What?!?!! The rumors are true! At the Southern Adirondack Realtors annual business meeting 2020 it was announced. The few minutes leading up to that moment I had suspicions and thought I saw MY face flicker on the screen but when my name was announced I felt the shock of knowing nothing at all! It is such an honor to be recognized!
Recognition is a tough one for me to react to. I go blank minded and stutter a lot when put in the spotlight! I am working on that but it comes from years of being shoved into the spotlight as a kid. My Mom was a gospel singer and traveling with her, my siblings and I were often backup singers by default. I do not have the beautiful voice my Mom or my brother had so I always felt like the odd ball on stage. It was more than my adolescent self could take having all those eyes on me! One day around the age of 15 l finally told my Mom I couldn’t do it anymore. The anxiety was too much and thankfully her friend backed me up on that and she let me off the hook! Since then standing before crowds has been tough, even my wedding | forgot ALL the words I know! To overcome that I am forcing myself to do more of it! ugh it is true! I am working with Toastmasters and as much public speaking as I can stand!
I had noticed the strange behavior of my family the day of the announcement but honestly these days, everything is weird so I didn’t pay it much mind. I noticed my brokers logged into the the meeting when normally they are not, I noticed a picture of me pop up on the screen but I was so busy thinking all that, I wasn’t thinking about them calling my name!
These past few years have been some of the most challenging but rewarding days of my life so far.
Accepting the responsibility of being President of a 500+ member company is a task I took very seriously.
From the moment I agreed to take the helm, I read everything I could read about running a board meeting, I watched videos, I practiced with my family and asked TONS of questions. It was kinda ridiculous looking back. I was so nervous the first few meetings. My face turned purple and I stuttered through the entire thing! As the responsibilities grew so did my confidence. From there I thoroughly enjoyed the leadership role. I enjoyed the trips to learn more about the industry, the fighting at the capitals for property rights and homeownership advocacy.
I love being a real estate professional and I thank my fellow peers for their nomination and vote. I am so grateful for the nod and honor to serve the real estate professionals in this industry. I have very high level expectations of myself and those around me and l often avoid the spotlight so it is wierd to celebrate myself, but after a 19+ year career of giving all I have available to an industry that has given me so much, I am proud of what I have learned and accomplished.
Thank you Southern Adirondack Realtors. I am humbled and grateful!
These fellow Realtors of the Year ambushed me at my house with this amazing poster, greenery and award! I am in amazing company! Thank you ALL!
Judy Collins, Dave Collins, Nels Chrisler, Howard Denison, Tina Denison, Linda Gatewood, Angie Mead & Pam Dean