I spent years searching for work that felt purposeful—something that aligned with who I am and how I’m called to serve. Once I found that, it unlocked a passion for my work that hasn’t faded since.
When I walked into the office, I could tell they were nervous to give me the news. I had been working for Hewlett Packard (HP) for five years in marketing. When they told me I had been laid off, along with countless other people, I said, “I’m good! Now where do I sign?”
For a while I had known this job wasn’t right for me. It felt like I was taking up space meant for someone else. Every day, I thought to myself, “If Oprah can have a job she loves, and Michael Jordan can have a job he loves, why can’t I find something I love?” So, when I was laid off with a severance package, I was thrilled!
For a year, I focused on family and rest. Eventually, a friend told me a local real estate agent needed an assistant fast. I thought I’d temporarily help while I figured out what was next. But it didn’t take long before I realized I loved it! The energy, the conversations, the way people lit up when they found a home. It didn’t feel like a job; it felt like an extension of what I already naturally did: serve, guide, and uplift people.
Two months in, I enrolled in real estate school. I was told most people fail the licensing exam the first time, but I could feel that this was my calling. I passed the exam on the first try in 2003 and never looked back!
Everything I know about how to treat people, I learned from my mom. She was a single Black woman in the '60s and found a way to buy a home when it was nearly impossible to do so. She raised eight kids on her own and led with faith in every part of her life. She showed us how to give without expecting anything back and how to meet people where they are without judgment. She taught me how to pay bills on time, how to manage a household, and how to carry myself with grace even in hard times. She gave everything she had to the people around her and watching her do that taught me how to show up for my own children, my family, my friends, and my clients with the same kind of consistency and love.
One of the first places I got to put those lessons into action was at McDonald’s when I was 16. I loved that job. It taught me how to serve people with positivity, how to stay calm under pressure, and how to be kind and generous, even when you are not given the same in return because you never know what someone else is going through. A single act of kindness can go a long way. Those values still show up in how I work with clients today. No matter what kind of day someone is having, they deserve to be treated with care.
No matter how the market has shifted—whether during the 2008 crash when I became a short sale specialist, or during the fast-paced COVID market that pushed me to get creative with buyers’ offers—my values have stayed the same: take care of people, stay present, keep learning, and lead with integrity. I’ve adapted, grown, and leaned into each challenge, always grounded in the belief that helping people is what matters most.
Our children, Erika and Dominque, are now grown, and we have three grandkids who bring such joy to our lives. In my free time, I love having a girl’s day, going to the spa, and taking a 24-hour retreat to a hotel where I reset and recharge. My goal is to build something lasting with my business that reflects the love, care, and commitment I’ve poured into it.
I’m proud of the referral-based business I have built. I get to work with amazing people who know and trust me to guide them into the next chapter of their lives. I can’t imagine a more fulfilling job. After all these years, I can still confidently say I love what I do!
I’ve helped everyone from first-time buyers to retirees, because when someone in my sphere needs help, they know I’ll treat them like family. Care is what I specialize in. My clients know they’ll be seen, heard, and guided with patience and honesty. I make it a point to be responsive, attentive, and present—so much so that people often forget I have other clients. That kind of focus and personal connection is what sets me apart. More recently, I’ve felt drawn to help people plan for their forever home while they still have the flexibility to make empowered choices. No matter who I am working with, the goal is to walk alongside them with care, clarity, and a commitment that lasts long after the transaction is over!
Sincerely,
Reponzell Morris
