Sold on making a big difference
REAL estate is a fast-paced and relentless industry, and surviving and thriving takes a lot of inner strength.
But that would be hard to believe for anyone who took a walk through the Ray White Cairns South office, and marvelled at the countless awards hanging on the 14-year-old office’s walls.
Leading the team is principal Therese Plath, who marks 30 years with the company and as an agent in July.
She credits her successful career to her mother, her passion for helping people into homes and a pre-empted change in mindset when she was awarded principal in 2004.
“Moving home is a very emotional and stressful time so one of the most satisfying things is earning the trust of someone to be able to help them through that,” Ms Plath says.
“To be invited into someone’s home and then be asked to help sell their home is something we definitely don’t take for granted.”
Ms Plath says after some “tough love” encounters early in her career, she decided to adopt a more nurturing leadership style when she became principal.
“Everybody has their moments and challenges and when someone is struggling I wanted to make sure I was kind and helping them through it all,” Ms Plath said.
But one of her greatest motivators has been her mother June Duignan, who alone raised Ms Plath and her sister as they grew up at Tolga.
She relied on the “strength and courage” of her mother early in her career after her husband Allan was involved in a serious crash, leading to five surgeries.
“That was one of the toughest moments in my career. Emotionally, and looking after Allan, taking care of our two sons (who were in primary school at the time), and still trying to do my job.”
However, after 30 years, Ms Plath says she’s had plenty of highlights to celebrate as well.
She began her career by being offered a job at Ray White Cairns City, and in her second year was awarded the most improved salesperson in the Ray White Queensland cohort.
“That’s probably my most special one,” she says.
Serving predominantly the southern Cairns suburbs, Ms Plath is a proud southerner herself.
“I love the scenery of the southside and I’ve seen cane fields at Bentley Park and Mount Sheridan turn into the suburbs they are now.
“It’s a fast-growing area and things like the (Walker Rd) sports precinct are drawing people here.
“You don’t have to go to the city anymore, I see this as a mini-city south of Cairns in the years to come.”