Three Days Before Christmas: Gratitude for Growth
December 22, 2025
We’re three days out from Christmas, and I’m taking a moment to look back at 2025 with genuine thankfulness for what I’ve witnessed in each of you this year.
This year reinforced something I tell you all the time: growth comes through doing, not just planning. I watched many of you step into challenges you weren’t sure you were ready for. You took difficult listings, navigated tough negotiations, and served clients through complex market shifts. You showed up even when you felt unprepared.
What I’m Grateful For
You kept learning. You showed up to training sessions after long days. You asked hard questions. You implemented new strategies even when they felt uncomfortable. That commitment to growth sets professionals apart from order-takers.
I’m grateful for my rental properties this year – yes, even the midnight maintenance calls and difficult tenant situations. Each one reminded me of what you face when you guide clients through investment decisions. When you’re helping buyers evaluate rental potential or advising investors on property management, real experience matters. It keeps my teaching grounded in what you actually deal with.
What This Year Taught Us
The market taught us all humility. Interest rates, inventory challenges, and economic uncertainty reminded us that we’re guides, not fortune tellers. Your job is to serve clients with principles that work regardless of market conditions – and you did that well.
You learned to work smarter with listings. You got creative with marketing. You held firm on pricing conversations even when sellers pushed back. You helped buyers navigate a competitive market without losing deals or compromising their interests.
Moving Into 2026
I’m not making elaborate resolutions. I’m committing to the same fundamentals that worked this year: show up, teach what works, and help you build sustainable businesses.
Remember this: every listing you take, every buyer you guide, every rental property you help evaluate – you’re shaping how families find homes, how investors build wealth, and how communities grow. That matters.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you for letting me be part of your journey.
Until next time…
