Life's Surprises!

I used to live in Malibu CA and everyone asked me, “Why do you live where there are Fires, Mudslides and Earthquakes every year?”. Now I live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the same folks ask “How can you live where there are Hurricanes, and Nor’easters?”.

But you already know the answer; it is beautiful, the oceans are breathtaking and I am not looking for safety. I am content with paradise.

Life is like that. Adventure requires risk. Status Quo requires, well, maintaining the same old same old. That has never been my goal.

Real estate is a new career for me. It was my last resort. I did not choose it because of my love for real estate. On the Outer Banks, one of the few ways to earn a good living is selling real estate. And I wanted to stay here after my job taking care of my father ended with his death in February.

But like almost everything else in my life, the best things happen when I am trying to make plans! Real estate is the place for me, absolutely. But how would I have known? For 18 years I owned an executive search firm in Los Angeles. Not even close to real estate, I thought. In fact, in July, 2000, when I came to Southern Shores to keep an eye on my Dad I expected to be here a couple years, three tops, then return to Malibu, start another search firm and jump back into my life on the Pacific Coast.

What I would have missed if my dad had left that soon! His living to the age of 97 afforded me the luxury of developing a loving relationship with him as an adult and the time to recognize this Atlantic paradise is where I wish to be more than any place else on earth. I love The Outer Banks!

My past work experience taught me to treat everyone with respect, check the facts, take responsibility for my own actions, set goals and have fun. With that background, my real estate business already feels like an old friend. I am looking forward to building a business based on client relationships and referrals, which is what I know. My future feels full of promise when many of my peers are retiring. That may be their status quo, but for me adventure is where it is at!!

Thanks, Dad, for the everything. And thanks to life for the surprises.