When I first came to Bellator as an agent, our Mobile broker was Don Jones. On the glass wall of his office was a sign, "WHAT'S YOUR 68?" I was curious. What did that mean?  Did I need a 68? Did I have a 68? I had questions.

Don, in his quiet, firm way, had answers. He told the story about a hockey player named Jaromir Jagr, who is a legend in his field. On his jersey, he has always worn the number "68" to honor his grandfather and his country. Jaromir's grandfather was killed in the Russian Invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, so he wore the number "68" to honor his family and country every time he took the ice.

He was a great player, but he wasn't motivated to greatness by the money he made. His motivation came from love of family and country. I decided to google Jaromir and find out what he's doing now. Guess what? This former NHL star is STILL playing at 51 years of age. Can you imagine? Now, in his 35^th season, he's playing for his hometown team in the Czech Republic. I would love to see him play, wouldn't you?

As he ended his NHL career, he was interviewed. He talked a lot in the interviews about being thankful and, as I read,  I remembered GRATITUDE is a Bellator core value. I got so choked up reading his words and hearing about his life. It has deepened my understanding and helped me realign my heart and my head for today and for the years that lie ahead. Of his career and success, Jaromir said, 

"Probably the luckiest year was when I was 18 years old and came to the Pittsburgh Penguins," continued Jagr. "It's not only about winning the Cup, but it's about the players that won the Cup. The players on that team worked so hard to win that Cup. When you're a young guy and you see how hard the older guys work, you feel bad if you don't do that with them. They taught me everything - on the ice and off the ice." – NHL.com 

At the END of his NHL career, he was offered a one year, $8 million dollar contract and turned it down. He went home to the Czech Republic and is still playing. I thought about all the injuries a professional athlete endures and that's tough when you're young. At 51, he's still playing. His love of the game, and his 68 is keeping him in the game. 

I've been thinking a lot about my 68 in recent weeks. My life has changed significantly in the past two years and I'd found myself questioning again, "Why am I doing this?" A friend who lives in Helena sends me Marco Polos while she's running miles every day, blissfully happy. I hear birds singing and trains in the distance. She's going to have lunch with a friend after this run. She lives such a simple, beautiful life. I found myself thinking, "Why am I STILL doing this?"

It's not for money --- though, as REALTORS, we certainly are paid well for our expertise and acquired knowledge, our attention to detail and our commitment to our clients. Last weekend, I spent some time alone and in the quiet, my phone rang. It was an agent with a question. Five minutes later, my phone rang again, another agent asking a question but also thanking me for being available and for sharing with her. That's when it hit me. I do know my 68. I do know why I do what I do. As a broker, I literally love helping agents grow, thrive, and WIN. I love the deep friendships that are borne and grow from it, love being behind the scenes and being part of setting you up for success with Bellator's systems and with an executive team who lives to make all the boats float. It lights me up to see you guys do what you do and succeed, sometimes against all odds.

As a REALTOR, I am utterly delighted every time I can help a seller get to his dreams expediently because I know my job, my process is seamless, my list of preferred vendors is incredible and my team is so strong! When a buyer walks into a home and they realize THIS IS IT, and I get to be there to hand them the keys to the next step in their adventure, THAT feeling is like nothing else. Top it off with the most supportive brokerage and colleagues I've had the pleasure to be part of and it's really pretty simple. I get it again. And I'm overjoyed with the path we're on together. The commissions I earn are what makes it possible for me to do what I love but they are not my 68!

If you haven't thought lately about YOUR 68, maybe, like me, now is the time to rethink. Get your heart and your head aligned so you're working in tandem with your vision, your reason why. It has to be about more than money or you'll be just like the same sad, tired agents you get so annoyed about working a deal with…or maybe that's just me? lol 

Remember to laugh and to take yourself lightly as you work and grow. Spend time with life-giving colleagues and be thankful. It will take you a long, long way.

WHAT'S YOUR 68?