Robert Poole
A Story of Struggle, Perseverance, & Success
Robert Poole, a native of Wilkes County, NC got an early start in life when he was born
prematurely to a mother in active addiction. After spending his first years of life in foster care,
he was adopted and grew up in a chaotic family with three other adopted siblings. His
relationship with his adopted family became tumultuous as he found himself taking the path of
addiction in his early twenties.
Like so many people suffering from addiction, a series of poor decisions created the perfect storm for Robert to be charged and convicted of substance-related crimes which destroyed his chances of graduating with the degree he was pursuing at the time in Respiratory Therapy.
However, the brief period of incarceration resulting from those poor decisions proved to be the wake-up call Robert needed. It propelled him into recovery and he’s never looked back.
A New Beginning
After his incarceration, Robert “thought life was completely over.” He knew he wouldn’t be
able to go back to the medical field and struggled to find meaningful employment aside from serving in restaurants. Despite his rocky start in life, Robert was determined to not be a failure.
“I knew deep down that if I kept the same phone number, social media accounts, and hung out with the same people, I’d end up doing the same things. So I deleted everything. I set myself up so there wasn’t a way for me to go back into that lifestyle unless I really tried. And I knew I wouldn’t.”
As a single father working long restaurant hours, Robert was determined to provide the best life
he could for his young son. When he met his wife, Sarah, he frequently told her of his dreams of
being in real estate but felt his past would always haunt him and never allow for that type of success. He relocated to Elkin, NC in an attempt to run from his past and was working at a restaurant in Clemmons, NC when a local REALTOR® stopped in to eat. Robert shared with him his dreams of being in real estate.
Robert came home that evening and told his wife he’ll never know if he doesn’t try. Armed with determination, support from his wife, and a list of recommendation letters, Robert completed a predetermination application, which would verify what steps he would need to take to become a licensed REALTOR® in North Carolina. Although the letter of predetermination didn’t look promising, Robert continued forward with the real estate licensing course while preparing to go
before the real estate commission for a character review.
During that review, Robert took accountability for his past mistakes while showcasing the letters of recommendation from previous employers, current REALTORS®, a past probation officer, and other members of the community who saw him for more than his mistakes. After the review with the licensing board, who ultimately saw how determined, forthcoming, and dedicated Robert was to broaden his horizons and dive into real estate, he was officially permitted to take the North Carolina state licensing exam, which he passed, marking the moment he could dive into the career he had always dreamed about.
“What I love the most is that I knew nobody in real estate. I felt like it was something better... it wasn’t just a job to me, it would be a career. In my opinion, even if it’s really hard to get into a real estate career, the only thing you’re doing working at a restaurant or retail store is clocking in every day to build someone else’s business, instead of clocking in to build your own.”
A Quick Ascent to Success
Robert, now a married father of three, exploded into the real estate market in April of 2021. He had given up his restaurant jobs six months in, and by the end of his first full year in real estate, he had closed 25 transactions. Remarkably, he won the Rookie of the Year Award at Keller Williams Elite in his first full year, closing 45 transactions.
Now in his third year, he owns Poole Properties at Keller Williams Realty Elite with an incredible full-time assistant, Presleigh Swanson, and hopes to build a large team in the future. His current goals for growth include expanding his business into the High Country where he intends to break into the luxury market.
Robert owes all of his success to his wife, Sarah, who always encouraged him to follow his dreams and has been his loudest cheerleader. To his children–Linxton, Lachlan, and Elle—he thanks them for unknowingly giving him the drive and purpose to be his best self. He’s grateful to his assistant, Presleigh, for being the glue of his business.
And most of all, Robert thanks himself for not allowing his mistakes to define his life forever.
“The sky is the limit.”
prematurely to a mother in active addiction. After spending his first years of life in foster care,
he was adopted and grew up in a chaotic family with three other adopted siblings. His
relationship with his adopted family became tumultuous as he found himself taking the path of
addiction in his early twenties.
Like so many people suffering from addiction, a series of poor decisions created the perfect storm for Robert to be charged and convicted of substance-related crimes which destroyed his chances of graduating with the degree he was pursuing at the time in Respiratory Therapy.
However, the brief period of incarceration resulting from those poor decisions proved to be the wake-up call Robert needed. It propelled him into recovery and he’s never looked back.
A New Beginning
After his incarceration, Robert “thought life was completely over.” He knew he wouldn’t be
able to go back to the medical field and struggled to find meaningful employment aside from serving in restaurants. Despite his rocky start in life, Robert was determined to not be a failure.
“I knew deep down that if I kept the same phone number, social media accounts, and hung out with the same people, I’d end up doing the same things. So I deleted everything. I set myself up so there wasn’t a way for me to go back into that lifestyle unless I really tried. And I knew I wouldn’t.”
As a single father working long restaurant hours, Robert was determined to provide the best life
he could for his young son. When he met his wife, Sarah, he frequently told her of his dreams of
being in real estate but felt his past would always haunt him and never allow for that type of success. He relocated to Elkin, NC in an attempt to run from his past and was working at a restaurant in Clemmons, NC when a local REALTOR® stopped in to eat. Robert shared with him his dreams of being in real estate.
Robert came home that evening and told his wife he’ll never know if he doesn’t try. Armed with determination, support from his wife, and a list of recommendation letters, Robert completed a predetermination application, which would verify what steps he would need to take to become a licensed REALTOR® in North Carolina. Although the letter of predetermination didn’t look promising, Robert continued forward with the real estate licensing course while preparing to go
before the real estate commission for a character review.
During that review, Robert took accountability for his past mistakes while showcasing the letters of recommendation from previous employers, current REALTORS®, a past probation officer, and other members of the community who saw him for more than his mistakes. After the review with the licensing board, who ultimately saw how determined, forthcoming, and dedicated Robert was to broaden his horizons and dive into real estate, he was officially permitted to take the North Carolina state licensing exam, which he passed, marking the moment he could dive into the career he had always dreamed about.
“What I love the most is that I knew nobody in real estate. I felt like it was something better... it wasn’t just a job to me, it would be a career. In my opinion, even if it’s really hard to get into a real estate career, the only thing you’re doing working at a restaurant or retail store is clocking in every day to build someone else’s business, instead of clocking in to build your own.”
A Quick Ascent to Success
Robert, now a married father of three, exploded into the real estate market in April of 2021. He had given up his restaurant jobs six months in, and by the end of his first full year in real estate, he had closed 25 transactions. Remarkably, he won the Rookie of the Year Award at Keller Williams Elite in his first full year, closing 45 transactions.
Now in his third year, he owns Poole Properties at Keller Williams Realty Elite with an incredible full-time assistant, Presleigh Swanson, and hopes to build a large team in the future. His current goals for growth include expanding his business into the High Country where he intends to break into the luxury market.
Robert owes all of his success to his wife, Sarah, who always encouraged him to follow his dreams and has been his loudest cheerleader. To his children–Linxton, Lachlan, and Elle—he thanks them for unknowingly giving him the drive and purpose to be his best self. He’s grateful to his assistant, Presleigh, for being the glue of his business.
And most of all, Robert thanks himself for not allowing his mistakes to define his life forever.
“The sky is the limit.”