A New Beginning

It's been quite a road from where I was at this time last year. Never did I expect myself to undergo such a drastic career transition. But here is the reality of it.

From 2020 when I, along with many others, lost my job in the men's fashion industry, I've been constantly trying to reinvent and redefine myself. I worked some odd jobs here and there and then turned my focus to real estate. First working rentals and then going on to get my real estate broker license. I owe a lot to my old dear friend Tiffanie Rothwell for showing me the fantastic opportunity and was grateful enough to be affiliated with her amazing agency, Keller Williams Prestige , seriously, if you're thinking of becoming a broker in Montreal this is where you need to be. I loved the positive, inclusive atmosphere and multiple opportunities for coaching and development there. From 2022 until this past April I put so much of myself and my identity into it until it became clear that financially, I could no longer sustain being in business and so I decided to not renew my license. It pained me internally a great deal because I temporarily fell into the "what will people think" trap, I associated so much of myself with being a real estate broker that I feared losing this whole identity I created for myself. At the same time however, I had to face facts and realize that the stress associated with the work brought out the worst in me which I sadly carried into my home life.

Once it became evident in September 2022 that a new job for steady income was needed I had no idea where to look. Then when an opportunity through a recruiter came about for a sales coordinator position at a company 10 minutes from my house came up, I figured I'd give it a shot and go interview, enter FoxMind Canada Now in no way was or am I a hardcore board game enthusiast but when I walked in there I just had a good feeling about the place and about the people. Small office, small family-like team, not uptight or "corporate" at all, exactly what I like! Before long however, I began feeling a little discouraged with the role, I was kind of just getting by with my brain on autopilot while I trudged along doing real estate on the side until my license expired in April. Then, enter Jake Beauchemin into FoxMind. Taking over U.S. sales he saw the potential in me to work with him and learn from him in growing the U.S. market for the business, coupled with a change of position from Sales Coordinator to U.S. Specialty Account Manager and it lit a fire under me to want to learn and know more about the industry and sharpen my skills. And so it is this road that I am currently on, feeling confident in myself but more importantly happy with what I am doing. The daily stress and pressure I put on myself with real estate has been replaced with peace and calmness. And it has also given me time on the weekends to pursue my passion of dealing, buying and selling antiques and collectibles. I am finally comfortable in saying what it is I do and not trying to hide the fact that I am not in real estate anymore. Am I saying that I've closed the book on real estate for good? No. But for the personal goals I have on the horizon in wanting to start a family and being present in my home life this is what aligns best. I'm on this path and I've now embraced it fully and looking forward to seeing where this takes me.

If you've made it this far reading, I thank you and I hope that this can help someone struggling with an identity crisis in their own career.