“The best lines always arrive right after the conversation ends.”
I had a lot of fun chatting with Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 on her radio show All About Real Estate! on Sunday. We talked about my book The ABCs of Life: Letters to My Granddaughter, what “refirement” means to me, and how real estate lessons apply to life.
Have you ever had a conversation and thought about what you wish you'd said after it's over?
That was me last Sunday after being a guest on Margaret’s radio show. We had about forty minutes to talk, which went by very quickly... as all of my conversations with Margaret do.
I spent thirty years in real estate before I retired. Retirement has turned into "Refirement" for me. Retirement sounded too much like winding down, and I had no intention of doing that. Refirement means lighting up in new ways.
As you all know, the book started as a single letter for an ActiveRain Challenge in 2024. When I began writing, I wanted to leave something lasting for my granddaughter Michelle... a legacy she could read long after I’m gone. Over time, with much encouragement from you, I understood these weren’t just lessons for her. They were lessons life and real estate had both taught me: how to adjust, handle challenges, and keep moving forward.
That theme shows up in one of my favorite letters... K for Kangaroo. Because of their long back legs and short front legs, Kangaroos can’t move backward easily, and neither should we. Life’s too short to keep hopping in reverse.
And then there’s V for Velcro. Some things are meant to stick: kindness, integrity, laughter, and the people who cheer you on. Others are meant to be peeled off, like guilt, regret, or saying yes when you want to say no.
Margaret asked what I miss most about selling real estate. That answer, of course, was simple...the people. Meeting clients, making new friends, hearing their stories, solving problems, and celebrating new beginnings. I even miss a good negotiation, but not the paperwork!
Whether you’re new to the business or decades in, I believe real estate is one of the best teachers around.
For new agents:
Get a mentor. The licensing test won’t teach you how to run a business.
Choose your brokerage carefully. Promised training isn’t always delivered.
Pick a niche and become the go-to expert.
For seasoned agents stuck in a rut:
If something isn’t working, change it.
Create systems — they save your sanity.
And remember, you can’t be everything to everyone. Be selective, and be authentic.
Real estate gave me a lifetime of lessons, but life gave me a few more:
You don’t have to do everything alone. It’s okay to ask for help.
Things don’t have to be good for good to come from them.
And you’re never finished (until your last breath). There’s always more if you choose more.
I’ve learned to love my age (despite its challenges), embrace curiosity, and see every day as an adventure. Golf, travel, writing, community... they’re all part of my refired life.
When the show ended, I couldn’t help but think of all the little stories and lessons I wanted to squeeze in. But that’s the beauty of refirement, there’s always another opportunity to share, learn, and connect.
Many of you have my book, and I thank you for that! If you don't and would like to read more of the stories behind my journey, and recall a few of your own reflections along the way, I invite you to explore The ABCs of Life: Letters to My Granddaughter on Amazon. It’s available in paperback, Kindle, and free with Kindle Unlimited.
Maybe it will inspire you to write your own letters to your children, grandchildren, clients, or even to yourself.
Thank you, Margaret Rome, for such a lovely conversation.
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