When my brother-in-law asked me to join him on a business trip, it sounded like a great opportunity to surf, and I eagerly accepted. When he fell ill, I was suddenly in charge of running the trade show. If it hadn’t been for that, I would never have ended up where I am today.

When I was in my later teenage years, my brother-in-law owned an export management company. They exported merchandise to Mexico and South America. At the time, I was in my first year of college, and most of my interest in his business began and ended with “Are there beaches, and can you surf on them?” My father was a businessman, and he insisted that I take business classes. I had wanted to be a songwriter and didn’t suspect that business would lead to anything other than a humdrum career and a mundane schedule.

At 17, my primary activity was surfing. But beyond the next wave, I wasn’t sure where I was heading in life. So when my brother-in-law asked me to help out, I had no reason to say no. He was tired of going on those trips on his own and thought it might be fun for me and give me some work experience. And sure enough, I only had one question:

“Can I bring my surfboard?”

One of those early trips took us to Peru, and we were lugging around merchandise for a trade show. I was excited to observe my brother-in-law working his magic at the show, picking up any lessons that may serve me later. It was a shock when on the morning of the first day of the show, he woke up looking deathly ill. He had the flu. There was no way he was going to be able to go.

“You’re gonna have to do it. You know Spanish, right?”

If I had been asked to do it, I would have said no, but I could tell we didn’t really have a choice. At the time, I was armed with only four semesters of high school Spanish. Not really an ideal situation. But desperate times call for desperate measures!

I soon found myself on the floor of the trade show, discussing our products with Peruvian businessmen! I relied on a lot of smiling and a positive attitude to help get through the awkward lulls in the conversation, as I tried to figure out how to explain our marketing strategies with 2nd year Spanish. The morning was horrendously nerve-wracking, but as the day went on, I discovered I was actually enjoying myself!

By the end of the weekend, I was hooked. I got to meet a ton of people and talk about products that I discovered were legitimately interesting. And I liked the Spanish aspect too! I like it so much, in fact, that when I went back to school, I decided to double major in business and Spanish. It hadn’t been part of the original plan, but I was adamant about pursuing it. That was a major that I got to take for me.

I was able to continue making those trips with my brother-in-law, but now I could communicate effectively, which made it all even better. There were surfing, scuba diving, and introductions to new and interesting people all day long. It was the ideal college job. Even the most devastating forest fires start with a little spark. For me, that job was the spark. I look back on it as one big happy adventure.

The lessons I learned doing that job are ones I carry with me this day in real estate. I discovered various roles in the industry that I enjoyed, but being a fiduciary broker has been the most gratifying. Seeing the satisfaction that I’m able to bring to my clients is the best part of the job. I’d love the opportunity to bring you that same satisfaction.

I have real estate expertise in many sectors. I’ve worked with former builders on new builds, have done management appraisals, and have a background in loans. All of this experience has resulted in invaluable knowledge that I can use to help my clients get the best deal possible. I don’t cost them money; I make them money. I think the most important skill in my arsenal is the ability to talk to people. To truly communicate, listen, and understand what a client is looking for makes all the difference. When we’re working together, my clients come first, and I come second. Moving is one of the biggest stressors, and I’m there to make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible. Mastery comes from understanding that the minor details are just as important as the major issues. The little things are the ones that catch people off guard, but I know what to look out for. I see myself as more than a broker. I’m a planner. I can give you the blueprint that will take you home.