There have always been turning points and defining moments in my journey through life. Sometimes these are major events like a graduation or divorce. Some of these defining moments have been less easy to define, more ambiguous as to their meaning, like the time my baby brother asked for a loan and I turned him down or the time I stayed up all night to watch a foal come into the world.

I had one of those more ambiguous turning points a few weeks ago. I'm just now understanding the impact. Sometimes you meet someone and it changes everything. You might fall in love or you may meet someone who is so abhorrent that you swear you will do everything to make sure you are nothing like them. Sometimes that person becomes very important to you. A lover, an enemy, a hero, a friend. Sometimes you meet someone with a message that you hear. Really hear. They aren't so important as what they had to tell you.

I was at a, gosh what do you call it? A business networking cocktail hour? A social meeting of business people? Wait, I've got it. I'll call it an AR happy hour. That sounds less awkward, I think. I dreaded going. I'm good at that sort of thing, idle chit chat with complete strangers, banal discussions about the "market", keeping the white wine intake at socially acceptable levels (ooh, maybe not that but I digress). I am good at it, I just don't like it. (this gathering turned out to be great fun. I had an absolute blast and really enjoyed all of the people I met. That is a whole different post. Oh wait, Dan beat me to it)

It started out as expected. Stilted conversation amongst strangers, nervous glancing around for the waitress, jaded real estate industry professionals dancing around the fact that the "market" is terrible without admitting that we personally are feeling the pinch. Ugh. There was someone in attendance who didn't quite fit in with all the rest. Maybe it was because she was the youngest. Maybe it was because she wasn't wearing a suit. Maybe it was because her discomfort was apparent. I'm not sure what it was but I am eternally drawn to the outsider. I struck up a conversation with this young lady. She was bright and enthusiastic. Absolutely thrilled with her career in real estate. Ahh, the naive and inexperienced I thought. She hasn't realized yet how tough this field is. She doesn't know the attrition rate of new people in this business. She told me that she had sold a house last year. One house. She was very proud of this accomplishment. She then told me she had already closed 4 deals this year and was going to sign her fifth contract the next day. Hey, not bad I thought. I know a lot of seasoned Realtors and Loan Officers who have not had 5 closings yet this year. Maybe the kid knows something I don't.

As it turns out she did. She knew how hard her chosen profession was going to be, it was going to be tough. She welcomed the challenge and glowed with her accomplishments. She wasn't discouraged, downtrodden or bitter. She knew she was going to succeed and she was working her rear end off to make sure she kept getting better! Easy for her you may say. She hasn't been around long enough to feel the pain the rest of us have. Easy to be bright eyed and bushy tailed when you're too young and new to know better. I don't think this young lady is overly optimistic. I think she is enthusiastically pragmatic. She seemed like a fighter. I mean that in the nicest possible way.

How did this chance meeting change everything? Not in any dramatic way. It's just that over the last week or two, I remember this girl. Every time I'm frustrated with my job, the minutia of my daily existence I remember her enthusiasm. It reminds me that I too am a fighter. Not just that I don't give up but that I enjoy the challenge. The frustrations are challenges to be met head on and remembering this girl reminds me how lucky I am to have such a career. It puts a slight smile on my face, an extra bounce in my step.

Sometimes it's not who the person is but what they have to tell you.