Introvert to international speaker

By Karen Bellows Bingham, Sales Representative, EXIT Real Estate Professionals, NS

“Have you ever wanted to be a real estate agent?” That simple Facebook post seven years ago changed my life forever.

That post wasn’t sent to me, it was just a general post in my newsfeed, but at that moment, I thought “Yes I have”. It was something I had wanted to do for years but I always felt I didn’t have the “looks” or the personality to do it. Every agent I have ever known was pretty confident in their looks – they had their photos everywhere – but I have always been the type who hated getting her picture taken. I decided to follow through anyway.

I met with Scott Grace at the EXIT Real Estate Professionals office and I decided to look further into it. I talked to other real estate agents and friends and family and asked them to give me their honest opinions on whether they thought this was something I could do (both physically and personality wise). I was amazed at the support I received. People just didn’t say yes, they actually wrote me letters saying why they thought I would be a good real estate agent. I decided to go for it.

I started studying for the Real Estate exam and I passed it on the first try. Whew!!! (Thanks, Scott, for the study sessions). I started work as a real estate agent the next day. I could not have picked a better office. They are amazingly supportive. I could not have a more supportive broker than Scott Grace. He really cares for all of the agents.

Being in real estate has increased my self confidence immensely. I have gone from being an introvert to someone who is considered an international speaker (I’m still an introvert by nature but I work around it). I have gone from being someone who hated getting her photo taken to someone who has done professionals photo shoots and have been on the cover of a national magazine and on promotional materials for international companies. I once hid the fact that I had lymphedema and now I am the Founder and President of The Lymphedema Association of Nova Scotia and an international spokesperson for lymphedema awareness.

You may think, what do all of these things have to do with becoming a real estate agent? I started off a bit slow, but I met people through open houses and my clients really liked my introverted style. My broker and colleagues at EXIT Real Estate Professionals supported and encouraged me every step of the way. Their confidence in me boosted my confidence in me. It helped me do things that I would never have thought possible. I have now completed the broker licensing course and passed the broker exam.

My main reason for sharing this was to let you know that If you are interested in a career in real estate, don’t just brush it off and say that you are not the right type. It takes all types. Maybe it is your type that certain people are looking for in a REALTOR®.

Have you ever wanted to be a real estate agent? 

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