In 2020, while the world around us seemed a bit off track, I experienced personal changes. Maroney Real Estate became the MRE Group, we moved two hours further South and I became a Real Estate coach/trainer & managing broker for a new company in Middle TN, where I had been traveling back at least once a week and have been preparing on-line learning opportunities from recorded videos to virtual training opportunities via Zoom, Join.Me, Facetime and others for the next several months as that brokerage got up and running, and we got settled in our new home a bit further South.
I also obtained my AL Real Estate Broker's license and am looking forward to continuing to serve buyers & sellers throughout N. AL and Middle TN. I can't put into words how much I love my career, helping others, and making sure their journey of buying and/or selling is as smooth as possible, educating them on the process (and contract terms) and, as I always say, "not be a sign here" agent.
So why this website, why the blog?
In short, because of my love for people.
The story of Chasing Your Sunset and how the name came to be has been included in the blog. (See blog entry dated October 24, 2020 and December 4, 2020.)
Please don't judge; I am not necessarily applying the most strict grammar practices to this blog. It is intended to be more of an on-line journal. I often write in the blog late at night and sometimes find typing errors. I am usually on a roll as I type. Picture a gif of someone talking at record speed and never taking a breath. That's probably about how I'd look except it's typing, not talking.
If I am being completely transparent (my 2020 word), it is because I am also likely to be typing at an hour when I should be sound asleep! Late evenings have proven to be my best quiet time. My "be productive on things that don't have to be done" time. Those things that I am passionate about, but are a far cry from being top priority for my family or taking care of a real estate transaction.
As for the blog...if you're looking for a little encouragement or transparency of what helps fuel my ambition and keeps me going, it's in there also. I added in some of my old writings, many focusing on faith and perseverance during life's most trying times. It is my hope that sharing my story will encourage others.
My word for 2020 was TRANSPARENT. I have felt called to share my journey, but being transparent can often take bravery. It is not easy to put some personal writings out publicly! I have to say, when I felt transparent was meant to be my word for 2020, I didn’t understand why. I remember questioning why. I just knew very emphatically that was meant to be my word. I now know why. The time to be transparent was now. It is a God thing, I believe.
This would be the year I hear God say, “It is time.” This blog is me being the most transparent I could be, sharing publicly that which has only been privately shared or not shared at all.
If my story helps someone else or encourages someone else, then the transparency will have been worth it. Some folks in my life have encouraged me to write for some time. I am starting to listen. I still think, “Why? It’s just me. Who needs to hear what I have to say, I’m nobody special.” Yet I feel I have been called to write and I have never known where to start or what it is meant to look like.
This is that start.
I expect Chasing Your Sunset to be ever evolving. Through this career I love, I have had a chance to be the motivator, mentor and accountability coach to other new real estate agents. This has included being by their side as they complete the pre-licensing stage, to seeing them through the on-boarding steps of a new brokerage and on through all of the necessary training classes. I have found I love it and wish to do so more often. But one thing about me...I am not a pusher. I will encourage and I will be there for you, but I have to see you want it also.
Chasing Your Sunset (CYS) was formed on my drive from Middle TN to N AL one evening. You can read that story in the two blog dates mentioned above.
However, I even more greatly look forward to hearing from YOU! How are you doing? What are your challenges? How can I and others I know help? Is there something in this site, or blog that has spoken to you?
Whatever it is, I'd be honored to hear from you!
...Many Blessings.
~M.
