The moment I stopped chasing numbers and started chasing meaning, everything changed.

 

 I never set out to become a REALTOR®. In fact, the idea only took root after my husband looked me in the eye and told me, “Honey, I think you’d be a lousy employee.” He wasn’t being mean—he just knew me well enough to help me see that I loved having a flexible schedule and had an entrepreneurial spirit that wanted to come out.

 

 I was in the thick of raising six kids on a ten-acre farm, juggling goats, chickens, and rabbits, and somehow squeezing in college courses for pediatric oncology nursing. But the thought of missing my son’s soccer game because of a nine-to-five? That was never going to work for me. My husband suggested real estate, and though I was skeptical, I gave it a try.

 

Before focusing on my real estate business, life had already thrown me some curveballs. I was married twice—first to a soldier, with all the challenges that come with deployments and distance, and then to the man my dad once told me I couldn’t date in high school. We reconnected later and fell madly in love. 

 

 We blended our families, and suddenly I was a mom to ten kids—six of my own and four bonus kiddos. There were years as a single mom, years of scraping by, and years of learning how to keep moving forward, no matter what. When I got remarried, I wanted my children to experience the small-town life I had as a child.

 

 When I got my real estate license in 2016, the first year nearly broke me. I hated it. I couldn’t find myself in the world of sales, comparing my numbers to other agents’ numbers. I spent a cold December soul-searching, asking myself if I should quit. But then I realized real estate could be about learning and helping people—two things I’ve always loved. That shift changed everything. My new goal was to consistently keep learning and to find meaning in every transaction.

 

Watching my children grow up and chase their dreams —from a stay-at-home mom to a soldier in the army and everything in-between—were both proud and bittersweet milestones. Suddenly, after thirty years of being “Mom,” I had time on my hands and no idea what to do with it.

 

 So I started exploring. I got into fitness, walking five miles a day with my dog, Tater, and hitting the gym. I discovered a love for travel—something I’d never really done until real estate took me on my first plane ride. Recently, I visited Yale, dreaming about going back to school for a women’s leadership certificate, maybe even a master’s or PhD someday. I’m a lifelong learner—to me, learning is fun—and I don’t believe there’s any need to limit myself. I’m having fun exploring all the options for continuing education.

 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life is a candy store—full of choices, surprises, and second chances. I’m still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up—and I’m currently in my fifties—because I know there’s no limit to how much I can grow, discover, and enjoy life.

 

 What makes me different from other REALTORS® is how I care for my clients. The mama bear in me comes out with each client: I look out for them and overeducate them. I’m not driven by sales numbers or how many millions I’ve sold; I focus on the people I help. I pay close attention to my clients’ needs, whether that means bringing a flag for a veteran’s new home or picking up toys for my client’s kids on a home tour. 

 

I’m fiercely protective and ethical, following the code of ethics to a T. I make sure no one takes advantage of my clients. I’m also honest from the very first conversation; I’ll always point out the good and the bad, even if it means talking someone out of a sale. My clients know that I’m looking out for them; I want them to feel educated and confident in their decisions. At the end of the day, it’s about making sure they’re taken care of, not just closing a deal.

 

Sincerely,

  

 

 

Kimberly Slucher