Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Home Selling, Moving, & Career Reinvention: A Real-World Guide | All Roads LTR Podcast | Ep. 61
15 Plays6 days ago
If you’ve ever wondered how anyone manages to sell a home, buy a new one, handle a rent-back, pack their entire life, switch states, and keep their sanity—this episode is for you.
Emily opens up about leaving Georgia, finding community in Baltimore’s iconic Rogers Forge, buying her first home, and now—years later—selling it amid unexpected obstacles and a government shutdown.
She talks candidly about the fears and rewards of entrepreneurship, the pressure moms face, the power of supportive partnerships, and how to chase a life that aligns with your values.
Recommended
Transcript
The Charm of Rogers Forge
00:00:00
Speaker
Explain to someone who doesn't know what je It's like a Hallmark movie. we They put up these lights. We string lights from one house to another during Christmas time. And it's like, it's a thing. Like everybody goes into the yard their yards at the same time, right after Thanksgiving. We string these lights from window to window. It takes all this collaboration. sure And then, like I said, it looks like something like a Hallmark movie when you drive through our neighborhood. Halloween. Halloween's on tomorrow. And it's insane. I've never seen a Halloween like it before my life. If you live in Maryland, you should come to...
00:00:30
Speaker
sure for Halloween because it, I mean, it's incredible. Let's not talk too many people about it. That's true.
Introduction to Matt and Emily
00:00:43
Speaker
right. Hello, everybody. This is Matt Ryan on All Roads Lead to Real Estate. And I have ah a bittersweet moment here. I have a guest today who is a client of mine who's leaving the state. So unfortunately, unless life changes dramatically, we won't get to work together again. How sad is that? It makes me so sad, Matt. I know it's so sad. So the guest I have today, her name is Emily Johnson. And first of all, thank you for joining me. Thank you for having me.
Emily's Move to Maryland
00:01:10
Speaker
And so she is someone that I think how many years ago has it been? Has it been maybe five years?
00:01:16
Speaker
i Right around five five. Somewhere in that ballpark of roughly five years, I met Emily. Do you remember how we met back in the day? Oh, gosh, I think we literally just filled out the form on Zillow. That's it. And that was it. You gave us a call.
00:01:31
Speaker
That's it. So when you think if you're going to have some creep show up when you click Zillow, occasionally that creep is me. That's what the moral of this story is. um I don't really do as much Zillow as I did once upon a time, but back then I did a whole lot more of it and occasionally get a creep like me. so We're so grateful for for you, Matt. Creepy.
00:01:50
Speaker
Creep and all. no So you might end up on a podcast. You got to be very careful on the Internet. Yeah. yeah So Emily came in. And so her story, I thought, was certainly worthy of a podcast. And and I want to kind of at least go over in broad strokes and then we're going to get drilled down a little bit. But you just had a very, in my opinion, interesting story. You're not from Maryland. Right.
00:02:12
Speaker
and So Georgia. Yeah, she's from Georgia and she came here for a couple reasons, which we're going to go over. do you want to start? I guess you could should is share a little bit of your background, how you ended up here when we first crossed paths and then I'll explain little bit
Challenges of Selling a Home
00:02:25
Speaker
more since then. OK, so um it was it's almost been eight years now. um I met my husband in Savannah. So I'm from Georgia, born and raised, only lived there. And he came down for something through the military in Georgia. So we met and he could not move. He was born and raised up here and working up here. But I'm a nurse, so I'm yeah way more flexible. um So I actually got a job at Johns Hopkins. and just made the move and stayed. I stayed. Yes. So um I've been a nurse at a couple different hospitals around and about. We lived in the city for a while. We moved to some apartments next to where our first home was. um And then we met you. And Matt sold us our first house. So That's it. And I i told you, you have to consider this place in Rogers Forge. You did. Right. And so it's interesting because we've actually that particular home in Rogers Forge, I had the listing for, if you recall. And so I was trying to help place them in a home that they purchased and had to maneuver that, which is a web. And it's one of the other interesting components because there's so many reasons why I wanted you on here. One of them is to help address a question that everyone seems to consistently have with me. And that's how
Balancing Career and Entrepreneurship
00:03:39
Speaker
in the world do i figure out the the logistics around selling a home, moving?
00:03:45
Speaker
You have a rent back as we speak. I do. Like that ends in a couple days. yeah And all that means, guys, is that that she was able to sell her existing home. And we negotiated, in your case, a free rent back, not for charge. So you're living for free at your existing home.
00:04:01
Speaker
yeah And then you have to head out and go to the new home that you're buying in Georgia. Yes. You're headed back home. I am. So that, you know, I think people are going to want to hear from you for that reason. One of those reasons, because I don't know how you felt, but doesn't it seem almost impossible? Doesn't it seem bizarre to be able to navigate all of that? Oh, absolutely. i mean, I can't imagine doing it like without you and your team. Yeah. um I mean, if you didn't have a good realtor, I think you would just kind of be you'd be screwed, to be honest, because there's just so many different moving parts. And especially like I feel like we were so young and fresh when we bought our first home, like we knew nothing at all, you know. yeah, so um yeah just just so many moving pieces.
00:04:42
Speaker
It can be. So that's, you know, we're all going to get replaced by AI one day, but there ah there is a reason why we exist for the moment. and And so that even happened when you purchased the home because we had, do you recall, we had a rent back? Yeah, they rented back from us. Yeah. So occasionally it works out for everybody, but you have to know all your options. But, you know, before we get to the other stuff, I want to just, if they say double click, I hate that term, but we're about to use it. We're going to double click on that because If you're listening to this and you're figuring out how do I make a move and make all that work? So what was your thought process, honestly? Because I do it on a regular basis. I coach people through it. But from your perspective as someone who hadn't from the selling perspective, you never done that. No, no. I think that was scarier than buying, honestly. Really? Yeah. Yeah. Because what's the fear? What's the what's the ah objection in your head?
