Shelly, what you have is not a husband, but a WIFE!!!  :)

Shelly has a nice husband, I've stolen him once today. :)

I completely agree that a great spouse is a huge boon. If you don't have a nice one, at least hopefully not a bad one, which is hugely detrimental.

I don't have a secret weapon. Perhaps I do. If I told you I'd have to kill you. LOL

I AM a secret weapon. Ahem.

Shelly, that was good, thanks for sharing.

I was going through a time when my oldest daughter was a Jr in high school, my son was in 6th grade and felt like my kids didn't need me as much anymore. My husband and I were sitting on our front porch swing talking as we did on that swing just about every night after the sun went down. I told him I felt like I wanted to do something, start a business. A gift shop, a country gift shop like I loved to shop in when I went out of town, we had a craft thingy in town but I wanted quality.

He immediately started telling me how I would be fantastic at that. His support made me even more excited. Within a week he had spotted a 2 bedroom house on our major highway through town. We made a good offer and bought it. Had the agent known what we were going to do with it, she would have told the seller to hold out. It became the #1 tourist attraction in our town. Even the camper business and businesses around would send their customers to my shop as it was unique. We had handcrafted gifts, candles, gourmet fudge, quilts, collectibles just about everything and I enjoyed the shopping and the displaying. I loved that place. It grew each year. I finally burned out after 9 years.

When I was free to do something else I saw the need of an honest real estate agent in our town, due to some person experiences. Again, my husband encouraged me to go for it. He was the push later to go ahead and get my brokers license. He has had his own business for years and I always helped him. We have helped each other grow our business in whatever way we can.

Yes, he has to listen to all the stories but I listen to his as well. He has been my inspiration and my hero too. He has been the one to tell me to think about it first too, because I tend to explode in all directions once I get an idea. Like I have often said, if we all got everything we thought we wanted at the time, we would all have a pony in our backyard or our bedroom. So it helps to have a sounding board.

It is going to be interesting to hear from everyone else.....

You know I have told my husband we need a wife. hmmm.

You girls with supportive hubbies are blessed beyond measure.

And if this has morphed into a post about the 'men behind the women' let me tell you about mine:

http://realestatebhc.com/PICT0006.JPG

Coolest guy on the planet. That's all I have to say.

You know it's serious when he renders ME speechless!

Seriously, when interviewing agents, I WANT TO KNOW if they are married and how that is 'going'.

It will reveal the level of hand holding and grief I will have with that agent. Sorry, I am not being 'hard' and indeed, I'm usually 'there for' the 'crisis du jour' but it will not serve a real estate career well.

See Shelly, you should be listening to the Prana music, Joel has a secret you don't know yet . . . . ROFL

Mine just came in with new videos for me, Tenacious D & The Pick Of Destiny and Natural Born Killers. He knows what I like . . . LOL

Shelly, what a lovely thought, that's what love is all about, showing appreciation, lending a helping hand, being considerate of each other it does makes for a good marriage.  The word appreciate means to esteem, to evaluate highly, and to approve warmly.  When such appreciation for you develops, it is good to give expression or voice to it, and this can be done again and again, in numerous ways (like sharing with us).  I'm sure your husband loved the sentiment.

One thing that my husband does is make sure that gas is always in the car.  He covers my yearly and quarterly dues, puts out and picks up my open house signs, does the laundry and makes sure that I know where I'm going.  I'm very bad at finding places just yesterday I went to preview a duplex and couldn't find the street here in my own neighborhood and had to wake him up (works at night).  I thought I knew where I was going.  This year will be 25 years of wedded bliss.

I agree and thank you.  

9 more here and hope I make it . . . KIDDING . . . but it is an accomplishment to be certain.

Ok, mine can't cook. Man how I wish he could. He does bbq but dinner is never ready. bummer.

Mine is not permitted in the kitchen. I'm not permitted to play the guitars. So it's even.

Joel also doubles as cabana boy for Shelly's friends.  He truly is a gem.

Hi  Shelly, I have a husband like yours too. He does the shopping, cooking (he is a gourmet chef) and bookkeeping...I am so blessed.  He even drives the car when we are showing property. He still does his own job too. He is my third and best husband.  My kids were all grown when we got married and he never had his own children and he loves mine and my grand kids as if they were his own....all I can say is thank you God for putting this man in my life....the first part of my life was so hard and now I have the best!

Shelly, just jumping in on behalf of the husbands who have wonderful wives. We are all very fortunate to have support from our spouses in all of our endeavors.

Shelly,

I too have a husband who takes care of me and our home while I'm out and about.  He actually loves to cook and almost always has dinner ready when I get in.  Of course I sit in a subdivision 6 days a week so my schedule is pretty well set.  BTW the subdivision is his and his Dad's so it is to his advantage to keep me "healthy".  It's nice when we are working towards a common goal.

Dee,

Feb 08 will be 25 for us.  Congrats to you.

Excellent post Shelly. My wife rocks!

Since I don't have one "them", I thought I'd chime in on someone else's behalf.

I know for a fact that Gary S. has an amazing wife, as well.  He's on vacation but I wanted his wife to get a mention!

The secret to my success:  

My Wife who supported me with unfailing encouragement through the hungry startup months (and on occasion when the lean months came back)...

My Mentor Team Leader who trained me well....

My attitude, when I refuse to run or flock or whine with the doomsday crowd

My God, who sells Real Estate and lets me help.