I tried to swim...

Try to swim, keep your head up
Kick your legs never give up, boy
If I could I'd turn it around
Let me out I wanna get out now
You know the feeling when you're in too deep

 Well friends and readers alike, I'm out. While I was ready for the job, I was never even close to the expense. I have officially had to place my real estate license in escrow, which is essentially like pressing 'pause' on a video game. I am unable to practice real estate, but it released me from the shackles of owing continued dues to my broker and the Real Estate Association. Having depleted my reserve of funds to keep going with no income coming in, it was the only move I could make to keep my family above water. 

The solution however didn't come without taking it's toll on my spirit. Indeed I believe coupled with some things that have been going on in my personal life of late, it has indeed placed me into a state of depression. It's a funny thing depression, an idea I never put much stock into before. I always believed that it was akin to someone in a bad or sad mood that refused to simply snap out of it. I now know otherwise. It's like having a dark cloud swirling within your mind, you KNOW that it's there, you WANT to escape, you WANT to feel better and smile again, but you are possessed by an internal sadness. Your mood regardless of how you WANT to feel is dictated by this new control. I liken it to being assimilated by the 'Borg' in Star Trek. As they say resistance is futile, I have been absorbed into the darkness. Now that may make it sound more hopeless than it may actually be. I have no intention of losing my mind to this enemy. However as I signed my license into suspended animation I was hit like a mortar, or a punch in the gut. I'm now for all intents unemployed during the absolute WORST time of year to be so. Professionally I feel I've spent the second half of this year messing up and digging myself into a hole. Personally I've engaged in a senseless argument with some close friends, which results in further loss. I now have creditors knocking at the door with their hand out, few prospects for how to pay them, and each week I remain unemployed it will only get worse. THEN on top of all that fun, I go to battle with my own mind on a daily basis. LC gets up and gets ready for work, and as she walks out the door my own mind screams at me "Get your ass out of bed! Don't you dare lay in this bed a moment longer! Get to work finding WORK!" And so I get up and scour the want-ad's for my next job. Hours can pass, and every moment I'm not spending looking for a job, my mind is chastising me for wasting even a moment. It's a kind of mental torture. So now I believe I understand what it means to be depressed. 

And of course my dear LC wants and tries so hard to be there for me. And some newer friends to my world who've become close in the past year or so have also begun to show support as I've not hid it well from them either. It's funny though I always thought I knew in life if I'd ever hit such a low, who would swing in and pick me up. What I've found is a little bit the opposite. And it's amazing the things that make things magically feel better, if only for a few moments or hours- the other day a friend texted me "Hey, thought you might want to grab some lunch, get out of the house for a while." And that meant quite a bit, because it worked, the clouds had parted for awhile.

I've never been one who was comfortable opening up to just anyone, and I've always held back with many friends. There are a precious few who have ever begun to learn the mechanics of who I really am or what gets to me, and what doesn't. I've oft struggled to feel comfortable not only expressing feelings, but even allowing myself to have negative feelings. I'm sure some psychologist out there could write a paper on what led to that, but the important thing to me is that I have always known that about myself. So not many people 'get me', and to me that was always OK. In recent days however, what I've begun to discover is sometimes you are surprised who comes out of the woodwork to help you. Sometimes it's the people you remained guarded with who continue to ask you how you are doing. And sometimes the people you always thought had the keys to figuring you out and helping you, have no idea at all what to say to you. And in some cases because they don't know what to say, they say nothing at all, and smile and nod at you, and go about their own business. Maybe they don't know what to say, maybe they don't know what to do. Maybe they WANT to, but have no idea how to help. Admittedly there's only so many times you can tell a person "wish i could help you." and they simply aren't equipped to figure out more. What I'm discovering though in all of this is- it's an eye opening experience. It isn't always going to be the ones you thought. And maybe that's OK. They say your taste buds change roughly every seven years and this allows you to try things you may not have enjoyed eating in the past. Maybe if you accept that new people come into your life and genuinely seem interested in picking you up when your down that those are the people you are meant to walk that stage of life with. And the ones that simply threw their hands up in the air and watched... maybe those are the ones that relegate themselves to the outer circle of your life.