00:05:30
Speaker
I think it's just once again, just all of the unknowns. It's like, where do you start? yeah And then, you know, how much are we going to sell it for? And are we going to get what we want for it? But, you know, it's just like, just once again, just like so many, so many new things selling for the very first time. Um, And then where do you go? And if you do sell, it's like, well, where do I move into? Am I going to have a home to move into if I sell this first? Or, what you know, am I going to be able to run it back? am i There's so many different questions. But what I always try to tell people, and I told it to you, things have a weird way of working out. They do.
00:06:03
Speaker
And I'd like to say I've almost been doing this 20 years now and I haven't made it. No one's been homeless under my ah protection here. And so it it it has a tendency to work out and you follow the steps. You guys did everything to list your home really well. Like your house, I refer to it as like a pottery barn home. I love that.
00:06:20
Speaker
And it's the way I feel like I walk in and it looks ah like it's already staged. And that's just you're like, no, this is us. It's messy. I'm sorry. I'm like, no, it's like that's ridiculous. you know, there's one toy on the ground. And and so you you prep your home. You did all the things, all the little touch ups. Those are the details that matter that put you in a driver's seat to be able to negotiate those things.
00:06:40
Speaker
So you have to, like, take the advice. So you can't just go to your doctor and he tells you or she tells you what pills to take. And then you take none of them. And you're like, I don't know why i'm not getting better. you You took the medicine. Yeah, absolutely. And you followed the steps and did it. So that should that should hopefully encourage people that it's possible.
00:06:55
Speaker
You're leaving proof it's possible. It's not that it's not stressful. No, still stressful. You know, you're still moving. It's still a million moving pieces. but um But that's one piece I just wanted to get out there. But the other is that you have a journey as a nurse that you trained for, you had a lot of schooling for. Mm-hmm.
00:07:13
Speaker
And then hearing your journey of trying to figure out like, you know, you've kind of transitioned away from the traditional what I would consider a traditional nursing role into this whole other thing. You're now an entrepreneur.
00:07:25
Speaker
I see you on social like hopefully you post this when this airs and people can kind of hear your
Emily's Entrepreneurial Journey
00:07:30
Speaker
journey. Of course. In addition to what you see on your social. Because to me, that's inspiring. So yet you're a mom and you have a two year old who's like the cutest thing ever. And and so you're busy doing that. You know, your wife, you have ah another career as a nurse and you're starting a business to hopefully have right even more opportunity in your life. Yeah.
00:07:54
Speaker
And I think that is got to be overwhelming to almost anybody. Oh, and by the way, you're moving like we just mentioned. So you're doing all these things. So it's like I want to hear directly kind of a what inspires you to try to go do all of those things. I imagine the easier thing to do would just continue down the nursing path and just do that. I'm imagining that's the simplest, right? The most straightforward. Absolutely. Yeah.
00:08:17
Speaker
And so why why in the world would you choose to almost suffer more, at least now, to do all these other things to try to change your situation? Like help explain to me why the pain is worth it.
00:08:28
Speaker
um so one of my favorite people, she's, um, is she's somebody that's a little above me in the company, but she has a quote that's, you have to be willing to be out of balance for a little while to have balance for the rest of your life.
00:08:41
Speaker
And, you know, i just wanted more in life, more than what my job I was doing from home was with for nursing, um, and not just for money. I mean, obviously the the financial part of it was, you know, definitely part of my push. Yeah. But also the idea of time freedom and being able to work for myself one day, not being on somebody else's schedule, you know, being able to travel more, all the different things like that it would do for myself. So I, you know, I just tell myself that it's going to be worth it in the end, that I'm going to run off of those three or four hours of sleep or, you know, I'm not going to go to bed till after midnight and I'm going to work three jobs a day and it's going to be worth it in the end.
00:09:18
Speaker
So. That's crazy. I think it's easier to say. I've heard people say something similar, but I think getting the courage to actually do something about it is a whole nother thing. And I think, um I mean, you're so put together every time I've ever seen you're put together, you got your stuff together.
00:09:32
Speaker
But I'm like, i would I would assume that it's still it can be chaos at times. It's like it's not perfection is not a thing, right? I'm running out of the door to come here, Matt. yeah And
Inspiration and Societal Expectations
00:09:42
Speaker
I was literally told my husband, I said, my adrenaline is going to run off one day. And when it does, I'm going to crash for days. yeah He just kind of looks at me like I'm waiting on it. But I mean, seriously, though, you know? Yeah. So. So I i just think that's really neat. and i'm And I mean, in your in your world currently, do you have other inspirations? Do you have you seen people that are maybe further along this path that you see and you like it gives you the the capacity to say, I know it's worth it. I see someone that's been there before. Yes. And here that's where I'm going. Yes. Yes. um I was at a conference recently, a training, and I mean, there are thousands of women, honestly, within this company that have made it. They retire their husbands, you know, but it's even more than that. They get up there and they help other women do the same thing. They help other women. They inspire other women and they're walking the stage. And it's just very, very inspiring. So yeah for me, when I see that, absolutely. I'm like, if they can do that, I can do that. Like, it's possible. Yeah.
00:10:36
Speaker
So. Yeah, it's it's possible. So and how does it feel like this is ah an honest question coming because I hear it sometimes that it's so different for men and women, even though we're not supposed to say that it is right. There's different expectations that I think moms have that dads have, you know, and there's just different feelings because I've heard from other women that have pursued careers that are in businesses they're just like it's different like if you're not dropping off your daughter at daycare or you know you're not as involved they they like look down at you almost it's a different set of expectations or a double standard for sure do you ever feel is that real or am i or have i just been misled in that No, it's it's very real.
