What 25 Years in Real Estate Has Taught Me

A few words about a very special night.

Recently, I had the honor of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®. It is an award that means a great deal to me—not because of the years I’ve spent in real estate or the accomplishments that come with them, but because of the people who have been part of the journey.

When Nancy asked me to say a few words, I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to say. After all, how do you put more than two decades of experiences, relationships, challenges, successes, and lessons into a few minutes?

So I decided not to try.

Instead, I wanted to talk about the people who helped shape my career, the people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside, and why I believe that, despite all the changes happening in real estate, one thing will always remain the same: this business is about people.

What follows is the speech I shared that night.

I hope it reminds you, whether you are new to real estate or have been doing this for decades, that the greatest part of this profession isn't the transactions. It's the people you meet, the lives you touch, the lessons you learn, and the opportunity we have to give back along the way.

My Lifetime Achievement Award Speech

Nancy asked me to come here tonight and say a few words.    So… a few words.

Honestly, I’d like to start by thanking two very special people: my mother, June Pierce, and my aunt, Dona Laskovsky. They are the two people who pushed me into real estate and put me on this roller coaster of a journey. And what a journey it has been.

I also have to take a moment to thank my wife and my son. My son is everything that is perfect in this world. Everything amazing. And he is probably the second-best thing that ever happened to me.

The first is my wife, Jeannette. She is my cheerleader. She is my rock. She is the person who stands up for me, literally, when I couldn’t stand up for myself. Thank you, Jeannette, for everything you've done and for sharing your journey with me.

I also want to thank my mentors: Jake Jakovich, Jeff Gregory, Sue Leskowski Fair, Doug Carpenter, Bill Pankonin, to name a few. These people have guided me, challenged me, and pushed me to become the best Realtor I could be.

And I'd like to thank my colleagues: Terri Trotter Early, Tom Rhodes, Peter Schilling, Rhonda Altman, David Johnson, Jennifer Viano, Ann Schuler, Cade Pankonin, and my Amazing office, to name just a few.  It has been a pleasure being on this roller coaster with all of you—figuring this business out as we go, helping each other, challenging each other, and growing together.

And finally, Nancy. Nancy, you made me a team leader, a managing broker, and then an owner. You helped me grow as a real estate professional. And the funny thing is, while I was helping you connect the dots, you were teaching me just as much as I was teaching you. It has been amazing to watch you grow, become a leader, and now choose to give back to this industry.

And that's really why we're all here tonight. Let's be honest. As your Lifetime Achievement Award winner, I want to point out one thing: We're all leaders. And we're all doing amazing things. 

Right now, we are living through some of the most historic times in real estate. Lawsuits. Mergers, Artificial intelligence. Everything is changing. But when you strip all of that away, something hasn't changed. No hedge fund is holding the hand of a first-time buyer who is terrified about making the biggest purchase of their life. There is no lawsuit that helps a couple who has lost a job and is trying desperately to avoid foreclosure. And there is no app that sits at a kitchen table with a widow who is packing up 30 years of her life because she's decided it's time to downsize. A Realtor does that. We do that.  And that's why we're needed more now than ever before.

So I ask you to join Nancy.  Give back to your industry.  Get involved.  Step up. Because I can tell you from experience, when you give back to this profession, you don't just make the industry better. You become a better real estate professional. Your association needs you more now than ever. And if you let it, this profession will teach you, challenge you, introduce you to incredible people, and take you places you never imagined. It has certainly done that for me.

So learn. Grow. Step up. Give back. And trust me, along the way, you will have the greatest journey of your life.

Thank you.