Because having learned depression, I've made it my personal mission to simply get back to where I once was. When I climb out of this dark hole in life, I look forward to shaking hands with the people that made the climb with me. And it WILL be a when, not an IF. I WILL shake the anxiety attacks that shut me down. I WILL overcome the dark cloud trying to keep me in a constant state of sadness and hopelessness. I vow that to myself. And I will be back! There WILL be a sequel. I will make a return to the world of real estate, and I WILL prove that you don't have to hail from a wealthy background to make it work. I will learn through all of this who the people in my life are that I can genuinely count on, and who I can't. I WILL LEARN and I will come out a better more understanding person, for I will have experienced one more facet to life that maybe I once took for granted. 

Mercy what will become of us
Oh one by one could we turn it around
Maybe carry on just a little bit longer

Maybe this Year...

"Maybe this Christmas will mean something more
Maybe this year love will appear
Deeper than ever before

And maybe forgiveness will ask us to call
Someone we love, someone we've lost
For reasons we can't quite recall, oh
Maybe this Christmas

Maybe there'll be an open door
Maybe the star that shined before
Will shine once more, oh

And maybe this Christmas will find us at last
In Heavenly peace,
Grateful at least
For the love we've been shown in the past, oh
Maybe this Christmas, maybe this Christmas"

-Ron Sexsmith

OK so the holiday season is fully upon us, in two weeks it's Thanksgiving, in another after that Christmas, in between we have Hanukkah, and perhaps a few other faith-based holidays. I thought I'd take a short break from real estate for today's rambling, and just a bit on life. 

Let me start out by saying, I apologize for the CHRISTMAS music quote BEFORE Thanksgiving, I didn't choose it because I'm a huge fan of Christmas music at all, I actually chose it for it's lyrics and what it says to me, and hopefully to anyone who reads this. (I too dislike Christmas music before Turkey Day myself!)

So it's a Saturday morning at home, a rare time where the three of us (Lc, Kc, and I) are all home at the same time, and being the huge fans of food and Thanksgiving we are, decided it was officially time to start building and determining the menu for this year's meal. Add in the fact that we're watching Food Network while this is going on, so the of course gets the creative juices flowing. And what is the antithesis to creativity in the kitchen? I'll tell you- BUDGET. And this year is tighter than in prior years because, well I'm a new real estate agent and I'm not making much money, and my part time job isn't quite filling all the cracks yet. So we obviously have to be careful to not stray from a per-established budget. This is made more challenging because we also have to make some items Gluten-Free. I don't know if many of you out there have shopped for gluten-free ingredients, but let me tell you- they are typically twice or three times as expensive as their glutinous counterparts. So while that's not a main focus, it IS something we keep in mind in determining what to make. And because we're a little low on the funds now, I naturally have felt hugely responsible for the financial short-comings of recent months. 

It was during a little... turmoil, in the discussion over who was making certain pies this year; that I got to thinking. You see in the past Kc, in a nod to her late grandmother,  has taken on the pies for dessert. It takes her back to Thanksgivings of years past when she would spend an ENTIRE day morning-to-night baking a dozen pies and desserts with her grandmother for Thanksgiving Day. After Grandma Cassel passed away Kc immediately took on the Pie-Sampler mantle and still likes to hold on to the tradition of spending an entire day baking turkey day pies. Then the turmoil comes in when Lc also wants to bake a pie for our guests/family to enjoy. And as sisters often do... an argument arose and quickly dissipated and was resolved. (Yay! teamwork)

That's when I really started thinking about the state of things right now. This year with my finances in a less-than-awesome state, things are really being highlighted for me. I can see now why this time of year can really make or break people. For year's we all smile and nod at how 'disgracefully commercialized' the holiday season is, and for years it's taken for granted and we just cruise right through the season without a second thought about how much a toll it can take on other people. I will be the first to admit I've never been down during this season as a result I've selfishly plowed right through. I guess it's just another lesson in life that we, or I do and have taken a LOT for granted. 

I am a struggling real estate agent, I have a part time job, and I am looking for more work to get us through these tough times. And even still I don't have it NEAR as rough as some folks out there. I'm NOT homeless, I WILL have food, and I will get to see people I love this year. Not everyone has even that much. So despite being a little depressed, I take solace in knowing I'm still better off than people with real problems. I don't want to spend this season dwelling on what I don't have this year that I've had in the past. Gifts I've been able to buy, things I've been able to do. When you are taking life for granted you center EVERYTHING you have and can do around money. I WANT to be better than that. I'm not yet, but I know I can be if I try harder to appreciate EVERYTHING else in my world more. 