00:11:15
Speaker
That's a very real thing. As a mom, you're supposed to have very set roles and their responsibilities you're supposed to take care of and they're supposed to come first all of the time, you know. um So that's definitely been a little bit of a struggle, a little bit of a balance. But my husband's wonderful. He's great at helping fill in and he never he never mind stepping up for the daddy duties or the mommy duties that he has to fill in for sometimes. So, um you know, I have meetings at eight o'clock at night all the time. So he's he does bath time and he does, you know, he he's great in filling in there. So I just have to say that I don't care what anybody else thinks.
00:11:48
Speaker
So, you know, I just have to be like, we're making it work. And however we make it work, Well, that's all that matters. So that's also well, I mean, i think without support. So I think you're fortunate because you're married to someone that I know. Obviously, he's a client, but Brian, he's I think the real deal. Right. So I I say that about my wife without her support.
00:12:07
Speaker
it It's impossible because I work these type of hours, too. And I know other people that are trying to do the hours that we're doing. And I think if they don't have the support system, it's just a flaming disaster because like the guilt never ends and it's not an instant success. Or if you're doing really well today in three months, it could be a big bummer. And then it's like or or what you're doing now you thought was the right path. And if it fails for some reason and you have to restart.
00:12:35
Speaker
And I know there's all the statistics. It's like most people's success can be measured by their ability to fail and get back up, yeah not by whether or not basically their talent level. Your talent level, you have to have some version of talent. Sure. But you have to be able to willing willing to fail and then keep going.
00:12:51
Speaker
Yeah. And if you're willing to continue to fail and not necessarily care what others think, you know, your likelihood of success is exponentially greater. Right. And it's like when I see you on social media putting your stuff out there, i will admit i can't I don't do it.
00:13:06
Speaker
It's like here. I have a podcast and I won't
The Debate on Supplements
00:13:09
Speaker
post. It's my biggest weakness, though. I'm not going to lie. It's the one but it's the part of the job that I dislike the most is the social media part. Really? I had to make myself do it. Yeah. Yeah. good to hear. Everyone should hear that because if they hook you up, they're going to say this person has it all together.
00:13:23
Speaker
You know I don't have it all yet because I won't post. Like I just post pictures of like my kids or like random them things that have nothing to do with what I should be doing as an entrepreneur. You know, I tell myself, though, it's free advertisement.
00:13:34
Speaker
Sure. And like you cannot, you know, you're building a business. It's free advertisement. So I just have to get over it. Yeah. You know, and put myself out there and do it because. And someone's going to judge you. That's the thing. I yeah, I always say I don't care. And you said that you don't care. But I know I do care. That's true. Or else I'd be putting myself out there even further. Yeah. Good point. Does that make sense? So I just know I'm full of it. um So but the fact that you do it is impressive because.
00:13:57
Speaker
You're doing it. yeah Thank you. So um I think that's awesome. So help explain, because I think this is the next piece of it that's interesting. So obviously you're a nurse. You're going to continue keeping your nursing license, you've said to me. Yeah. Right. So that means you have to do a certain number of hours. Is that correct? Yes. Yeah. So you can't just like keep it and never work in that field. No, no, no. It wouldn't work that way.
00:14:19
Speaker
Got it. Yeah. so you're going to do that, but you're going to do the the route that you just described, like the entrepreneurial route. So do you want to take a moment and kind of describe what that is and why you chose that path in particular?
00:14:31
Speaker
um As far as as far as my business, why does it have to do the business in general? Well, help people understand what it is and what it's not. OK. Yeah. So as far as the nursing goes and keeping my hours, like I would love to just be able to find like a little outpatient job that I could do like couple times a month and keep my nursing license and still have relationships with patients and doctors and such, but it'd just be super low key. that's what That's what I would love to be able to do as far as nursing goes. um As far as entrepreneur, honestly, it's not something that I ever thought I would be doing. This was not. in the plan by any means. um But i we're big into health and fitness in my family, um just in general, me and my husband are.
00:15:12
Speaker
And um this business just kind of aligned with everything. It's a health and wellness and a beauty company. And all of their standards just aligned with everything that I was looking for. And then when I just kind of realized, hey, like I can do more than just like purchase products and get a discount. Like I can actually make something of this. Like I can honestly like build something for myself and make a significant amount of money doing it. And then when I started doing it, it was fun. It was so much fun. I remember like, you know when we first started like the adrenaline rush in the beginning and all the dopamine of like being successful and building and I built really quick in the beginning. I did really well. It was very successful in the very beginning. um And
00:15:49
Speaker
then you just keep going. You know, you're just like, oh, I can do this. And this is way more fun than being a nurse. And I'm helping other people be healthy also. yeah So, you know, um yeah, so...
00:16:00
Speaker
And so what's so what's the company? If someone was interested to see what it is that you got excited about, what is there a way that they could check it out? Is that something? Absolutely. Absolutely. So it's Arbonne. So my personal website is emilyjohnson.arbonne.com. So that takes you just to like my storefront website to purchase products. um But you can always follow me on Instagram and it's a little more personal that way. And you can always send me a message and I would love to like chat with you and I like to do consultations with people and make it very personal, you know, versus them just getting on a website and looking. We have over 400 products. You get on there and you can be very overwhelmed. um And I like it from a nursing point of view. I'm able to give a little bit more of a a clinical and um a functional, you know, consultation with people when it comes to their health and their wellness because of my nursing background. um So you can go to my Instagram. It's MJNE, J-A-Y-N-E underscore Johnson. um And you can connect with me there.
00:16:53
Speaker
Wow. Check it out. So it might I have to ask you now, this is, ah you know, i I dragged you here. So now I get to ask a question and you can tell me if I'm crazy. i I take something every day. And of course, I heard about it on podcast and everything else. Yeah. And so it's called Athletic Greens. Oh, and is it AG1? AG1. OK.
