One out of a my thousand commenters recently chastised me that I wasn't writing enough hard core real estate material lately. I asked if he read the first hundred posts as I close in on the number 500? I think I must have hit critical mass since I know you can't please everyone all the time. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing.
This is another one of those fun type posts. As a REALTOR, Stager, loan officer, Title Company worker, appraiser, inspector, or Feng Shui Consultant, what did you want to be when you grew up? Ideally you get one answer and think between kindergarten and eighth grade, your formative years.
I want to see if there is any correlation between helping professions, being a socializer, or someone who is good with feelings or analytical and good with numbers and today.
I'll start, now that I am a REALTOR in this phase of my life.
I wanted to be a veterinarian.
So drift back in time and
REMEMBER WHEN and let me know.
Gary,
Before eighth grade I thought I had a vocation to the priesthood...now, 9 kids later, I'm sure I picked the right kind of 'father'...! Thanks, Fran
I wanted to be a Dallas Cheerleader! Go figure . . . I'm Canadian!!!
You got me going with the nostalgic song tonite....memories are fun, good and not so good....I wanted to be a Senator......glad I changed my mind now! Thanks...
I always wanted to be a model...I was pretty tall (not so much in Kindergarten) and thought that would be a shoe in but I quickly learned it helped if you were very very pretty according to someone other than your mom.
I remember asking my mom what color my eyes were and she said "Hazel" and I asked her if I had to be a maid when I grew up? How many of you remember that show???
As I got closer to 8th grade, it was a legal secretary like my mom. But in my junior year in high school I got closed out of a shorthand class (there I go aging myself again!) and the only class available was Intro to Accounting. That's all she wrote, I fell in love with it and did that for 20 years before stumbling into real estate.
How's that for a short answer!
Gary, I always wanted to be a designer, I was always artistic. First I became a Floral Designer, then a Visual Merchandise Designer and now I am the owner of a Home Staging Company. I guess you could say I am living my dream. Great post!
Hey Gary,
I always wanted to be a Sports News Broadcaster. If that didn't work, than a P.E. teacher. I wasn't able to do either one because I never got my degree. ho hum!! I do love doing real estate so I will take it!
Gary, I always wanted to be a major league baseball player. Unfortunately my baseball skills did not match my desire. I do love real estate though! Probably would have been my career after my stint in "The Show". In my deams anyway.
Funny... I want to be a oceanographer... even lived at the beach and constantly was collecting things, not to my mothers happiness.
Don't laugh - but I always wanted to be an Olympic Diver (or Gymnast)
I wanted to be an elementary school music teacher... but my husband got orders to San Diego about six months after I graduated with my Music Ed degree, and they didn't have elementary school music teachers. I got a job in a real estate office while he was deployed to Vietnam, just to keep busy, and the rest is history.
From the age of 16, I knew I wanted to be a police officer. You can't get more of a "helping profession" than that! At the age of 25 I realized my dream, and was a police officer for 28 years. But I had a "sub-dream" if you will: to be an interior decorator! I attained that dream, also, and was actually both a police officer (full time) and a decorator (part time) until I retired this March after 28 years as a police officer. Now, I am realizing a brand new dream...I am a home stager and I am loving it! Who says we can only have one dream. Helping people comes in many forms. Go for it, and do it all!
Gary
I have a sneaking suspicion that I did not set out to be a Realtor when I was younger.
I have done a lot of things I set out to do, yet time is a commodity that we do not get back.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
What a beautiful song and video... This song always makes me teary; guess because we're in the gray stage! Always wanted to be a gymnast and did that until I was 18, but no money for college so gave it up. Don't think I would have been Olympic material, so not a big loss. Not to worry, though, because all my life I also wanted to own a horse. Dreamt of it from the time I was about 6. At 40 my dream came true. We moved out of the city onto a ranch, and I spent 10 years breeding and training horses. Most fullfilling years of my life other than raising my son. Now that I am in real estate, don't have much time for the horses, but I am very grateful that I was able to pursue my dream! Thanks for the great post:)
Gary, like you, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Or a teacher. In my wildest dreams a singer (can't carry a tune in a shopping bag). The song on this post was so beautiful and achingly sad, at least to me. I can't say I ever thought I'd grow up to be a middle aged mom in the suburbs! But I do remember when. Beautiful song, I'm startin a new section in my quotes book. One section is quotes, one is for books I want to read, one is now for songs I want to get, and the last section is for how I want my life, my job, my marriage, my home to be.