While I watched the girls have that dumb little spat I started thinking about that. "This is really an argument? Seriously?" Guys we get to spend this time together, with a roof over our heads, with heat! We are still eating a FABULOUS meal. We are getting together with some terrific people and sharing that. We are losing site of the most important part of THANKSGIVING, not the meal, but the time away from jobs and school, and drama; and just coming together because we've made it another year! Grandma Cassel will be looking down with her great big smile, knowing that the girls made pies TOGETHER. There is no reason Kc needs to worry that Lc was encroaching on territory or tradition. Lc has NO reason to feel like people are going to look at her and think "well she didn't make anything..." because EVERYONE knows how hard she works to get all the groceries, to prep ALL the food, to help me with the Turkey, to make the side dishes. AND then hosting people in our house and all the thankless tasks that only women remember afterwards- the stress of having people, keeping the house clean, cleaning the dishes. We HAVE to stop making things about "me" or "I". Holidays are "US" times. We need to do better in remembering that. I can already tell you my best Thanksgiving memories of recent years... it's not that we had a good meal. It's the proud look on Kc's face when I come home to see all the pies she's made that day. It's the smell of the Turkey roasting in the oven on Thanksgiving Day. It's my little sister's devilish grin when she grabs a bigger slice of pie than my mom would like her to have. Its the after-dinner coffee my dad always wants (and tries to get others to have with him because he doesn't like drinking alone!) It's the little 'kodak' moments that inevitably happen before, during, and after these celebrations. So this year, I challenge myself (but I hope you will join me,) to focus on not whats happening with me, but whats happening with anyone but me. And maybe this Christmas will find us at last In Heavenly peace, Grateful at least, For the love we've been shown in the past, oh Maybe this Christmas

Thanks for reading! Happy Holiday Season!

Salute, mi familia!

How long I'm tied up
My mind in knots -
My stomach reels
In concern for what I might do or
What I've done
It's got me living in fear
Well I know these voices must
Be my soul

Admittedly it's been awhile since my last entry into the blog-o-sphere. Sorry for that folks, I set out to write about my experiences in the Real Estate world as a new agent and I have failed you! However meanwhile in the sad world known as Reality, it's been just about three months since I've brought any income in. This sadly is taking a toll on Lauren and I's financial position. I read somewhere that you should plan to have six months or more of savings set aside PLUS money for your new 'business' when you decide to get a job in Real Estate. Unfortunately for us that was not the case, and I refuse to believe it has to be the case. So I've been a little embarrassed, maybe a little ashamed to admit that I've needed to find alternative sources of income. And I did, but like I said, I've been a little reluctant to admit to it, let alone post it on the internet for ALL the world to see. Then it occurred to me as I was driving back from a sales meeting this morning- THIS is EXACTLY why I began this blog. I set out to write about my experience as a new agent. I am a part-time Pizza Delivery Driver for a pizza chain that shall remain nameless (because I signed a statement saying I wouldn't!). Y'all are no doubt familiar with it, known for Better Ingredients and Better Pizza! (;O) 

Admittedly I felt like at 34 years old, this should be a sign of failing. I've been pleasantly surprised by the outpouring of support I've gotten from my friends and family. 

One of my best friends in the world told me, "...I'm proud of you homie, there is nothing to be embarrassed about, your doing what you need to do, and not making excuses!"

 A fellow agent mentioned today, "I completely understand! You need something when your getting into this!" 

Even Lauren, who knew better than anyone how I was feeling, "Hon, I couldn't be more proud! Your trying to do what you can!"

 And many of my other friends that I've mentioned this to have shown the same level of support, not once have I been made fun of or a joke thrown my way. So you gotta figure your doing something right when you are getting this kind of support from the important people around you. That's is a blessing for sure! I think of this as yet another life lesson I've learned- surround yourself with people that are willing to pick you up when your falling down. I'm reminded of one of my favorite movie quotes- 

"Money will come and go ? We all know that. The most important thing in life will always be the people in this room. Right here, right now. Salute, mi familia!" - Dominic Toretto, Fast Five. 