00:17:11
Speaker
ag one okay Now, I'm nervous to ask you because you're going to tell me it's junk. um But I take this. It's very expensive. It's not inexpensive. And I never told you this, Raul, because of this ah podcast and the fact that we actually can't. I can't believe we actually have listeners, um a fair amount of them. And so they're offering me to be a spokesperson. What? No way, Matt. That's cool. Shout out. I don't need you one. But I don't say yes to that because I don't know if it's garbage or not. I just take it.
00:17:40
Speaker
And so you have to have it for a certain number of time. And then they look at your social influence. Interesting. And that's how I think. I think that's how they promote that product. Of course. But is it junk? yeah Have you ever looked into it?
00:17:52
Speaker
Should I not be asking you? I think twice if I should stop this conversation. So I'm not going to tell you it's complete junk. my We've took it before. okay um So before I started Arbonne, we took AG1. It's not complete junk, but it's not the best on the market. I would tell you that we have the absolute best greens on the market for multiple reasons. What's yours called? So it's called Green Synergy.
00:18:13
Speaker
Okay. um but So it's like, it's. Is it made in New Zealand? Because this is made in New Zealand. Not that that so makes me feel special. So our company is based off of California, but we actually so all of our products are um they're extremely clean. We double we have second party tests for heavy metals and toxins. There's no artificial flavors or fragrances or any. So everything is super, super clean. It's all vegan and non GMO. And we do all of our sourcing. we source from all over the world, to be honest. um So, you know, I'm probably not from New Zealand. but do you take it?
00:18:47
Speaker
I do every day. see My husband does too. we're we're Interesting. so Should people be on that? I take no other multivitamins. I just take athletic greens and I take like vitamin D. Okay. And I think I'm doing something, but I don't know if I'm doing anything. And the tough part is, i don't So...
00:19:05
Speaker
I want to be healthy, right? Sure. So I exercise and I do this. Is that enough or am I missing the boat here? You are. You're missing the boat. Oh, boy. If you're not taking a multivitamin, so you at least need to be taking Do you drink ah a meal replacement shake or any? OK, OK. Nothing. So ah at least you should at least do a meal replacement shake that's like full of like vitamins and minerals, right? um because I guarantee you what's in AG1 is not enough, is not enough vitamins and minerals for for your body to be healthy. um And like we just, our food nowadays, like the way the food is made and sourced and grown, like it no longer has the nutrients that our body needs. You eat a salad now and it's not the same as eating a salad 50 years ago. It's just not. So there's no way your body can get all the nutrients it needs from the food you eat. So you either need to take a vitamin or we need to get you some a meal replacement protein. meal So legitimately don't
Building a Business with Arbonne
00:19:53
Speaker
have lunch and have this yeah, oh that sounds horrible no offense I know or breakfast or breakfast or or breakfast I drink mine for breakfast. Well, i get such i derive pleasure. It's like I'm so busy It's like I get a nice sandwich or something. I'm like oh man And for me, it's the opposite. And I think this is just mom mode. yeah Like I literally don't have and have time and I can't live off of a cheese puff and a chicken tender today. So yeah then I at least have my meal replacement shake. And, you know, I know that I'm actually getting some protein and some carbs. And yeah so my wife's a registered dietitian. And so she you should know these things back. Well, listen, she doesn't. i'm not I don't pay her. So she doesn't. You know, she doesn't take the time. ah But, you know, so she's always on the fence about certain things. She kind of she thinks we have a balanced diet in general sure because it's her. And she does. You know, she she always makes sure there's a great dinner. So we don't eat out every day. So I think some people meet need it even more. But the truth is, like.
00:20:49
Speaker
we all need to be focused on to a certain extent. And I don't know if anyone does. And I think maybe I maybe once again, going back to the difference between between men and women, I think a lot of men don't think it's important.
00:21:00
Speaker
And i don't know, they're just tough, right? But macho. So it's interesting that your husband is doing this. Do you find that it's more women that are willing to look into the supplement route and try to, quote unquote, take care of themselves? And or is it equal distribution between men and women?
00:21:18
Speaker
I think in general, just because especially with like millennials and this like generation, like we're very, very health conscious, I feel like, and becoming more and more every day. So I think just like in general, I think it's pretty split, to be honest. um Now with our company, because we're also ah a beauty company, we tend to attract more women clients. But what happens is I get a client that's a woman. And the next thing I know, she's like, I ran out of protein because my husband's used all my protein or, you know, all my fizz or whatever. um So a lot of times that's how it gets it. introduced to the man and the in the family. But yeah I can tell you my husband, like Brian is very like health conscious. He is the one who puts our vitamins out at night so for the next day. he is the one that is like, I haven't had a ah shake today. I've got to get in some more protein. So um he's very, very good with that.
00:22:04
Speaker
he he He keeps me on track sometimes. He'll come home and be like, you did not take your vitamins. i'm like I've been busy. Yeah. but Yeah. So is there any science like the the thing that like even with AG1, right? That's the one thing I've been taking.
00:22:17
Speaker
There's very little science to back that particular brand. up That's one of the reasons I'm not out here hocking it on this podcast all the time, because my wife reminds me there's no science to back up the fact. that that makes a material difference.
00:22:28
Speaker
And so with all these supplements, because none of them are FDA, you know, um studied. Right. And so they don't go through ah in general, like a really deep dive in terms in terms of the physiological benefits.
00:22:44
Speaker
And so I'm taking it because I want to be better. I want to do something that I think is within my control that's easy enough to do. And so that's why I do it. And I'm trying to figure out, is there going to be science behind it or is a lot of it kind to, okay, well, there's no harm. So my wife doesn't tell me I shouldn't do it. Right. Cause she's like, I can't, I can't identify the reason why you shouldn't do it. Right.
00:23:05
Speaker
So maybe if there's not as much benefit as you think, Matt, and this is what she tells me, You can keep doing it because it's not going to kill you necessarily, but maybe it's only partially beneficial. So question. Do you feel like can you tell a difference when you drink? OK, all right, then I've been doing it for a couple years. Oh, wow. OK. And maybe it's just the new normal.