Gary - I like the song, too! I wanted to be a pediatrician from the early years, and I entered college as a pre-med major. I think about it from time to time - I still think I would be a good doctor.
Gary, I always wanted to be a great actress/dancer - that ain't happening!
I thought that I might be able to be a secretary or an airline stewardess. I didn't know what a realtor was!
Gary, do you mean "after" I stopped wanting to be Robin Hood and Zorro?
Gary, Let's see -- when I was a kid I wanted to be a forest ranger, a jockey, a veterinarian, and a professional dog handler. Then when I went to college I wanted to be a psychologist.
Gary, my first role models were the Sisters of Charity who taught at The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin May Elementary School. Yep, I wanted to be a nun. That lasted until I was about 12.
Okay, one more post. Forgot to say I ALWAYS wanted to be a musician and singer (maybe a rock star!), but like another one of the posts, that ain't happening... Can't carry a tune. My father has been a country/western singer full-time for the past 45 years. Didn't make him rich, but he is still pickin', grinning and one happy son-of-a-gun at 75. He is very disappointed that none of his four children inherited that gift, but that's the way it is...
Hi Gary, From early childhood all the way through college, I was destined to be in medical research. For complex reasons I never finished. Regrets, sure, but I made the most of it.
Carole: It's funny that what you think you want then you don't want it. It is a learning experience.
Fran: I love that take on another Father that you became. Wow, nine kids must keep you busy!!
Tim: Good to know you're happy and content. Be whatever NOW it is you want to be. That's all that counts.
Susan Emo: We have Dallas Cowboy cheerleader tryouts each year. Come on down. Canadians welcomed.
David: Maybe we will see you running for office sometime soon?
Cindy in Indy: A cool story of a hazel eyed model not knowing shorthand ending in accounting then real estate. Interesting journey. You are still beautiful so go back to modeling on the side.
Barbara Cluck-Miksits: You got better and better with your design skills.
Livia: Sounds like you are outgoing with the sports background and now into real estate. You could get your degree in anything if you went back.
Jim: Now playing shortstop for the Yankees Jim Albano. Sounds good.
Kim: An oceanographer sounds like a wonderful job. Maybe in the next career?
Kara: With the current Olympics that might have renewed that interest for you in gymnastics.
Lorrie: Older, now younger, that's funny. You and all of us too!!!
Margaret: Wow, so close to using that music ed talent. Maybe you can do it on the side with the real estate.
Peg: A great three part career story with police work, designer, then Stager. You are an example of dreams come true.
William: Self employment is more rewarding.
Tom: Make the best use of your time cause they are not making any more of it.
Sherry Lee: I am glad you like horses as we do here too in Texas. Several Realtors here that are big horse people too. It can be done with real estate.
Susan Mangigian: Don't be sad. Songs bring out emotions. They are VERY good for us. Your journal is such a smart idea with the categories. I like it very much. Quotes, Books, Songs, All Your Dreams. I need to start something like that. Great stuff as always from you Susan!!! I bet you're not a bad singer. All birds have their own song remember. You too!!
Jason: It's never to late to start on that pediatrician work. You are such a family man. It is a fit.
Sandra: You can always try the local theaters on the actress and dancer and do it on a smaller scale.
Barbara Duncan: I think early on none of us knew what a REALTOR was.
Charles: Yes, you still want to be Robin Hood and Zorro.
Michelle: You are very diverse with those wide range of interests.
Patricia: Well we know you were "pure" to at least 12 : ) Boy, didn't that story turn around??
