The walk in the snow

After being told I had finally become a ‘model employee,’ I took a long walk in the snow. The praise didn’t feel like a reward; it felt like a ceiling. I started asking myself the two most dangerous questions a man can ask: What could I do, and what should I do?

I looked deeper than the paycheck. I asked what would actually motivate me at a fundamental level. The answer was clear: I had to find a way to help people solve real problems while earning a living doing so.

Logic led me to sales. If I wanted to help people and be rewarded for the direct value I provided, I needed to sell something that truly left people better off than I found them.

I had zero experience. I knew that the best way to learn was to jump into the deep end, and I knew it would have to be straight commission. I didn’t want a safety net; I wanted a mirror that reflected my own effort. My research pointed to one industry that was as high-stakes as it was rewarding: Real Estate.

Then came the logistical challenge: How do I transition from the structured world of American Motors to the chaos of the market?

I was told there was a two-week wait for the licensing course. I couldn’t wait. I went down to the Real Estate Board Registration office in person to plead my case. I wasn’t looking for a handout; I was looking for a crack in the door. Luckily, an instructor was nearby, saw my determination, and let me join a class starting that Monday.

I went back to American Motors and made a move. I asked for my two weeks’ vacation plus an extra week without pay. Because I was that ‘model employee,’ they agreed. Then, I handed them my notice. I told them I was quitting in three weeks—or they could let me go right then.

They let me go on the spot.

I was finally free. I had a course to pass, a job to find, and a life to build. I was about to learn that selling the largest purchase of someone’s life isn’t just about ‘sales’—it’s about human psychology, trust, and the magic of the close.