I have to disagree with Shakespeare. A rose by any other name is not as sweet. I believe that names should be significant - they should mean something. When choosing a name for my real estate company, I wanted to encompass the values of my company and invoke the feeling of home ownership. So, what does that have to do with a tree? Everything.
After my parents divorced, we bounced around a lot. All of that changed when my mother bought her very first house, with her own money - on Dogwood St. When we got the keys to that home, it didn’t mean that we just got a 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick house. It was getting security. It was the feeling of finally being able to establish roots because it was a home that couldn’t be taken away. For the first time in years, we could live without threat or worry about where we would be sleeping. I don’t know how much my mom paid for the house on Dogwood, but the security it came with was priceless.
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I want to give my own clients that feeling that comes with owning something that is truly theirs. I want them to be able to put down roots and build memories. We formed a lot of memories in that little house. My first dates with my husband were in that house. Each time, he had to win a game of Skip Bo before he was allowed to take me out on a date. This rule was strictly enforced by my little brother.
When I think of Dogwood, I remember how close our family was. We are still close - we still speak to each other daily. I want my clients and I to have a close relationship too. (Don’t worry. I won’t call you every day.) I want my clients to know that even after the transaction is closed, they can call me. I want them to call me if they need help, even if it's not real estate related. I want to experience life with my clients. This is why I host so many get-togethers and client appreciation events. I want to see their babies grow each Christmas when we take Christmas photos. I enjoy catching up with them when handing out pies. I love hearing stories of how their children loved the birthday card that they received from me in the mail. In summation, I want to have an authentic relationship with my clients. It's not about the transaction. It's about them.
When choosing a company name, I didn’t want to name it after me. This company is so much more than me. My husband and I had a vision of growing a company that our children can actively participate in. My family helps me a lot. Whether it's cutting a listing video in their best pro-wrestling voice, putting out open house signs, cleaning the office, or helping me show properties, my children are integrated in my business. My family is not just watching from the sidelines, they are working alongside me, which is good because there’s a good chance that this business will be theirs someday. Just like a Dogwood tree, my hope is that, God-willing, this small company will grow into a career that will be helping others for generations to come.
