to grab my keys… that I wouldn’t be working there anymore. Just like that, I was working for myself full-time. {Side note: Always choose to be with someone that believes in you and supports your dreams. I could write a whole book on this. Maybe one day soon}.
The Feast
The next year, I remember sitting down with one of my brokers, who was like a mentor to me. We had a discussion about 4th quarter goal setting, where I was trending to end the year and what club level (based on net income) we should expect. He told me that we had already achieved the highest rank for the company, President’s Club, but that even though we were a team, only one of us would receive the award; unless we each reached the club level separately. That was completely unexpected. All I could think was that we had worked so hard and that was a lot of additional income to earn… and it was already September. But, we made a decision that we would both make it. And we did!!! December 31st, we were both in the President’s Club – crossing the finish line by a few dollars. I believe that was the moment that I truly understood what ‘intentional living’ really meant.

The Famine

Our real estate clients wanted to buy, but couldn’t get mortgage or investor loans. Melvin’s marketing customers began to order reproductions in lieu of new designs or campaigns. And our magazine advertisers all faced shrinking marketing budgets and cut backs or stopped advertising all together. It was devastating. Halfway through the following year, we had to close the doors to our businesses. It was gut-wrenchingly traumatic, but I never lost hope and somehow, through it all, I also held onto my dream of entrepreneurship.
“These were some of the most difficult years of my life.”
“Every morning I wake up with one purpose: to build!”
The Resurgence
In fact, I realized that I was instead connecting with the people around me. Every day, I was pouring into my staff, colleagues and even clients; helping them to discover their purpose in life and identifying what they were passionate about. I was coaching them – with phenomenal results.
Needless to say, I needed to be doing what I loved as well. I needed to take my own advice and ‘coach’ myself back to a place of intentional living. I did just that. Now, I am focused, I am determined and I am relentless. Every morning I wake up with one purpose: to build!