My success, motivation and well-being are directly tied to helping other people understand, make change, succeed, or win. No matter where life takes me, I will always use my gifts, follow my passions and fulfill my greater purpose by helping others.
We had reached a transitional phase in our life. My role as an executive pastor was coming to an end after 12 years. My wife, Traci, and I devoted much of our lives to the church. It meant everything to us to help others and make a difference in our community. When I started searching for new positions, I realized Spokane, Washington, didn’t have the opportunities I was looking for. Instead of fearing the unknown, we decided to go all in and embrace the change.
Traci and I agreed that if we were moving, it should be somewhere warm. We considered a few places but ultimately decided Arizona was perfect for us. In preparation for the move, we sold everything, including our 4,000-square-foot house. In 2013, we transitioned into a tiny apartment in Arizona with little more than a folding chair for furniture. My wife worked for an airline based in Los Angeles, but I still hadn’t found a job. We were starting all over again, and I needed to figure out what I was going to do.
My Desire To Help Others
Working as an executive pastor, I realized how deep my desire was to help others. I found Christ while going through a very difficult time in my life after graduating high school. Before, I thought I would only find happiness through fortune and fame. Through Christ, I have been blessed to recognize living life to the fullest means following our passions and fulfilling our greater purpose. Mine is to help others. When I moved to Arizona, I wanted to ensure that whatever I pursued fulfilled my desire to help people.
Through speaking with a friend, it was recommended I return to real estate. I had been licensed in Washington in 1991 but didn’t know if I would return to the industry in Arizona. It had been a long time. The more I thought about it, the more I realized the potential I had to make a difference for the families I worked with. I could use the skills I had learned while working for the church to help people navigate real estate. It wasn’t the path I expected, but I was ready to take on this new challenge.
One of the first things I noticed upon entering the real estate industry again was that many people have had a bad experience at one time or another while buying or selling. Nothing is more disheartening than being told your dreams can’t be achieved or feeling like you are not being taken care of. It sparked a fire in me to help my clients achieve their goals and make great decisions. I wanted to do everything in my power to create a positive experience.
