To be honest, when I started my wild real estate ride nearly 40 years ago, I was clueless. I was only hired by a small Upper East Side firm because I begged. The office was located in a basement next to a firehouse, and day after day, I happily worked in the chair I was given. I didn’t have a desk.
Even though I was broke and didn’t know how to navigate the city, I was determined. Sadly, I was not aware that Times Square in the ’80s was not a desirable neighborhood to live in (if you wanted to stay alive), nor did I know anyone here except for my new boyfriend, “Tad Martin,” star of All My Children. I was too naïve to be scared. At 21, I was on my own, and there was no going back to my family’s Long Island nest. Failure was not an option, and I had to fend for myself.
I started, as most young agents do, in rentals. Each day brought the opportunity to meet interesting people, see some beautiful (and truly horrifying) apartments, and work hard. I was like a sponge, learning from my mistakes and how to overcome every hurdle or obstacle that got in my way.
Over 30 years ago, I met Ann, a fresh college graduate just starting her career. I rented her a great apartment on West 67th street where she lived for many years. Fast forward: she now lives in Minnesota with her husband. When they recently decided to purchase an apartment for their grown son, Ann called me! I can’t tell you how proud I felt when I got the call. After all these years, helping Ann and her family start yet another new chapter was such a gift and a reminder that hard work and relationships are truly the keys to success in business and in life.