How I Started Building a Team

Many real estate team leaders start their careers with a clear goal: to build a successful team and grow their business.

That was not me.

When I left my corporate software development job in 2015, I had no intention of leading a team. I was drawn to the idea of running my own service-based business—one where I could make an impact and create my own rules, without the restrictions of corporate procedures. And for almost two years, that worked wonderfully. I was thrilled to design my own systems for working with buyers and sellers, marketing to my sphere, and setting my own goals.

Then, out of the blue, I received a call from Jeannie, a past client. She’d recently moved to Des Moines, had a background in marketing, and was looking for a part-time job with flexibility. She asked if I knew any realtors who might need a part-time assistant. Without thinking, I found myself saying, “Well, maybe I do!”

We set up a meeting for the next week, and as I spent the weekend preparing, my mind started racing. I had a mix of rational and irrational fears:

• "Will I have enough business to pay her?"

• "What if I don’t know what I’m doing?"

• "Do I need a contract? How do I even get one?"

• "How much do I pay her?"

• "What will I have her do?"

• "What if she realizes I’m not as organized as I seem and decides she doesn’t want to work with me?"

But then, something shifted. I started thinking about the reasons it could work:

• “I’ve been struggling to keep up with social media, newsletters, and growing my business. It’d be a relief to delegate these tasks.”

• “I’ve got enough saved to pay her for three months, even without pending transactions.”

• “She’s not looking to buy another house anytime soon, so I don’t have to worry about her being another client.”

• And most importantly: “It’d be amazing to have someone to work with, rather than feeling like I’m doing everything alone.”

And just like that, my team, Home Sweet Des Moines (brokered by Realty ONE Group Impact) started to take shape.