NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART!
Want to know why this is near and dear to my heart? It really has nothing to do with real estate, but everything to do with my first career as a pilot with American Airlines. I was on my last flight descending into DFW Airport for my final landing with American Airlines. The finish of a long and successful career. I brought my wife on this last 3-day trip to celebrate my looming retirement. I knew I would be met at the gate by my chief pilot with a congratulatory handshake and a send-off to my new life ahead. I had dreamed of this day for many years, and it was finally here. But I distinctly remember to this day that descent as we approached the airport. I thought, “This is who I am and have been for over 25 years, a pilot. When I see friends, they always ask me something about flying. And being a pilot, of course I loved to answer them – any excuse to talk about my love of flying! But in just another 10 minutes, I won’t be that anymore. I’ll be a ‘has been’. My identity has to change now. What or who will I become?” That was a threatening feeling. I wasn’t sure where that would lead me. I was excited about this new phase of my life, but concerned because this was a “cold turkey” disconnect! Flying for an airline is one of those careers that you can’t just slowly cut back on and work at part-time, or when you want to. It was all or nothing. And I was tired of the “all”, being gone “all” the time. Well, a lot of the time anyway. So, I was taking the final step, creating my own “cold turkey” disconnect, and it was only minutes away. Little did I know in those final moments that my new identity would be wrapped up in this thing called real estate. I had no inkling that I would become a Realtor®!
As I sit in the cockpit of my new business, I still reflect on that final flight and my internal identity struggle and I know that I am not the only one who ever went through that. And I know that there will be many more who will share in that struggle for years to come. I ask myself, does it always have to be that way? It was while looking for the answer to that question that I had my biggest Ah-Ha moment! You know what, the unique thing about being a ‘Realtor®’ is that you can step back slowly! You can avoid the cold turkey disconnect! You don’t have to give it all up at once, especially when you have so much invested in what you do! You can choose to work when you want to … if you have the help you need from someone you trust to take care of your demanding business! Such a gift I wished that I had as a pilot with American Airlines, but that was not the case.
Today my future dream is here, and I know my real estate business does not need to end with a final descent, or in our world, a final closed transaction! I love what I do and have over 12 years invested in it. But the day is coming when I step out of this role and I don’t have to wonder about what will happen to me and the career I have built. No, not this time!
You see, there is a light at the end of the runway and that light is Stepping Up!. And it is shining brighter every day! I am already slowly cutting back with the day to day sales activities so that I can more easily transition to being “my own client”! I am becoming a referring agent and allowing my Stepping Up! Team to step up and afford me the time and financial freedom to make that dream a reality: being the CEO of Stepping Up! I’m moving forward with this business model to help myself and other Realtors® reach their dreams with continued income.
I know this system works and I entrust my business and my future to the amazing Teams that know how to care for me and my clients! It will work for me and it can work for you too! This I know for sure!