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.

乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 no ceiling on what you can do when you work for yourself,乌鸦传媒� says Chace, who heads up the Chace Whitson Real Estate Group at Macdonald Realty. 乌鸦传媒淚 saw a lot of growth potential. Being self-employed and having the ability to grow my business as far as I can take it 乌鸦传媒� it乌鸦传媒檚 just such an opportunity to build relationships and make things happen.乌鸦传媒�

But it wasn乌鸦传媒檛 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.

乌鸦传媒淚t was a big promotion and an amazing opportunity and one of the biggest struggles I乌鸦传媒檝e had in business was to turn that down,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淐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.乌鸦传媒�

The risk paid off. Chace is now one of the top realtors on the Saanich Peninsula, where he was born and raised. It乌鸦传媒檚 an area he knows well and it乌鸦传媒檚 where he乌鸦传媒檚 now raising his own family.

乌鸦传媒淕rowing up here, I have a really great understanding of the communities, the amenities, the beaches, the parks, the school system and I乌鸦传媒檝e always loved it,乌鸦传媒� Chace says. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檒l never leave! The peninsula has everything.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淚 know what to look for and I can give good advice,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚t gives me a really good foundation to speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the construction.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淩elationships are the foundation of business, and listening to others and really, truly understanding what people want,乌鸦传媒� he says.

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

乌鸦传媒淢y father was also in sales and he taught me to listen to what your clients want and what they value. You乌鸦传媒檙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.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淚 think a lot of real estate agents go through this initially as they乌鸦传媒檙e trying to grow their business,乌鸦传媒� he explains. 乌鸦传媒淚 took on business that was in Sooke, Shawnigan Lake and Cowichan 乌鸦传媒� 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 wasn乌鸦传媒檛 until I started saying 乌鸦传媒榥o乌鸦传媒� and being wise about it that things shifted.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 really happy with the balance I have,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚 have great support from my team and I really value and respect my time with my family.乌鸦传媒�

When he乌鸦传媒檚 not working, with his family or enjoying the outdoors, you can find Chace in a dojo. He乌鸦传媒檚 been practising karate since he was seven years old and holds a black belt in Shotokan karate.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 taught me discipline and integrity and I love the art of it,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 great exercise and you can really focus when you乌鸦传媒檙e doing it and it provides that level of clarity.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淚 love what I do and wake up every morning excited about what I do and I just really look forward to each day,乌鸦传媒� he says. 乌鸦传媒淚 love my job and I wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 change it for the world.乌鸦传媒