How Honoring Mom Shaped Our Team's Success

Even after she retired from real estate, I honored my mother by including her name in my team.

Ever since I started the Waldner Winters Team, I've been asked one question almost daily: "Who is Winters?" Well, it's time I come clean and tell the whole story.

Everyone knows me—I'm Nick Waldner with the Waldner Winters Team at Keller Williams. But people often wonder about my elusive partner, Winters. “Why have we never met Winters? Is Winters real?”

I got my real estate license in 2004, about 20 years ago. At the time, I was 22 or 23 but looked even younger, like I was 14 or 15. My mother, Dianne Waldner-Winters, was a successful real estate agent who inspired me to join the industry.

When I started, my mom was clear: "Your business is your business; mine is mine. You'll succeed or fail on your own." She was firm but supportive, offering mentorship but no handouts.

I began attending appointments, but clients always asked, "How old are you?" I developed a script highlighting our family's extensive real estate experience to build credibility. I would say, "I’ve been in real estate since I can remember. My mom, two aunts, grandfather, and dad all have real estate backgrounds."

To reinforce this, I created brochures featuring my mom and I, branding ourselves as the Waldner Winters Team. My mom objected, saying, "We're not a team; you need to do this on your own." However, I needed that partnership image to establish trust with clients.

Over time, I hired assistants and agents, growing the team significantly. I repeatedly invited my mom to join officially, but she declined. Eventually, she agreed to join because she kept 100% of the commission, and I covered all expenses. I was thrilled to finally have a "Winters" on the team.

However, just three months later, she announced her retirement. She said, "I'm going to Europe with my sisters. You're doing a great job, and I'm retiring from real estate." So, the "Winters" of the Waldner Winters Team was part of the team for only about three months in our 20 years of existence.

Despite this, I never changed the team name. I wanted to honor my mom and her contributions to my career. She showed me how to be excellent in business and life; keeping her name is my way of acknowledging that.

So there you have it—the story behind "Winters." No Winters is on the team today, but her legacy inspires us. Call me at (410) 220-2343 if you have any questions or need real estate assistance. I’m here to help you manage your real estate journey.