With a passion for both music and business, I dreamed of opening a music shop. Yet, life took me on an unexpected path that turned out to be a profound opportunity for growth.

 

Growing up in Oklahoma, I always admired small business owners, and that was exactly the path I envisioned for myself. With a deep love for music, I dreamed of combining my passions—music and business—by one day owning a music store.

 

Determined to make that dream a reality, I majored in music in college. During that time, I met my husband, Malcolm, who has been my soulmate for 37 years now. We got married, and after finishing college, we started raising a family. Together, we had 5 children: Derek, Marcus, Nathan, Tyler, and Lucas.

 

I started teaching piano lessons, a natural fit for my love of music and my nurturing personality. When we moved to Colorado, I became a stay-at-home mom who homeschooled my kids and taught other students. At one point I took a side gig selling pianos, and to my surprise, I felt completely at ease in that role. Teaching had given me the opportunity to pour into others, but as the years passed, I sensed that I wanted something different. I realized I didn’t want to teach anymore, but didn’t know what I wanted to do next.

 

The pivotal moment came during a conversation with my mom, who confronted me with a tough question: “What are you going to do next?” As I hesitated, she suggested real estate. Her words resonated; I remembered how much I’d enjoyed buying a property with Malcolm some years ago and learning about investments. I took my mom’s advice, an unusual move for me, and got my real estate license in 2015.

 

Real estate turned out to be exactly the challenge I didn’t know I needed. As a naturally quiet person, music had always been my comfort zone—it didn’t require me to be chatty—but real estate was a whole different story. Suddenly, I had to strike up conversations with strangers and talk about myself, which felt somewhat foreign.

 

Thankfully, I had Bruce, my mentor, who encouraged me to embrace who I was and focus on building relationships. He taught me that being genuine mattered more than being the loudest voice in the room. Bruce was also an exceptional marketer and took the time to show me the ins and outs of the business. I threw myself into the industry, taking every class I could and learning everything about real estate. To my surprise, I listed my first property within three months.

 

A year later, I won my first award—and things only grew from there. Over the years I have earned awards for my production, achievement and spirit. These milestones showed me that I could not only succeed but thrive in this industry, all while staying true to myself.

 

Today, I’m a proud business owner and I’ve grown so much thanks to being a REALTOR®; I’ve gained confidence, found joy in helping people, and pushed myself outside of my comfort zone. I’m also proud of my 37-year marriage and the lives my children are leading.

 

In my free time, I still cherish music and play keyboard in a variety of settings. Music will always be a part of who I am. I also enjoy playing mind bending games/puzzles and giving back to my community—like picking up trash on one of the streets I’ve adopted.

 

Becoming a REALTOR® wasn’t in my original plan, but it allowed me to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a business owner while inspiring me to evolve into a new version of myself. Sometimes the best paths are the ones we don’t expect.

 

Many people believe they can’t own a home but I love showing them how homeownership is possible. Education is empowering, and as a natural nurturer, I help my clients see options they hadn’t considered. From the very beginning, I use a step-by-step chart to guide them through the process, ensuring there are no surprises along the way. Having taught other REALTORS®, I bring a deep knowledge of real estate and break it down in a way that’s easy to understand.

 

With experience living in both rural and urban areas, I help clients understand the lifestyle tied to different locations—whether it’s an apartment in the city, a home in a neighborhood, or land in nature. I also pride myself on being detail-oriented, carefully reviewing every contract and considering how each deal will impact my clients. I take the time to explain to my clients the implications of every decision they make during the transaction.

 

I specialize in assisting clients aged 55 and older, helping them downsize, find a new home, or transition to assisted living—all with patience and understanding at every step.

 

Sincerely,

 

Marilyn Johnson

REALTOR®

Call/Text (303) 548-6936

marilynj@greatwaycolorado.com

marilynjwithgreatway.com