A Look Back

Reflecting on my decade in Nashville real estate

A little more gray, a lot more experienced, and extremely thankful for a close network of clients.  My 10 years in real estate has me reflecting a lot; not only on the time I mistakenly showed a home in a 55+ community to my client in her 20s, nor the time I accidentally left deep footprints in wet cement (the builder still doesn’t know it was me, and the real casualties were my boots!), but most of all I learned that real estate is fundamentally relational.

I’ve changed who I am, adapting to better fit the job.  I didn’t used to be such a people person, but kind of a loner.  Stretching and growing to be more relational means that being a Realtor has in turn made me a better guy.  I changed to connect stronger with my colleagues as we collaborate to find and sell homes; when we’re connected on a personal level, business naturally follows.  I connect on a deeper level with my clients, because to know them more helps us achieve their goals in selling, or it helps realize their dream of their next great home.  My real estate business and my personality alike have grown to be more relational.

And Nashville.  I have so much gratitude for Nashville.  When you live here, it’s easy to drive past the all cranes and construction and over the terrible metal plates in the road and get grumpy.  But all along, each of those things are signs of change, growth, and a city shaping up to be the next great iteration of its true self.  Soon enough the cranes are disassembled, the roads get fresh asphalt, and the cool new buildings have proper sidewalks, new trees, and even underground power lines!  My changing frame of reference has has helped me here, too.  Because when we look at Nashville’s growth as a rare opportunity, inspiration strikes all the harder.

This career has been a good fit.  And now 10 years in, I feel like I’m finally the man for the job.  Onward.