Persistence does pay! I hounded, I mean called every real estate office on the Central Coast to see if they had any positions available. It was one of my fears, picking up the phone and phoning strangers, I'm shy at the best of times. Of course, until you really get to know me!
But I did it until I pissed people off. That's how people remember you right?
I wrote my goal down once a day and eventually after a lot of visualizing a position became available. I couldn't believe it, I was thrilled! I applied got an interview and then the call back. Apparently, the position that was advertised required more experience, but they liked me! They had a position coming up that I would be ideal for.
I was ecstatic! What? They want ME? Self sabotage set in! I fought it back and patted myself on the back for once. I achieved it because I worked hard and hounded people until I got it. I didn't give up!
I started my new job and loved it. I was out of the house three days a week meeting people and chatting and laughing. The kids were happy too which made me SMILE even bigger!
Until, the bitchiness set in and you know that point when you really get to know who you are working with? There was one woman who disliked me from day one, she would criticize my English accent and laugh in my face at it, constantly commenting LOUDLY about all these people migrating to the coast and think they own the place. It was laughable, one moment she would put someone down, really harshly and the second moment she would be complaining about her life and how unfair it was. She would voice it to everyone within earshot of how she wished her husband was more driven and had chosen a better paid career. She didn't want to be there, she didn't want to work, she envied all the women not working, who walked past the office, in their immaculate white jeans (she despised anyone in crisp white clothes, JELOUSY?). She would say, this is it for me, this is the job I will be in until I drop. I'll be here until I'm carried out. She thought it was funny! I felt nothing but sadness for her. Here she was at 50 something, STUCK!
After a lot of soul searching and not taking things to heart, not being a victim, it dawned on me, after only 3 months working there that I really do not EVER want to be in that position. So I thought, thought hard how am I going to get a promotion an advance from this position and how long would it take me to get there.
The light bulb moment, I decided to study for my own real estate license. That way, one day I would be able to work for myself. After a while in a position you get to realize the way things work in the office and whether the management and owners are wanting their business and staff to grow and expand. This office really didn't want to do any of the above. It was stagnant and it wasn't moving anywhere! It was a handed down family business and the current owner/operator was not in any way or form encouraging. If anything it was quite the opposite, he saw everyone who worked for him as competition and showed it publicly. I had to laugh at the Christmas party at his disappointed for not achieving the Salesperson of the year award himself. Instead he reluctantly, very obviously disappointed, had to award someone else the award for that year. RIDICULOUS, right?
So with my new found energy and commitment to study for my license I approached this said owner/boss. I wanted to let him know that I had a vision and I wanted to grow to become a Salesperson myself. He nodded, said 'look, its really not that easy, especially as you are a mum', Hang on, WHAT? What did you just say? Can bosses really say that? He then proceeded to explain, 'Well, I have noticed that you leave right on the clock at 5pm, to race out the door to collect your kids' again gob smacked! My working day ended at 5pm.
As angry as I was with the above conversation it only fuelled me to secure a Sales position. I studied hard at night and on my days off. I then got desperate and decided to hound offices again to see if there was a Sales position out there. Then, the friendliest, nicest Sales person in the office was sacked! Everyone was outraged, don't really know the facts why he was moved on, Sales politics!
So, this may be my opportunity I thought as did my husband and a few girls at work also encouraged me to go for it.
So, I decided to go straight to the source. I approached the boss. He basically brushed me off, explaining the sales role required lots of experience and a lot of hard work, he didn't think I would be the right person for the role. Okay, fine, pick yourself up and continue was the only option. His loss!
Again, this fuelled me to get out of this place! A lot of goal writing, EVERY day, called, hounded real estate offices, this time in overdrive! Then, magically, there was an advert posted on Seek. Only with my old employers from my Saturday job!
I called my old boss, had a great chat, explained I was studying for my license etc. He was responsive, encouraging and happy to discuss the job with me. I was absolutely ecstatic! Could not believe AGAIN after a lot of persistence, hard work, goal setting, goal writing, it worked! It truly worked! It paid off! I was employed, commencing in January 2013, in a sales position!
I DID IT!