Chace Whitson had a successful career in construction management, overseeing multi-million-dollar building projects, when an enticing job offer came along that would take him to new heights on the corporate ladder. But he walked away from it all seven years ago so he could become an entrepreneur.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no ceiling on what you can do when you work for yourself,91裸聊视频� says Chace, who heads up the Chace Whitson Real Estate Group at Macdonald Realty. 91裸聊视频淚 saw a lot of growth potential. Being self-employed and having the ability to grow my business as far as I can take it 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 just such an opportunity to build relationships and make things happen.91裸聊视频�

But it wasn91裸聊视频檛 an easy decision. Chace, who was a general manager at the time, really loved his work and the job offer was for a vice-president position in a larger company on the Lower Mainland.

91裸聊视频淚t was a big promotion and an amazing opportunity and one of the biggest struggles I91裸聊视频檝e had in business was to turn that down,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淐limbing the corporate ladder at a young age and having that success right in front of me and deciding to go out on my own instead was a big risk, but I wanted to pursue my own passion.91裸聊视频�

The risk paid off. Chace is now one of the top realtors on the Saanich Peninsula, where he was born and raised. It91裸聊视频檚 an area he knows well and it91裸聊视频檚 where he91裸聊视频檚 now raising his own family.

91裸聊视频淕rowing up here, I have a really great understanding of the communities, the amenities, the beaches, the parks, the school system and I91裸聊视频檝e always loved it,91裸聊视频� Chace says. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l never leave! The peninsula has everything.91裸聊视频�

His building background, with a solid understanding of residential and commercial construction, has been a big asset for Chace.

91裸聊视频淚 know what to look for and I can give good advice,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚t gives me a really good foundation to speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the construction.91裸聊视频�

But after seven years in the real estate industry, Chace says the most important skill is developing strong relationships, which he values more than anything else.

91裸聊视频淩elationships are the foundation of business, and listening to others and really, truly understanding what people want,91裸聊视频� he says.

Chace considers his dad, Gregg, one of his mentors.

91裸聊视频淢y father was also in sales and he taught me to listen to what your clients want and what they value. You91裸聊视频檙e always so much further ahead by listening. I saw first-hand with my father and the relationships he built in business and how they carried through his entire career and how much trust people put in him.91裸聊视频�

Another big lesson Chace learned early on in his career was not to take on too much and overextend himself.

91裸聊视频淚 think a lot of real estate agents go through this initially as they91裸聊视频檙e trying to grow their business,91裸聊视频� he explains. 91裸聊视频淚 took on business that was in Sooke, Shawnigan Lake and Cowichan 91裸聊视频� all over the place. The first couple of years I was very busy but I was spread quite thin and it took a toll on me. I did say yes to everything and it wasn91裸聊视频檛 until I started saying 91裸聊视频榥o91裸聊视频� and being wise about it that things shifted.91裸聊视频�

Chace decided to focus his business on the Saanich Peninsula and become an area expert. Living in Sidney with his wife, Erin, and three young children, boating is one of their favourite pastimes. The marina is just a five-minute walk from their home and they spend a lot of time on the water.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really happy with the balance I have,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 have great support from my team and I really value and respect my time with my family.91裸聊视频�

When he91裸聊视频檚 not working, with his family or enjoying the outdoors, you can find Chace in a dojo. He91裸聊视频檚 been practising karate since he was seven years old and holds a black belt in Shotokan karate.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 taught me discipline and integrity and I love the art of it,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 great exercise and you can really focus when you91裸聊视频檙e doing it and it provides that level of clarity.91裸聊视频�

As Chace continues to grow his business, he has a lot of clarity on the future.

91裸聊视频淚 love what I do and wake up every morning excited about what I do and I just really look forward to each day,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚 love my job and I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 change it for the world.91裸聊视频