https://www.fastcompany.com/91435623/ikea-smart-home-range-is-here

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After lunch with the amazing Ron Hemig a commercial real estate legend in the Tahoe-Truckee area known for helping investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners find their ideal properties—I returned to my Jeep to find a small yellow rubber duck sitting proudly on the hood… duck duck jeep!

At first, I thought it was a promotion. Then I scanned the parking lot for other vehicles with ducks on the hood. Nothing. Next, I looked for a child who might have dropped their toy. Still no luck. Finally, I picked it up, half-expecting to see a hidden camera crew. The next morning as I waited for my coffee to brew I Google’d “ducks on Jeeps” and quickly discovered this is a Jeep thing!

That’s when I discovered the Duck Duck Jeep tradition, also known as Jeep Ducking. Started in 2020 by Allison Parliament, it began as a small act of kindness—leaving a duck with a note on a Jeep—and has since grown into a global movement that celebrates connection, community, and positivity.

The Jeep community is, dare I say, cool. When I moved to California in 2021 after twenty-two years in NYC, friends naturally asked what car I planned to buy. My answer? “Well, my sixteen-year-old self always dreamed of a red Wrangler with a tan interior—so maybe it’s finally time for a Jeep.” And that’s exactly what I did. Not long after, I discovered the Jeep Wave—a subtle two-finger greeting shared among Jeep drivers, a tradition believed to date back to WWII. Simple as it is, that small wave of recognition still makes my day every single time.

Like the Jeep Wave, Duck Duck Jeep has no strict rules. Some owners keep their ducks, proudly displaying them on their dashboard “duck ponds.” Others continue the tradition, passing along that small but joyful gesture to another Jeep owner. When I got home, I shared the story with my dad, who promptly sent me a bag of rubber ducks to keep the kindness going.

And that’s where the connection to real estate comes in.

In real estate, just like in the Jeep community, it’s the little gestures of recognition that matter most. A thoughtful note. A warm introduction to a neighborhood. A heads-up about a pocket listing. A well-timed check-in. Buying or selling a home isn’t just about market data—it’s about community, kindness, and those moments that make people feel seen.

I’ll always keep my first duck as a reminder of that feeling. And just as I’ll keep paying it forward with ducks, I’m committed to paying it forward in real estate—one connection, one conversation, one client at a time.

For more information about the Duck Duck Jeep trend, visit Wikipedia and discover a very informative article all about duck duck jeep.

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I had a day this past week that just weighed on me. It started with a call from someone telling me all the things I “should” be doing to ramp up my business. It left me wondering, Wait a minute—can we take a moment to acknowledge what I’ve already put into place? And also—what if I just don’t like the advice? Just because a strategy works for one agent doesn’t mean it’s right for me.

With a background in marketing, I know this much: if you’re not being true to yourself and the brand you’re building, people will see right through it.

Later that day, I took someone to lunch—someone who started their own business years ago. I shared that I’m fully focused on real estate now, and what I got back was:
“How long can you go without a paycheck?”
Umm… first of all, I don’t know you well enough for you to be asking that. Second, I’m here for advice, encouragement, maybe a little networking support. And I’m buying lunch!

By 3pm, my mind was shot. I felt deflated.

Which was frustrating, because the rest of the month had been amazing.
I’ve defined what I want my real estate brand to stand for.
I launched an Instagram account.
I’m writing posts like this one each week so there’s content when my blog goes live.
I’m out there networking.
I’m joining organizations (and let me say, I am not a natural joiner).
I’ve set new disciplines—and I’m sticking to them.
Momentum is happening.

And then—SPLAT. Hit by the naysayers.

But instead of sitting in that dungeon of self-doubt too long, I did something else: I paused for an audit. I asked myself why I chose to build this business in the first place. Were those reasons still real and valid?

They were.
I don’t want to be tied to someone else’s agenda.
I don’t want to spend my days behind a screen.
I want to engage with the community around me.
I want to stretch my business acumen.
I want the freedom to think creatively and solve problems—not just follow the “shoulds.”

So yeah, I’m proud of how fast I rebounded.
Because honestly, I can be my own worst naysayer—and I’m better at it than anyone else.

What that day gave me, though, was a Teflon moment.
I’m not letting other people’s doubts or judgments stick.
I’ll keep building something that offers real value—to my clients, to my business, and to the humans I meet along the way.

Opinions and views are my own. The content in this post is for informational purposes only. Do not rely on this information for financial and/ or legal advice or to make any decisions about your financial and/or legal situation. Seek professional counsel for your specific needs.

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Cut to: first truly freezing morning. I suited up, hit the pavement, and for a brief moment, I felt cute. My gear seemed to be working. And then—BOOM. POW. I rounded a corner on the boardwalk and the wind off the Hudson hit me like a wall. It may as well have been summer and I may as well have been naked. My fancy, winter-proof setup? Useless.

Defeated, I booked an appointment at the Peloton store.

Now, I had long believed Peloton was a cult. I had colleagues who raved about the leaderboard, the instructors, the “energy.” They all seemed to speak the same script. “Who is paying you to say this?” I thought. But there I was, humbled and freezing, buying a bike because the treadmill wouldn’t fit in my apartment—and then waiting 3.5 months for it to arrive.

Fast forward: I’m now a proud Peloton cult member. I largely credit Cody Rigsby and Tunde Oyeneyin for getting me through Covid. Cody’s breakdowns of the glories of Krispy Kreme, his disdain for all the milk varietals to choose from, and the constant encouragement (“Hi-five for just showing up!”) somehow kept me from completely losing the plot.

This morning, I was on a ride with Hannah Frankson, and she riffed on these concepts; One can’t get stronger without stepping up the resistance. One can’t change without trying something new. There is no shame in cranking up the resistance, realizing it is too much and backing it back down, through that process you’ll surprise yourself with how strong you really are. Getting stronger is a step by step longterm journey.

That landed. It felt like a metaphor not just for fitness—but for building a business.

Building a business is exactly that: a step-by-step climb. Resistance included. Sometimes it feels like a grind, even a forced march—but that’s how strength builds.

This past week, I’ve been in a real estate bootcamp (never stop learning!) and it’s given me too much time to reflect:
How do I level up?
Who’s that one client that will change my trajectory?
Where will I find them?
How do I keep the spark alive once the adrenaline of “launching” wears off?

The answers aren’t clear yet. And honestly, it’s unsettling. But if there’s anything Peloton has taught me, it’s that mindset matters. That the slightly delusional optimism, the corny mantras, the constant encouragement—those are exactly what you need when forging your own path.

Because some days, that vision board magic feels lightyears away. But with every ride, every client call, every hustle-filled day, I remind myself:

Breathe in the good shit. Exhale the bullshit.
— Matty Maggiacomo, Peloton

Got a vision board with a dream home—or a new chapter? Let’s turn that into reality. One bold step at a time.

Opinions and views are my own. The content in this post is for informational purposes only. Do not rely on this information for financial and/ or legal advice or to make any decisions about your financial and/or legal situation. Seek professional counsel for your specific needs.

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