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I won’t lie. It’s been the year from hell.

I’ve given sound advice to people that wouldn’t listen to reason. People that allow their emotions to govern their souls and every decision that they make.

I’ve been forced into closing my real estate company (the franchise) because my partners and I couldn’t see eye to eye on how to run it.

I’ve gone round with one of the largest real estate organizations on the planet and came out with a few bumps and bruises. However, I came out alive and kicking. I’m still here…

I’ve been sued by my former partners for control of our company.

I’ve spent a fortune on attorneys.

I’ve lost over a million dollars in real estate commissions. No, that isn’t an exaggeration – if anything it’s an understatement. I kid you not…

I’ve moved 3,000 miles away to take a job because I couldn’t sell any real estate in Georgia while the lawsuit was going (my partners could have laid claim to my earnings).

I’ve followed the yellow brick road and peaked behind the curtain at the wonderful Wizards of Oz.

I tried to MeMe Greg Swann. That didn’t work so well… (Greg, I agree with you: If you want to know something just ask).

I’ve met wonderful people that will forever have an impact on my life.

I’ve met a few male chauvinist pigs that would benefit greatly from spending a few months in the South to develop some manners and common courtesy.

I’ve fired an agent and sent their license into the state along with a letter of explanation as to why they shouldn’t be allowed to practice real estate. What that agent did was horrible. If it were up to me they would be drug out in the street and….

I’ve had my privacy completely violated (over and over and over again) at work and at home. People coming into my house when I wasn’t home. Looking through my stuff. Listening in on private conversations. Standing outside my window and listening while they pretend to work on something…

I’ve had a real life, honest to goodness, follow me around, text me, call me, e-mail me, comment on my blog, show up at my house, threaten to rape me, have to take out a restraining order, stalker.

I tried to fire one agent because she was a complete slob, but because she wrote a large check to the owner of the company to help fund other ventures, I was denied. This agent is a total E/O nightmare waiting to happen.

I’ve given sound advice to people that would not listen to reason (Again). People that allow their emotions to govern their souls and every decision they make (again).

I’ve stood my ground and refused to back down when I knew that I was right. Even when I knew it would cost me. Dearly..

I’ve written propaganda to ensure that I got paid. I’ve never felt so cheap before in my life.

I was invited to join Bloodhound Blog.

I’ve not been paid for work performed and reimbursements for the company that I personally paid for. That’s fine. I won’t beg.

I resigned from the job that I took in Washington. There really wasn’t much choice in the matter.

I’ve broken a lease on a home that I rented because I had to move back to Georgia in order to sell real estate in a market that I was familiar with. I was stranded in a place that I didn’t really know and I left him (the landlord) stranded when he was overseas trying to work to provide for his family. I hate it. I really do but I did what was best for my family. I regret this the most and all I can do is try to make it right.

I had to abandon furniture because nothing else would fit in the moving truck.

I took my kids to see Mount Rushmore while driving home. If you haven’t seen it - GO! It’s awesome.

I won my lawsuit against my former partners and now completely own my real estate company. I won. Yet, I lost a lot more by winning and being right…

I had to fight (with words not fists) with the lady that held all the company’s assets in storage because she figured it would be ok to “borrow” some of the furniture and move it into her home. I still can’t quite believe that one - I shake my head thinking about it. That really took some nerve.

I’ve begun selling off items that belong to the company in order to pay people that the company used as vendors because the assets were frozen during litigation. Good people that have been victimized by the litigation and I will get the paid come hell or high water.

I canceled my membership to numerous social networking sites because I hated high school when I was a teenager and I have no intentions of reliving it as an adult. I’m not about to kiss the rear-end of anybody to get noticed. I don’t need the approbation - I need closings.

I canceled my membership on Twitter because I’m not a follower. I really don’t give a flip what you are doing or where you are doing it at. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like you as a person (then again it might…). It just means that I’m way to darn busy trying to dig my self out of a hole to be concerned with what you had for breakfast or what song you think is cool. I tried it. I really did but it’s a waste of my time. How you spend your time is your business, but I’m concentrating on my business.

I’ve started working on my own website and concentrating on building up my little slice of web 2.0 real estate. My business. I’m not renting and I’m not making the landlord rich. I’m not having any spend the night slumber parties to create a mutual admiration society. Nothing is free and I don’t wear PJ’s.

I’ve voted for a candidate that didn’t win and I didn’t even really like. But, I disliked him a little less than the other one.

I’ve been accused of being a racist because I didn’t vote for the other candidate. I guess because I’m from the South that makes me a bigot. Whatever…

I’ve been persecuted for my “religious” (translated: Grace Oriented) beliefs. I’m not religious but everybody seems hellbent on trying to make me become that way. I have a relationship with my Lord and Savior. I don’t have to try and get to God because He has already came to me. Thank you.

I’ve had other weirdo’s from the online world show up at my office and want to do lunch. I’m an introvert. I’m a recluse that just happens to sell real estate. I’m a movie person that has seen Wall Street too many times: LUNCH IS FOR WIMPS! I don’t want to have lunch with you. Ever. I’m happily married and you need to be taking your wife out - not me!

