“The One Less Traveled By…”
Myself with event teammates Marie, Ruby, and Meghan, as Former President Bill Clinton preps to receive his J.N. “Ding” Darling Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation, 2012
After nearly 10 years away from a whirlwind career orchestrating star-studded galas and prepping epic world-wide wildlife excursions, it was time to dive back into the working world. But what would that look like?! After all, I had paused my adventures to have and raise my twin girls, and my life’s work had come into new focus.
I wanted to be with my children, offer them a “learning at home” experience, and enjoy as many moments with them as possible. But while my event days were over, it was regardless, time to send my girls to school and head back to work. I’d pick-up where I left-off, before having kids, and before those all-consuming Event Industry days…
Just out of college in 2003, the HQ of Coldwell Banker Realty Mid-Atlantic was my career starter, and yet I had already struck gold. My colleagues were my work family, one of those “perfect-fit” teams you just know is special. I spent those high-flying real estate years (before the 2007 bubble burst) revamping the agent certification processes, connecting with agents and managers throughout the region, and later assisting with annual awards shows and retreats. Years of memories.
Fast forward to early 2020, after interviews with new management and joy-filled greetings from familiar former colleagues, I was back. Only this time around, I’d support just one branch office - as their go-to admin gal.
It’s my first morning of work, after years raising my kids at home. Just moments into training, my manager is asked to take an unscheduled call regarding a very serious spreading illness. Four weeks later I’d be furloughed; doors closing for the foreseeable future.
COVID. Ugh, SO close to starting again.
With return-to-work plans turned upside down, and my kiddos miserable in virtual school, I had to find a way to pivot for our family’s financial needs AND the needs of my girls’ education. Lock-down giving me that final push, I decided to take the leap.
I’d create something from scratch.
How could I allow my children whatever time and space their brains needed to grow, explore, and develop on their own path, while ensuring we had the needed extra income?
My husband and I have always been “the road less traveled” types. Taking a leap seemed natural. I decided to homeschool (a once fleeting teaching dream come true), and build a remote-work copywriting business utilizing my skill for editing.
My first professional head shot, in front of one of America’s most famous historic homes…Mount Vernon
In other words, support real estate agents despite the pandemic…freelance-style.
Three years into Yellow Door Lane, (and teaching my kiddos at home) I’m totally in love with my work. Though I took a risk building a copywriting business, the hard work and patience is paying off. The best part, I realize, “adventure” is still in my working-life cards.
While leveraging the avalanche of modern resources to set my girls on whatever educational path they chose, I’m virtually visiting stunning locations and describing dazzling properties, all while exercising a multi-generational family heirloom, a love of writing.
I’ve since blended a fascination with architecture with a passion for culture, art, and the human experience.
Where we reside, rest, play, work, celebrate, and struggle, where we make our most precious memories - all expressed within the walls of one structure. Home.
I set out to allow busy agents to easily order property remarks online and simply write their listing descriptions using complete sentences, zero acronyms, and a dash of stylized storytelling. Yet over time, found myself writing love letters for luxury properties.
Agents have asked me to write for homes refinished by sellers using materials from globe-trotting travels, others with coveted destinations not easily let go.
While some properties have witnessed tales of Hollywood history, others hold untold secrets of American heritage.
I just love this image, given a little “Yellow Door Lane” love, by Emmy Award winning Motion Designer/Graphic Artist, and brother-in-law John Edmonds
The Yellow Door Lane niche was clear…
Take the time to capture a home’s individual character, infuse lifestyle, honor the seller’s closing-chapter, and provide agent’s with that coveted marketing tool “emotional connection”…this job, to me, absolute magic.
…but not just for me. Magic for YOU. I write memorable listing descriptions, but it's YOU, the agent, who enjoys the praise.
And now, this being my first blog post, I invite you along for the ride!
In upcoming posts, I’ll share my process for writing listing descriptions, tell my secrets, and have you pour a cup coffee or glass of wine so we can gawk at epic homes and breathtaking locations together. I hope you’ll find value and fun in the articles that follow.
It’s been quite a journey already!
Until the next post. .. Happy Writing!
