Leaving the Paycheck for Commission and Betting on Yourself

In this episode of Pouur Decisions, we sit down with Venessa Motaabbed, a Cleveland based realtor with Cali Home Pro powered by eXp Realty, to talk honestly about what it really means to leave a steady paycheck and go all in on yourself.

Vanessa shares her journey from retail to real estate, the fear of commission based income, and the personal moment that pushed her to finally take the leap. We talk through the mistakes she made early on by joining the wrong teams, why culture matters more than brand recognition, and how finding the right people can change everything.

The conversation also goes deeper into legacy, succession planning, and why business owners need to think beyond today’s deals. This episode is for anyone questioning their next move, feeling stuck in a job that no longer fits, or trying to build a business that lasts. 

Episode Show Notes

• Transitioning from retail to real estate
• The fear of commission based income
• What finally pushed her to go all in
• Lessons learned from joining the wrong teams
• Why support and culture matter more than big brands
• Building an investor focused real estate team
• Thinking about legacy and long term planning
• Mistakes that shaped her growth
• Networking, community, and what’s next

Episode Keywords

business podcast
 entrepreneurship
 real estate careers
 commission based work
 career change stories
 women in business
 business decisions
 small business growth
 leadership conversations
 real estate investing
 personal growth stories