“You’re making too much money.”
That’s what echoed in Missouri native Ryan Haywood’s ears after his boss decided to slash his commissions—a “sales haircut,” as it’s bitterly known in the industry.
This notion of being penalized for success was perplexing for Ryan. Out of all the downsides of his job—the after-hours calls from his boss that he was expected to answer, dealing with poor management, and working up to 80 hours a week—this pay cut was the last straw. He didn’t realize it at the time, but this setback was about to unveil a path that would lead his family toward the future that Ryan and his wife Megan had dreamt about.
Ryan’s story that I’m about to share is not just a testament to his determination to build his wealth on his own terms. This story is about his strategic, practical approach to building a truly successful real estate company in the face of uncertainty, full of solid insights that every investor should hear.
Ryan’s Journey From Sales to Real Estate
It was the end of 2019. Ryan and Megan were in a period that should have been filled with anticipation and joy for their family as they awaited the arrival of their third child.
Instead, uncertainty loomed. Despite the lucrative nature of his job in the budding field of fiber optics, the instability and lack of appreciation left Ryan yearning for change. He was caught in a dilemma: a high-paying position that offered little in terms of job satisfaction and stability. And to make matters worse, the company he worked for just decided to cut a large chunk of his pay because he was making too many sales.
Ryan knew something had to change; he just hadn’t yet realized what that change would be. Shortly after receiving this news, Megan and Ryan had their third child. This meant Ryan was on paternity leave and suddenly had extra time on his hands. He wasn’t sure what his next steps would be—all he knew was that he couldn’t go back to the…