My real estate career began in April of 2007 at Keller Williams Red Stick Partners in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.   My goal was simply to replace my salary from my previous job and be able to take care of my young family.  My husband was in law school at the time and I thought that I would be working for supplemental income.   Sometimes things don't always go as planned and our journey takes on a life of it's own.  By 2009, my business was supporting our family and in 2012 I began to build a team of agents and administrative support staff.   This was very rewarding and also very challenging.   Through the successes and challenges of my work and personal life, I have leaned many lessons, grown as a leader and began to focus on what is most important to me and my family.   I have spent the last year realizing my passion and the things that make me happy.   This discovery has lead me half way across the country seeking a new adventure for my family.    

The down and dirty
In 2014, my marriage of 25 years abruptly ended.   Talk about knock the wind out of you.  The divorce was messy  (like write a book messy) and I was about to discover one of my biggest mistakes.  I failed to inspect what I expected.  My first hire was my now ex-husband.  He was a successful businessman with a shiny new degree from a prestigious law school.  And while he was trained by the best KW had to offer, he wasn't following the model and my business was in shambles.  It was obvious that our values and standards were not in alignment in every aspect of our lives.   Reality hit hard.   I was now the center of my universe and I had a lot to learn.   I had to be more purposeful about my life.  My new focus became how to become a better business owner, a better leader, a better friend, a better mom, really just a better person overall.  I immersed myself in tons reading and training.  I took business courses offered by Keller Williams (some many times).  Those included Recruit Select, Train Lead Motivate, BOLD , Expansion Systems Orientation,  Quantum Leap,  Business Planning Clinic,  Career Visioning, 30-60-90,  Success Through Others, Train the Presenter all in addition to our annual Family Reunion and Mega Camp/Mega Relief conferences.   I liken this growth to peeling layers off of an onion.  As I removed these layers, I discovered new challenges and I was prompted to create new goals for myself.   I decided to work on my mindset so I attended local seminars on the power of the language we use to speak to ourselves.  I attended Unleash the Power Within (Tony Robbins).   I had so much fun that I brought my kids to the very next event... We are all "Firewalkers" now.   I wanted to improve my communication skills so I took a Neurolinguistics Programming seminar and completed the additional course work to become a NLP certified practitioner.    My favorite courses have been leadership courses taught by Ben Kinney.  I have attended Time-Money, Energy-Focus and probably my favorite class ever, Win-Make-Give.  I am also a part of a leadership course offered by Ben Kinney Companies that give great insight into leading with simple systems and models.   Leadership, development/training and coaching have become my newest passion.   I wanted to expand my leadership skills and accepted a Productivity Coaching  role in a neighboring market center.  While I loved, loved, loved working with my agents,  the leadership team wasn't a good fit (even though I repeatedly recommended the BK leadership program) and we parted ways after only 6 months.   

Along this path, my priorities shifted from working to living.   As a solo parent, I wanted to be more present for my kids.  That meant unplugging more at home.  I wanted to take control of my health - physically, mentally and emotionally.  I chose to dedicate time to my body and mind.    My family is smaller, yet stronger and happier.  My business is also much smaller now.  It's just me and one part time administrative assistant.  Some would look at my situation today and consider it a failure.  I am divorced and making less in Gross Commission Income (the numbers we are judged on.)   Yes, my net is a little less than last year (6 months dedicated to PC so I can't really complain) but overall higher than usual and I have more in savings than I have ever had in my entire life.   So while my "production" numbers may be down so is my weight, my cholesterol, my glucose and my stress level.  I embrace my failures and I have grown from each one of them.  I have committed to quality of life for me and my kids and for this, I have few regrets.  God. Family. Business, right?  

So what is missing?
I am struggling to find my place.  Way back in the day, Seth Campbell did these awesome webinars on business structure and organizational charts.  When he said the words "Empire Protector" my heart got all mushy.  I am not a visionary (I know this about myself) BUT I play second chair like the First Lady.  When I believe in something, I will go to the ends of the Earth to protect and nurture and love it.   I am looking for my tribe, my people, my purpose.