As always, Thanks very much for your support, and reading my ramblings!

-Ryan

My Mechanicsburg

"...Wasting time
Let the hours roll by
Doing nothing for the fun
Little taste of the good life
Whether right or wrong
Makes us want to stay stay stay stay for awhile..."

I woke up today, and the sky was clear blue, and despite the cool of fall, the sun shone with a warm brilliance. You can't pass up a day like this to go outside for one reason or another. In need of some exercise I decided a walk was in order. 

I live in Mechanicsburg, I have lived here off an on for thirty-four years, born-n-raised one could say. I have lived elsewhere briefly, but Mechanicsburg is like a warm blanket and when LC and I decided to move back here after a few years in nearby Etters that is exactly how it felt. And while it's no New England or Adirondacks, I still love Mechanicsburg in the Fall. You get the leaves changing color, and familiar smells of fall- somewhere someone is burning a wood fire, coupled with the leaves falling from the trees creates a scent that is as comforting as going to sleep listening to the races in nearby Williams Grove in the summer!

Let me throw a little bit of Mechanicsburg History your way. On April 12, 1828 the borough was given the name Mechanicsburg after the increased settlement of Conestago Wagon mechanics to the area. Designated as a water station for the restocking of locomotives in the 1800's, railroads played a vital role in Mechanicsburg's development linking the town to the business and industry world. Grain and feed companies, lumber yards, and numerous factories were intentionally placed along these tracks to attract more business. During the 19th century an average of 25 trains chugged through the town daily carrying travelers, mail, newspapers, coal, and food. However, today only six trains travel through each day. This number did not used to be this high until Norfolk Southern gained more work on the local sub-line running through Mechanicsburg. [http://wikitravel.org/en/Mechanicsburg]

Today Mechanicsburg is a thriving little town. Situated in something of an interstate hub, we have easy access to I-81, I-83, I-76, PA 11/15, and 322.  This translates to easy road trips to New York, Maryland, Pittsburgh, State College, Washington D.C. and many more destinations. This ease of major road ways is one of the things I value most because love a good road trip and living here allows me access to just about any direction. 

Its a nice place to live because you have thriving housing communities that appeal to all budgets, it's a safe place to live with low crime, and even lower violent crime, and it's a community that celebrates! There's the annual Wrench Drop for New Year's! In the summer we host Jubilee Day, which is the largest one day street fair in Eastern PA! And in the Fall we have the annual Halloween Parade in downtown Mechanicsburg. 

Two great school districts make up the majority of Mechanicsburg. First you have Mechanicsburg School District, and then you have Cumberland Valley School District. Two very good school systems all the way Kindergarten thru 12th Grade. 

OK so that is enough boring data meant to entice those of you NOT living here to come here! It's funny but I never thought of myself is having much community pride until the past couple years. The truth is LC and I used to discuss moving to Williamsburg, VA often. We even bought into a time-share down there before we were even home-owners here! It always seemed like a place we wanted to be, and indeed still very much is. The truth is I can navigate myself around Williamsburg almost as easily as I can here at home. And the draw to history was what initially brought us down there.  

It's the feeling I get when I come home, that's the feeling that ends up keeping us here! (And if you don't live in Mechanicsburg, why you should! 

Thanks for reading!

And then you make it out...

"Try to swim, keep your head up
Kick your legs never give up, boy
If I could I'd turn it around
Let me out I wanna get out now
You know the feeling when you're in too deep
And then you make it out the taste so sweet..."

Ever have one of those weeks where there was something you just wanted to get done, but it just never seemed to happen? That's pretty much what happened with my blog! I've been wanting to write something all week but I never seemed to have a string of solid ideas to talk about, and how it related to my life as a real estate agent. Maybe this doesn't have to be entirely about real estate... maybe what I've been trying to achieve is simply an outlet. Somewhere to put my thoughts into words. Either way, the result was that I couldn't really think of anything to write this week, but look at that; I've written an entire paragraph about not being able to write anything! 

So anyone who's clever and been following this blog (or anyone who knows ME well enough) has noticed that I like to begin each entry with lyrics from Dave Matthews Band. Yes, I'm a HUGE fan. More than that though, so many of their songs actually speak to me. I find the meaning, or find meaning in them that I apply to my world. So if you haven't placed the quotes yet... there's the key. 

