The truth is, I feel like I’m just waking up.

For most of my adult life, I have merely existed. I’ve gone through the motions, so to speak, doing the things you’re supposed to do.

College, job, marriage, babies. . .

But in 2017 it occurred to me that I wasn’t so much playing the game of life as I was floating through it. Although I’d achieved some success, it had largely come from reactionary tactics versus proactive strategy.

When that lightbulb went off, I realized I wasn’t locked into the path I’d been wandering down. I had the ability to create a new path, one that allowed me to achieve goals that, before then, I would have never imagined.

At 43 I’m just starting to walk that path and at times I feel like I’m not progressing quickly enough. In those moments, I have to stop and remind myself of just what I have accomplished and how that fits into a larger picture.

So far this year I have:

Leveraged marketable assets and strategic outsourcing in order to complete the most profitable real estate transaction, as measured by dollars earned per hour, of my career. This moved forward the goal of transforming R.W. Price Realty Associates into an entity where I’m not mired in the day-to-day business of buying and selling houses and can, instead, focus on growth and impact.

With the help of friends, I produced the Dockwood Music Show which raised over $2,000 for a local charity. Not only was this the realization of a long-time goal, but it was also a proof of concept for something that - someday - can generate donations that are measured by hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions.

I completed a Spartan Race thereby proving to myself that, despite the fact that I’d let my fitness and health deteriorate, 43 is not too old to start taking care of my body. I’m not there yet, but by this time next year, I expect to be in the best shape of my life.

I bought and renovated a house that was previously falling apart and that is now under contract at a substantial profit. In doing so I shattered a limiting belief to which I’d held for many years - namely that I was “just a Realtor” and not an investor - and found a profitable outlet for my creativity.

I bought a house for my family, furthering the larger objective of providing a safe, comfortable, and stable foundation for my wife and my children in a warm and welcoming community. Buying a house might not sound like such a big deal, but for 5 kids who’ve been through divorces, separations, and multiple moves I promise it’s a big deal.

I’ve written a ton of stories published both on Facebook and in my newsletter, All Right Sally. From these, I’ve strengthened existing relationships and made new ones. That most profitable transaction I mentioned? It started with a phone call that said, “we know every Realtor in town but my wife insisted I call you because of the stories that you tell.”

Yesterday a friend asked me how my day was going. “Ugh,” I said, “I’m not getting anything done today!”

I feel that way a lot.

Like progress is excruciatingly slow and like I’ll never catch up.

But, objectively speaking, I’ve made some pretty big strides this year alone. And since I have no plans for slowing down I really am starting to feel like the sky is the limit.