Last summer, we had to say goodbye to my long-time assistant Kathleen so she could hit the books full time and graduate. It paid off a few short months later when she joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Before that, we met Kala and she joined the team. She had just taken the California Bar Exam and was waiting for her exam results. It is unusual for applicants, especially out-of-state applicants, to pass the bar on the first attempt, so I thought there was a pretty good chance she would be part of the team for a long time.
Interestingly, Kathleen came to us from Red Robin, renowned as a launching pad for future corporate accountants! We worked around her school schedule while I taught her business language and practices. When I saw her again recently, I saw she is a completely different person. We both laughed and reminisced about how meeting each other had got her where she is today. That's when Kathleen asked me to help her find a new home.
Now Kala moved from Minnesota to Southern California to begin her career as a Real Estate Attorney. We connected immediately because I was also winter-state raised and I was also awaiting my test results for the California Department of Real Estate Broker's exam - another exam that is uncommon to pass on the first attempt.
I hired Kala as my Assistant and she embraced the position completely. The whole team liked her and my client's loved her! I was extremely pleased with my decision to hire her. I wished I could give her more hours so she did not have to waitress on evenings and weekends, but the market was soft and a girl has to pay the bills! I'm pleased to say that was short-lived. As my health returned, so did the market and Kala spent all of her time at our offices!
Kala and I each got our test results a few weeks apart; we had both passed our exams and are now ready to lead our industries. We spent hundreds of hours discussing contracts; contract law, case law, disclosure issues and helping our clients avoid court by representing them both properly and professionally.
Kala helped me build Valet Real Estate Services into the brokerage that I knew it could be. Our office looks fantastic and our clients love visiting us there. We've launched our new website; www.ValetRealEstateServices.com and we've hired more agents. We succeeded in a market that saw dozens of brokerages fold. We succeeded for our clients where amateur agents had failed. Ask Kevan, Bethany, Shane, Gina, Ken, Amanda, Anthony, Ryan or Kathy about the importance of genuine patience and real professionalism in this marketplace. I am confident each and every one of them will insist you introduce me to the people you genuinely care about.
Only two weeks ago, Kala was invited to interview with a prestigious law firm. It was no surprise to me when they hired her on the spot. Unfortunately, the job offer was conditional on her starting today, February 1st. She was dismayed for us but enthusiastically helped me identify my new assistant through an exhaustive job search. We talked to more than five dozen applicants including brokers, agents and veteran administrative assistants.
Who did we pick?...another waitress. Nastassja is a former waitress now and she, like me, knows we are going to accomplish great things together. When Kala talks about Nastassja she uses words like enthusiasm, vision and desire. That sure makes the boss happy! When I sat down to say good-bye to Kala this past Friday, she told me she did not want it to be good-bye. She told me that if I would have her, she would like to be my Client for Life. I was smiling from ear-to-ear when I accepted! Now it is Nastassja's job to help us succeed and it is my job to teach Nastassja the business skills she will need to succeed with the degree she is currently earning. She is scheduled to graduate this summer. I wonder what major firm will take this impeccably-trained Journalist/Public Relations graduate from me later this year? I wonder what my three waitresses will be doing in five years, besides remembering us fondly!
Vic Steele, Broker, CA DRE License No. 01349863
Valet Real Estate Services
571 N. Poplar, Suite H, Orange, CA 92868
