My Story

Between being a bartender and a drummer, I had a full schedule. When my life later included a family, I began to search for other flexible avenues that would provide for them. At times, my path felt like a rocky road! But I was optimistic about the future.

When the regional manager at the restaurant where I tended bar tapped me on the shoulder, I immediately knew there was trouble.

“Are you aware that you’re violating the dress code?” he asked.

I had been working there for a while without incident, I was even one of their top employees, but I had a pretty good idea that I knew what this was about.

“Your hair,” he continued. “That’s not a corporate-approved haircut.” I had my long hair tied back in a ponytail. I was a drummer in a rock band, and for that job, it practically was the dress code!

I nodded in the direction of one of the waitresses. “She has her hair in a ponytail. Why is it any different?”

That earned me a disapproving look. “The dress code is different for men.”

It wasn’t a surprise when the general manager called me into his office the next morning, but it still stung. I worked long, difficult shifts there for years. I was good at this job and had brought the company positive business. This seemed like such a ridiculous thing for them to get hung up on, I wasn’t going to stand for it.

We both knew why I was there, and I just gave my manager a look of disbelief.

“You can come back once you’ve cut your hair,” he told me.

Exasperated, I replied, “I won’t be back.”

I really loved bartending, but I had never intended for that to last forever, though I continued with it for a while afterward. I also loved drumming; that had been my real dream. I had a couple of close brushes with success, but things always seemed to fall apart at the last minute.

In the midst of these jobs, I met my wife. She had three kids of her own, and I very suddenly found myself raising and providing for a family. Not long after that, we had another child! I was used to working hard for long hours, and I began to think that it would help supplement the family income if I took on another job. They made it all worth it, but the pressure was on! I needed a career that would provide me with flexibility, and ideally, an opportunity to be my own boss. That was when the idea of getting into real estate first came to me. I started attending classes so I could become licensed.

To say my career as an agent had a rocky start would be an understatement! I got into the business right before the market tanked. Everyone, including my mentor, seemed to be abandoning ship, cutting their losses, and finding other careers. It wasn’t until a couple of years later, when a lender contacted me needing help with their bank owned listings, that I really got started.

Because my wife and I had looked at only one house and bought it without looking at any other homes, I was naive in the beginning and assumed that selling real estate was just that simple. I soon discovered that was not the case! But what I did discover was the joy in accompanying clients on the journey of finding the right home for them.

More than any other career I’ve had, I see the positive effects I’m able to have on peoples’ lives, and I feel proud about the fact that I get to contribute to that. I look forward to helping many more people in the future, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with you and your family!

The reason that I continue to work so hard even when it's difficult, is I love helping people. Over time I’ve developed strategies and learned to tailor them to each new client. I know how to navigate through the minutia and handle the task-oriented banks.

I recognize that the key to a positive relationship with clients is clear communication. I walk my clients through the process of one of the biggest transactions of their life while providing expert services and emotional support through the entire process.

I love handing over the keys and delivering good news, but I'm also adept at solving problems when they arise. There will inevitably be challenges, but what matters is finding the solutions! Those big wins keep me motivated and are the reason I’m excited to continue my journey and success in this industry. I hope to join you on your real estate journey too!

Sincerely,

James Cottrell
REALTOR®