Change comes to all of us in one form or another and in many different ways.
Change can be welcome or unwelcome. It can be embraced or it can be fought. It can also mean many things depending on whether it’s a verb, noun or intransitive verb (whatever THAT is!).
But, in my case, the change that will occur at 5 PM on Friday, October 30, 2009 is going to be welcomed and fully embraced. For at that moment I cease being an employee and will return to my entrepreneurial roots.
For most of my career in real estate I have been a manager, a director or a trainer. As a manager I have managed real estate offices for Merrill Lynch Realty, Prudential California Realty, Mason-McDuffie Real Estate, Alain Pinel Realtors and Pacific Union. I have been the IT Director for Mason-McDuffie and also the Training Director for Pacific Union. I have also listed and sold houses in both Sonoma and Contra Costa Counties.
In that time I have trained thousands of agents in northern California in the basics of real estate listing and sales as well as how to use technology in their businesses. While I enjoyed the IT and the management functions that I have performed, I have loved working one on one with agents, helping them grow their businesses.
As a California Association of Realtors Certified Instructor, I have trained agents in the GRI program from as far north as Rocklin and as far south as Bakersfield and from San Luis Obispo on the west to Oakhurst on the east.
As an NAR ePro Certified Trainer I have worked in Maui and all over California as I introduced agents to the value of getting an ePro Certification.
While at Pacific Union I developed over 15 different training classes ranging from Business Development classes like Prospecting, Business Planning, Listing Presentation and more to Technology classes and social media classes.
Along the way I became an instructor for SRES and WinForms. I have also taught classes on BrokerMetrics, AgentMetrics, Clarus MarketMetrics, DocuSign and AgencyLogic.
And if you are reading this, you know that I have authored a popular blog on technology tools for real estate agents with tips on how to use them from a business building perspective. http://RealtyTechBytes.com has been published weekly since late January of 2008.
So, it’s a natural for me to open my own training and consulting business. And that is what I am in the process of doing. I am looking for space to work from (I can’t work from home as I cannot walk past the refrigerator or pantry without stopping by for a lingering visit). I’m determining my business name, developing contracts, opening business accounts and generally getting ready for next Friday evening.
I welcome your comments, your thoughts and of course your business should you need help navigating the rapidly changing waters of technology, social media and real estate!
I hope to connect with you soon.
i definitely agree!
Jerry,I am not at all surprised by this news, but I am excited for you. I look forward to seeing the next stages unfold for you.Congratulations and good luck.Ally
Buffini and Ferry who? Its all about "The Kidd"!
Excellent Jerry! You'll do fabulous of course! I consider it an honor to have worked with you at Alain Pinel. You're destined for great things. (oh and ignore Don, not sure that name conjures the images you're going for lol – no offense Don! 🙂
Jerry you rock! looking forward to following your next moves.
Congratulations & Bon Voyage on the this stage of your Jerrney!
Congratulation…looking foward to seeing you out there!
Congratulations! Good for you. You can name the new company "Jerry's Kidds"
Excellent Jerry! You'll do fabulous of course! I consider it an honor to have worked with you at Alain Pinel. You're destined for great things. (oh and ignore Don, not sure that name conjures the images you're going for lol – no offense Don! 🙂
What a lesson this is for me! I should have used you to the limit while you were with us at Pac U. I guess I took you for granted and now you are gone! sniffle, sob. What am I going to do about the social marketing class that I was planning to finish? (it's all about me) No, it's all about you Jerry, thanks for everything and good luck! You are the greatest trainer and now the world can beat a path to your door!xoxo
OK…fine,,,I'm excited and I think you should work here…at my house…I'll lock the frige..I swear!! I have room. Pack up!! When you grow out of here..you and Frank can go get a big boy office!! (then I'll bring you food)!!! You already know how I feel about you. I'm not worried about missing you! I like the Name ideas…talk later hot shot!! xoxo Love, Michele
C'mon Catherine – we can all call ourselves "Jerry's Kidds" for having worked with him in the past!
Congratulations, Jerry!!
That is fantastic news!!
Keep me informed~***
ET 10.25am
Hi Jerry,
Congratulations on the new direction! I wish you all the best. Will you keep up your blog? I’ve enjoyed reading your posts.
Thanks ET. You know that I will!
Hi Cheryl- Thanks! And yes the blog will live on. In fact it’s due for an appearance change. I am looking at different designs now and will most likely run a poll to see what my readers prefer. I will also step up the frequency of posts to be able to cover things that haven’t been covered due to time constraints.
You go, Jerry! I only wish that I knew a portion of what you have forgotten. You’re my special guy, best friend, and loving husband!
It's been great working with you, Jerry. I am sad to see you go. Best wishes – your new adventure sounds great!
Congrats on the next step! It’s smart to know if working from home or working for an office fits your working style better. 🙂
We’re looking forward to seeing more blog posts from you!
Thanks for your comment An. It’s more about me knowing how to “Fit” in my clothes than it is to fit in with my working style! 🙂
Jerry, as I have the pleasure of working with you and seeing all the wonderfully positive comments your students always have for you, I am certain you will prosper in your next venture. Congratulations from GRI! Looking forward to your future blog posts.