Dave Matthews and violinist Boyd Tinsley (my cat's name is Tinsley!)

Today's quote sort of sums up how I've been feeling lately with my career in real estate. Now I know this is only the second week I've been writing this blog, but I've been practicing now since the end of August. They say in order to be successful you have to give yourself about six months to a year to really see the fruits of your labor. Well... they were not kidding. I'm almost two months in and I'm not ashamed to say I haven't produced yet. I've not yet listed a home, and I've not yet sold one. Seasoned agents tell me that it's normal and not to be too hard on myself. Problem is- I'm running out of resources! Gotta pay the bills! I don't come from a well-endowed family, I didn't have a large chunk of money set aside. But I wanted to practice real estate and I refuse to believe that this is an industry that only the already-well-to-do can succeed in. It's time to find an interim source of income so that I can stay afloat while I continue to plant the seeds for this career. I think that's maybe another reason I haven't written much this week... most of the week I've been scared that I made a mistake "If I could I'd turn it around, let me out I wanna get out now..." is pretty much the feeling all week. Well readers thank you for allowing me to get that bit of stress off my chest. (If you don't write your own blog, I recommend it! This can be more therapeutic than you may think!) I know when I do finally sell a home the taste will be so sweet! 

DMB Virginia Beach 2015

Carnival Pride out of Baltimore, MD

Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum

OK so I definitely started on a low note, but lets shift gears for a moment- when you work a job that you can conceivably work 24/7 and not just 9-5 it can be overwhelming if you don't turn your mind off and take a break. (YES I know it's probably too early for me to feel over-worked given the prior paragraphs!) It's important to have an outlet! (And yes it's important to have outlets no matter what you do so forgive me if I made you feel humbled). What are your outlets? I can tell you what I've done for years. I have outlets peppered throughout my year. In March it's LC's birthday. And for years LC, Kace, and I have packed out bags and headed down to Williamsburg, VA. It's a great place for a long weekend if your into history, or if your just looking to get away. Williamsburg trips were always my favorite get away just the three of us, kind of a special time to celebrate a birthday and spend time with my two favorite people. In the summer- well that's a no-brainer- Dave Matthews Band concert! Again we pack out bags for Virginia where we try to catch the Virginia Beach concert and maybe spend the weekend in Williamsburg again! (Look I said we like Williamsburg!) A few years ago for my 30th birthday we went in a new direction- I got to celebrate my birthday at sea when  we took our first cruise! And since then we've been bitten by the cruise bug! After Halloween it's the holiday season and some of my favorite times of the year are centered around Thanksgiving and Christmas. I suppose it's that way for many too. But there's something warming about spending those times with the people you love the most. I won't go into too much about the holidays now, since they are almost upon us and it will inevitably give us something to talk about more as we get closer! 

Thanks for reading! I truly appreciate those who read my ramblings!

The week ends, the week begins...

"...He wakes up in the morning
Does his teeth bite to eat and he's rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends the week begins..."

 I woke up this morning, or should I say I opened my eyes when I heard LC getting ready for work, as I had not slept most of the night... stupid mind turning cogs, and oh yeah dreaded heartburn! ANYHOO I woke up this morning with not much planned for the weekend. I had another Open House on Sunday (kind of a newbie staple in Real Estate) and my one client had two houses to see on Saturday. That's pretty light fare. I was still rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes, as I performed my morning ritual of laying in bed, reading the news, checking the social networks, etc. (Come on you know you pick up you iDroid, every morning too and check to see whats happening in the world too!) As I was saying, still in my boxers in bed, my cat Nittany desperate for attention, and I get a text from a fellow agent- "Goin outta town, can you help me out..." BOOM I had more activity this weekend that quickly. An hour later I'm in the office and another fellow agent- "He man I got this client that wants to see this place, can you help me out this weekend?" BOOM MORE action! That's how quickly things can change in the life of a real estate agent. My Saturday went from a quick two-home showing to three appointments spread across central PA. (Which for a newbie like me, has me ecstatic!)  I've had friends comment (on more than one occasion) since I've become a real estate agent that "I wish I had your freedom to do what I want," and comments of the like. 

