From Big Box Stores to Open Houses: My Journey to Finding Purpose

 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 God to show me if this was the right path. And step by step, He made a way.

Real estate felt like a fresh start—but it also felt like home. I quickly discovered that helping someone find the right property, or sell a house they’ve built memories in, is more than a transaction—it’s a relationship. It’s about listening, guiding, supporting, and standing by someone during one of life’s biggest decisions. And that’s something I’ve always been passionate about, even back in my retail days.

One of the biggest surprises was how much my previous experience translated. Leadership, communication, problem-solving, training teams—those skills carried over and helped me hit the ground running. But the biggest difference? Now I’m working directly for my clients, advocating for their best interests, not just hitting corporate quotas. That shift changed everything.

Along the way, I’ve found new purpose in blending my personal values with my professional work. As a U.S. Army veteran, I’ve always believed in service, loyalty, and commitment—and I carry those same principles into every deal. It’s also why I take so much pride in helping other Veterans. Serving and giving back to those that have given so much in defense of our country.

This journey hasn’t been without challenges. There have been seasons of financial uncertainty, moments of doubt, and plenty of learning curves. But I’ve never once regretted the decision to bet on myself, trust God’s plan, and step into something that aligned with my purpose.

I still carry the lessons I learned from retail—how to hustle, how to lead with empathy, how to manage chaos with calm—but now I do it with a deeper sense of calling. I’m not just trying to close deals. I’m trying to make a difference. Whether it’s helping a family move closer to their kids, or a first-time buyer finally get their keys, I count it a blessing to be part of those stories.

To anyone reading this who feels stuck, unfulfilled, or unsure about their next step—I want to encourage you. It’s never too late to change course. Your past doesn’t disqualify you; it prepares you. Sometimes the most powerful chapters come after the hardest decisions.

From big box stores to open houses, I’ve discovered that finding purpose isn’t about where you work—it’s about why you work. And for me, it’s all about people, service, and faith. Thank you for letting me be part of your journey, and thank you for being part of mine.