Warning LONG post: 10 years, 1 decade, 3,650 days, 87,600 hours ago today on a Friday the 13th my life changed forever! It was 15 days after my 18th birthday and I had just spent half my summer in a hot classroom in New Brunswick reading line by line a 300+ page book on real estate terms, laws, and procedures. That day I walked out of the testing center with a pass certificate in hand for my real estate license, along with the idea of taking over the world! I walked into the same office I still work at today and signed a contract to start working as a Realtor… I had originally started in this business because it was a way to make money; to make a living… It was 11 months before I received my first pay check, I was humbled quickly… The following two years I was fortunate to help about 15 clients. In 2008 as the world was about to implode I watched a industry change. I realized that my role was to do the things that others werent willing to do, I watched some of my favorite clients buy their first homes which allowed them to do things like get married, and have a child, while the next day I watched as another was loosing their home due to the economic tsunami that we were hit with. It was at that time that my mindset changed, it changed to how can I help as many people accomplish their dreams, desires, and goals with real estate, at the same time I realized that my actions, expertise, and role for the short snapshot of time I spend with each of them had the ability to shape the years to come for each of them! I’ve lost count of how many doors have been slammed in my face, how many people said no, how many meetings where no one showed up. I’ve lost count of the nights of working until 2am, the weeks of 7 days strait nonstop, the multiple 30+ days strait runs without a day off. It by far hasnt been the easiest road, and I cant say in the beginning that there werent days where I didnt ask myself was it all worth it… First and foremost I want to thank my beautiful wife Stephanie Merritt as she has been my number one supporter and the backbone, not only to last 10 years of my career but the 14 years we have shared together. She has also been the one who has sacrificed the most and put up with some of the worst days, while being the one who has pushed me to be the best that I can be and never doubting what was possible! I want to thank my parents Mark and Karen Merritt who were the ones who made me who I am, they were the ones who pushed me towards real estate, supported me and made it possible to get my foot in the door and have been there since day one! My manager, Theresa Foglia Guttridge my “second mother”, my mentor and a major person in my life, and career who deserves much of the credit of why I have been successful in this business, always keeping me grounded, and always believing in me, thank you for taking a chance on me! The college wrestling coach who denied me a scholarship and ultimately was the tipping point to make the decision to go on the path that I did. The “naysayers” and the people who said “when are you getting a real job?”… I would be lying if I said that in the beginning you werent part of the reason that I pushed even harder. The remaining of my family, friends, acquaintances, clients, co-workers and people who have entrusted in me to help someone with one of the most amazing chapters of their lives! You all have been a MAJOR part of this amazing ride! I thank the owners and management of the best company ever to work for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New Jersey Properties; the place that has been a huge part of who I am in the professional world. Character and integrity are all we have in this world, and to work for a corporation that believes in the same has been a honor. Thank you Bill Keleher, Christopher A Brown Steve Janett, Nancy Litwin, and Michele Giordano for believing in the “18 year old kid” who joined your company 10 years ago! The last 10 years have been an amazing chapter of my life, a base for the next 10 years! Everyday I wake up and look to better myself and the people around me, even if I cant change the world, I strive to change the lives of the people that I am fortunate to meet and that allow me to be part of theirs! Thank you for an amazing 10 years! “Then, the talk was, what he can’t do? Now, the talk is what can’t he do!”
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:28:43 +0000
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