I found this full-page newspaper promo last week while going through a file in the office. The year was 1992, and the Columbus MS Board of Realtors had released the list of Top Real Estate Producers for 1991.
I had been in real estate a couple of years, and earning the distinction of Top Producer was a big deal. I was honored to be among the 47 Top Producers in the Columbus, MS market.
When I decided to get into real estate, I chose a small agency to affiliate with. It was the perfect fit for me. The partners took me under their wing and advised me when I needed help, encouraged me when I failed, and included me in their work family. I look back at this time in the business with appreciation for Rick, Gerry, and Hilbert as they set me on the path for success.
I learned so much from each of them. Rick, our Sales Manager, once laughed so hard the Friday afternoon he "suckered" me into taking his floor duty so he could leave early. But he was also the one who encouraged me to get into real estate investing. Hilbert was the "Great Qualifier". He let me ride along while he showed homes. After each house, he would ask "so what did you think?". He was a natural at it, and at the time I thought to myself I could never ask such an thing.
Gerry was the Mother Hen who took the newbies under her wing and nurtured us. I remember the day she gave me my production report for my first year, and commented that "most new agents didn't do that well" and I thought I hadn't done well enough!
My hometown was small, and it was several years before I had built a solid business with repeat customers and referrals. Those early years were challenging ones. But I will always cherish the time I spent with my three mentors, Rick, Hilbert, and Gerry.
Submitted for the March 2025 Challenge: Sharing The Gift of Who You Are
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