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It's All About MeMe.....Really? And Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage

It's All About MeMe.....Really? and Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal


person pushing really large pencilWow this is a real toughie, but we were tagged by Anita Clark, Ed Silva, Steve Chain and Chris Smith
and we like to think we are good sports, up for anything, so we're jumping into the MeMe challenge!

There is nothing interesting in our backgrounds we are true blue Candians, born and bred here, both of us.
  My Grandmother was a mail order bride though, brought over from England and we always found that very fascinating.

Against all our family and friends advice we threw all our eggs in one basket and both of us got into this real estate game full time with the only income coming 100% from the commissions we earned, gutsy thinking back now when you have a family and mortgage!

Initially we worked totally separate, doing our own things and teamed up quite by fluke before teams were popular.
We went on one appointment together because of time restraints created by a personal obligation. The clients loved the idea that we were husband and wife working the same business, our two view points, and how we bounced ideas back and forth. It went so well, we tried it again with the same result and thought why not.  Working together has served us well.

We opened our own real estate business and had three offices
, before realizing our passion was truly in the selling. With this knowledge we closed our business and moved over to Re/Max Realty Services Inc. and have not looked back.

Our greatest career thrill, is being asked to be one of ten agents in Canada to be part of Re/max's top 100 agents
invited by Dave Liniger, one of the founders of Re/Max International to Denver back in the mid '90's. Our greatest honour is being voted in 2010, by the residents of the City of Brampton as the "Best People in Real Estate" for 15th time out of the 16 years they have been voting.  

Our son and daughter being raised in a household where real estate was the main topic of conversation
, found they had real estate in their veins and have followed our footsteps. Our slogan "Let Our Family Help Your Family" is really true.  

Now for the real tough part, the BHAG! The goal has always been to be organized, to run the business instead of it running us so much and to be able to take the months of July and December totally off. We don't really know why those months, we just picked them. It has never worked out, there is usually something on the go or maybe we are just control freaks.  We'll have to get back to you on that one!

In keeping with the rules we just tagged Jenny Kotulak, Mary Yonkers Pam McInnes
Michelle Gibson John Mayer


Here's the MeMe Rules and a tutorial  What is YOUR Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for 2011. We'd also like to know more about you, and your background, what is it about you that makes this BHAG so important?  What experiences are you bringing with you into 2011 that will make this BHAG work? So I'm asking you to please share 5 or 6 things about yourself, and then tag 5 or 6 more people so we can learn about them too!

TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Wow! Interesting...

Jan 26, 2011 10:06 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Al and Peggy, that does really sound like a very audacious goal  -  the entire months of July and December  -  that would be fantastic if that happened. Wonderful. Wow, you guys are both such experienced Realtors with long and successful careers, no wonder you've ben voted the best real estate people in Brampton. You are a winning team.

Jan 26, 2011 10:10 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

I like your goal to take 2 months off a year. A friend was just saying they wanted to do the same thing.

Jan 26, 2011 10:50 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Al & Peggy,

You are my Canandian duo, but I can't imagine why you would tag me of all the people here at ActiveRain.  Give me a good reason other than that you couldn't come up with someone else to pick on this week.

Mary

Jan 26, 2011 11:32 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Al and Peggy you two are truly risk takers, I don't think I could have done what you two did.  And congratulations on your impressive achievements.

Jan 26, 2011 12:08 PM
Kenneth Cole
Weichert Realtors Appleseed Group, 2043 Richmond Ave. S.I.N.Y. 10314. office phone 718-698-9797, Appleseedhomes.com... - Staten Island, NY
NYS Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Very nice story.  Now I know why your so likable.  I just had lightening and thunder outside my house and thought about my "cousins" in Canada, so I gave you folks a click.  Hope all is well.

P.S. Don't tag me.

Jan 26, 2011 12:34 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

No surprise at all that putting all your eggs in one basket worked for the two of you.  Excellent MeMe Post, thanks for sharing with all of us.

Jan 26, 2011 12:35 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

I knew you 2 would have a wonderful story...loved the MeMe.  Sounds like you're enjoying both life and real estate (are they separate?!).

Jan 26, 2011 12:37 PM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Al and Peggy - You are as amazing as I always thought you were....    Thanks so much for sharing so nicely with us.

Jan 26, 2011 12:55 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

See you did it. Wow professional real estate people and Al was a mail order bride, go figure, or did I read that too quick? And to think you took time off in your busy period to visit my wife and the guy that brought her.

Jan 26, 2011 01:21 PM
Jenny Kotulak
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre Inc., Brokerage - Oakville, ON
Broker - Oakville Ontario Real Estate

Zeez thanks for thinking if me you guys - I think.  This one will take a bit of thought.  I loved your story.  It's amazing what you can learn about people in a few short sentences.

I will see what I can do with mine. 

Jan 26, 2011 02:13 PM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Al & Peggy - Thanks for tagging me!  That's interesting that you both did real estate, but not together.  I think if my husband was in the biz he'd probably do his own thing, I'm tough to work with...too OCD for most.

Jan 26, 2011 03:07 PM
Warren & Melanie McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty Inc, Kitchener-Waterloo ON - Kitchener, ON
Team McNeil

Hi Al and Peggy,

Mel and I would like to be able to take a couple of months off each year. In a perfect world those months would be spent in Hawaii.. Thanks for sharing!

Jan 26, 2011 03:46 PM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Fun stuff you guys. It's always nice to get the inside scoop on those who we may have only had an opportunity to meet online.

Jan 26, 2011 11:37 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Al and Peggy - There have been so many amazing stories with the Meme challenge.  I always recommend becoming a public or separate school teacher to get a guaranteed three months off each year - July, August, March Break and two weeks at Christmas. 

Teams where both spouses get along very well and where they have complimentary skillsets work very well.  Other types of teams with people with unrelated goals may or may not work out well as it depends on the composition of the teams, political dynamics and so much more.

Jan 27, 2011 12:02 AM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Just our life Michael!

Thanks for comments Malcolm. Maybe, just maybe we'll get that July or at least December what do you think?

We can do it Janice and you can too right. Let's at least give a try.

Mary we chose you because we found you very interesting in your posts. You teach, travel, your humour and of course your receipes! LOL! 

Well it was an easy choice George, everyone told us not too LOL!

Oh, hope your weather is better today Ken and thank you for checking in on us!

All eggs in one basket, sure did motivate us and still does Roger!

Never separate Anita, that is the only issue, especially when now it's a family affair. Very interesting mealtimes LOL!

Ahhh, thanks Dagny! MeMe's are a great way to get to know everyone!

Ha, ha, yes Ed mail ordered!! Always time for your beautiful wife...........alright if you must come!

We'll be watching Jenny!

Working together has many benefits, ok a many challlenges LOL!

Warren and Melanie, two months in Hawaii??? Ok, you just motivated us!!

Amazing what we are learning reading these MeMe's right Craig?

Yes, agree Marc, being on the same page really helps, but never discount that two opposite views sometimes makes the third winning view LOL! 

Jan 27, 2011 01:13 AM
Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain
Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Al & Peggy,

Wow, Is 4 tags the record? Thanks for sharing your MeMe!

Steve

Jan 27, 2011 03:56 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Al and Peggy, I know you very well, you are family to me... but I did not know about your mother nor that you started real estate separately... can't even imagine that now...

Jan 27, 2011 04:27 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

DONE.

Jan 27, 2011 12:20 PM
Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON
Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Thanks Steve and now you know LOL!

Ha, ha, Chris, now you are beginning to see in our closet! BTW it was my grandmother!! LOL!

Heading over to see you Mary!!

Jan 27, 2011 01:02 PM