Today, I want to share a personal story about my career path and hopefully encourage someone who is standing at the edge of a big life decision.
Back in the summer of 2016, I was watching an episode of Family Feud on YouTube with my son. Steve Harvey was hosting, and at the end of the show he walked into the audience and delivered one of the most powerful motivational talks I have ever heard. It is often referred to as “To Be Successful, You Have to Jump.”
If you have not seen it, I highly recommend watching the video below. That message stuck with me, and honestly, it changed my life.
At the time, I had been a professional environmental engineering consultant for nearly 20 years. On paper, I was successful. In reality, I dreaded going to work. Deep down, I knew there was more to my life and career than sitting behind a desk at a large company. Walking away from something I had invested half my life in felt terrifying.
From that moment on, I rewatched that video almost weekly. It became fuel. Quietly, I began planning my exit.
For three years, I worked relentlessly, often 80+ hour weeks, splitting my time between my full-time engineering role and building my real estate business on the side. Forty hours as an engineer. Forty hours as a Realtor. It was exhausting, but it was necessary. I needed proof, both for myself and for my wife, that this leap was not reckless. It was intentional.
The turning point came in 2018 when my real estate business took off and surpassed my engineering income. That year brought a lot of soul-searching and hard conversations, but the answer became clear. I had to bet on myself.
On February 1, 2019, I officially resigned from my project management position and stepped into my new chapter as a full-time real estate agent and drone pilot.
Was it scary? Absolutely. A commission-based income, a new industry, a young family, and real-life expenses do not exactly scream comfort zone. But that decision completely changed my life. I wake up inspired. I love what I do. And I have reached personal and professional heights I never could have imagined just a few years earlier.
If you are feeling that quiet pull, that sense that there is more out there for you, but you are unsure how or when to make a move, I would love to help. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation with someone who has been there.
I am happy to meet for a hike, a bike ride, a ski trip to Mt. Rose, coffee, or lunch. Let’s talk about where you are, what is holding you back, and what your “jump” might look like.
Send me a private message, call, or text me to connect.
📞 Call or text: (775) 525-0309
📧 Email: Ken@livinginsouthreno.com
And remember, to be successful, you have to jump.
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