By Melanie Robitaille, Sr. Staff Writer & Graphic Designer
Thirty years. That’s the milestone EXIT Realty Corp. International stands in at this very moment. And yes, we’re going to stand in it, honor it, and own it for all that it’s worth. From the sale of our first franchise and residual check issued in 1997, to reaching over $2/3 billion paid out in single-level income to our associates, these past years have truly been invaluable, memorable, and richly impactful.
Created from Founder and Chairman, Steve Morris’ vision of a business and lives made greater, he dared to dream of a Formula that would help others achieve theirs through EXIT. It’s an unstoppable and genius concept that disrupted the business then, and still creates waves touching every human being, whether they rely on this business, or are supporters of someone working in it. That’s because Steve has always built upon one absolute truth, the better the individual, the better the agent; and the better the agent, the better the industry for everybody…including families and communities.
What began as one man’s dream, one office sold, and one residual paid has compounded into a collective movement for better. The ability to enrich your lifestyle without sacrificing your time; retirement, where there was never before; and the opportunity for your work to mean something more than it already does to so many.
Over the past three decades, our Formula has helped hundreds of families after losing their loved ones with $1.6 million paid to our associates’ beneficiaries, creating a financial legacy no other brand has. Choosing EXIT means helping our associates and offices give back to charitable organizations and communities through our Spirit of EXIT program, which has donated more than $8 million across various sectors through over 475+ events, helping with everything from medical research to grassroots fundraising, and combating some of today’s most challenging societal issues.
Has it always been easy? No. If it was, everyone would do it and no one else does it like we do. We’ve been arm-in-arm with our owners, offices and associates through market tides, learning who we are as a company and what matters most. In truth, we’re still learning. Because that’s the point.
The goal has always been perpetual success, not just for those who choose our brand today, but for what comes next for the industry tomorrow. We’ve watched cell phones untether agents, contracts become paperless, social media transform lead generation, and the rise in need for Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as data analytics became the new edge. But the one thing we know that has never changed is people are at the heart of everything we do in this business.
That’s why, looking ahead, we’ll continue to always put people first. It’s why our leadership will remain accessible, a person will always be reachable during business hours, and why we’ll always promote mind-set coaching in addition to production training. We’re living through times, witnessing the need for balance between both user and system. So, we’re keeping our eyes on technology’s blue-sky horizon of possibility, for our high-tech next chapter to ensure a quality human experience in real estate no matter how it may transform. Our systems are created through deliberate listening and are designed to evolve beyond those of us powering it today, as our company will.
We face forward, agile and ready to take that next step knowing it’s less about focusing on what to expect or even on the noise of what others are doing. Just like Steve’s dream that became EXIT, it’s about bringing more of what you wish to see into this world, and understanding that ultimately, the competition is only with ourselves.
Are you ready? Here’s to the next 30!
Very good article. EXIT continues to lead by example. There is a lot more than just what is in this article. It is because of the foundation we will see EXIT Realty continue to think outside the box. To quote Tami Bonnell – “People want to be part of something better. They want to feel like they belong, they’re being heard and that their individuality is honored; that they have the opportunity to contribute and to earn a living which will not only finance their lifestyle today and tomorrow but also their dreams.”
CONGRATULATIONS Exit Realty International. I am very proud to be 22 years of the 30 years of EXIT FAMILY GREATNESS!
Steve, keep the Exit Realty Momentum Moving Forward.
Congratulations to Steve Morris and the entire EXIT family! This year marks my 20th with EXIT. Opened my Bend, Oregon franchise on EXIT’S 10 Year Anniversary and have never, not for one minute, thought of leaving a company that has treated me so well. Just good people.