I’ve had to deal with people calling me up for sums of money ranging from $40.00 all the way to $20,000 that my company has to pay (and will pay now that the lawsuit is over). Yet, I haven’t called once for all the money that is owed to me. One of my attorneys wants to go after it now that the lawsuit is over…I don’t want to sue anybody. It is my belief that prosperity isn’t a thing – it’s a person and I know that He will look after my family and I. I don’t go around suing people but I won’t back down from a fight either. I never draw first blood but I will finish it.

I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter what people say or do. It doesn’t matter how they act or how they behave. I’m not responsible for them. I am only responsible for me and how I decide to respond. Basic? Yes, it probably is, but it’s a lesson that I’ve learned this year. I’m only 26 and I’ve got a lot more to learn.

Jason and I have started home schooling our kids and we enjoy it (School started a month earlier in Georgia than it did in Washington). We enjoy the time with them. We enjoy the excitement of watching them learn something new. What good did it do for me to gain the whole world and miss them growing up….

I’ve lost more money in the last year than my parents would ever make in their lifetime.

I’ve had more rumors about me than a celebrity dangling their child over a balcony.

I’ve watched everything that I’ve worked so hard for stripped and taken away because people wouldn’t listen to reason. Situations could have been avoided. All you have to do is keep a cool head and learn to think under pressure. Cowards die a thousand times…

I’ve had lawsuits that were frivolous and down right stupid thrown at me. I hear another one in Washington is on the way. One that could have been avoided and the problem began WAY BEFORE before I ever came there. Yet, I hear that I will be named in it. More lawyers to prove that I’m in the right (again). I know you’re reading and I will give you some good advice (even though you won’t listen): I always have my stuff together. Just ask my former partners and this very large real estate organization. You don’t want to do this…

I’ve watched my name be drug in the mud by people (agents) who are opportunistic and yet they follow every word I write and come to my site each and every day to see what I am doing. You want to know why you’re not selling any real estate? You’re too consumed with what others are doing and you’re not focusing on what you need to be doing. Don’t blame me. I didn’t kill your career. It was dead when I was 3,000 miles away. You better learn to adapt…

My business is down because I just got back in town and I’m having to deal with a bunch of Realtors® that preach ethics but don’t have the first clue about operating with integrity. You just keep on knocking on my clients doors. Have at it. I’m not going to hold one of my clients prisoner. My prosperity doesn’t depend on you and what you do. If you need a listing that bad - have at it. What goes around will come back around…

My kids have less under the tree than any other year. We didn’t take our annual trip to Disney World at Thanksgiving like we always do. My parents aren’t getting anything from me except for me being home.

I spent a fortune on my real estate company to try and create the “Camelot” of real estate and I quickly learned that you can’t give people something for free because they won’t respect it. If their blood, sweat and tears didn’t go into paying for the stuff, they aren’t going to appreciate it. They lack the capacity. I now have the capacity to understand that. A very expensive lesson…

I’m now selling those very things for pennies on the dollar to try my best to do the honorable thing and pay back what is owed.

Yes, it’s been one hell of a year.

And you know what?

I’m happier than I’ve ever been. My family is happier than they’ve ever been. We’re spending more time together. We’re having fun. I’m working with people that I genuinely enjoy working with instead of trying to have dominant market share. We are focusing on what’s important.

I’m not trying to prove anything.

I’m not trying to beat $20,000,000 in sales in a town where the average price is less than $150,000. Some other agent can’t beat my record. I’m not trying to be top producer. I’m not trying to gain attention. I’m not trying to be noticed. I’m not trying to be all things to all people.

I’m just being me.

For better or worse. For richer or poorer. Liked or disliked. Famous or infamous. Just me.

I’m not a superstar broker. I’m not a silver-tongued recruiter. Heck, I don’t even like 95% of the real estate agents that I am exposed to meet. That’s why I’ve fired almost as many as I’ve hired. My standards are way too high when it comes to my profession. Too high to try and manage a company of agents. I only want to manage myself and ensure that my brand isn’t ever diluted. You can be the biggest. I’m going to be the best that I can be.

The best real estate broker (that only sells real estate and isn’t trying to build any empire).

This year, the only present that I am giving to myself is the gift of Niche Orientation. The gift of realizing exactly who I am, what I stand for, what I’m good at and what I’m not good at. To be in harmony with my niche and focus entirely on my niche.

Everything else has to be eliminated. My time is way too valuable to be spending on things that distract me from my niche. From my mission. From my goal. From my purpose. From being the best real estate agent that I can be for my clients and my family.

There is no conspiracy. No shocking drama to share with you. Jessica didn’t do something to get kicked off “such and such” place/site. You don’t have to write and call with your “concern” for my well being (when you really just want to gossip). Jessica has left the building and I won’t ever be coming back.

It’s been one a hell of a year. I’ve got a long hard road ahead of me. And, it’s the best it’s ever been - it just keeps getting better. At least, that is the choice that I make.

So this is Christmas, what have I done?

I’ve lived. I’ve loved. I’ve lost. I’ve learned my lesson and now it’s time to move on. I keep on living, loving and learning.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Bloodhounds!

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