Getting into the real estate business takes a lot of mental preparation. The same is true for mountain climbing.
“To climb a mountain takes lots of mental and physical strengthening,” says Trevor Stuart, an associate with Royal LePage South Country in Lethbridge, Alta. But for his upcoming project to climb six mountains in 16 months, Stuart says he is working out about 10 times week.
His workouts consist of going to a nearby gym five days a week, up and down the coulee stairs three days per week. When not doing that, he tackles the climbing wall at the University of Lethbridge.
Stuart is climbing the mountains as part of a charitable challenge for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and local YWCA shelter Harbour House. He says that his own tumultuous growing-up years inspire him to work with family-oriented charities.
“I want to do this so that women and children in abusive home situations know that they have a place to go, they can get out of there,” he says.
Stuart has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (in 2008 and again in 2009), which is 5,891 metres. Between half and one-third of those who try to climb Kilimanjaro don’t succeed. In 2010, he went to Nepal to the Mount Everest Base Camp (a climb that he has planned for next year) to the top of Everest, at 8,848 metres. After 8,000 metres on Mount Everest, climbers need to use oxygen, and it is said that seeing bodies along the trail the further you go is common because the route, in places, doesn’t allow for carrying the sick out or for helicopter rescue.
Recently there has been a series of tragic earthquakes and aftershocks in Nepal, but so far Stuart still plans to make the Everest climb sometime from March to May of next year, unless officials decide the trek is too risky.
Stuart on the summit of Mount Aconcagua in Argentina.
Through the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, Stuart wants to raise $250,000 for Harbour House. So far, he has checked Mount Aconcagua in Argentina off his list (February 2015). At 6,960.8 metres, Aconcagua is the highest peak in the Southern Hemisphere. In June, Stuart will ascend the three peaks of Mount Kunturiri, a 5,672 metre high volcano. Next will come Mount Sajama, which is 6,542 metres and an extinct stratovolcano. It is Bolivia’s tallest summit.
When not working out, Stuart is writing offers and showing houses.
“It’s important to push yourself,” he says. “My training takes a lot of time, but in my office, I have photographs of previous climbs and places I’ve been. I feel truly blessed by the places I’ve been and the experiences I’ve had.”
He looks at the photos and his Royal LePage plaques for inspiration. Stuart won a sales achievement award in his first 60 days with the company. “I’m in the top five Realtors, but then I remember that the other four winners are real estate teams,” he says.
He started his career in real estate in late 2005. He won Re/Max’s 100% award in 2006, 2007 and 2008. During the next four years he won MaxWell Realty’s Top Five award as well as the MaxWell Community Spirit Award in 2011. He has been a BNI Key Connections member since May 2013 and on the Board of Directors of the Lethbridge Real Estate Board since January 2012. Stuart also enjoys hockey, running, hanging out with friends and family, camping, boxing and martial arts.
His clients inspire him to raise funds for charity. Stuart says his business comes almost 100 per cent through referrals from previous clients. He says prospective clients see his dedication to his charitable works and the commitment he has shown throughout the years, and are comforted that he will follow through to the end for them.
Sometimes he has lost business when he has to concentrate on training, but he says that when he focuses more on real estate, there are plenty of word-of-mouth clients waiting for him.
“My clients are family; they are truly supportive and a big part of my motivation,” says Stuart. Once a year to keep in touch with clients past, present and future he hosts a party. He considers it a good way to thank his clients, who are also his supporters in charity, as well as re-commit to his “biggest fans”. Although he may be their Realtor, what they usually want to talk about are his climbing adventures.
On Mt. Athabasca in Columbia Icefields
Stuart seems to have a decent balance between passion for his pursuits and real estate savvy. Showing that you can be serious about a hobby,dream or charitable enterprise can be a good way to show that no matter how young or old you are as a salesperson, you will be able to make a real difference to the life of your client. This is where younger salespeople can take advantage of their dreams by sharing them as part of their everyday work.
On his real estate page, Stuart has linked to his current charity projects alongside listings. Client reviews suggest that the focus Stuart must bring to climbing mountains and raising money for charity is also used well in his real estate dealings.
Sponsors for his upcoming climbs would be greatly appreciated, says Stuart, who pays for his own expenses during the training and climb.
Yvonne Dick is a contributing writer for REM with two decades of experience in journalism.
