Rachel Adler

At 17, Rachel Adler dropped out of high school, but that act of independence hardly marked the end of her education. By 19, the former honor student was a store manager for a large coffee chain, overseeing a team of 15—and she had home ownership within her sights. Impressed with the young, vibrant agent she was working with, she wondered what it would take to break into real estate. With that agent’s help, Adler began networking and landed a position as an assistant; in short order, she earned her license and high-school diploma and began work on her associate’s degree. Adler says face-to-face meetings are more effective for her than telephone prospecting; that’s why she’s a big believer in open houses, even hosting them for colleagues. Now 29, Adler is a founding member of her local association’s Young Professionals Network and cohosts a weekly real estate radio show. Unwavering professionalism is key to her success, she says. “Your reputation is all you have.”