I think this is the obvious reaction for folks that live in the 9-5 world. Let me explain, I used to work as a store manager in retail (hoping never to repeat that FYI...) you have a schedule, every day you know 'I am going to be working from x time to x time.' And your life is approached, and scheduled very much on a linear scale like that day in and day out. So from that perspective, yep I appear to come and go, in and out of the office, on the computer, off the computer, etc. The life and schedule of a real estate agent is not linear, if you were to draw out the day in the life- it would look more like a scribble or loopy madness, like a child's drawing of... well anything. This is because my (and even worse for seasoned agents) day doesn't start and end at 'X' time. Like today I got my first communication while still in bed. And I'm certainly not off the clock at 5:00 either. Nope, I could hear from my 1's of clients (a number surely to go up the more people read this blog and realize my natural born awesomeness! lol) and be asked to try and schedule a showing on a house they drove past on their way home from work... and can we see it tonight?! Sure lets make that happen! Family dinner? Yep might have to excuse myself from one of those from time to time. Agents make themselves available basically 24/7 360-ish days a year. (What you thought we'd give up every holiday too??) On the flippity flip, we DO have probably more freedom to decide what happens throughout the week, Doctor's appointment? Sure I can put that between my 10:00 and 1:00 on Wednesday! Dog needs to go to the vet to have open house keys removed from rectum? Yep probably going to need that done before Sunday... 

To put it simply, we trade linear work schedules for extremely open and flexible schedules. And for someone like me, it's ideal because I learned to work long hours in retail (where the corporate office had no problem mandating you work 60 hours but get paid for 50...don't ask, it was 'legal') so I don't mind working, but I love movement. I'm not a type that likes being grounded to the same spot for 8-10 hours a day. So today I'm sitting here in the office, but after I grab some lunch I can go throw up some open house signs, then I can head back to my home office and continue my search to find a client some more listings that might entice him enough to buy! Changes of scenery are great! The inherent downside to this line of work is- it does make it difficult if you, say, want to get a part-time job to continue your ability to pay the bills when things are slow. Then it's time to consider being even MORE flexible with your time and finding something 3rd shift so as not to interfere with the 'day job'.
If I want to be successful it may just be what I have to do. I've recently begun to respect and envy comedian Kevin Hart, I think he's immensely funny, but when I began to follow him on Facebook, I saw the man with serious drive to succeed. This was his advice on success:

The face you make when your friends think your job is easy.

"I think when some people win it’s very hard for them to lose. I’ll use Kobe Bryant as an example. Kobe Bryant is a winner.

Kobe Bryant loves to win. There is no in between. When he loses, there’s not a reason for it. There’s not an excuse. There a “I lost, and I need to figure out how to win again.

My will to win in amazing.

I’ve got a taste of success, and now I want more. But it’s not just about success, it’s about the brand. It’s about becoming a businessman. It’s about becoming an entity.  It’s about becoming a mogul. It’s really about setting things up so when you’re not here, the ones that love you most are taken care of.

I am a product of Nancy Hart, my mother. She was a worker and the word “can’t” or “won’t” never existed."

A long road ahead of me, but Kevin isn't the only celebrity one can follow that encourages not giving up, and sticking to your dreams. And the truth is, if being successful was easy, perhaps you wouldn't have an America with the 1%... if it were easy it'd be the 99%. Not saying I want to be a 1%, but I want to be near it! 

Thanks for reading! And have a great weekend! 

Don’t give up, I know you can see..

...Can’t lay down and wait for a miracle to change things
So lift up your eyes, lift up your heart
Singing, mercy will we overcome this
Oh, one by one, could we turn it around
Maybe carry on just a little bit longer...

I was recently talking with a childhood friend, who also happens to be a realtor. She was giving me advice on how to get started and ways to be successful. You see becoming a real estate agent is easy, but becoming successful...well it's not simply a matter of passing a test and boom you start making big dollars. Nope... passing the test only unlocks the door, the next phase is learning how to be a successful business, your own business and your own brand. You may work at a brokerage, that gives you access to necessary tools, but it's on you to make something with those tools. And starting out, you don't know anyone, and no one knows you. 