Sherry Lee (again): At least you considered the musician / singer thing. Your father sounds like he's the one talented in the family in that area and still going strong.
William: That's interesting where you "almost" do medical research. I think you could finish if you really wanted to. So either you have to go for it or decide you really don't want it. but either way be good with your decision.
Gary~I have a whole laundry list of things I wanted to be.....I wanted to be Miss America. I wanted to be a clothing designer, and a gazillion other things. The most important is I wanted to be a Mom!
Susan~I like your notebook idea. I will start my own notebook!!!
Hi Gary, great question. Like you and a few others, veterinarian was my 1st choice but I couldn't get thru calculus in college so instead I ended up adopting a ton of animals. It all seems to work out in the end. ;-)
I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Actually I'm still trying to figure out if I HAVE to grow up. At this age I'm thinking... not. :)
Gary,
Very interesting and I would have to say I am not sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, it's an age thing, but I am sure Real Estate and Active Rain addict wasn't on the list!
Pam you are such a pretty lady, you could have been Miss Boisean in that country!! Silly, you need to live in America to be Miss America (inside joke here)! Also, you are such a beautiful mom and your family is so pretty... every one of them! The last part, was very sincere. xxoo
Gary... sorry to intrude on your post! I am not hijacking this thing. It is a one time occurence. I won't say hi to Jesse or Don while I am here, because that would constitute a small hijack. I won't say hi to Jason Crouch. Really. I intend to behave. No bat signal has gone up here.
I wanna be a big rich...playboy and everyone likes me and all my fans hover around me asking why I'm so good looking and so dam popular!
Gary - great, fun post! I wanted to be an astronaut. Still do! Does anyone have Richard Branson's phone number? If I started a fund would you all contribute to the cost of my ticket? After physics kicked mt butt at 16 I switched to Communications - minor in theatre - go figure! i see some saying that they wanted to be a mom - funny - I NEVER wanted to get married NOR did I ever want a child (when I was growing up). Maybe that's why I waited until 31 to get married and 33 to have my son. Interesting how things change!
Batgirl for the Detroit Tigers.
Or, backup singer for Ted Nugent.
Think there's still time?
Gary - I wanted to be an accountant like my dad. I actually worked in the field for a while .
Gary, sorry to butt in again but I couldn't let my little brother Neal's comment pass of:
I wanna be a big rich...playboy and everyone likes me and all my fans hover around me asking why I'm so good looking and so dam popular!
Neal, honey, congratulations on all of your dreams coming true!! xxoo
Great post, Gary!
From the time I was little, I always wanted to be a cartoonist. Then I wanted to be a stuntman. And I almost made it doing both. But having kids at a very young age meant someone needed to buy food for them. So, I opted for something that actually paid me.
: )
Laughing @ Susan!!!
I'm still waiting for my visa to come to the USA.
It was a toss up between bank robber or writer. So, I chose writer.
When I was very young, I wanted to be a ballerina. Then an archaeologist. Later, an astronaut or an architect. I got stuck in the A category and said what the hell, zipped right down to the W's.
I'm having a hard time typing as I'm still laughing at what Elizabeth said above (bank robber or writer).
Let's see... First I wanted to be a teacher and then as I got older, it switched to flight attendant. In the end, I was neither. However, I did find myself training others and spent more time in the air than most pilots.
Kathy
Hey Long Legs! Hey Don! :)
Ooops... sorry Gary... Can't hijack a public post... can we?
Hi Jesse! No. We can't hijack a public post. I've been told that is an unspoken rule. So, no hijacking. We are not hijacking this post. Really. No hijacking.
Gary: When I was a kid I wanted to be a nurse or a teacher. I ended up studying journalism at my Mom's request and it really brought me out of my shell. So now I've come back to nurturing and teaching in my real estate career.
Hi Gary!
I always wanted to be a doctor but I enjoyed playing Monopoly with my friends.
Catherine
Gosh Gary someone chastised you for being yourself...hummm. I like your personal conversational style. It's relaxing. So tell us Gary, do you have a lot of animals now?
