I'm from Southern California and moved to Orlando in 1991 to start my own business selling/marketing medical devices to sports medicine professionals; Orthopedists, Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers and Orthotists.  I had the state of Florida and traveled by car.  I didn't know one person here, and thank goodness I was in sales otherwise it would've been a long, long road to building new friendships.  I earned the sales rep of the year award the first year for increased sales and continued to double and triple sales.  I got the 'lightbulb moment' (thanks Oprah) after doing my taxes one year and thought;  "after all the travel, time, commitment and my sacrifices - that's all I get?". 

A friend talked me into joining a Home Care company to do marketing/education locally with no overnight trips, except for meetings.  I had only Orange County as my territory until the GA owners were arrested and sent to jail for fraud. I then joined Novacare, a local Physical/Occupational Therapy company (who closed their inpatient centers years later), then spent almost a decade at Orthomerica (my favorite) in sales for Florida and Georgia (by car again!) before being thrown into a business development position targeting pediatric rehab markets all across the US.  This was the fast burn to my exit out of the medical field. 

So, when people ask me "The medical field, thats supposed to be such a great field.  Why did you leave (it)?"  You got the abbreviated version.

Don't get me wrong, I learned so much working for these companies, traveling to cities, rural areas and ghettos, mostly by myself.  I learned how to plan in advance, pack lightly, time management, how to make a $ last and the where the cleanest bathrooms are...Don't laugh.  Me and one of my fellow sales reps (you know who you are R) talked about writing a book about women who travel; highlighting hotels, restaurants, best exits/gas stations for bathrooms, etc.  That is a book for someone else to write now.  But I enjoyed myself and met some amazing people, many who are now friends and who live all over the world.  They all come to FL eventually for a trip (kids love Mickey Mouse!) and the weather is amazing October-April.

I signed up for real estate school while recuperating from a carpal tunnel surgery and here I am.  I worked for a powerhouse Type-A Broker to start.  She was very successful and taught us all very well.  However, I was trying to simplify my life and eliminate driving as much as possible (you read my bio).  I chose a broker in Winter Garden who was also part owner for a custom builder specializing in green homes.  The real estate industry as well as home builders/developers took a big hit when the bottom dropped out in the real estate values (2008) and my broker lost eight custom 'spec' homes to the banks.  A franchise later (Exit) and then the franchise-free company was finally dissolved, after 12 years in business. 

Many people would think I was crazy to go to work for another 'boutique' Real Estate Co, but I like the small office and neighbourly  feel.  My broker has been in Windermere all his life and he is there to stay.  Our office is 'no frills' (not no nonsense) but we have everything we need to conduct business professionally.  Our one-stop shop offers a mortgage company next door as well as a title company.  How is that for convenience?  It works especially well in this market of short sales, preforeclosures and bank-owned/REO sales.  Hometown Title handles the closing AND the negotiations with the 3rd party loss mitigators.  This is a huge convenience for us since they are right next door.  If there is something urgent we need, we just walk next door!

Speaking of next door, did I mention Tim's Wine Market?  This is where we hang out on Friday evenings for wine tastings and celebrate our closings.  We even have a store next door that provide cashiers checks/money orders for those rental clients.  They also have good BBQ sandwiches!