My friend, she told me, "...When you feel like giving up- that's when you need to keep going... it will get better..." Which actually made me smirk a bit in my head, because Kace has a piece of wall art she made that says, "When your going through hell, keep going!" It just never dawned on me how apt that was to my current path.

This thought runs through my head every day, because everyday I question myself and what I'm doing. Everyday I wonder if I'm doing enough, or exploring enough venues to promote ME. I like to think sometimes yes, and often times no, perhaps not. Yikes! this may make me sound weak to any potential clients out there reading this! Beware the new guy he doubts what he's doing!! I'm just an honest guy who owns up to to his insecurities, yes I have them, and don't mind putting them out there for the world to see. Truth is, I think it's kind of human nature, and I doubt I'm the first one in real estate or any other small or large business to doubt what they're doing.

Those closest know that being new can take it's toll on you, but it's that security blanket of support you get from people that believe in you. When you are down, having a bad day, nothing seems like it's going your way; it's the close ones that come out and pick you up, like a coach at the end of the 4th quarter, and give you the strength to keep going. That's what life's all about right? Not just getting through it, but getting through it with others. Otherwise what's the point of the wins? If no one is there to celebrate them with? I'm happy to say I have support, and that keeps me going!

Now if you will excuse the somber tone of tonight's rambling, I will end with a quip from a recent experience I had that may amuse! 

Recently I was taking a client to see some homes that may be of interest in his search. We arrived at one listing and as I was reaching to unlock the lock box, the front door swung open, and the homeowner was there! Cordially we were invited in, and the homeowner proceeded to sit back down on his couch... and watch as we (strangers) perused through his house! I don't know if you are familiar with the home selling and buying experience, and maybe it's just me, but the whole time we were exploring the house, my client and I were wondering "WHY IS THIS GUY WATCHING US?!" How awkward! So I don't have a LOT of experience, but I have a little experience with showings, and during showings potential buyers walk through a house and are BRUTALLY honest about what they are finding. You can't comment that the dolls in the guest room are creepy as hell, when the owner is fifteen feet away! As you're walking out, the last thing you want to hear is "So you want to buy it? What do you think?" Gee no pressure there! I'm surely not an expert, but I'm pretty sure the way to get your home sold is NOT to put a potential buyer on the spot like that! What I can say- QUICKEST. SHOWING. EVER.

Thanks for reading!

...Start with one step and however small, first step is hardest of all...

These are the words that begin my favorite song, You Might Die Trying by the Dave Matthews Band. I've used this song for motivation for a long time. And since I feel awesome for figuring out how to embed a video into a blog, I thought I'd share a video!

Just like any new job, a real estate agent also gets interviewed as well. What you thought we all worked for ourselves and just went about selling houses on our own? Nope new real estate agents work under a broker/brokerage. I say under instead of for, because we are not working FOR that broker or brokerage, indeed we are independent contractors. We work UNDER a broker as once we are newly licensed and have just enough knowledge to be dangerous, it is the broker's job to tame us, mold us, teach us, and keep us out of trouble with the Real Estate Commission! And in turn for being our guide we as fledgling real estate agents share our earnings with those noble brokers.
And just like any job, one of the first questions asked of you- "Why do you want to work in Real Estate?" and just like any job in any industry in the world you are thinking-
  'Well I need to make money, and maybe provide for my family, pay a few bills, and I'd like to buy a Lamborghini some day...'
but what you say is something more along the lines of what they teach you in high school or college-
"Well I'm greatly fascinated by {insert industry here}, and I am looking for a career that both challenges me and offers me the opportunity for success and upward movement...blah blah blah..."
So of course I was asked this question, but for me, this was the first time I've not had to exaggerate my answer or BS it. I was finally interviewing to work in a field I genuinely have a passion for.

I remember growing up playing the game of Life. In that game you get married, pop a few blue or pink stick figures in the family station wagon (does anyone buy station wagons anymore?) and then you proceed to pick a career out of a deck of six or seven careers. (Just think you have six or seven options of what to be when you grow up... like something out of the Hunger Games or Divergent!) I remember I used to get excited when  I would draw the Real Estate Agent card... it fascinated me even then!
Fast forward a few years then to a small, but influential television show - Extreme Makeover Home Edition with host Ty Pennington and crew. Each week they would drive around the country and help folks down on their luck for one reason or another. They would take the most dilapidated homes, level them, and like a phoenix rising from the ashes, build something new and great where sadness once stood. Every week you would watch the tears streaming down the faces of the affected family. And each week you would take a tour of the family's new digs! I remember not only watching with fascination as what was built in place, but I was loving how Ty figured out how to give a family a new home to grow in. (I even once attempted to get a job as part of the show's crew... sadly I wasn't an experienced producer, crew member, or of any means to go on the road!)

