Meet Market: Rachel Rohrig
“I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy.”
– Dory in Finding Nemo
HOW RACHEL MAKES DEALS (AND FRIENDS) IN REAL ESTATE
I love meeting new people. People are just the best, aren’t they?
I’m Rachel Rohrig, commercial broker at Market Real Estate and avid friend collector. It doesn’t matter whether we meet through work, family, a common contact, or just randomly in the checkout line at the grocery store, every relationship matters to me. Because success is meant to be shared. It’s not selfish or isolated. It’s abundant and welcoming. That’s what I love about this business. By helping each client and their business succeed, our entire community benefits.
MY GENES MEAN BUSINESS.
I inherited my obsession with people from my mom and dad. It’s in our family DNA, and it’s probably the most valuable thing they’ve ever given to me. They are both salespeople and have been in the same business for over 30 years, turning clients into friends all along the way. They taught me that everything is about relationships — creating them, growing them and cherishing them.
My parents are also two of the most generous people I know. They give time, money and love so freely, which has always made me want to do the same. Giving keeps people grounded and level- headed. It reminds us to think of others and not just ourselves. My whole life, I watched my parents forge bighearted bonds with everyone and their mother (literally), including vendors, mentors, partners, friends, family, even strangers. I know that’s going to be me, and I’m so thankful for the fact that they gave me that gift.
DESTINY, LET’S DO THIS.
When I joined Todd, Heidi and Laura at Market four years ago, I was coming out of a business where the bottom line was all that mattered. I felt like I hit the jackpot with this new team and career, and the experience showed me that I could create the life and world that I wanted for myself. I had always been told that I control my own destiny and can achieve anything if I work hard enough. So, in my 20s, I started my own business knowing absolutely nothing about how to make it work. Yes, the financial obligations were terrifying. Yes, I was young (but not stupid). And yes, if it crashed and burned, there was nobody to come rescue me. But I did it. I worked my butt off, and I did it.
I had two embarrassingly specific goals at that time. (1) I wanted to appear in Entrepreneur Magazine, and (2) I wanted to work with Disney. I achieved both in the first year, and I have no doubt that it happened because I believed that anything was possible. I still believe that, and I think about it almost daily.
SHORTCUTS ARE FOR SUCKERS.
“Get rich quick” sounds like a scam because it is one. I’ve had a lot of jobs in my life, and they taught me that hard work and commitment always beat shortcuts. I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right, which is probably why I love real estate so much.
Ours is an industry full of ego, misinformation and “taking the sleazy way out.” But not me, and not Market. In fact, my favorite deals over the years are the ones I had to work hardest for. The ones where business owners had been lifetime renters, and I was able to help them see and attain the value of ownership. The ones where lone-wolf entrepreneurs or high-powered CEOs of huge companies look to me to make the real estate process the least stressful part of their day. The ones where my clients and I had to stick together and trust one another in order to achieve both long- and short-term goals in a single deal.
I never would have gotten here by cutting corners or going it alone. Sincerity, effort, kindness and relationships are what make life meaningful, and helping others is the most priceless and fulfilling you can do. I guess that’s why I like people so much.
LIVE IN THE MOMENT.
Reflecting back on my career, and especially the chaotic year 2020, I’m reminded to appreciate everything I have. Tomorrow is never guaranteed, so it’s up to each of us to be present and live each moment to the fullest. I’ve always known in my heart of hearts that while making money is important, it’s more important to be happy every day and leave a positive mark on people’s lives. We have to enjoy the people who we surround ourselves with. I joke that I fell in love with the Market team, and the rest is history. But it’s not a joke. It’s true. I immediately saw them as friends, and I knew I was in the right place.
Mom and Dad couldn’t be prouder.