Reflections on 2024

Reflections on 2024

I was dreaming when I wrote this, forgive me if it goes astray.  But when I woke up this morning, I could have sworn it was Award's day.


I believe it is safe to say that for most of us, 2024 is a year to forget.  A down year.   Honestly, not a lot to be thankful or hopeful about, but for others - it was their best year… their first year… their breakthrough year… their 24th year…  there was some magic in 2024.


This is who we are celebrating today!


Regardless of whether you are in the first group (that never wants to be reminded of 2024 again) or the second group (where something magical happened) - you deserve to be celebrated.  


Whether you came in like a wrecking ball or you limped in like a biscuit and your goal was to simply survive 2024 - the fact remains - you are here.   You didn’t give up like so many others did.  


Anyone who has been in the business awhile can remember the recession of 2008-2011.  Those of you not in the industry during that time need to know that the agents that buckled down and persevered through the storm came out much stronger and financially better off after the market shifted back.  In fact, most of those that increased their market share during this time didn’t relinquish it when the market bounced back thus increasing their profitability even more.


A few years ago, I was training my boys to run their first marathon and we competed in a 25K one weekend leading up to the event.  My boys each finished first in their age groups.  Both were extremely excited and proud.  Proud until… until they found out the fact that they were the only runners in their respective age groups.  


The fact that they hadn’t beat other runners in their age group soured the taste of the victory in their minds.  They felt like they were awarded a participation trophy.  


However, I saw it from a much different perspective, I saw it as no one in the entire city of Houston, Texas between the ages of 12-15 even got out of bed and bothered to show up and run that morning. Exact same scenario - much different perspectives.


I am proud of them, as I am proud of you - for your accomplishments.  Regardless of what is going on around, you persevered.  I’ve heard too many agents downplay their accomplishments due to the market being down or because they didn’t sell as much as they did the year before.  


Look, just because you might be down in your business, you really could be up.  If your business is down 10% from the year before, but the market is down 20% - then technically, you outperformed the market as a whole.  


Everyone that is here today showed up in 2024 and continues to show up and grind in 2025.  Thank you all for your contributions to making this a better place.  

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