00:23:24
Speaker
i I don't know. Maybe, maybe. i You know, if you stop taking them for a week, you might could tell a difference. um do you Can you tell a difference when you take the greens? Hands down. So our greens have like 13 digestive enzymes in them, pre and probiotics. um And I can tell a huge difference. Like if I don't have them for three days, like I'm bloated within three days of not taking them. um Yeah. Yeah. So I i can.
00:23:47
Speaker
So. Interesting. Maybe I'll yeah cycle off and then cycle back on to see if there's a difference. Yeah. Or maybe you'll hook me up. I was going to say. And, you know, maybe I'll try something different for a change. Yeah. And see if you can tell a difference. But I just think in general, when it comes to health and wellness, I think it's something that people talk about probably during what the New Year's like. It's not. Yeah. For many people, it's not a focus. And until it becomes one, either you have a health scare or there's some crazy situation in your life where you're like, oh I'm going to start paying attention to this. Very true. And I'm like, shouldn't we try to do that before we have the health? Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. We should take care of our bodies and it should be preventative. We could prevent so many different. I mean, you know, America general, we could prevent so many different diseases and yeah things in life if we just if we just took care of ourselves before they ever came along. Yeah. So i think this I don't know. It's a shout out to the industry and to you for taking a a participatory role in it, because I'm like, I don't know. I think you you have at least the credentials and i don't think you'd be selling something if you didn't either personally think there was benefit to it. And, you know, the players, it's like you've been you've you've seen the company you understand. So I would I would trust you far over some of these other
00:24:55
Speaker
you know, sources, if you will, that I've seen because there's a million companies that are trying to promote something. oh there are. There are. Yeah. One thing I can say about Arbonne, and it's the reason it's one of the reasons why i decided to go with them anyways, is all of our stuff is clinically tested and and backed. We are huge about clinical testing and about ethically sourcing all of our products. So I would tell you that we honestly have some of the highest quality health and wellness products on the market. um The fact that, so we're something called a B Corporation. So for those of you that don't know what that is, it is um one of the highest rankings that you can possibly get for um testing, for our products being cleaned and tested, and then also um for sustainability, which is huge. So the fact that we're one of the highest ranked companies with that certification is just incredible. And it just says a lot about about how good our products truly are. So, you know, i and the thing is, too, Arbonne, it's a huge company. But like we have somebody called me the the science lady and the science lady, I can literally text her tomorrow and she would answer my question about something scientifically if I had a clinical question. So I love that part about the company as well.
00:26:00
Speaker
And so through this company, right, you're able to then start promoting products that you believe in and you get a commission of some version of that. Right. So that's yes how you start to build a business out. And so one of the things when
Entrepreneurship and Personal Freedom
00:26:14
Speaker
we had talked previously You were describing how you've now like immediately realized having started this path is that the value of connections and the value of in my world, we call them referrals, but it's yeah it's connecting to other people and figuring out that path. Explain how I think that's been highlighted now that you started this business of yours.
00:26:37
Speaker
Like like how do you how how did you come to that realization, I suppose? um You know, first of all, I think I was very isolated working from home and especially with like a like a new baby for the first two years. I got very isolated and wasn't making connections like I might have used to when I was out in the world a little bit more. So you just start realizing the more you talk to people and the more you get out there and are just nice to people, you know, people and you build trust with people, then they become your clients. They want to join your team. You know, it's just it's so, so important to just get out there and make those connections and talk to people. um A good example is um Bethany's Bakery, which is up in Timonium and Cockeysville. I actually met her. I was at a little like farmer's market type ordeal. I had a booth. She had a booth. She made my little girl's birthday cake. I thought her stuff was amazing. So then she turned around and came to an event I had. And she's a client of mine. Interesting. Yeah, exactly. So like that's just a good example of just putting yourself out there and making those connections and networking a little bit, you know, it does require us to get out of our of routine. It does. It does. Which is a challenge. I feel like i don't know the older I get, the more in a routine I become and then the less I want to do anything else. Yeah. Yeah. that's funny how that works. It is. It is. I know. Yeah. And so what's driven you is now you found a vehicle for potential success. And so
00:27:57
Speaker
One of the other things that you had mentioned to me, it it was like the idea of having both financial freedom and some of your time back is extremely appealing. Right. And that's the difference. It's why it's why I'm no longer an employee for anyone. Sure. And I work way more hours now. It's like sometimes I had to give up working 40 and to work 80.
00:28:18
Speaker
It's like a weird way, but we do it because we choose to pursue a life by design. Right. And so I think that was a word you actually used during the pre-interview. I but i think that was a phrase that you would use.
00:28:31
Speaker
And what's really interesting about that is that in the business that I'm in, I have coaches that have helped me for years. And in the Keller Williams world in real estate, they have a slogan that's been around for a long, long time. And they discuss it's a career worth having, a business worth owning, and a life worth living.
00:28:50
Speaker
Oh, I like that. And it sounds so corny when I first heard it. I said, this is the corniest thing I've ever heard. And then the deeper down the path and there the rabbit hole that you go, the more you start realizing,
00:29:04
Speaker
that's why we do that's why we suffer when i first the very first question i was thinking of when i wanted to interview you was like why like why are you doing this and then when i heard you say you were trying to live a life more by your own design that's the challenge with a traditional nine to five or in your case probably 12 hour shifts if you were a nerd right so that's not by your design and then now you're living by someone else's terms right And it's just fascinating that we all, I think, gravitate towards that potential freedom.
