I’m no stranger to hard work. When I commit to something, I give it my all. But when it came to balancing a business with raising my kids, my kids always had the edge. Luckily, the changes I made led me to the career I have today.

 

I slouched back in my seat at the dinner table. It was another disruptive night, thanks to my siblings. I was the youngest of six, and a night like that was fairly common. I had a brother and a sister who struggled growing up and resulted in them getting a lot of attention. I was the quiet kid. I didn’t get the same kind of attention as the others. It made me apply myself in school. I was quietly determined to outshine them academically. I was also chasing that elusive “Good work, Marta!” and rarely receiving it. 

 

When it came time for college, I was ready to leave that environment behind. I’d go to school out of state, I thought! But my dad quickly shot that down. No, I’d need to choose something closer to our home in New York. What about medicine, I thought. My dad was a surgeon. Surely he’d appreciate that.

 

“You do not want to get into medicine,” he insisted. This was actually a recurring theme. At several points, I considered entering the medical field, only to have people dissuade me. In a sense, I understand. I’m a bit of a bleeding heart. I just wanted to help people. 

 

In the end, I pursued a career that lent itself to my skills in math and science. That career was engineering. Then, after watching the marketing teams, I moved into that sector, which was a lot more fun.

 

 Then I moved to Minnesota with my husband and had three kids in three years. We began to think a corporate career wasn’t the best move and decided to start our own company, a granite countertop business. We thought that would allow us more flexibility, when in reality, we were busier than ever! My husband was still holding onto his old job, so much of the work fell to me. I worked at that business until we had 22 employees, all relying on me. I was proud of my work, but exhausted.

 

On one particular occasion, my daughter said to me, “Sometimes even when you’re here, you’re not really here.”

 

That just about broke me. When my husband got home, I told him I was done running the company. We had to sell it. We did, and for the next several years, I focused on raising the kids—the most important job I’d ever had. Not an easy one either. I was used to the overly-busy schedule and being the boss. Still, it was the most rewarding thing I had done. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

 

I knew I wanted to work again once my kids graduated from high school, and again, it was one of my kids that suggested real estate. At first, I didn’t like the idea. I thought of agents as greasy car salesmen. But the seed had been planted. I knew I didn't want to go back to the corporate world, even if I could after a six-year hiatus. I couldn’t picture having a boss again. 

 

I had also developed an incredible skill set—my understanding of methodical procedures from engineering, the organization I’d cultivated through marketing, the ability to run a small business, and the nurturing empathy I’d employed as a mother.

 

On top of that, I grew up with a love of homes. My dad built my childhood home when I was two, and I thought it was the most incredible house in the world. I also adore the connections I’m able to build with people as an agent. I found a career where I can help people in a big way. I look forward to doing that for you. 

 

I remember receiving a text on my birthday one year. It was from a former client of mine, wishing me well. I had said thank you and asked how his family was doing. I knew his wife was pregnant and due soon. He said, as a matter of fact, she was at the hospital having the baby! We were going to share a birthday!

 

That meant a lot to me. It was a hugely important day for that family, and I got to be a small part of it. My favorite part of being a real estate agent is meeting people and forming connections with them. My clients are never a number. I have honesty and sincerity that my clients recognize. It’s not about the money for me. It’s about the client getting the win. 

 

 Knowing every day will be new and different doesn’t bring me anxiety. Instead, it brings me to life, excited for the next adventure. I can hardly wait to begin the next adventure with you!