I wish everyone could be a real estate agent at least once in their life. Not for the money, not for the “flexible schedule,” and definitely not for the glossy image you see on Netflix or social media. But because it’s tough—because it will challenge you in ways you never expected.
It’s waking up before the sun, driving across town to plant open house signs, knowing some will vanish before the day is over. It’s sitting alone in a beautifully staged home, waiting. Hours tick by, and maybe—just maybe—two people walk in, both just curious neighbors. But you still greet them with a smile and share what you know. Because that’s what we do.
It’s the gut punch of seeing people you’ve known for years—people you’ve supported, celebrated, and stood by—list their home with someone else, without so much as a phone call. That one stings. Or that person that clicked on an ad and then does not want to talke with you, or better yet, gives you a bad email address. You wonder if they know now much that cost your business?
You pour everything into your community, often wondering if anyone even notices. You step away from date nights, miss social gatherings, and put personal plans on hold because a client needs you. Your evenings and weekends aren’t yours—they belong to everyone else.
But here’s why it’s worth it: The late-night calls and tests with a first-time buyer, nervous and overwhelmed—you walk them through it. The elderly couple selling their home of 40 years—you sit with them, listening to the stories etched into every wall. The single mom who thought homeownership was impossible—you fight for her until she holds the keys in her hand.
When I look at the agents who stick with this profession, I don’t see luxury cars, designer labels, or vanity metrics. I see people who keep showing up, who keep giving, who keep caring. Not because it’s easy or even always rewarding, but because it’s who they are.
Because real estate isn’t about houses. It’s about people. It’s about the hard moments, the beautiful moments, and the thousands of quiet, unseen moments in between. And that’s why I wish everyone could do this job, even just once. Because in real estate, you learn what it means to serve others before yourself.
And that’s not just a lesson for this business. It’s a lesson for life.
