Mid-Michigan Realtor® - A glimpse at my life.

  Good day to all! It was a difficult decision on whether to write this week’s blog topic or not. I debated it for a while, wondering if it might stir up controversy or spark debate. But after some thought, I decided that’s exactly why it should be written. Sometimes the topics that are a little uncomfortable are the ones worth exploring. This week, I want to dive into a concept that’s been discussed, debated, and even criticized lately,  “The American Dream.” Before we can unpack why “The American Dream” has become such a hot topic, we have to understand where the term originated and what it really meant at the start. The phrase didn’t just appear in modern times; it was popularized in 1931 by historian and writer James Truslow Adams. In his book The Epic of America , Adams described the dream not in terms of wealth or status, but in terms of opportunity and potential. Here is an excerpt from his definition: Adams called it “that dream of a land in which life should b...

 For more than two decades, I worked in big box retail management. Walmart, Home Depot—you name it, I was there. I spent years managing hundreds of associates, overseeing operations, analyzing P&L reports, and chasing metrics. The work was steady, the pay was decent, and from the outside looking in, it seemed like I had it made. But somewhere deep down, I knew something was missing. The truth is, I didn’t feel fulfilled. I wasn’t waking up excited to start my day—I was grinding through it. I was building success for someone else’s dream, not my own. As much as I loved mentoring my teams and helping customers, I longed for something with more heart, more personal connection, and more freedom to serve others in a meaningful way. That stirring inside of me eventually led to a bold decision: to walk away from the corporate world and pursue a career in real estate. It wasn’t easy, and I didn’t make the leap blindly. I prayed. I questioned. I planned. I leaned on my faith and asked...

 Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to read my blogs. Your support truly means the world to me. This week, I felt led to open up about something different. Not a highlight, not a win—but a hard moment. A moment where life hit hard, and I’m choosing to be real with you all about it. Because life isn’t always filtered and polished—and I think someone else out there may need to hear this too. I always try to remain positive, to walk in faith, and to trust in my God that everything will work out for the good. That’s not just a phrase to me—it’s something I strive to live every single day. And even through the recent trials—losing my job, facing family drama, battling personal setbacks—I’ve held onto that faith. But even the strongest among us have moments of doubt. And this week, that doubt crept in deeper than I’ve felt in a long time. The breaking point came when my 2017 GMC Sierra started acting up. I assumed it was a minor issue—a sensor, maybe a loose wire. But the...

 First, I want to sincerely apologize for the delay in posting Part 2 of this series. Life has been... well, hectic. Between the demands of work, family, and everyday responsibilities, the days seemed to slip right through my fingers. But as I continue on this journey of growth and reflection, I’ve come to realize that delays like this one are opportunities—not failures—to learn and refocus. So, let’s pick back up where we left off. Years had passed since I first read The Pledge of Success in Reader’s Digest. I did my best to remember the words daily, using them like a compass to start each day with purpose. But that was only the beginning. The real shift came when our district manager handed each of us a copy of The Oz Principle as part of our leadership development. It was more than just a book—it was a mirror. A mirror that forced me to take a long, hard look at myself and how I approached responsibility. The Oz Principle centers on the concept of accountability—both person...