I was at the end of my rope and terrified of what would happen next. Little did I know I was about to learn a valuable lesson.

I looked at the glow of my computer monitor, and one question plagued me, was I going to lose my business? Ever since the market downturn in 2007, I’d been going closer and closer into the red until I was well in it. By April 2011, I lived in constant fear that any day the company I worked years to build from the ground up would disappear before my eyes.

With a sharp pain in my chest and fear of the future looming over me, I went to a weeklong personal development course. The previous December, I was invited to the first course of the program by some close friends and it radically shifted my perspective. I knew by the end of it that I needed to go to the weeklong course even though I didn’t have the money.

Knowing that I would be there come June, I kept in touch with everyone in the program and at the last minute was able to purchase a ticket incrementally. The first 48 hours of the week were a nightmare—we were faced with all our fears and doubts. Then by the end of day three, everything flipped, and I knew as the sun went down that there was nothing I couldn’t do. Through all the obstacles, all the difficulty, all the fear of failure, my eyes opened to the greatness that all 100 of us there that day were capable of. At the end of that month, my business sold for a profit and that fear clenching my chest disappeared.

I felt reinvigorated, alive. Before it all, I’d been like an automaton—going through the motions of everyday life trapped in constant fear of the past and future. All those doubts and worries boxing me in. I met several wonderful mentors through that program and after that first year, I went on to mentor new students.

My new perspective opened me up to new experiences. The mile-long “someday” list I’d been carrying around for decades became a “today” list. I went on a mission trip to Haiti—something I spent the last 20 years talking about doing. I focused more on experiences and the people in my life, strengthening my relationships with those I love.

In 2014, my dad passed away. It was the biggest loss I’d ever experienced, and I never thought I would get to say goodbye, it was hard to accept his sudden passing and that he was gone. Instead of spiraling into a dark place like I would have before, I decided to honor him and his legacy. I signed up for a fitness competition and spent a year training six days a week, twice a day. Those 6AM weight-lifting sessions and late nights on the treadmill were tough and there were countless times I wanted to quit, but I knew that I wasn’t in it alone and my dad was there with me to see it through.

I don’t take “no” for an answer because given any situation, there are an infinite number of solutions. That’s what I realized all those years ago at the end of a long day on the ranch, surrounded by 99 other students like me. We’re all capable of so much more than we know and to live without fear of “what if” is to live out loud in the present.

I love spending time with my daughter, Kennedy, family, and friends, biking, and coaching. I’ve been a licensed REALTOR® since 1994 and my favorite part of my job is helping others find solutions when faced with the impossible, showing them all that they’re capable of just like someone did for me years ago.

Buying a home is stressful and any number of unexpected situations can arise. I’ve been a REALTOR® since 1994 and have been through the best and also the scariest and most complicated transactions. I know what could happen, and I also know that there are infinite solutions to any obstacles that come up. I don’t take “no” for an answer when it comes to protecting my clients and helping them reach their goals. I always put my clients interests first and foremost, my job is to be there to have their back.

Working together, I know that there’s nothing we can’t do. That’s why after the sale is over, I’ll still be around as your lifelong REALTOR® to help you achieve all your real estate dreams in the years to come.

With gratitude,

Bryan Choate
Broker-Owner, REALTOR®