Realty411 Magazine Featuring Lori Greymont | Page 28

We have all heard the mantra is: “Go to
school, get a degree, get a good job.” I
actually started down that path. Then,
I saw death and the fragility of life in a
very real way. My mom’s sister, brothers,
mother and father all died in less than
three years. Her siblings were young and
in the prime of their lives.
One thing I remember hearing growing
up was “When I retire, I’m going to…”
and none of them made it to retirement.
I decided that death was going to come
some day, and so I needed to choose to
live every day to its fullest. I couldn’t
let fear be the master that enslaved me.
Think about it, how many people live
a passionless life because of the fear of
something they aren’t doing? Why not
I wanted to do for the remaining years of
my life. With that decision, I knew that
owning my own business was the key
to my plan. So, I finished my degree as
a backup plan and started on my path of
being a business owner. I was determined
to live a “no regrets” life.
Linda: You often mention that you live a
contrarian life, what does that mean and
why?
Lori: My use of the phrase “contrarian”
life is to explain that I don’t conform to
the normal for the sake of fitting in. It ap-
plies to my life as a whole in most of the
major decisions. I do the things that I want
to do, regardless of how it might appear to
others.
for you when you know the source is clean
and safe. And nothing beats all the yogurt,
cheese and kefir you can make with the
whole fat milk straight from the cow!
We also raise and butcher our own meat.
Now, there is no way I have room on my
little amount of land, but I partner with
others who have the land so I know what’s
going on my table from start to finish -
beef, pork, turkey, lamb, etc.
Until my mom needed my attention,
I homeschooled my four children with
the help of local co-ops. When I told my
family 15 years ago my plans for school
my brother asked “Are you going to
brainwash your kids?” and I thought for a
moment and replied, “Yes.” My internal
thought was, “Yes, as a matter of fact I
am! I am going to create God-fearing,
people-loving, creative, problem-solving,
entrepreneurial adults.”
I now have two heading off to college
next year. They are all that and more, not
because of any one person, but because
of their lack of fear to get what they want
and their love of learning.
Look, I have the same concerns and
cares in this life as everyone else does.
I just choose to seek out an answer that
fits what my goal is, not just settle for the
obvious or common answer. I choose to
create the lifestyle that supports the aspira-
tions, goals and dreams of my family and
then I put the construct around that to
support it.
Linda: Isn’t it expensive to live your
lifestyle?
Lori: You might think to yourself, that’s
“We have transacted over 1,600 properties since 2010 and
in each case we feel we have added value to the people in
the transaction, the homes and the communities.”
do it and see if that “fear” thing actually
materializes? Most likely it won’t and
you will know for sure.
I live on an acre and a half in Morgan
Hill. In the Midwest where I grew up,
this would be a postage stamp! Here in
Silicon Valley, it’s a good amount of land.
We have horses, chickens, dogs, cats
and up until a year ago, two milk cows. I
would milk my cows once a day and local
families would help consume the copious
amounts of excess milk I had. We drank
it “raw”! You might be thinking “eww”
or “is that safe?” but, with education, you
would find that raw milk is much healthier
Linda: How did that life event change
you?
Lori: I decided I was going to create
the lifestyle I wanted. I would live life
each day rather than plan for it when I
retire. I refused to work 40 hours a week
for 40 years at a job I hated so I could
have enough money to go do the things
Realty411Guide.com

PAGE 28 • 2015

great, you have all the money you want
to do that! The truth is I didn’t start with
money as a factor in the picture at all. I
made decisions on what I wanted and then
I found a way to make it happen. Whatev-
er resources I was lacking, I partnered. I
became a deal maker in my personal life
and my professional life. I am a “Both/
AND person not an Either/Or.” I want
both. I want my cake and I want to eat it!!
This is what I mean by “I live a contrarian
life.” Rather than just floating down the

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