00:29:34
Speaker
And you're no different. No, yeah, but you're right. Right now it's like, you know, 80 hours a week, like going nonstop to be able to get there. But yes, yes, yes. The idea of just being able to create that for myself um and like, you know, I can just see it. I can see it in front of me. I know what I want my future to look like, you know, so just keep pushing and working those 80 hour weeks or whatever it is that we have to work for that more, for that for that more that I want for myself. So.
00:30:00
Speaker
Well, i I hope someone hears that and is inspired to do it because I think it's daunting and I think it takes a little, it takes a jump. I don't know, is it pain? it like we I've always been told we are willing to do things that we might not otherwise do, usually by pain. Like if there's some type of pain in our lives,
00:30:19
Speaker
you're willing to act. Whereas the pleasure of just having the freedom or the financial benefits usually might not be enough for most of us to act. That's true. But if you have a horrible boss or a situation, a current job that you absolutely hate, maybe that's enough pain for you to do something.
00:30:33
Speaker
Sure. Do you agree with that statement? Yeah, definitely something. I mean, you you have to be like pushed out of your comfort zone, right? Like yeah if you if you're happy and comfortable, and like you're just going to stay there. You have to have something in life that's pushing you out of it. And I think for me, it was just I knew that I know that I'm made for more than just sitting behind a desk, you know, making calls for an insurance company. Like I'm like, I'm missing something. I can do so much more than this. yeah And it just built up and built up until I finally just hit a wall. And I was like, I have to do more. I don't have a choice. Like I i need more for myself. Got it. Yeah.
00:31:05
Speaker
So in your specific situation, if anyone was interested in doing this, like it's it's a marketing organization. So and there's been bad raps, right? Yeah. Some of them. Yes. And they can get a connotation that doesn't sound very appealing for certain people. Like what makes you kind of get over that hump? Because I'm sure at some point you had a hesitation. course. What is this? Is this is this, you know? Right. A pyramid scheme. That's what. Yeah. yeah that That's the one that I probably have heard the most. um I think the biggest thing for for me is Arbonne's been around for 45 years. So they've been doing it for a while. Right. So like that kind of like made me feel better about it. I knew they weren't just like I wasn't going to join and they were going to fall apart tomorrow. um
00:31:42
Speaker
I just kind of had to look at at it as like the business model works. People have made this business model work. People are successful, so I know it's possible. And I had to just think like, I'm just going to be sharing these things with my friends and family and people that I meet and I'm going to get over the stigma. yeah And, you know, I'm just going to do it. I'm just going to make it natural.
00:32:01
Speaker
You know, I'm not going to send hey girl messages to random people on Instagram. I want to attract people. I want people to want what I have and what I'm doing. Yeah. So just looking at it a different a different light, I think. Well, that's incredible. I'm trying to take some of that advice in my own world, because I think in real estate, we're not we're all kind of out there, right? We all work for ourselves and everybody has the same hold ups and hang ups. And you just kind of have to get out there. That that is challenging. And there's a million excuses as to why we don't put ourselves out there. And so I think, once again, I think it's incredible that you're doing it. So congrats to you. Thank you. And hopefully someone's going to check it out and be inspired, learn about it, buy some product. Maybe I'll convince my wife to check it out. Yeah, she definitely should. I would love to hear her thoughts. Oh, she's a tough one. I love to hear her thoughts. Yeah. And you know, also like if you're listening and you think, oh my God, I could use more money. I could use more time freedom. Like that sounds like something I would love to do. Like I would love to connect. Just send me a message. It's really, it's so simple. There it is. There he goes. That's
Community Spirit of Rogers Forge
00:33:01
Speaker
good. That's a good enough reason as any. And so I want to also kind of circle back because of course the title is All Roseanne. It is. It is. Let's get back there. Let's get on back to what I know about. And so one of the things that you're not from here, right? So we already said you're from Georgia, right? So you're in Maryland now. You've been resident for almost five years.
00:33:22
Speaker
Eight years. Or eight years, but that's before you bought this one. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you're you're familiar. So help someone understand it. Like I was born and raised here. i know I know nothing else. Right. So for better for worse, this is what this is what I know. And so I know all the little pockets and and I understand some of the history behind it.
00:33:40
Speaker
So I think it could certainly influence my way of feeling about certain areas. You're certainly you live in Rogers Forge, which is ah one of the cutest parts and all of Maryland. If you're not familiar with it, guys, it's a community and like a real community. It's a historic community. yeah And it's not these cookie cutter brand new homes. I lived in a brand new like when I was young, I bought live in a brand new townhouse.
00:34:04
Speaker
It was up near Bel Air and it checked all the boxes. It was fine. It had absolutely none of the charm or appeal community sense that this place does that you live in. And from someone who's not like me, who's been here forever and sells this stuff, explain to someone who doesn't know Rogers Forge what Rogers Forge is. It's like a Hallmark movie.
00:34:23
Speaker
That's like the best way to kind of explain it. um You know, ah you you share walls with your neighbors, so you're very close. You know, you you really get end up having a relationship with your neighbors in the street. But um everyone, they just raise their kids like people stay there. People buy these homes and they're there for 30 and 40 years. They raise their families, their kids, their kids play on the streets together. You know, if I run out of olive oil, i can literally did this through the other day. i went like knocked on one of our neighbors doors and, you know, It's just like it's just such a sense of community. um It's also everybody knows everything about everybody. So there's that as well. You know, it'll be like. um But and it's just very charming. Like the homes are just charming. um
00:35:01
Speaker
We they put up these lights. We string lights from one house to another during Christmas time. And it's like it's a thing. Like everybody goes into the yard, their yards at the same time. Right after Thanksgiving, we string these lights from window to window. It takes all this collaboration And then, like I said, it looks like something like a Hallmark movie when you drive through our neighborhood. Halloween. Halloween's on tomorrow. And it's insane. I've never seen a Halloween like it before in life. If you live in Maryland, you should come to Rogers Forge for Halloween. Because, it i mean, it's incredible. Let's not too many people about it. That's It's true. It's kind of it's it's a really special environment. It is. What's funny is that I I know everything you're saying is factual and it's hard to describe it to people. I think I'm almost lying. And I'm like, no, it's it's like this. And ah it's just a really unique piece of of Maryland. It's like almost going back in time. it is a little bit. And if you have young ones, like you can walk to school. Yeah. Right. And it's a blue ribbon school. This is a quality education. It's right there. It's in the county. This is not in the city. Yeah, exactly. And that to some people is very important.
