I am 25 years old.  I am single with no children, and have been told that I have a baby face.  Most people would see me as being "wet behind the ears".  The people that say this, say it because I am obviously a lot younger than the majority of the real estate community.

I have been licensed since I was 18 years old.  I worked as a receptionist at this company since I was 16 years old.  I have been in the industry since I was 2 years old.  My father owns ERA Top Service Realty.  Now, just because he owns it doesn't mean that I would know anything.  After all, if you ask my brother something, he would have a question mark.  He's just one year older than I am.

I went to my very first convention when I was 21 years old.  It was in Las Vegas for a referral and relocation company, Cartus (formerly Cendant Mobility).  I sat down next to an older woman (60 plus) and she turned to me and asked me what was I doing there???  My thinking was that I was there for the same reason she was... duh!!!  She proceeded to quiz me about real estate and then came to the conclusion that I apparently had some idea of what I am doing or talking about.  Gee.... thanks!  Now, this lady made me feel uncomfortable.  I realized that the majority of people I work with are old enough to be my parents and/or grandparents.  So, I felt like I had to look older.  I cut my hair to look more professional.  Started being more conservative with my clothes, and tried not to doll myself up too much.  I was literally becoming an old lady by the age of 22.  I had hoped that this meant people would take me more seriously when I went to conventions, but I still felt like the odd man out.  My baby face wasn't changing.

Now, in my office.  I felt fine.  My agents, regardless of their age, would come to me for help and I was able to help them.  I know this business.  Not only because I have been around it my entire life, but because I have immersed myself into it.  I graduated with a Finance degree for nothing because I told my parents that real estate is what made me happy and that's where I wanted to commit myself.

Time passed and I hated it.  I felt frumpy.  I'm young.  And I'm smart (or at least I think I am).  I was establishing myself within my company and within the ERA system.  Then one day something clicked, and I said: "forget about it."  People were judging me regardless of how I came, so why not be happy with how I was.  Now, I look my age.  I no longer want to be thirty or fifty (that's the age my brother says I am).  I dress however I feel like dressing and have my hair long and always wear a smile.

The moral:  Age is nothing, but a number.  Just because I'm young, doesn't mean I don't know anything.  I assist my father in running a renowned company, ERA Top Service Realty, in a tough area, Queens and Brooklyn, NY, and oversee 5 branches with about 130 agents.  I recruit, hire, and train.  I put out fires.  I've gotten involved with my local board, Long Island Board of Realtors.  I maintain a life with my friends from grade school, high school, and college.  Now, I have a social life with agents in my office too.  I can and do "have it all".  Or at least I will, when my boyfriend finally proposes and we get married, then I want to have 4 children (but will most probably stop at 1).

I am tired of the older generations judging my generation as not knowing anything.  The more innovative (and successful) agents in my office are not much older than me.  The older agents that do well have "young hearts" and feel a kinship with my generation allowing them to break through and continue their success.

To the younger people getting into the industry, my key piece of advice has tended to be that they look like a professional, but more importantly that they know what their business is about.  You need to understand your clientele and know how to demonstrate that you are the answer for them when it comes to real estate.

To the older generations, please stop under-estimating us because we can be your best asset.

Now, I love my youth and promote it all the time.  This really upsets a lot of the older, crankier crowd.  The ones that have a kinship with my generation, love it and encourage me.  I know my business and work with others to help them achieve their successes.  This business is fun and rewarding, now I'm just showing it off (which I would not have done before). =)

Enjoy your successful week!

Melissa Gomez
VP of Operations
ERA Top Service Realty, Inc.
www.ERASuccess.com