When I think back on my early experiences in business, one moment stands out above all others. I was nine years old, about to turn ten, living in Beaumont, Texas, when I sold my first house. It may sound like a small achievement, but to me, it was monumental. That experience sparked a curiosity and drive that has guided my entrepreneurial journey for decades. It taught me the value of initiative, responsibility, and creativity, and it planted the seeds of a lifelong passion for real estate and business.
Growing Up in Beaumont
I was born in 1962 in Beaumont, Texas, into a family that valued hard work, self-reliance, and integrity. My father came from a dirt-poor farming family in East Texas. He joined the military during World War II when he was sixteen. My mother grew up in Beaumont, the daughter of a painter and a chef. Together, they raised my brother and me with strong values, teaching us the importance of effort, curiosity, and family.
As a child, I spent most of my time outdoors. I played sports, built treehouses, rode my horse Gigi, and helped with small projects around the house. My father taught me to work with my hands and take pride in my efforts, while my mother encouraged creativity and problem-solving. Those early experiences gave me a sense of confidence and independence that would serve me well later in life.
The Move to Lumberton
In 1972, my parents decided to build a new home and move to a suburb of Beaumont called Lumberton. The move created an opportunity I could not resist. Our old house at 3150 Cleveland Street needed to sell, and rather than wait for a traditional approach, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
I grabbed a piece of plywood, some paint, and a hammer. I made a “House for Sale” sign and nailed it to a tree in our front yard. I even wrote the price, $8,000, right on the board. At the time, it felt like a fun project, a small way to help my parents. I did not realize that I was about to take my first real step into entrepreneurship.
The Sale That Changed Everything
A month or so later, the phone rang. Someone was interested in buying the house. I still remember the excitement I felt as we arranged the sale. At ten years old, I did not understand contracts, negotiations, or closing procedures, but I knew one thing: I had just sold a house. That feeling of accomplishment was intoxicating.
The experience taught me an early lesson in initiative. I realized that opportunities are all around you, but it is up to you to recognize them and take action. Selling that house gave me confidence that I could create results through effort and creativity. It was a small deal, but it left a lasting impression that shaped how I approach challenges and opportunities to this day.
Lessons in Responsibility and Creativity
That first sale also taught me the value of responsibility. I had to follow through and see the project to completion, even as a child. I learned that success does not happen by chance. You must be willing to take ownership of a task and see it through.
Creativity was another lesson I carried forward. Making that sign, choosing the price, and displaying it in a visible way required imagination and problem-solving. I realized that thinking outside the box can make a difference. Whether it was selling a house at ten years old or developing commercial properties decades later, creativity and initiative go hand in hand.
Connecting Childhood Lessons to a Career
That first $8,000 sale was more than a childhood anecdote. It became the foundation for a lifelong career in real estate and entrepreneurship. I learned early that even small projects can teach big lessons. Hard work, initiative, and creative thinking are skills that translate across industries.
Later in life, when I developed properties, opened restaurants, or launched entertainment ventures, I drew on those same principles. Each project required planning, attention to detail, and the courage to take risks. Every deal, big or small, builds on the confidence that first experience gave me as a child.
Seeing Opportunity Everywhere
One of the most valuable takeaways from that early sale is the idea that opportunities are everywhere if you pay attention. I have carried that mindset into all my ventures. Sometimes, the potential for success is not obvious. It requires curiosity, action, and a willingness to step up and try. That lesson has been central to every decision I have made in real estate, hospitality, and entertainment.
Looking Back
Selling that first house for $8,000 may seem small in hindsight, but it had a profound effect on me. It was a defining moment that taught lessons about initiative, responsibility, creativity, and the value of taking action. It gave me the confidence to pursue bigger goals and to embrace challenges with enthusiasm.
Looking back, I see that my entrepreneurial spirit was born in my childhood, nurtured by family, and tested through real-world experience. From that simple sale to developing properties and leading companies, the principles remain the same. Success is about noticing opportunities, taking initiative, and seeing projects through to completion.
The first $8,000 deal in Beaumont shaped the way I approach business and life. It taught me that age or experience does not limit your ability to act. Initiative, responsibility, and creativity are lessons that can start at any age. That early experience fueled my entrepreneurial journey, guided my career in real estate, and continues to inspire the work I do today.
For anyone looking to start a new venture, remember that the lessons you learn early can have a lasting impact. Take action, embrace opportunities, and never underestimate the power of initiative. That $8,000 house sale taught me that even small beginnings can lead to big successes.