On April 1st, I will mark a personal milestone that is difficult for me to fully comprehend. It will be my 40th year as a real estate broker in Silicon Valley.
Forty years.
When I stop and think about that number, what immediately comes to mind is not transactions, awards, or market cycles, although there have certainly been plenty of those. What comes to mind are the relationships. Over the years, I have had the privilege of building incredible connections with clients, colleagues, agents, employees, and industry peers, both inside and outside of the brokerages I have been associated with. Some of those relationships were formed decades ago and still remain meaningful today.
This business has given me the opportunity to mentor others, and just as importantly, it has allowed me to be mentored by some truly exceptional people. I have lived through more market shifts, industry changes, and economic challenges than I can count. I have seen this business evolve in ways I never could have imagined when I first got started. And yet, one of the things I still love most about real estate is that no two days are ever the same.
Every client is different. Every property is different. Every transaction comes with its own set of circumstances, emotions, and challenges. Every office has its own personality, and every agent brings something unique to the table. That variety has kept this business interesting, engaging, and deeply rewarding for me over four decades.
There are many things I have come to love about this profession, but perhaps the one that has had the greatest impact on me is embracing the philosophy of servant leadership.
Traditional leadership models often emphasize authority, hierarchy, and personal accomplishment. Servant leadership turns that upside down. It places the needs of others first. It is rooted in the belief that leadership is not about being served, but about serving. It is about creating an environment where agents, colleagues, employees, and the communities we touch can grow, feel supported, and perform at a higher level. It requires transparency. It requires accountability. And above all, it requires a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.
When I first entered this business, I will be honest, my goal was to make money. A lot of it. Over time, however, my perspective changed. I came to understand something much more important: when your mission is truly to serve others, the money will follow. Maybe not always on your timeline, and not always in the way you expected, but it will follow.
As I reflect on 40 years in this business, I find myself asking a question that occasionally surfaces during moments of introspection: If you could go back and do it all over again, what would you do differently?
At different stages of my life and career, I know I would have answered that question very differently. But today, I can answer it with total clarity and authenticity.
I would not change a thing.
That is not to say I did everything right. Far from it. God knows I have made my share of mistakes, and some of them were costly. I have made decisions I wish had gone differently. I have taken detours. I have had moments where I drifted off course and had to work hard to correct my path. But every one of those choices, every challenge, every setback, and every recovery helped shape the person I am today.
Our choices have consequences. Sometimes those consequences are painful. Sometimes they are humbling. But our worst decisions do not define us. What defines us is how we respond. What defines us is the resilience we demonstrate when life or business knocks us off track. What defines us is our willingness to make adjustments, learn the lesson, and move forward with greater wisdom than we had before.
Life and business both require constant correction. Very few people travel a perfectly straight road. Some may come close, and good for them. But that has not been my story. I have had my share of bumps, detours, and off-road moments. And yet, for all of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly, I am grateful.
Because every experience has contributed to who I am today.
So, as I step into year 40, I do so with a heart full of gratitude. Gratitude for the people who believed in me, those who challenged me, those who taught me, and those who trusted me. Gratitude for the lessons, even the hard ones. Gratitude for a career that has given me purpose, opportunity, and the privilege of serving others.
And perhaps most of all, gratitude that the journey is not over.
I look forward to serving others for many years to come.
TERRY Talks 