I started my real estate career in 2010, right in the shadow of the housing crash. Condos in my market had a sales-to-listing ratio of just 3%, foreclosures were everywhere, and most people thought real estate was a dead end. On paper, it was the worst time to start — but I believed that if I could survive in this market, I’d thrive in any market.

I threw myself into the business: cold calls, open houses, social media (before most agents even had Facebook), coaching, conferences — everything I could find. And still, I failed. Three sales in my first year left me broke, humiliated, and doubting whether I had made the right choice.

But I didn’t quit. In my second year, I made 12 sales. It still wasn’t enough, but I kept pushing forward. My broker reminded me that real estate is a long game — if I kept grinding, eventually the work would pay off.

It took years of trial and error, but I eventually stopped following every shiny object and started trusting my instincts. I made a decision that changed everything: I hired a coach, revamped my strategy, and focused on building consistent systems that actually worked. Within a year, I doubled my business. The next year, I more than doubled again. By 2016, I had joined the top 1% of agents in my region.

That journey — from struggling to survive to breaking through — is why I built Next Agent Academy. Because I know what it feels like to be lost, to question whether you belong, and to wonder if you’ll ever make it. And I also know what it feels like to finally break free, build a business you’re proud of, and create a career that lasts.