Planes, Suites, and Real Estate Fanboys: A Week in My Life

The Personal Side: Minute Suites and Fanboy Moments

Last week kicked off with what I affectionately call my favorite form of self-torture: air travel. After multiple delays from Atlanta to Las Vegas for the Keller Williams Family Reunion (my third one!), I opted for the ultimate luxury—a five-star stay at an airport Minute Suite. Okay, fine, it wasn’t exactly five-star, but at 2 AM it felt close enough. Highly recommend if you're into compact luxury, fluorescent lighting, and the subtle ambiance of boarding announcements.

The Keller Williams event was incredibly inspiring, and I was thrilled to share it with my brother Adam, who’s now officially part of the Victoria Merchant Team. In true brotherly fashion, Adam kept a straight face the entire time, so when he finally turned to me and said, totally deadpan, “I am so pumped,” I nearly spilled my overpriced convention-center coffee. He also completely fanboy-ed over a fellow twenty-something real estate agent who’s crushing it on YouTube. I’m just glad someone got him to show a little excitement—clearly, it wasn’t me!

When I finally returned home, nothing felt better than a long, hot shower, snuggling my boys, and enjoying a home-cooked meal. Bridger has tryouts for the high school 3L baseball team soon, and as any parent of an 8th grader knows, nerves are running high. I reminded him—and maybe myself—that outcomes aren’t in our control, but effort is. Sterling, on the other hand, is gearing up for rec baseball. Honestly, nothing is cuter than watching little legs sprint wildly around bases, proud grins after successful catches, and the hilarious reality of baseballs slipping through tiny gloves and rolling through legs.

I also attended an alumni lunch for Northfield Mount Hermon and enjoyed reconnecting with my former headmaster, Richard Mueller, and other alums. Richard nostalgically reminded me he handed me my diploma 23 years ago—time flies, but thankfully, the memories stay.

Real Estate Rundown: Connections & Listings

Back to the convention—it was a whirlwind of incredible connections. I  met James D. Shaw, my hero and the mastermind behind a morning Zoom call that started during COVID and now includes over 1,200 agents nationwide. This supportive group has been a lifeline in a competitive industry, and I'm excited to join their upcoming event in Tampa this November.

I also connected with Cindy Shetterly, who leads the top real estate team in Ohio (and also serves Kentucky). Cindy is originally from Evergreen, CO, so it was a meaningful connection—and definitely someone I'd like to emulate professionally. Plus, meeting Tracey Edwards in person, the agent listing our Florida house, felt like seeing an old friend. She’s a top agent in Florida’s western mid-coast, and I’m grateful to have her expertise.

On the flip side, real estate isn’t always glamorous—we’re navigating a bizarre Airbnb lawsuit (honestly, your guess is as good as mine) and helping past clients through unexpected disclosure disputes. But hey, if real estate were easy, everyone would do it, right?

Oh, and speaking of real estate, I have a fabulous new townhouse listing coming soon in Longmont! This home is the unicorn of townhouses: three bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. Perfect for privacy—or just avoiding arguments over toothpaste.

Life is a mixed bag of exciting wins and unexpected challenges. If there's one thing I've learned recently, it's that we can hold gratitude for what we have and empathy for those going through harder times—often at the same time.

Thanks for joining me on this wild ride. Until next time, friends!