At 19, my oldest son packed his T100 and drove to Portland.
A home-schooled child, Ryan was my partner in crime. He was there when I bought my first sports car. Landscaped the entire back yard with me. We rode dirt bikes together. Rafted the middle fork of the American River. He was my roadie for many a concert performance. My sidekick on trips home to NYC.
He needed out of the small town and fell in love with Portland. The 23rd St. district to be exact. So he spent a week walking the streets knocking on doors looking for an apartment.
His goal, spend a year. Experience life with rain. And study for his license exam through Pro Schools.
Ryan already owned two homes. He had dreams of investing and wanted to participate to some degree in an industry in which I have been immersed for 12 years. His grandmother (my mother) sold real estate. It’s in his blood.
Today, Ryan called. My wife happened to be in the office at the time. He passed his test. Over 200 questions. He got almost all of them right. It was a cause for a celebration.
Today my son is a real estate agent.
He has become part of a great industry – a new entrant with ideas, talents, desires and hopes. He wants to make millions he tells me. The stack of books in his apartment stand testimony to his passion. Along with the links to scores of industry blogs he reads.
He wants to be independent. He wants to carve out his own niche. Make his way. Build his own empire.
I remind him that there is more to life than money: "I know dad," he says. But at 20, with gas, food, housing and all the basics at such a premium, making money is paramount.
Ryan is the next generation. A 20-year old independent self starter. He’s comfortable with gadgets. IM. SMS. The Web. He’s not big on social networks — he finds them a bit juvenile and a waste of time. They may in fact be, or he may not have found their purpose yet. A simple message uploaded to Twitter would save him hundreds of minutes of cell phone time.
He finds that intriguing.
I asked him if he plans on representing others. He thinks that at some point he will. After he spends time doing it for himself. Learning the ropes. Making mistakes on his dime rather than practicing on others. I suggested he find a mentor. A broker or an agent who can take him under their wing. I tell him to forgo earning right now. Do whatever it takes to get the education. Don’t be greedy.
There is a beautiful Windermere office around the corner from where he lives. The environmental branding within is worth beholding. I advised him to stop in and make their acquaintance.
That’s on his list. Along with this home he looking to buy, fix up and rent. But that’s tomorrow. Today, tonight, he will celebrate. As will my wife and I.
- Davison
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Hi Marc, congratulations to your son, and you and your wife also. To quenching the thirst of ambition…
Hey Marc,
Congrats to you and Ryan both. At 19 that's a pretty hefty challenge. If he needs anything from a title/escrow company have him get in touch.
-Jeff
Congratulations and good luck to your son, Marc. I know the feeling of watching them step out into the world. Mine just graduated college and is going to work in NYC– hedge funds, arbitrage, investment banking– I knew his poker and fantasy football prowess would pay off. First thing he said to me was "Once I get this job dad, I'm going to buy an apartment, so line up a good agent for me." Kids no more.
Thanks to those who have left and might leave future comments. Few things are as difficult as watching your babies grow up, become men and women and leave home to take ownership of their lives. The hardest part is not being there in person to celebrate in these achievements.
Wish I can hop a plane right now to Portland.
I know many you share in this. My #2 (daughter) just moved out now for the summer to practice for her fall move to UC Santa Barbara. They grow so fast!
I have two more at home so unlike Joe F I am not free and clear yet. And that's ok by me. Going to try to relish every minute I can with them. Seems lately, this has become a very important part of my task list.
Congrats Joe on your son!
Thanks Jeff. My guess is Ryan will see this in his reader, read and may reach out.
Congratulations to your family and you. That is obviously such a beautiful thing.
Marc,
Pass on my congratulations to ryan… I remember when he bought that T100 truck at 15. I'm now feeling old…
James….
Marc,
Congrats to Ryan! Way to go getting his license. Welcome to our rainy Portland/Vancouver area.
(Might I also suggest chatting with Prudential NW Properties) Our technology department is incredible!
Take care,
Dale
Allow me to add my congratulations as well. May Ryan set the world on fire. My youngest is at a 2-week acting camp at UCLA right now, and my oldest is leaving for Mizzou to be the next great Journalist. In our family, we make it a habit of making questionable career choices.
As someone that used to be a young real estate professional, I truly admire people that see the opportunity in this industry. I was a Realtor in my 20's forging my own path as well. It turns out that my technology requirements were higher than what the industry vendors or brokers at the time were providing so I set out to add my own value to the industry in a different capacity. Whenever your son is ready to go, have him contact me…I will set him up with some tools on the house.
Congrats to your Son…very exciting times!
If he just wants someone to rant to about the industry over a beer, I'm always available
I'll just sit back and smile and nod since he already has a great mentor in the family.
Marc,
Thank God your son had a great mentor to inform him how to do it right!
Maybe if he gets big enough he can hire 1000Watt to keep him on the right track.
With a three year old and one on the way, I can only imagine how proud you are at this moment and I wish Ryan nothing but continued success.
Best Regards,
Derek
Congrats to Ryan! Give me a call at RealEstate.com, REALTORS and we'll train coach and guide him to the top!
Marc,
Congratulations to you, and to Ryan. I'm sure he'll do well with his father's insight and passion behind him. If there is anything that I can do to help please feel free to pass my information on to him.
Matt
Okay, Marc. First of all, you look too young to have college-aged kids.
Secondly, can't wait to hear all about the Ryan Chronicles… 23rd street is so cool. I could totally live there.
Thirdly, high school is scary enough, can't imagine the leaving home thing. Guess I'll be dealing with it in a few years.
Trust your kids. You/Me/We have done our best.