Life as a New Agent

When I first decided to become a real estate agent, I had this outside perspective that agents “own their schedule.”

Smiling Giordan Thompson in a stylish pink plaid suit with a patterned tie and a neatly groomed mustache.

That’s what everyone says, right? Freedom. Flexibility. Work for yourself.

What I’ve learned eight months in… is that your clients own your schedule.

That’s not a complaint, it’s just the reality.

There have been weeks where my body has felt broken from running around the city. One day I’ll have five showings across Denver. The next day I’m in the office making calls. The day after that I’m scouting a new listings to film content or working on the newsletter for GiorDior.

It looks cool, and truthfully, it is cool.

It’s a hustle and a half.

Yes, I technically can workout whenever I want, but most days I don’t. Sticking to a schedule has been the hardest part. When every day looks different, it’s easy to feel like you’re flying by the seat of your pants. Routine is something I’m still building.

Sometimes people see the commission checks agents can make and think, “You made 15 grand on one deal?” What they don’t see is the nonprofit work that happens before that closing. The unpaid showings. The canceled contracts. The follow ups that go nowhere. The hours spent building trust with someone who might never buy.

This business will humble you quickly.

Logo of The Apollo Group featuring bold typography with a stylized 'A' and a crescent moon incorporated in the design.

One of the biggest turning points for me over the last eight months was switching teams. If you’re thinking about becoming an agent, the team you choose matters more than almost anything else.

When I joined my new team, everything shifted exponentially.

I suddenly had an office to go to. Corporate structure. A high quality printer. Systems. Conversations happening around me about real estate deals, and one of the biggest additions: Zillow leads.

Now, Zillow leads aren’t glamorous. You’ll meet dreamers. You’ll meet people who just want to tour homes for fun. You’ll get ghosted. You’ll get taken advantage of. You’ll also learn the business faster than you ever could waiting around for referrals.

As I continue building GiorDior, the blog, the newsletter, the content you’re watching, I’m also in the field gaining reps.

Suburban home with a welcoming open house sign, inviting prospective buyers to explore its features under clear blue skies.

Back when I was in corporate engineering, I learned skills that benefited the company. Valuable skills, yes, but very specific to that environment. In real estate, every skill I develop benefits me directly as a professional.

Communication. Confidence. Negotiation. Emotional intelligence. Resilience.

There’s no hiding as an agent. I can’t pass off a presentation to a teammate. I can’t blend into the background. If I’m not good at something, it’s on me to fix it. I either take a class or I go fail in public until I get better.

It’s uncomfortable, but it’s exactly what I needed.

I’m eight months in and I haven’t closed a deal yet.

There are barriers at every stage. First, you need clients. Then you need to prove you’re valuable. Then you need to structure the deal correctly. Then you need to get it to the closing table. It’s layers.

The lesson I've learned is focus on the next right step. Not the entire staircase.

I know from the outside it might look a bit directionless, or uncertain. Maybe it is, but I feel more alive building something than I ever did while making money.

For the millennials thinking about becoming entrepreneurs or agents, understand this isn’t overnight. It’s reps. It’s showing up when no one’s watching.

I’ll update you again soon.