I stood in a crowd of my peers, clapping for whoever would be named Realtor of the Year. When they called my name, I froze. Me? Really? As I made my way to the front of the room, that familiar phrase echoed in my head: "They like me. They really like me."
It was a surreal moment. After all, in a town of 20,000 people with about 70 real estate agents, being selected by your peers means something special. It wasn't about transactions closed or dollar volume — it was about character and how I showed up in the industry.
When people asked why I thought I'd been chosen, the answer came easily: they saw that I genuinely care. But what does caring really mean in a business where the end goal is always a transaction?
The Caring Superpower
At a church group years ago, I mentioned to our pastor that I'd always thought it would be neat if my spiritual gift could be healing. I imagined being able to touch someone, take away their pain, and make them whole again. What an extraordinary gift that would be.
"You know, Stephanie," he replied, "the way you make people laugh and feel better — you always make us feel better. You are a healer in your own way."
His words stopped me in my tracks. I'd never thought of my natural inclination to lift others' spirits as a form of healing. But in that moment, I understood something fundamental about myself: my superpower isn't selling houses — it's caring about the people inside them.
Caring isn't just a warm feeling or a nice word to put on my business card. It's active. It's listening — really listening — to what people are saying and, often more importantly, what they're not saying. It's reflecting back their thoughts in different words to make sure I truly understand. It's digging beneath the surface when someone says they're stressed to find the real root of their worry.
Beyond the Commission Check
In this industry, it's easy to focus on the bottom line. Every agent has bills to pay, just like our clients. But for me, the transaction has never been the point.
"I have to charge for my services because I can't work for free," I tell people with a laugh. "But at the end of the day, I care if you're happy. I care if you're in the home you're supposed to be in. I care that we got you the right price so you could get to the place you wanted or needed to go."
This means sometimes making decisions that don't maximize my commission. If a deal is about to fall apart over $500, I'm not going to let that happen. I won't get in the way of someone's dream over a few hundred dollars. That's not caring — that's just business as usual. And I've never been interested in business as usual.
I promise my clients that what they see is what they get. "I'm going to tell you the truth and be my authentic self," I say. "You're meeting me just like my husband knows me — though I might say a few more bad words at home than I do professionally. But other than that, this is me."
The Foundation of Strength
No one builds a strong career in isolation. Behind every successful real estate agent is a network of people who make it all possible. For me, that network starts at home.
My husband Bob is the kind of support I never knew existed. If I tell him I'm not sure I can do something, his response is always the same: "Yeah, babe, you can." When I wanted to attend a real estate conference in San Diego, all I had to say was that I thought it would be good for my business. "That's your business, baby," he told me. "If you think it's going to work for you, you do it."
After three surgeries in recent years, I've learned just how vital this kind of support is. It's the foundation that lets me show up fully for my clients, knowing my own life is in good hands.
My daughters are my heartbeat. Symone, my firstborn, is bold and fearless, unafraid to speak her mind. She embodies all the qualities I admire but sometimes struggle to express myself. Destiny has become my rock in recent years, always there to remind me of who I am when I start to forget.
Then there are my bonus-daughters, Maddie and Cailey, who each bring their own special gifts. Maddie can always make me smile, even on the hardest days. Cailey's brilliant mind sees things from angles I'd never considered — she even built me a beautiful spreadsheet system for my business that transformed how I track my work.
My mother-in-law Donna cheers for my success with genuine excitement. My broker Bennett has been there for me through thick and thin, helping me manage my business during health crises and providing guidance when I need it most.
These people — along with my book club friends and my Hermiston library team — form the circle of support that powers everything I do. They're the reason I can show up fully for my clients, day after day, transaction after transaction.
The Emotional Intelligence of Real Estate
When people are stressed about buying or selling a home, the source of their anxiety isn't always what they think it is. This is where my background in sociology and psychology classes proves invaluable. I approach stressed clients almost like a counselor might, helping them identify what's really bothering them.
"Let's talk it out," I'll say. "What exactly is stressing you out right now? What's the first thing that comes to mind?"
Often, just talking through their concerns alleviates the pressure. When I explain what's happening in terms they can understand, I can physically see the tension leave their bodies. Their shoulders drop, their breathing slows, and suddenly we're back in problem-solving mode together.
This approach comes from a deep place of empathy. I know what it feels like when someone doesn't care — when you're dismissed or overlooked. It's a terrible feeling, one I experienced too often growing up. And it's something I've vowed never to make another person feel, especially not someone who's trusted me with such an important transition in their life.
I never want anyone to ever feel that way because of something I did. The dismissiveness and the sense of being unimportant are feelings no client of mine will ever experience.
The Ripple Effect of Caring
Here's something I've learned over the years: caring creates a ripple effect. When I truly care for my clients, they feel it. They remember it. And most importantly, they're inspired to extend that same care to others.
I don't just want to sell houses — I want to create a community of people who feel valued and understood. Every transaction is an opportunity to demonstrate what real care looks like in action. And when people experience that kind of authentic attention, they carry it forward.
This is why I volunteer in our community and why I'm always trying to leave people "better than I found them." Whether it's the checker at Safeway or a million-dollar buyer, my goal remains the same: to make a positive impact, however small, in each interaction.
The Cost of Caring
There's a cost to caring as deeply as I do. It means taking on some of my clients' stress. It means losing sleep over their decisions. It means investing emotional energy that sometimes leaves me depleted.
But here's the truth: I wouldn't have it any other way. Because when I see a family get the keys to their perfect home, when I watch sellers move on to their next chapter with confidence, when I receive a text months later saying "We still love our house!" — that's when I know every ounce of energy was worth it.
Caring isn't always easy, but it's always right. And in a business where people are making the biggest financial decisions of their lives, caring isn't just a nice addition — it's an absolute necessity.
The Return on Investment
Most business metrics focus on financial returns, but I measure success differently. My return on investment comes in the form of relationships that last far beyond closing day. Some of my best friends today started as clients years ago.
When I say "I am honored to be a part of this journey with you," I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I write it in cards to clients because it's the absolute truth. With all the options available today — other agents, online services, even doing it themselves — the fact that someone chooses me to guide them through this major life transition is something I never take for granted.
This perspective keeps me humble. It keeps me focused on what really matters. And most importantly, it keeps me committed to giving every client my absolute best, regardless of the size of the transaction.
The Legacy of Care
As I look toward the future, I think about the legacy I want to leave in this industry.
It's not about how many houses I've sold or how much money I've made. It's about how many people felt truly cared for during one of life's most stressful transitions.
Did they feel seen? Did they feel heard? Did they feel that their concerns mattered? Did they feel confident in their decisions? These are the questions that drive me every day.
I want my epitaph to read, "She cared. She really, really cared." Not just as a nice sentiment, but as a reflection of how I approached my work and my life — with authentic, active, intentional care for the people around me.
Because at the end of the day, real estate isn't really about real estate. It's about people. It's about lives and dreams and futures. And if I can play even a small role in helping those dreams come true, while making the journey a little less stressful and a little more joyful — well, that's a superpower worth having.