As I mentioned in my end of year recap I had taken the classes and passed the state exams, but that was just on the 23rd of December. Things didnt really get interesting for me until the very last day of the year. 
On December 31st at noon I discovered that I was officially welcomed into the fold, as my application for licensed real estate broker was accepted by the state. $700 to take the classes, $150 to take the test(s…. I took it 3 times), but the $60 I paid to apply and become licensed in the great state of Indiana was the key… I was there. Or so I thought.
So a little back story before I get into everything… yes, I know this is how I talk and this is how I write, so bear with me, please.
**I am a person who needs structure – or at least I have had it for my whole working career until now. Although I was not scared to tell upper management what was or was not working, I still “knew” that the only way in life was to work 9 to 5 and bring home a paycheck every other week. I cringe as I typed that because part of me still struggles with that. I have heard a million times “we have always done it, and we arent changing it now” and have even been accused of having that mindset (which in all actuality I am more of a figure out what works BEST and go with that… if it doesnt work, then try something else. Work smarter not harder) but that is not the case, I just thrive within boundaries and rules. At work at 9, check reports, send out letters, lunch at noon-ish, complete needed inspections, return voicemails, leave at 6… with the more than occasional late hours through the week and then from home work on the weekends, it was just part of the job for me. I knew it and I knew it well. Having no schedule or a flexible schedule was unheard of for me! I stayed within the rules and was a firm believer in the policy and procedure manuals. See photo evidence here:
Anywho, point is, I have lived in the worker bee cage and I was ok with it. Very ok with it even.
Back to the new thing…
Once the license is approved by the state, I wanted to become a member of the Board of Realtors – a REALTOR, by the way, is a real estate broker with a higher level of ethics and values. I realize that most agents are part of MIBOR (the board), but not a requirement exactly… however if you are serious about this as a career it becomes your primary connection to all things real estate. Tech support, seminars, etc. These things are not mandatory, with the exception of MIBOR Orientation. This was my all day class/training where I read the Realtor Oath and sworn in, pinned, and bonafide. I am not just a real estate broker, but a true, honest to goodness, REALTOR. Yay! 
Now, here I am less than two months past getting my license and becoming a Realtor and trying every day to learn more, to attend all of the trainings I can get, and still work on #becomingabetterme.
At 43 years old I have started over. This is new and I am equally scared to death and excited for this new adventure. I wake up each day now trying to figure out my next step. What do I need to do to make my career better? How do I find and help those who are looking to find their starter or in between or forever home? What is my next step? How do I get there? What is my next step? What is the best way to get myself out there????
WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP????
That is the truth, I don’t know the answers… but everyday I am embracing this change, wanting to succeed, and knowing that when I take off, I will continue to give all that I have to make myself the best REALTOR I can be. As always this is just one step forward in this #becomingabetterme plan.
If I had to rank 2017 on my “Top years of my life” I would say it was not in the Top 10… Not the Top 20 even. 2017 was really a rough year for me. Especially on the heels of 2016, which happened to be freaking amazing. Do not get me wrong, there were good times, I am not saying it was all bad, but it was very challenging and there were several changes.
Story of a Better Me #becomingabetterme 