We Have Survived, and Thrived, Thanks to You!

It feels like yesterday and I can remember it as clearly….checking the Texas Real Estate Commission website every two minutes to see if Give Realty had been entered into their system so I could  legally “go live” with the Give Realty brokerage website.

I can hear Donna Summer’s singing “I Will Survive” as I write this.  In July of 2008 I had been divorced for less than a year and had just had my 44th Birthday. Why in the world was I starting a business when I had such a thin financial safety net and have never been a solo entrepreneur before?  And why a real estate brokerage– where the only consistency is the inconsistency of a paycheck?  What the hell was I thinking?

When Give Realty was founded on July 23, 2008, statistically there was a 50/50 chance we would be around to celebrate our 5 year Anniversary. Not only has the brokerage survived, but I have personally found my life’s passion in the process.

It hasn’t always been easy.  Mistakes have been made, a few bridges have been burned, and many lessons learned.  Most importantly – treasured friendships have been formed; I finally figured out what I want to do with the rest of my life and I’ve never been happier.

AngelLogoIf you have seen the invitation for the Anniversary Celebration today, you will notice an angel theme. That’s because we consider each and every client to be an Angel Investor in Give Realty. Thank THEM for what they have allowed Give Realty to do for the community. They are the reason why over $250,000 has been donated to nonprofits.  Without clients, we can’t give.  I’ve often said the greatest benefit of the business model is the caliber of our clients and their willingness to make the world a better place.  They do so, not just through the business model, but in their everyday life.  Our clients are stellar examples of why Austin is the place to be.

There are other contributors too.  I’m not sure Give Realty would have survived if we had started the business in some other city.  Not only did Austin’s economy hold up better than most, but the entreprenuerial spirit is thriving and the community has been extremely supportive. A big thank you to the nonprofit community as well!  You’ve been instrumental in spreading the word and sharing our message.

It really takes a village to keep it all together. I hope that each and every one of you understand how important you are to our survival.  We are really looking forward to the next five years. We can’t do it without you!