I still remember the day I boarded a Greyhound bus in Phoenix heading to Roanoke, Virginia. I had a duffel bag, a ton of energy, and no idea what was really waiting for me. That ride was almost three days long, and during that time, I read The Secret. I was tired of playing small and was hungry to find something more. That trip marked the beginning of my door-to-door sales career—and ultimately, the path that would lead me to real estate investing.

I didn’t know it then, but knocking on doors in 41 states was preparing me for something bigger.

Learning to Sell (and Listen)

My first job out there was selling home security systems. It was me versus the world every single day. I learned fast that if I didn’t knock, I didn’t eat. And beyond just selling, I learned how to talk to people—how to read their body language, how to hear what they weren’t saying, and how to build trust in the first 15 seconds of a conversation.

Later, I moved into selling for Dish Network and climbed the ranks to become one of the top reps out of 400+. That meant long hours, a lot of rejection, and a whole lot of growth. But then, life changed.

My wife and I had our first child, and I realized that being on the road five days a week wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed to pivot.

Stepping Into Real Estate

I didn’t jump into real estate with a ton of money or a detailed plan. I started with the same scrappy attitude I had in sales. Instead of knocking doors to sell products, I was now knocking to see if homeowners were interested in selling their homes.

At first, it felt similar—still had to deal with rejection, still needed to build trust fast—but this time, the stakes were higher. I wasn’t selling a $50 a month subscription. I was asking people to sell me their biggest asset.

My early deals were small, sometimes just wholesaling a property for a few grand. But each one taught me more about the market, contracts, negotiations, and people. Slowly but surely, I went from hustling for checks to building real assets.

Sales Skills That Made It Possible

Looking back, I realize now that everything I learned in door-to-door sales gave me an edge in real estate. Here’s how:

• Confidence under pressure: Whether you’re asking for a listing or trying to close on a property, people want to feel like you know what you’re doing—even if you’re still figuring it out.
  
• Reading people: A homeowner might say they’re not interested, but their body language might tell a different story. Learning how to listen between the lines can make all the difference.
  
• Handling rejection: In sales, you get told “no” more times than you can count. That thick skin helped me stay the course in real estate, especially when deals fell through or people backed out.
  
• Persistence: Success doesn’t come to the guy who knocks twice. It comes to the one who keeps showing up. In both sales and investing, that consistency separates the amateurs from the pros.
  

Building for the Long-Term

The biggest shift for me was changing my mindset from quick wins to long-term value. Sales had taught me how to make money fast, but real estate taught me how to build wealth.

Now, instead of trading time for money, I focus on building assets that pay me over time. Some deals are rentals. Some are flips. Others are partnerships. But they all add up to something bigger than just a paycheck—they’re building a future for my wife, my three kids, and the life we want together.

And let’s be honest, having a little more freedom to coach my kids, hit the golf course, or just be present with my family—that’s what really makes it worth it.

Advice for Anyone Looking to Pivot

If you’re reading this and thinking about changing your career path—maybe you’re in sales, maybe you’re hustling in another field—my advice is simple: don’t be afraid to start small.

I didn’t have a fancy business plan or real estate license when I got started. I just had grit, a willingness to learn, and the courage to knock on the next door.

Learn your local market. Talk to people. Make offers. Fail forward. The biggest thing that separates those who succeed in real estate from those who don’t is action.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, I’ll always be a hustler at heart. It’s who I am. But now, I hustle smarter—not harder. Real estate has given me the ability to be present for my family, invest in my community, and build a business that’s about more than just making money.

Every house I buy, every family I help, and every lesson I learn is part of a bigger mission—to live a life full of energy, integrity, and purpose.

And it all started with a bus ticket, a book, and a belief that I was made for something more.