“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
My hands are still bloody from the battle… I like to say.
Starting a company is incredibly hard.
The legal documents, the raising money, the pressure. It’s an endless game of survival… though I have come to find the hardest part might actually be … ourselves.
The mental strength required of you as a leader makes for a journey not everyone wants a ticket to. You have to learn to push past anxiety, fear, and I would even argue being rational. You learn quickly how powerful your mind is.
As I flash back to myself years before, sitting in West Texas, I had a comfortable spot. A wonderful career, a good reputation, and great clients. But there were nights I would wake up with a knowing that there was something else I was going to do in my life. This didn’t come from a feeling of discontent, but from a knowing that I would be called out of comfort. I can’t say that feeling was “butterflies and rainbows.” There was a sense of selfishness I would feel, thinking, “This is really not a bad spot to be. I like it here… Do I have to?” But since childhood, I’ve had those feelings of knowing in my spirit when my Heavenly Father is calling, and this was one of them.
I didn’t want to leave my career. Real estate was all I had ever known, and what I grew to know was beyond my greatest expectations. I can tell you with confidence that selling houses was something I was very good at. I went from the bottom of the industry to the top, and that seat is hard to leave. But eventually the opportunity came knocking and ended up leading me to discover a white space in the technology sector of real estate, and God made it clear I needed to saddle up for this one.
“Hang tight, boys and girls… we are starting a tech company.”
When Real Time was born, there was a blanket of naivety that wrapped me up. Without that, I think you would have a hard time convincing a sane person to start a company, leave everything comfortable, bet a bunch of money, and break into an industry they really know nothing about. But I have come to learn there is beauty in a “childlike faith.” Even when it comes to the battle of big business.
I was naive to believe I would have a ton of support from colleagues.
I was naive to believe I would’t wake up at night with cold shakes.
I was naive to believe people would call me back.
And 90% of the time, I did face quite a bit of disappointment in those first years.
But the other 10% was incredible.
I was naive to believe that strangers would step up and take the time to help me when nothing was in it for them.
I was naive to believe people would invest money in me when I had only an idea on a PowerPoint.
I was naive to believe people would take a meeting and share insight into their personal mistakes so I wouldn’t make the same ones.
I was naive to believe people would make introductions to the best in their Rolodex.
I was naive to believe that billionaires on TV would reply back to an email.
That other 10% can be quite amazing.
Being the underdog has never been a problem for me; I found grit at a young age that makes me want to put my shoulder down & fight when the going gets tough. Although I struggle with other traits, this one I’m fond of in myself.
Key factors I have learned in the journey of building Real Time.
#1: “It’s really that hard.” For everyone who’s starting from the bottom.
You face extreme obstacles: payroll, invoices, projects… Yes, you are not alone. Every founder feels that. Every founder looks in the mirror in disbelief at times, wondering how they will survive another day. TIP: Go to sleep. You’ll wake up better.
#2: Being different is what makes you innovative.
Lean into what makes you stand out; that is a strength … maybe even your greatest.
#3: Stay on your toes and pivot quickly.
Feel the pulse of the industry and watch closely. You can move much faster than any big company. That’s what you call a competitive edge.
I am not in the good ol’ boys club in Silicon Valley, but what I was, and am, is a Realtor who knew, from the bottom up, what each part of the industry looks like.
I knew the Realtor in her white BMW.
I knew the builder juggling multiple contracts, deadlines, and surveys.
I knew the stressed seller with two little kids and a husband working out of town, trying to keep track of dates and documents.
I knew those people firsthand. So when it came to building software for them, I could do that.
Three years later, I am standing here, ten toes down. Maybe with some scrapes and bruises, but I am standing.
I’ve had incredible wins, met remarkable people, and traveled the country, collecting experiences I will never forget. The Team at Real Time is a well-oiled machine full of talent and hard work. For the record, I AM naive to believe a technology startup out of Fort Worth, Texas, could give these big dogs a run for their money. AND here we are.
I am making my mark, and so can you.
-RW