00:36:05
Speaker
And it's just a really interesting spot to be. And that's why they sell. That's why when we list your house, you could I mean, yes, it looked amazing. Right. You did a heck of a job. But. It's also the fact of the location you bought in the right location. We did.
00:36:19
Speaker
And so I try to tell people and I did promise you at the time, you're not going to make a bad decision. He did. And I'm glad to see that it did not. So um so, I mean, any other thought? Because I i just feel like It's so good for people that might be in similar shoes or looking for a community to check the spot. Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, it was perfect for us. So when we moved in, we didn't have kids yet. um So especially as ah like a new couple, young couple, I mean, it was just like they're the perfect size homes for that. You know, most of them are like a three bedroom. I think a lot of them are. Yeah. um And then like as we had Cali, like it's been the perfect size for our little family. And like you said, like it's very walkable. We have a park that we can walk to every single day. We walk to Starbucks like it's just it's been really great for like our small, you know, little family. We've out we're outgrowing it.
00:37:07
Speaker
That's why we're moving into like a much bigger single family home. sure um But it's been perfect for what we needed in the beginning. And that seems that's that's what I try to help people understand is that oftentimes you do outgrow it. However, ah people still resist the move sometimes because they love the neighborhood. yeah They don't think they're going to replicate that elsewhere. And I have people that are so financially overqualified later in their careers, but still choose to stay there. Yeah.
00:37:33
Speaker
And see that. And it's just so i'm I'm selling a community. It's all new builds adjacent to Rogers Forge now, as you know about. It's beautiful. I walked through there the other day. It's gorgeous. oh yeah it's pretty Yeah, it's pretty incredible. So it's called the Villas at Woodbrook, right? it's It's adjacent to this community we're discussing. And these are huge homes, right? These are are semi-attached and they're 5,000 square feet, two-car garage.
00:37:55
Speaker
But you get the proximity of what i just what you're describing but you have the ability to have even more space. And so some people have kind of transitioned yeah from one to the other when they outgrow it.
00:38:08
Speaker
and um And so that's been interesting to stay. So, I mean, I'm there constantly. I constantly have showing. Yeah. I like live there basically. I saw your sign the other day. I was like, ah, there's Matt's sign. He's my realtor. Made me proud.
00:38:20
Speaker
Well, yes, it's ah people take selfies and make faces and, you know, not all my friends are supportive. Let's be honest. They they find lots of ways fun me. There you go Thank you. Yes, it's ah it's a lot of work, but it's it's been really fun to get to to understand and appreciate the community even more.
00:38:37
Speaker
Because there's not much like it. There's no room to build. So that's, you know, back in Georgia, you're moving into a newer construction yeah property, right? So you're going from a much older home to much newer home. And I always say there's a big difference, right? There's a lot of positives. Like you'll get a real closet probably. Yes. Like you'll walk in a walk in closet. yeah Yeah. These are tradeoffs you have to make when you buy something that's built in the 50s, for example. Yes.
00:39:00
Speaker
So and and I deal with that. i have a historic home to you just know there's no square. There's nothing square. There's nothing perfectly flat. Oh, God forbid you need to replace a doorknob or. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So there's all these things. But um I just I'm so appreciative when people like love it. And, you know, and I rarely see anybody that doesn't.
00:39:21
Speaker
So. No, no, we've absolutely loved it. And also, like, it always makes you feel good when people come and see your home and like they're like, oh, my gosh, this is the most charming neighborhood. This is the most beautiful home. You know, it everyone loves it. Anyone that comes and see yeah people. It's on TV now. If you didn't know, I guarantee there'll be trucks there so that I think it's not as much of a secret as it once was, because now people are celebrating Halloween. Certainly it's all over TV for Christmas. Christmas it is. Yeah. And people are always there. Yeah, right. It's really it's it was not that way a long time ago. And it's almost doubled in value in probably 10 or 15 years. Wow.
00:39:53
Speaker
Like you've owned it for five. So
Moving Challenges and Cultural Differences
00:39:55
Speaker
just before you bought those homes were well under what you bought. Like you called it right as it became more popular. But it's always been great. it's just now people are starting to know about it. Yeah. It's not exactly a secret. No. Yeah. And so in Baltimore is neighborhood by neighborhood. I was curious, is that similar to how it is in Georgia? Is it very much like you can't if you're five minutes that the other direction, it's totally different? Or is it not at all like that? It's not at all like that.
00:40:21
Speaker
No, we're pretty status quo really for the most part. I mean, we have so like Atlanta, big cities might feel a little more that way, um but not too much, to be honest. Yeah, it's. Are you excited? Are the people different? Are you excited? Is the Southern charm a real thing? It's a very real thing. I'm very excited to to go back to to Southern people. No no offense, Maryland, but my wife's from New York City. She thinks this is the Deep South. Oh, goodness.
00:40:48
Speaker
Yes. Oh, yeah. She makes comments. I'm down in the South. And I'm like, no, you are. No, nowhere near it. I moved up here and I was like the first thing I told my husband when I came home from work from Hopkins the very first day, I said, people are so mean. Why are people so mean here? Yeah.
00:41:03
Speaker
I'm coming from the South my whole life. I just, yeah you know, it was an adjustment for sure. That's hilarious. Yeah. From other parts, especially up North, we're considered charming almost. know. You know our name of the city, right?
