Obsession & Perseverence Can Be Your Ticket to a Gold Mine in Real Estate

 0-300 in Less Than a Year

From CD Collections to the Boston Marathon: A Story of Obsession, Perseverance, and Real Estate Success

I got my first CD player during my freshman year of college, and by the end of that year, I had over 300 CDs. That’s almost one CD a day! In hindsight, I probably invested in the wrong kind of CDs. (Was it a joke? Maybe. Was it true? Definitely.)

Back then, CDs weren’t cheap—they were $15 a pop, and minimum wage was less than $4 an hour. So, how did I pull it off? Two words: Columbia House (or BMG, for those in the know). You remember the deal: 12 CDs for a penny, with the catch that you’d get auto-shipped a CD every month unless you canceled.

I took it a step further. Living in the dorms at Texas A&M, I convinced my dormmates to sign up for the penny deal, promising to cover their full-price CD. To this day, I hope I made good on all those $15 promises. If not, dormmates of the ’80s, let me know—I’ll send you your $15 + interest. 😉

Obsessions and Opportunities

Looking back, I realized I’ve always had an obsessive streak. Whether it was collecting baseball cards in elementary school, filling blue coin books with rare finds, or winning "Listing Agent of the Month" every single month, my determination was both my greatest strength and, occasionally, my Achilles’ heel.

That same obsessive mindset came into play when I trained for the Boston Marathon. I followed every rule: strict training schedules, healthy eating, early nights—you name it.

But life has a funny way of testing your resolve.

The Marathon That Almost Didn’t Happen

A few weeks before the St. George qualifying marathon in 2019, I pulled my hamstring during a run. I couldn’t walk for weeks, let alone train. To make matters worse, just as I started recovering, my wife of over 20 years told me she was leaving.

It was one of the darkest times of my life. My coach encouraged me to go to St. George anyway, saying, “Why sit on the couch watching your life fall apart? You’ve worked too hard to quit now.”

Despite my injury, I ran the race. And guess what? I qualified for the Boston Marathon. That silver lining proved that even in our lowest moments, we can achieve incredible things if we stay focused and take action.

Turning Challenges Into Strengths

In real estate, I’ve learned that every challenge is an opportunity to spin the narrative in your favor.

  • When I was a brand-new agent, I marketed myself as “young, aggressive, and hungry.” It was true, and it resonated with clients who wanted someone ready to fight for them.

  • As I built my team, I shifted the message: “You’ll get seven people working on the sale of your home for the same price as one!”

Different stages of my career, but both strategies worked because they addressed the client’s needs while highlighting my strengths.

What’s Your Obsession?

The secret to success—whether in marathons, CD collections, or real estate—is focus, drive, and a willingness to put yourself out there. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to do it alone.

At our brokerage, we’re here to help you turn your strengths into strategies. We’ll teach you how to:

  • Channel your energy into actionable steps that drive results.

  • Overcome challenges with creative solutions.

  • Build a business that plays to your unique talents and passions.

Why Join Us?

Real estate is tough, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got a team cheering you on and resources to help you succeed. With our support, you’ll learn how to:

  • Leverage your personality and skills to attract clients.

  • Stay focused on your goals, even when life throws curveballs.

  • Create systems that work for YOU, so you can build a sustainable, thriving business.

Ready to Run Your Race?

Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines. Whether you’re a marathoner, a CD collector, or someone who’s just ready to crush it in real estate, we’re here to help you take that next step.

Let’s turn your passions into profits and your challenges into championships. Give us a call today, and let’s make your career a winning story!

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