3 - Alex Ahkey

And so when you launched Top Notch and you said you had a few mentors encouraging you to do it, I think those kind of people that believe in you are so important during your career.

I'm glad they did because I didn't.

So

yeah, some Someone had to.

Well, yeah, I know we've talked about in the past that whole imposter syndrome and am I good enough or where do I fit and all those kind of bits and pieces.

Going from employee to business owner I know is a huge step.

What did they have to say to you to kind of instil that confidence in you to actually take the

leap? Look, they said a lot, but they actually really – like they really pushed me and they really helped me.

I had no idea even the first step to take.

So a lot of it, I will say Kylie Peden in particular, she just took the lead and just did it.

And I sort of blindly followed.

And it was very much fly by the seat of my pants.

I honestly, I was learning on the run.

I had absolutely no idea what I was in for.

And looking back, I there was a yeah I just oh my goodness I have no idea it is getting so much harder yeah it is it is yeah but it's changed a lot in 20 years absolutely imagine what

would you say some of the biggest changes or shifts have been not just from an industry perspective but like as a as a business leader what would you say some of the biggest shifts have been

Compliance is number one that's changed in the real estate landscape specifically, which has made it a lot more difficult and a lot less enjoyable to do our jobs.

I understand the reason for it, but it is a lot.

And I think technology has changed... client's level of expectation in how contactable you are and how quickly things can happen.

That's changed a lot.

And I think that obviously economic climate has changed drastically over the 20 years we've seen many, many changes and had to work through those.

I think that new staff coming into the industry and their work ethic and their impatience to get somewhere has changed dramatically.

how you employ and how you retain staff.

So all of those things have impacted, you know, and just the cost of doing business.

Oh, yeah.