Hitting His Stride

Each path ahead is different with a certain number of twists, turns, and hurdles ahead. Being able to negotiate those barriers and find a pace that suits you is key to getting to milestones along the way.

Tom Jung excels in that area. As a REALTOR® and Owner of DIY Realty, Tom makes a positive impact for those around him every day. And he’s just hitting his stride now.

“When I think about my favorite parts of what I do, there are two things that come to mind. First is all about the people. I enjoy meeting them and hearing their stories,” Tom says.

“Second is the challenge. There’s always a new challenge with a new ceiling and hurdle to overcome. It’s fun to

Written by: Dave Danielson Photos by: Katie Wallace Studios•

grow through time. Right now, we are focused on improving our online and video marketing for our home sellers and for attracting new clients.”

Determining His Direction

At first, Tom was on another path as he came of age. He earned his degree in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University. He had also done freelance web development work.

“Right out of college, I went to work for my uncle who was doing a startup in medical tourism, which involved traveling abroad for healthcare,” he says.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. That was a big interest for me. My uncle has always been successful, and he started this as a passion.”

As is often the case, Tom’s attention to real estate was brought by conversations he had with one of his friends.

“Shawn Buck is a good friend of mine who got into real estate, and he told me I needed to check it out. So, I went to a Keller Williams meeting and it sounded simple,” Tom says. “I got my real estate license in three months and then moved forward.”

Gaining Ground

As he began his journey, Tom assessed the best way for him to stand out, get started, and make his new-found career choice a success.

“I learned that 80 percent of people hire the first agent they talk with. I would drive to their

… a group that builds a house overseas for needy families.

“It means a lot to become part of that effort. There is a real need for housing … the houses are being built in Kenya,” Tom says. “For $800 we are able to build a house over there and shelter a family … just being able to do that is pretty amazing.”

Leading Forward By Giving Back

Tom is also driven to help others with financial literacy and doing his part to boost financial education.

“If you look at marriages, or big stressors, the cause of it is probably around money. I have a big passion for financial literacy. Most agents don’t invest,” Tom says.