I guess I was a bit different I never grew up thinking about a profession but more of a way of life. A nice piece of land to grow vegetables, some fruit trees and a nice flower garden. Have a few mountains to look at while on the porch and a nearby lake for a dip.
I suppose I can relate it my staging business now. I strive to make my clients feel less stressed about selling their home.
Buy the way I do have a small vegetable garden, a perennial and annual garden and the lake is about 1/2 mile from my home. Next home maybe the Mt. view if I'm lucky.
Oh yeah one more thing, I'm still working on that growing up thing.
I wanted to be a stunt woman. I did some crazy stuff back then. :) The most fun I ever had though, was when I became an EMT. I absolutely loved that job. If I hadn't gotten hurt, I would still be doing that. :)
Gary--I haven't decide yet because I am not yet a grown up!
Hi Gary, I love that song. One the most beautiful and always makesme cry. Growing up I dreamed of being a singer/dancer... later a psychologist, but what was always most important to me was a white picket fence kind of life.
Ginger
Growing up I wanted to be a professional dancer. Now I love what I am doing but desire to do something to make a difference to solve poverty both locally and globally before I leave Earth.
BTW-I know this is an open forum-but I don't think anyone should be critical of yout posts.
Hey Gary - Not enough Real Estate Post????? Well, I come to your blog because it is something BESIDES just hard core real estate. Keep doing what you are doing! I love it!
Me - I wanted to be a teacher! People I know still see that in me. I'm the agent in the office that grabs all the newbies and says, "Come on with me I'm going to teach you to __________ !!!(put in the blank anything real estate)." I have scarficed my own time to help others learn the ropes and love every second of it!
Fabulous picture and absolutely love love love that alan jackson song, one of my favorites!
Princess, Doctor, National Geographic Writer, Photographer, Lawyer, Chief Bottle Washer, Lawyer...Photographer......Writer.......ooops........where is Realtor? lol
Gary, a provacative post.
I wanted to be a DJ-did that.
I wanted to be jouranlist...did that.
I wanted to own my own business...did that more than once.
I wanted to be a Mom... did that more than once.
Wanted to be me...still doing that!
I wanted to be the kind of person my children would look up to. Of all my accomplishments and dreams-this is the one I am most proud of.
Hi Gary,
I grew up following my Grandpa, who was a Realtor around. Believe it or not, it's what I wanted to do from a very young age.
An artist. I wrote a letter to that 'school' that advertises on tv about learning to draw and becoming a professional artist. I was probably in grade 2 so about 6 years old.
I got a letter back telling me to write when I was older...I was *very* disappointed. Crushed really.
Before that (before 6 years of age) I really wanted to be a cowgirl. After the crushing blow to my ego and dreams of being an artist I went on to wish to be a Solid Gold dancer, astronaut (short lived), Gold Medal Equestrian, Race Horse Trainer (did that!) and of course a designer.
I wanted to be a hair dresser because my mom said it's an easy job cutting hair all day.
Hi Gary... I wanted to be a pilot. I was fixated on airplanes from an early age and even worked in the airline industry while in college. I still think it would be exciting, but with the condition of the airline industry these days, real estate is looking like a better place to be! :)
I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was a kid. I had sketch books, my first fashion mag subscription when I was 9, created my own business cards and had my aunt teaching me to sew.
That was until I was about 12, then I developed acne and started to dream about being a dermatologist because I was in my derm's office once a month for prescriptions and stuff. Hey, they make good money!
Then in HS I realized science was NOT my thing, I reverted back to fashion but being I didn't pursue any drawing classes during middle and HS school, I focused on business...and went to college for Fashion Buying & Merchandising. I ended up on the Retail side of the court doing visual and management but burnt myself out after 14 years...and here I am...a Stager... Somewhere along the way I wanted to be a teacher, too...and I'm still not shutting the door on that either! LOL
Funny....I wanted to go to art school and be an artist! I dreamed of having a house with my own studio. I was such a free-spirit!