The Broker Series: 5 Reasons I am staying in my Real Estate Business

This year will mark the 5th year since I have decided to be an entrepreneur and work for myself.  It has been a challenging 5 years and I have learned a lot.  Compared to 5 years ago, I am more mature, more responsible, and more open to opportunities than I was.

I haven't heard people ask me why I entered this business or why in spite of the challenges it brings, do I still decide to stay.  I often find myself asking associate applicants the same and the most answer I get is "for the money".  While financial rewards is one of the highlights of the business, this is not enough to push one to growth. So, here I am sharing the 5 reasons I am staying in this business I love - Real Estate Marketing.



Source: http://awakenyoursoul.wordpress.com/2008/07/31/to-socialize-or-not-to-socialize-that-is-the-question/

5.  I love my free time.
I love my free time.  Whenever I am overwhelmed with work and other activities, I try to find the time to meet friends, or go to the bookstore, or watch a movie with my niece.  I can opt to finish writing an article, unwind for 2-3 hours, and go back to work.

There are times when I decide not to work at all.  I can spontaneously visit a friend or meet someone in the afternoon.  My free time sometimes become my work time. When I socialize and the real estate business topic comes up, people go to me. So I end up working and partying at the same time.



Source: http://oxforddistancelearning.com/how-you-learn-by-travelling

4. I love travelling
I like going places and learning new routes.  Studying a property makes me travel. And I can schedule it (I love my free time).

If the location is some place I cannot go and inspect now, there is always GoogleMap to lead me to it.  Going out there learning more about the place and the routes to go there sharpens my geospatial imagination.
Being good with location is one of the basic skills of a real estate professional.



Source: http://mashable.com/2012/12/24/startup-growth/

3. I just love the brain and spiritual effect:  Intellectual and Spiritual growth.

Going out there is terrifying. Specially for someone like me who came from a sheltered background.  But it is the process all of us needs to undergo if we really want to be the best in what we do.  Learning about the business does not end by becoming a Real Estate Professional by getting the license. Learning is a daily habit. A lifestyle. It also helps that we have a healthy self image, a good image on others, and a strong spirituality to meet the everyday challenges our Profession gives us.


Source: http://www.123rf.com/photo_11217639_family-moving-into-new-home.html

2. Meeting new people.

This is the industry where you get to meet lots of people.  People who are looking for a place to call their own, a condo they can stay in, or a house they can make their home.  Young and old, single or married, professional or business people; you get to meet all types of home lookers. And you are there to listen to them, help them get the best their money can afford, and perhaps be their friend.

I have made friends with my clients and it has been very rewarding to see your clients happily move into their homes.  Some have welcome me in their families, offered a holiday stay, and even met my parents.

I also like being surrounded by people of different professions and learn from them.  I am a member of a college organization, a Real Estate organization, and I constantly meet people from different fields. People are magnificent.



Source: http://advice.chnlove.com/chnlove-review-why-are-rich-and-successful-men-still-rejected-by-chinese-women/

1. The Rewards
The rewards are many - financial rewards, friends, opportunity to travel, learning and more.  It outnumbers the challenges we need to face as Real Estate Professionals.  However, one must not be led to believe that we are reaping rewards without giving commensurate work. Real Estate brokers are one of the most workaholic specie of workers I met so far. It is not unusual to find a real estate professional working 18-20 hours a day, 7 days a week just to meet a quota.  You may have seen real estate professionals offering properties during the holidays when they should be with their families.  It is not all roses and laughters.  Just like all other professions - hard work, integrity, ethical practice, and perseverance are important in this business.

Interested to explore a business opportunity by becoming a Real Estate Professional?

Send us an email at: sheryl.sollestre@gmail.com

God notes 1: God is good, always.

God is Good, always
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> I know I have always been blessed by God.  I am blessed and love from the time I was born until the rest of my days.
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> I was born in the basement somewhere in the Suburbs near Manila.  My father was a laborer in a cigarette factory and my mother is a housewife.  The midwife said i was born dead; i didn’t cry or breathe the first few moments of my birth.  Yet by some grace, I manage to take my first breath, cried, and live.
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> I was raised in our own house in the center of the Philippine Capital.  My father continued to be a laborer 2 cities away; while my mom focused her attention to raising their children – all 4 of us.  I am the eldest.  My parents are devout Catholics and we were brought up in the Faith.  I knew I had faith, but I knew it is a shallow one for it has not been tested.  All I know is that everything I prayed for were given to me: good school, good grades, scholarships.  We were comfortable.  Even if we do not have any excesses or the most recent toys, our parents were able to give us what we need.  We are not rich, but I was able to go to the Philippine’s best college by God’s grace.
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> In High School, I promised God I will do my best to become a lawyer.  After college, He used my Aunt to send me to one of the best Law schools in Manila.  It is while in Law school that I experienced trials; trials that challenged my Faith for 4-5 years.
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> The test of my faith started in Law school.  In law school, I got my first heartbreak.  During my 3rd year in Law School my aunt decided not to send me to school anymore.  I was so close to finishing the law and becoming a lawyer yet the opportunity to finish it passed by me.  My father resigned from his job and used his money to send me to school. He drained his money after a year so I had to work.  I worked for the family of 7. It is while I was starting out in a job when we discovered my father had cancer.  It is during this time that we experienced the greatest famine of our lives.  The next 3 years were the toughest.  The first year, I got out of my job and continue on with my business of selling houses.  That year was tough, my sales are down, and I need to provide for my family.  We ended up selling our furniture. We sold my law school notes and reviewers to the junk shop. We lived on USD 0.40 a day.  We are mostly vegetables from our garden, some rice.  There are days when we thought and hoped we will never wake up. We borrowed money from our friends, some from our relatives.  But as much as possible, we tried not to borrow.  We endured.
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> My father, bless his soul, endured these hardships like a man should.  We knew there is no one to help us with his sickness, no one to help us. We prayed. Yet there are times I cry myself to sleep talking to God, asking Him for help.
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> 3 years after that experience, we were able to get ourselves out of the rut.  My siblings learned our business and they started working on it with me.  We started to get known in the real estate business and we started to build our business with good clients.  Yet our Dad’s sickness worsened. In January 2012, he died in peace with the knowledge that his children have learned from life and can take care of each other.
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> In all these, I know God is watching and He has never abandon us.  The test of our faith was tough, it still makes me cry sometimes.  Yet in times of hunger, when we were at our worst, by some miracle we will be getting provisions – food, money for the bills.  We have never experienced our utilities being cut in those impoverished times.  When our father was dying and even when he died, help was there from our friends and relatives.  When lean times come for business, there will always be a sale to save us from going hungry again.
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> God’s grace has shaped us into who we are today. And I know and have faith that by God’s grace we will be able to do what He desires for us. We believe that this is what He wants:  “He wants to prosper us and to bless us; To keep us safe and not to harm us; to give us hope and a future.”
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> Truly, God’s love is abundant and it never fails. Nothing can keep it away from Him. Even death cannot overcome.  I have seen God and felt Him in every step of my life.

Meaning of the name Sheryl

I found this on http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyournameshiddenmeaningquiz/results/?result=Sheryl and I find the characterization true. I just wouldn't want to miss out by not settling down. I want to settle down too.

Here it is , from blogthings.

"You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong.
You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know.
You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out.
Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia.
Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.
You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.
At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.
You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.
You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in.
You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising.
You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.
You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.
Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. "


I can only nod, nod, and nod a little more. Thank you blogthings for this.