It's easy to go through the motions, but slowing down gave me the space to reflect and redesign my life with intention. In doing so, I found balance and reconnected with the purpose-driven work I love.
It reached a point where I had to ask myself, “Is this what I want to do with my life?” That question came during the height of the COVID real estate market. It was fast-paced, but over time, the work started to feel transactional. I felt disconnected from the parts that made it meaningful. I missed the deeper relationships, the sense of purpose, and the balance that allowed me to be present—for my clients, and for my family. That stretch pushed me to make a change and realign the way I work with what I value most.
I’ve been in real estate since 2009. I came into the field after my first career in aviation was cut short. I had earned my degree, was flight instructing in California, and working toward becoming a commercial pilot when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. The FAA’s rules meant I could no longer fly professionally.
It was a major loss, but it led me to real estate. My mom was a REALTOR®, and my dad worked in home construction, so I grew up around the business and saw how it could offer independence. It also gave me a place to apply the skills I had developed through aviation: attention to detail, navigating complex systems, and communicating clearly under pressure.
Real estate is the perfect mix of autonomy, strategy, and human connection. It opened the door to countless opportunities, including opening my own brokerage, Elevation Realty, which I ran for several years. I mentored new agents, managed my clients’ transactions, and built a reputation I was proud of. However, the administrative demands of running a brokerage began to pull me away from the client-centered work I enjoyed most. Eventually, I moved my license and team to another firm so I could refocus on direct client service. I didn’t slow down, but I became more intentional.
Even so, during COVID I started to lose touch with what I valued most about the career: the flexibility, the relationships, and the freedom to live life to the fullest. I needed a model that supported my life rather than competing with it. I wanted to feel connected to the work again and to do it in a way that felt aligned with who I am.
Around the same time, my wife made a major shift of her own. She had worked her way up to a director role in a hospital-based eating disorder program. But after a series of corporate buyouts changed the culture, she chose to step away and start her own therapy practice. Watching her reclaim her time and align her work with her values helped inspire me to do the same.
We decided to move to Evergreen. The slower pace and beautiful mountain setting gave us space to do the things we love—hiking, skiing, rafting, fishing, live music—and be more present at home. My wife focused on growing her practice, and I shifted focus to our son, Oliver. For the first time, I was consistently there to drop him off at school and be home when he finished his day. During that time, I reshaped my business into something that reflects who I am and how I want to live.
Asking myself that difficult question didn’t lead me away from real estate. It brought me back to doing it in a way that truly reflects what I value. Now, I work with people who equally value their time and entrust me as a professional to guide them on their journey. I’ve streamlined my systems so I can focus on what matters most: building relationships, guiding clients through transitions, and having time for the things that fuel me.
As I’ve restructured my business, my clientele has expanded. I now serve both the Denver area and the surrounding mountain communities, helping clients with everything from investments and second homes to primary residences. Over the years, I’ve built a referral-based business rooted in trust, clear communication, and long-term relationships. I stay involved in local and national REALTOR® associations and mentor newer agents, which lets me play a small part in keeping the industry honest and raising the bar where I can. I hold myself to high ethical standards: listening closely, responding quickly, being direct when it matters, and always advocating for my clients.
Drawing from my aviation background, I learned as an instructor that how something is taught the first time really matters. That belief in the law of primacy still drives my work today. I take the time to understand your goals and what matters most to you so we can build a process that’s aligned from the start and keeps us on the right track the whole way through. I’m here to guide you with real experience, consistent communication, and the ability to spot challenges before they become setbacks. My goal is to make the experience so positive and seamless that you’ll feel good picking up the phone whenever something comes up, knowing I’m your go-to real estate resource for whatever you need, whenever you need it!
Sincerely,
David Easton