It took a global pandemic for me to realize just how much of my life I was sacrificing for my career.

 

I was sleeping only four hours a night, unable to stop working or calm my mind. I was constantly traveling—jetlagged and exhausted. Even when I was back, I wasn’t really present. My body might have been there, but my mind was thinking about a never-ending to-do list. It was the state of my mental health that finally redirected my life and pushed me to change course. That new direction was real estate.

The irony is that I’d wanted to be a REALTOR® since high school. My dad was in real estate, and I saw how passionate he was about it. When I told my parents I wanted to follow in his footsteps, they were supportive—but they made it clear that college was a must.

I went to college, got a marketing degree, and landed a job with a Fortune 500 company, working in sales and marketing in the beverage and consumer goods industry. The paycheck was solid. I had a 401(k) and full benefits. I was comfortable… so my dream of being a REALTOR® could wait.

After a while, that comfort turned into boredom. My role focused heavily on business planning, which was great because I’ve always been analytical—but I had little say in what the plan actually was. I was there to execute, not to create. I constantly felt like I was under a microscope, highly pressured to perform.

I thought about quitting many times, but I was afraid of the unknown. What would I do without a steady paycheck? What if I failed as a REALTOR®—then what? So, I stayed, and as the years passed, the paycheck got bigger and the golden handcuffs got tighter.

With every promotion came more travel, more pressure, and less freedom. I felt like I was working harder and harder just to maintain a life that didn’t feel like mine. But still, I kept grinding.

The breaking point came during the pandemic. Some people might call it a spiritual crisis—which is generous. I’d call it a full-on meltdown. I felt anxious all the time, either glued to my laptop or stuck in my head thinking about work. When I wasn’t anxious, I was depressed. I was sacrificing my health, my peace, and my life for a career that no longer made sense.

“Why don’t you quit?” my husband, Grant, said one day. “Take a breather. I can support us.”

That was exactly what I needed to hear. I quit my job, this time with no hesitation, and focused on taking care of myself. I started therapy. I rested. And the fear of the unknown? It finally shrunk enough to make room for aliveness. Within a month, I was working on getting my real estate license.

From there, things moved quickly. I teamed up with a friend who’d been in the industry for 20 years. She became my mentor and helped me hit the ground running. I love what I do, and more importantly, I now set boundaries to protect the life I’ve worked hard to rebuild. I make time for my husband, our dog, and the things that make me feel whole—hot yoga (my obsession), baking, and relaxation. Prioritizing self-care, along with changing careers and realizing my dream of becoming a REALTOR®, has been the winning formula for finding fulfillment.

I offer clients a premium experience where they feel completely taken care of, with no need to worry about a thing. I plan ahead and handle all the details to prevent issues down the line. If clients are transitioning between homes, I’ll help find a rental. If a home needs to be sold, I’ll cover the cost of professional cleaning and photography. I have a trusted list of vendors for every real estate need, and I don’t just hand it over—I get quotes and coordinate the entire process.

Marketing is one of my strengths, so I promote each home through every channel possible—social media, print, and open houses—to get it sold quickly. I keep clients informed with honest, consistent updates, so they’re always in the loop. When it comes to negotiation, I treat their money like it’s my own, fighting for the best price, terms, and conditions.

My mission is for clients to feel relaxed while I handle the hard work. From start to finish, I’m here to make the process seamless and stress-free.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Jen Barney

REALTOR®

480.213.5694

jen@jenbarneyrealestate.com

www.jenbarneyrealestate.com