In more recent years I confess to an addiction to HGTV. Aside from the Food Network, is there any more addicting television? Shows like Property Brothers, Love it or List It, House Hunters, and more they have this innate ability to draw you in, and before you know it six hours have passed and you are now as frustrated as the real estate agents on the show that a person refused a house because the dining room was pink instead of yellow! I've logged so many hours watching this type of television and all but drool at the possibility of existing in that world. That is how I knew this was a career path for me. I loved watching real estate agents show folks exactly 3 homes and one of them ending up the home of the buyers dreams! (Cause that's exactly how it works right?!) I wanted to help people find homes too! (Maybe one day I can advance to being a studly Property Brother that both helps find a home AND renovates it too! ANNNDD it wouldn't be so bad to have so many female adorers!

So I was able to answer this question honestly for the first time in my life in a job interview. Yes all you career HR people, I did tweak my response to be a little less about the fact that I watch FAR too much television, and a little more about my desire to help others! At the end of the day it was a world I knew I had to be a part of, and a world Lauren and Katelyn kept pushing me towards. Glad I finally listened! The first step that was hardest of all? Leaving the world of solid paychecks coming in regularly and entering a world of "WHOA WHEN AM I GETTING PAID AGAIN?!?!?!!?"
The truth is- I love what I do now! And I eagerly await whats in store.
Thank you again for reading! See ya soon!

Here we go!

Welcome one and all to my first, in what I hope will be, blog about my adventures and insights into the world of Real Estate. So first a little about me- working in Real Estate is something I've always wanted to do, but until recently was too afraid to take the plunge. It was a risk, and I've never been a risk-taker. Or more precisely I was never in a position to take a risk! I was born and raised right here in Mechanicsburg, PA (so what better place to focus my attention?).
 For the past five years I worked in the Swimming Pool industry as a store manager for the largest pool supply retailer in the country. This is where I learned to come out of my 'shell' so to speak. I used to be quite a shy and introverted person. That doesn't work well when you're the store manager of a retail chain. Indeed I had to be the front line with customers, both happy... and not so happy alike. While I enjoyed being a leader, I never truly felt like 'this is something I really want to do the rest of my life'. After a tumultuous summer season I decided once and for all that it's time to make the leap of faith and give Real Estate a try!

Let me take a quick moment now to give a shout out to my two biggest supporters, without which, I'd probably never have had the courage to try this.

Lauren and I on formal night on Carnival Pride

Katelyn and I at the Dave Matthews Band concert

There is of course my fiance Lauren, more commonly known as "LC" (and that is before that stupid MTV show!). I love this girl tremendously- She is the grounding force in my life and keeps our course steady. The truth is I wouldn't even be exploring Real Estate without her support and encouragement. I am truly a lucky man to have this amazingly hard working, intelligent, beautiful and loving woman in my life! I would more than likely be adrift without her and she doesn't hear these things enough... So LAUREN read this! I get points right?!

Then there is Katelyn, or "KC", or more recently just "Kace". My best friend, Lauren's younger sister, and another true blue supporter. A brilliant young lady in her own right! Very hard working, smart, spunky, and always has an idea for our next vacation, holiday meal, or weekend adventure. She is without a doubt my partner in crime! (I'm pretty sure we will be the cause someday when Lauren gets grey hairs!)<--- Not that that will EVER happen (;O)

I wanted to mention these to lovely ladies because I will undoubtedly talk about them in future blogs as I invite you into my world. And they mean the world to me! 

So let me tell you what's in store for the coming weeks! I'm not going to write a blog in a stiff professional manner, I'm not going to fill it with boring statistics and facts about real estate that the average person probably won't care about. This will be a look at the life of a new real estate agent. It will include snippets of my life outside of real estate and my adventures and insights as an agent! So as the post says.... Here we go!