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WHY DID I LEAVE FINANCIAL SALES?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential

After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1990 with a degree in finance, I followed my two brothers into a job as a stock broker.

It was fun at first....

Even as a $5 per hour "caller", it was exciting to put on a tie, take the train down to Chicago, and walk into the financial sector working for Lehman Brothers, sack lunch in hand.

Just being down in the Loop, you felt like a "player"...

The hours were long and painful.  Dialing number after number.  Our goal was to get a wealthy prospect on the phone.  When we did, we would hand off the phone to a senior member of the sales team.

Hour after hour, we would hold the phone to our ears battling with wives and secretaries.

Very unpleasant work.

We didn't even get to make a sales pitch...

Anyway, after a couple years the money started to flow. 

Those were fun years.  We were all young, making 6 figures, and partying hard...

I drove a Porche 968.  Then a Mercedes SL 500.

Fun years indeed.

But shallow.  And stressful.  Always stressful.

I never really liked what I did.  I was OK at it.  But I never loved it.

I am glad I have left it...

I love what I do.

Ken

A Realtor you can trust. 

 

 

Comments(11)

Kelly Kilpatrick
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Broker-Associate

Selling real estate is by far the most enjoyable and most flexible career that I've had.  I processed and underwrote mortgage loans when my kids were young because I wanted to have weekends to enjoy with them.  I worked because I had to, definitey not because I liked it.  In retrospect, I think I would have transitioned over to selling real estate a lot earlier had I known that having a job that you love allows you to be happy...and happy parents are unquestionably better parents.

Nov 21, 2008 11:02 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Kelly.  Thanks so much for reading.

I just kissed my daughter good night.

She is awesome.  And I watch her many days.

Thanks again,

Ken

Nov 21, 2008 11:16 AM
Melody Botting
Broker Associate PenFed Realty - San Antonio, TX
You Deserve The Best

Being happy with what you do is really the key, eh?  I could do other things but none I would want to as much as real estate.

Nov 21, 2008 11:16 AM
Sean Allen
International Financing Solutions - Fort Myers, FL
International Financing Solutions

Some jobs, no matter how much you make, are not worth the stress and anxiety just to make a better than average paycheck. I learned that too back in the late 90s.

Sean Allen

Nov 21, 2008 11:17 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Money is just to pay the bills, loving what we do is our life. So glad you're happy Ken.

Nov 21, 2008 11:18 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Missy, Sean, and Melody.  Thanks for reading and the nice words.

It is fun too.  Way harder than thought.  But always crazy and fun.

Thanks again,

Ken

Nov 21, 2008 11:23 AM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Ken... Now when you are well compensated AND do what you enjoy doing, that is the ultimate.  And keep in mind that there are both financial and non-financial forms of compensation!  I enjoy both in my real estate career.

Nov 21, 2008 02:21 PM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Steve, thanks for reading.

I am close to being well compensated.  Not quite yet, but very close.

It will be the ultimate!

Thanks again,

Ken

Nov 22, 2008 01:03 AM
John Walters
Frank Rubi Real Estate - Slidell, LA
Licensed in Louisiana

I bet it was stressful.  I bet you are glad you didn't stay with Shearson Lehman.

Nov 22, 2008 01:24 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi John.

Nor Bear Stearns.

Most of my career was spent at a smaller company named Gruntal.

Thanks for reading,

Ken

Nov 22, 2008 02:24 AM
Harold "Hal" Place
A1 Connection Realty, Inc. - Sun City Center, FL

I Ken,

There is nothing worse then driving to a job every morning that you absolutely hate. You did the right thing.

Nov 22, 2008 05:43 AM