I often get asked why I started my real estate career now, and not when my kids were young. Well, here's the reality—when I had my first child, we were moved to Victoria. I tried to work in the field I studied in university, but it just didn’t work out. Between my baby needing me, getting sick, daycare issues, and the looming student loans, it was impossible. Add in military life with no real support system, and I had no choice but to put my career on hold.

Then we moved to Halifax—another coast, another attempt. I still had student loans and still lacked support. Every job I applied for seemed to label me as either overqualified or underqualified. We were down to one income, and it was a struggle to keep up with the financial burden.

Finally, we made the decision to move back home. The kids were still little, and I needed flexibility because my husband had left civilian work in oil and gas to return to the military. That transition came with its own set of challenges, but it was necessary for our family.

Fast forward to today—my kids are grown, we’re more financially secure, and I have the time to pursue this profession full throttle. But let me be clear: the costs are real. Realtors pay a lot for licensing, fees, advertising, fuel—everything adds up. It’s cheaper than going back to get my master’s degree, sure, but this is not a cheap profession to break into.

Starting out, I feel like a little fish in a huge pond filled with strong sharks. I’m just beginning to make ripples, hoping they’ll grow into tiny waves. This isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. While I want to sprint, I’ve accepted that success takes time.

I spend a lot of my time dispelling misconceptions about what being a Realtor is really like. I’m qualified to handle new home builds and licensed for all of Alberta. And if I don’t know something, I ask the “sharks.” Yes, I’m scared and stressed. Yes, it’s a lot of work. But I am the business, and I know that once people start to see me, it’ll be great.

If there’s one thing I’m learning, it’s to lean on my social network, recharge when I can, and just breathe. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day—and neither is a successful real estate career. But with a little patience, a lot of hustle, and maybe the occasional glass of wine (or two), I’ll get there.

And hey, if I can survive military moves, oil and gas chaos, and raising kids, surely I can handle a few sharks in the real estate pond. Right? Right?