Happy New Year IMPACT Agents!
As the new year is upon us, many of us are thinking about resolutions or embracing the “word of the year” trend. It’s a time to reflect on where we’ve been and look ahead to where we’re going.
In the real estate industry, 2024 was a year filled with unknowns. The unknown can be one of the hardest things to face—it makes us feel stuck, powerless to act. But sometimes, the unknown isn’t a call to act immediately but to wait. And waiting can be excruciating, but in times of waiting and reflecting there can be remarkable growth, but also provides us the opportunity to prepare for intentional action.
I was reminded of this recently by something our founder Kuba said in a Realty ONE Group video. He shared the story of the bison, which doesn’t run from storms like most animals. Instead, it charges straight into the storm, confronting it head-on.
This idea resonates deeply with me, especially when I think about my mother’s life. When I was just two years old, she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The doctors gave her six months to live, but she refused to accept that. Her response? “Heck no! I have two babies to raise, and I plan on doing it.” And she did.
She faced her storm with grit, courage, and determination, outliving her prognosis by over 20 years. She raised me and my brother, teaching us life skills, showing us love, and making an impact on everyone she met. My mom passed away in 1994 at the age of 45. I was 22 years old. Those years she fought so hard to gain were full of life. She didn’t just live for herself; she lived to make a difference. Whether it was singing loudly in the grocery store, (which was embarrassing to me as a kid) striking up conversations with strangers, or pouring herself into "over-teaching" me everything she could thinking each day was her last, she was always charging into her storm. Her legacy lives on in the people she touched and in the lessons she left behind.
At Realty ONE Group Impact, that same spirit is woven into our DNA. When Adam and Robb set out to build this company, they were guided by one word: Impact. They wanted to create a real estate company that made a meaningful difference—for agents, clients, and the community.
That vision drives us today. We don’t shy away from challenges or uncertainty. We face them head-on, like the bison. Of course, there will be mistakes, missed opportunities, moments of fear and times to wait in order do discern next steps. But those moments are where we grow, learn, and build the tools we need to keep moving forward and to be better each day.
As we step into 2025, I encourage you to reflect:
Let’s make 2025 a year of courage, growth, and IMPACT.
Let’s live each day with purpose, like my mom did, and strive to leave a legacy of positivity and strength. Together, we can face the unknown and create something truly remarkable.