Perhaps I should tell you up front that I am Elizabeth Ward Small's part-time assistant. I help her with the ins and outs of her real estate business as well as The 3 B Method Seminars. What you need to know is that Elizabeth did not ask me to write this blog. In fact, she laughed at me when I told her that my first Active Rain blog was going to be about her. But why shouldn't it be? She's the very reason I am here.

Fresh out of college, I took a job at Coldwell Banker, Triad REALTORS as the front desk administrator. Did I want to be a receptionist? Not really. But I needed a job and I knew some of the people that worked there, so, I jumped in. For the first year and a half, I did my job the best that I could and learned (quite a bit) about real estate along the way.

I hadn't really thought about becoming a real estate agent until I listened to Elizabeth's The 3B Method message - Living Life Busy, Balanced and Blessed. Her message inspired me and I decided to take a flying leap into the unknown. From a steady, comfortable desk job, I plunged myself into the world of listings, contracts and...commission checks.

I learned so many things from Elizabeth:

• Prospecting Works
  
  I have watch Elizabeth turn in listing after listing after listing from the community that she farms - which is also the community in which she lives.
  
• Coaching and Training Works
  
  Coaching, such as Real Estate Champions, works! Elizabeth has learned from the best and has now become one of the best coaches and trainers out there. When I was in real estate school, I was told to sit at the feet of a Master to learn real estate. And, I have been able to do that.
  
• GIVE BACK
  
  Elizabeth sponsors a free family movie night the second Saturday of each month. Now, with the price of movies, this provides families a special treat and a way to get out and enjoy something without feeling like they are breaking the bank. But Liz doesn't stop there, she uses this as a chance to give to charity by sponsoring a charity event or drive such as collecting for the food pantry.

In these ways, I have learned to be busy. She as also shown me how to maintain balance with phone control, using a daily planner (although I still dislike 2-page per day systems, just a personal thing), and blocking out my time accordingly.

But perhaps the BIGGEST thing I have learned from Elizabeth is to have hope and faith that you can live your dreams. As it turned out, real estate was not my dream. And at any given moment it could be several different things. But I have seen Elizabeth persue relentlessly her goals with the spirit of being blessed. We ALL have a choice EVERY day as to what kind of day it is going to be. Elizabeth is RARELY in a bad mood. Now, I'm not saying that she doesn't have her moments, but 6.5 out of 7 days a week she is energetic, she has a smile on her face and she is ready to go. She finds the BLESSED part of her day every day. That is what I struggle with the most and why I am thankful to have her in my life.