Searching for true success and fulfillment
How I got into Real Estate, Part 1
I started full-time real estate in 2012 at the age of 41. The two jobs I had just prior to real estate are part of the story why I chose this business. Here’s what happened during my 40th year of life—from 2010 to 2011. It’s the story of my search for success and fulfillment in life.
Success is not about Louis Vuitton
When I turned 40, I took a hard look back and asked, “What do I have to show for my life so far?” and “Am I headed in the right direction?”
I had one failed marriage already, and was dating a guy who refused to commit—I went to the Big Island by myself to celebrate my 40th. I was not finding success or fulfillment in the romance department.
My professional life was rosier: since 2002, I was at a local company called Maui Divers Jewelry and had worked my way up to Senior Vice President of Retail Sales. I reported to the CEO and oversaw 50 stores in Hawaii, Guam, and Vegas, as well as the Training and Customer Service departments.
The job consumed all my time and energy. I was on call 24/7: salespeople called for discount requests, managers for advice and encouragement, and the alarm company called every time an alarm went off—almost every night. I didn’t have time for friends or hobbies. I didn’t have time for God or church.
I was making a great salary but didn’t have time to spend it. I built up my savings account but also frivolously bought designer bags and shoes. I thought nice things would help me feel better, but I began to realize materialism is a fleeting pleasure and a never-ending chase. Some consider an LV bag a sign of success, but no material thing can bring success or fulfillment.
Linda, my best friend from college, turned 40 the same month as me. We had similar backgrounds growing up in church, but we had both fallen away from our faith. Linda had achieved much success professionally as an educator and yet also felt unfulfilled and disappointed as our 40th birthdays approached.
To encourage her, I suggested she and her husband try going back to attending church. She laughed and said I should take my own advice! Together, we made a pact to go back to God.
God’s success and fulfillment
God is always waiting to welcome us back. I felt His love and acceptance as He became the anchor for my life. Just in time, too—some major storms were coming.
My renewed faith helped me realize the futility of the relationship with my boyfriend. I had been in denial how unhealthy the relationship was. As I followed and pursued God, I rediscovered my identity and worth. The inevitable breakup was prolonged and painful.
Then, my beloved Maui Divers CEO announced his plan to retire in a year. He brought on a CEO-in-training who seemed to have it out for me from the beginning. She repeatedly berated me and found fault with everything. I asked the HR manager to be present for a meeting hoping to have a calm and professional talk, but my future boss still ended up lashing out at me. When I burst into tears, she ended the meeting with disdain saying I was a weak leader.
I cried out to God with self-pity and genuine distress. As I drew closer to Him in prayer, I began to hear His still, small voice: He was going to move me away from Maui Divers—but He didn’t tell me what was next. It was a test of faith: did I trust God to eventually provide the next job and take care of me?
A divine appointment in Vegas
In February 2011, God gave me the courage to give Maui Divers Jewelry my advance notice. My CEO asked me to stay a couple of months but the CEO-in-training said two weeks would be fine. We compromised on a date about a month out, and I began preparing my teams for my departure and transition.
While still at Maui Divers, I looked into a couple other job opportunities but they didn’t work out. God had other plans for me, but He still didn’t let me know what.
I wrapped up my duties early and my last week at Maui Divers found me idle. Our Customer Service manager, Steve, had been hospitalized while vacationing in Las Vegas, so I decided to go see him. He had been fighting cancer and sadly, his battle was ending.
I booked a hotel near his Vegas hospital so I could make several visits. On March 10, with his wife and I at his bedside, he prayed to accept Jesus! For the first time in my life, my heart and soul were bursting with joy: this was true success and fulfillment—working for the Lord!
That evening, a few of Steve’s Buddhist family members got upset and banished me from the hospital. So, in the early morning hours of March 11, 2011—my last day with Maui Divers Jewelry—I headed to the Vegas airport.
While waiting for my flight back to Honolulu, I saw shocking live videos and news of the devastating earthquake and tsunami happening in northern Japan. Watching scene after scene of destruction, I heard God clearly speak in my heart: my next job is in Japan.
God’s timing is perfect…
Even though I wasn’t following God during most of my 8 years at Maui Divers, God still watched over me and guided my steps. (Also, my mother was praying for me daily!) He even had a plan for all that income I had saved—it enabled me to volunteer in Japan and it also carried me through the first lean year in real estate.
God rarely lets us see or know His whole future plan for us: He usually guides us only one step at a time. We must have faith and take the first step—even as we are still in the dark about the second and third steps. My first step of faith was to give notice to Maui Divers not knowing what my next job was. It wasn’t until my very last day at Maui Divers that God unveiled my next job.
In my Christian adventure which started when I turned 40 and continues to this day, I have come to learn God can take His sweet time, but is always right on time, often just in the nick of time.
Are you hesitating to take the first step of faith? God is calling you to trust Him. Don’t worry about step two and three—and fifty and one hundred—God has planned everything and it will be for your good. Try not to worry about tomorrow as you trust in Him for today.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. - 2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. - Hebrews 11:1 (The Message)
Come back in March for Part 2 where I’ll explain how my volunteer job in northern Japan prepared me for real estate. Next month, I’ll be reporting on how things are going with the NAR changes, 6 months in. Aloha and God bless! Ali
I'm glad to know more about your journey, Ali.