As we continue moving into the second quarter of the year and the spring selling season is in full force, I always find it beneficial to sit down and reflect on the highlights and lowlights I have encountered compared to last spring and now. Although it has been a very busy, and trying time for me, it has also been more rewarding than anything else.
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Starting my journey with New Home Star in 2015, I’ve had the opportunity to work my way up the new home sales career path, which resulted in my promotion to Sales Manager just a few months ago. Prior to joining the company, I spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved the camaraderie and close bond you share with your brothers and sisters in arms. After I retired, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do “when I grew up.” The military was all I knew. So, I hit the drawing board and did some research on how to become a Real Estate Agent, and after much debate, I decided to take the plunge and give it a shot. I ended up at New Home Star, and this was by far, one of the best decisions I have ever made.
I can still remember my first week, and how excited and nervous I was during that time. A lot has changed in these past three and a half years, and I have a few extra grey hairs in my beard, might be a little “fluffier” around the waistline, but I still get excited to go to work which is something that many can never achieve in their lifetime. I have been trained and mentored by some of the best people in the company, so I don’t get nervous anymore. And I can honestly say, I feel the camaraderie I never thought I would experience again. New Home Star truly is a family environment to work in, and it's one I never want to leave. If that wasn’t enough, if you have dreams of moving up to a leadership position, it can happen (with hard work and dedication).
Working my way up the career path, I am currently a Sales Manager with the growing firm. But obviously, as I said, I worked my way up, I didn’t start there. By working one-on-one with my manager and always being clear on my professional ambitions, we have worked to make my dreams a reality. This management style is not acceptable in every organization, so having the ability to explain what your wants and needs are in the workplace then setting achievable goals is one-of-a-kind, and taught me to push myself to ensure I earned what I wanted: his job.
Not only was my manager invested in my goals, but he became my true mentor, taking me under his wing to help groom me for advancement. Shadowing, taking on more responsibility, and leading were the roles I took on from that day forward. As the New Home Star MENSA member for my team, I was already trying to help with the training program we had in place, but the scope increased as I began training four new hires for our division through the year. I would also step up in my manager’s absence if he was out of town or pulled to a training event. And then there’s also the builder and sales side of management as well. I learned how to do profit margins on each deal that came through and also began taking on negotiations, adding more and more to my plate with each new week, month, and quarter. I’m not going to lie; there were times I questioned myself about my decision in telling my manager that I wanted his job because boy did he make me work for it! It was a testing time as I continued selling in my community, juggling training team members, and serving as a part-time Sales Manager.
Yet, over time, it just became a routine. I gained more confidence in myself and had learned to be proficient with my time management. It wasn’t easy, but I loved being challenged. I learned so much by just listening and going from the mindset of a Sales Agent to the role of a Sales Manager. The balance necessary for management is vital to the success of both the sales team and the builder; when one end of the scale is falling, it’s most likely that the other side would as well in this case.
Today, I am proud to say that I have successfully taken my mentor’s job. He is in a new opportunity with the company, and I have officially taken the reigns of the Huntsville, Alabama team, for which I am forever grateful. I will continue to give it my all to continue building on the success of my local team as well as my national one as we Build the Best New Home Sales Company in the World.
I wrote this not to pat myself on the back for what I have done. But instead, my hope is that one of you reading this, who has aspirations to pushing yourself to get to the next level, will let your manager know “I want your job.” We have a company full of people ready to cheer you on and help mentor you like I was. So, I dare you to dream bigger and not to be afraid to take the leap into leadership.