When people hear that I made $600 my entire first year in real estate, they either laugh, look concerned, or both. But it’s true. And believe it or not, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Let me be clear — I did not want to get into real estate. I really wanted to be an FBI agent! LOL. But life had other plans.
At the time, I had just moved back home from Tulsa, where I was a manager at a medical supply company. At 26 years old, I was back living with my parents, starting fresh with my brand-new real estate license in hand. Let’s just say I was not exactly setting the world on fire. And to make it even harder, no one really wanted to use me as their Realtor — I was new, inexperienced, and still learning the ropes.
And remember — this was 1996. We didn’t have email, social media, or texting. No YouTube! Basically, my marketing was in the newspaper — in black and white — with no photos. We also didn’t have online MLS systems or smartphones. We had massive MLS books delivered to the office every week with the latest listings, my pager that looked like a small VCR clipped to my belt, and my trusty Nokia phone that could survive a drop off a building.
Investing in Myself Before the Paycheck
When I started, I had $10,000 in savings — and I spent every single penny of it in my first year investing in myself and my real estate career. Between conferences, training programs, travel, and marketing materials, that money was gone within a year.
At the time, I was driving an Isuzu Impulse that was already paid for, I wasn’t paying rent, had no car payments, and my only real bills were my student loans. That freedom from major expenses gave me the ability to pour everything I had — time, money, and energy — into becoming the best Realtor I could be.
While my bank account stayed lean, my calendar was full. I traveled all over the country to attend every real estate conference I could — Los Angeles, Colorado, New York, New Mexico… you name it, I was there.
I listened to Mike Ferry and the Mike Ferry Organization — one of the most well-known real estate coaching systems in the country — breaking down sales scripts, prospecting methods, and mindset training. I learned from Verl Workman, another incredible real estate coach, about building systems, lead generation, and personal branding. And yes… I even went through a program called Sweat Hogs — which, despite the name, did not involve farm animals, but instead was a high-energy real estate training program designed to toughen you up and make sure you were working your tail off.
And most importantly, I was learning under my father, David Poindexter, whose decades of experience gave me a front-row seat to what hard work in this business really looks like.
Grinding Without Immediate Results
I was hustling, but the money wasn’t showing up yet. Truth is, it took me four full years just to get back to what I was making at the medical supply company.
That’s the part most people don’t talk about. Success in real estate isn’t overnight — it’s late nights, early mornings, rejected offers, deals falling through, and months where you wonder if you made the right decision.
But here’s the thing: every ounce of grind you put in now, you will reap later. As Vince Lombardi said, “The man on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”
Lessons From the Early Years
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Be patient. Pay your dues now, and your future self will thank you.
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Learn from the best. Find mentors, coaches, and top producers and learn their habits. “Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn
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Invest in your education. The conferences, the training, the books — they all compound over time.
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Hustle when others coast. While others were taking long lunches, I was learning, prospecting, and building relationships. “You can’t have a million-dollar dream with a minimum-wage work ethic.” – Stephen C. Hogan
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Fall in love with the process. “Fall in love with the process and the results will come.” – Eric Thomas
Why This Matters Today
Now, as part of The Agency Oklahoma, I can look back and see that my $600 year was one of the most valuable seasons of my life. It taught me to push through discomfort, commit to my goals, and play the long game.
Our brand at The Agency is built on that exact mindset: global reach, white-glove service, and relentless hustle. Whether you’re buying, selling, or building your career in real estate, success comes from showing up and working hard every single day.
As Mark Cuban says, “Work like someone is trying to take it all away from you… because they are.”
A Few More Quotes I Live By
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"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." – Robert Collier
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"If you’re not willing to risk the unusual, you’ll have to settle for the ordinary." – Jim Rohn
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"Good things come to those who wait… but only what’s left by those who hustle." – Abraham Lincoln
Final Word
If you’re in your first year, don’t panic if the checks aren’t rolling in yet. Be patient. Put in the hours. Travel, learn, and grow. The rewards will come — but only if you keep going.
And if you’re ready to buy, sell, or even start your own journey in Oklahoma real estate, let’s talk.
Wyatt Poindexter
The Agency Oklahoma
📞 405-417-5466
🌐 www.WyattPoindexter.com