00:41:16
Speaker
The Charm City. Yeah. So, yeah. So to some, we're we're like a nice blend, if you will. So at least we keep to ourselves kind of more so than maybe down South. That that is true. It's like a culture shock now when I go home because I go to the grocery store and I'll like talk to like 20 people in the grocery store.
00:41:33
Speaker
I'm like, oh, my God, i have to get out of here because literally i mean it might be a stranger in the grocery store line that just starts up up a conversation with you. Or it might be like, you know, people you've known your entire life that you run into. But it's just yes, it's a whole different experience for sure. That's so funny. So, well, maybe one day we have you you just need to come visit.
00:41:50
Speaker
I'll visit. But, yeah you know, Maryland is what I know. So it's it's such, at least in my world, I know all the pockets. and i tell ah like it'd be neat to travel like i I am envious when people travel around the country and have a new home for five or 10 years.
00:42:03
Speaker
And maybe their job takes them somewhere where whatever. Maybe you find someone like you did. But yeah, that's never happened. It was like I have to I'm here. Yeah. Because I can't restart. You've done well here, though. I have, but this is what I know. I'm like, I don't want to relearn all this stuff. No, no, no. Yeah. All my knowledge is here. So it's, yeah. So here I am, Maryland, for better for worse. You got me. That's all right. You're doing great here, though. Yeah. So, and I just wanted to end it. I know you're literally moving in a couple of days. It's like, you know, just how would you, don't know, how would you say the whole process of moving is for those that are dreading their next move? Your chaos. Your dread is real.
00:42:40
Speaker
Yeah, you're not talking it up too much. I can't, guys. but if you sell my house right now, you would understand. It's pure chaos. Went from Pottery Barn to yes disaster. disaster. yeah um You know, it i you just you just do it. You just you pack the boxes. You get the movers. We are not having movers like we thought. So we're doing it all
Conclusion and Gratitude
00:43:01
Speaker
ourself now. Explain that because you told me that story. And everyone knows hopefully whenever this comes out, maybe the shutdown for the government is over. You pray. we like Explain how it's impacted a real family like yours.
00:43:12
Speaker
So my husband's um in the military. So and we're moving. He was transferring to Georgia with his military job. So it's technically we should do a PCS move and they would set everything up, pay for it, or we could set it up ourselves and get reimbursed. And that's what we were planning on doing. um But because of the shutdown, we were notified that they are there's no budget for us to move. They won't sign off on anything. So we have the risk of paying for it ahead of time and then not get reimbursed later or wait a very long time to get reimbursed. like And we just weren't willing to to pay the cost of real movers and possibly not get that back because because that's not it's not cheap. And you're not going down the street. you're No, it was it was pretty hefty price tag. um So instead we like when we got that note of guys and we got notified of that last week.
00:44:00
Speaker
It wasn't like we've had time to plan. yeah So, you know, when that's when I say chaos. So we had call all of our family and our friends and be like, sorry, guys, but like we need you. So that's on Saturday. That's not hacking the truck on Saturday.
00:44:12
Speaker
Wow. Yeah. That's crazy. So, yeah, there's real consequences for real families. There are. you know ah The people that aren't impacted directly sometimes forget about these things. And I think everybody, at least for me, I'm so sick of just politics in general. right And i don't know. It's just it's all negative. I don't know. Oh, it is. i can't watch the news the way I used to. I have to read the news. I can't listen to it or watch it anymore because it's so insane. It is. And the channel you pick is exactly what you'll hear. Oh, it is. It is. They're like two separate two separate worlds are existing simultaneously. Right. It's like a country like what is this? Yeah. So it's it's nuts. But I always say like I deal with people directly doing this line of work and people one on one are like the most lovely people. And it's like but when you have like this group think or God forbid like this one line, you know, you can type anything you want into the.
00:45:01
Speaker
Oh, You can say anything. Yeah. It's like that's where all this hatred and craziness comes out. stay I know. Yeah. I know. It's terrible. It's absolutely terrible. Yeah. I didn't want to end it on that. hate you now, Matt. But God, reality is something, isn't it? Oh, it is. Let's talk about Rogers Ford together. I know, right? Let's go back to happy. Let's go back to happy. Oh, that's some way to do it. But it's been a pleasure to have gotten to know you and to to to, I guess, assist you move into your home and now having to help you transition out. It is the most gratifying thing I think that I get to do is, I mean, a home's a home. And once you've sold a few hundred of them, it's kind of similar in terms of the home, right? It's a roof. It's a...
00:45:38
Speaker
It's all the same things, right? But you get to meet people and you get to to be a part of someone, a piece of their journey. and ah And so I'm really grateful that you guys gave me that opportunity. and i i I'm so grateful that Zillow sent you to us. So, so grateful. I mean, I give you a hard time sometimes, Matt, but I mean, to be very honest, like the one thing I can say is from like you helping us with the very first house, like we just trust you. I'm just like, and don't know if this makes any sense, but Matt told me to do it. So we're going to do it. Like we're getting the ceiling painted because Matt told me to do it. You know, like it's literally just like, I just know you know what you're doing. And it's just been the best feeling, like I said, between buying the house and then turning around and selling. I just we just know that we can trust you and that you're just you're going to do what's best for us. yeah You know, so and you know you always call me right back. you it You're just like.
00:46:25
Speaker
the best we could not have done it without you that means so much so grateful well it's been a pleasure and ah that means a lot so thank you very much it's a nice promo we'll put that we're gonna we're gonna loop that on the website let's go ahead and get that ready over there but uh but thank you so much for the kind words and ah you know i wish you all the best and the family all the best and you know maybe one day the paths shall cross again you never know you don't You'll be a success. You'll be having this big business and you're going to, you know, you'll certainly have an opportunity to impact a lot of people, which is always impressive and amazing. And so all the best to you and and until next time. Thank you. Thank you for having me on. All right. Thanks for joining us, guys.