Rising Star ~ John Richardson

JOHN RICHARDSON, RE/MAX Unlimited

Fast Track to Success

By Jennifer Watson

Amby Burfoot, winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:22.17, said, “Running has taught me, perhaps more than anything else, that there’s no reason to fear starting lines…or other new beginnings.”

For John Richardson, a former collegiate track and field athlete at the University of Kentucky and current RE/MAX Unlimited REALTOR®, Burfoot’s sentiment has proven true in his own life over the last two years as he and his family have settled into North Florida living — their very own “new beginning,” 30 years sooner than he would have predicted.

But let’s start at the beginning of this race.

John is one of less than 1,600 people to ever run a mile in less than 4 minutes.

THE STARTING LINE

John grew up in Ocean City, NJ, where he spent his developmental years as a self-described “beach bum.” He graduated from Ocean City High School, where he was a dominant force on the school’s track and field team, winning the New Jersey State Championship in both the 800- and 1,600-meter races in 2003. Along with several other impressive performances as a high school runner, John was able to secure himself a ticket to the University of Kentucky, where he ran as a Wildcat while earning his bachelor’s degree in Psychology. His name still graces several of the university’s “men’s all-time performers” lists, most notably with his 2008 mile run time of 3:59.35.

John went on to earn a master’s degree in health administration and worked for the largest health system in Kentucky for 12 years, where he held the position of executive director of physician recruitment and business development.

“For a long time, I thought I would retire in the C-Suite of a large health system,” John says. “I enjoyed health care, but I think I am ultimately more cut out for the entrepreneurial world.”

John and Andrea have two daughters, Reese and Rory.

KEEPING THE PACE

While living their day-to-day lives in Kentucky, John and his wife, Andrea, both “felt a calling for adventure,” but they couldn’t pinpoint exactly what that meant until a trip to visit John’s sister in Nocatee made them begin to consider a move to Florida.

“With some prayer and a lot of courage, we decided to move to Florida in early 2020,” John recalls. “At that point, my sister had left Nocatee, so we were moving to a place where we didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t have a job, and it was the height of the pandemic. I didn’t want to return to the corporate world, so I put my faith in God and knew that something good would happen if I trusted Him.”

At this juncture, John’s mom, a REALTOR®, suggested he get his real estate license.

“I was initially a little reluctant, but then I thought about what I love doing,” John says. “Number one is serving people. Number two is solving problems. Real estate is a lot of both!”

Now a fifth-generation REALTOR®, John is thriving in his new role with RE/MAX. In the last 12 months, he has completed 19 transactions for almost $13 million.

FINDING A NEW CADENCE

Moving to a new state, starting a new career, and doing both during an unprecedented global pandemic, required a great deal of fortitude.

“Leaving our life in Kentucky was very hard. We have great family and friends there. Work was going well, and we were generally very happy,” John says. “However, we knew that

there was something else out there for us. We took a chance, and it has paid off huge…I have learned to put my faith in God and trust Him in all things.”

John’s collegiate track career may have helped him dig deep to find that fortitude he so desperately needed at that point in his life.

“During my sophomore year at the University of Kentucky, I believed I had a good chance of winning the NCAA Championship in the 1500 meters. In the prelim of the NCAA meet, I got boxed in during the last 100 meters and finished .1 second away from qualifying for the final,” John says.

“The eventual NCAA winner was someone I had beaten two weeks earlier. I was crushed that I didn’t qualify, but my coach was extremely thoughtful and offered some perspective. He told me I ran a great race. I put myself in the perfect position. I ran as fast as I possibly could, given the race that was in front of me. However, due to circumstances out of my control, the result wasn’t what I had hoped.”

John’s wife, Andrea, has joined him in real estate.

“Through this race, I learned that outcomes cannot always be decided by me, but output always can,” John says. “This has been helpful in real estate. I might not always be able to get a transaction to close, but I can always do everything in my power for my clients.”

“I focus on effort and attitude, not outcomes or results,” John says. “I choose to be full of joy, work hard, and be outrageously optimistic!”

OUTRUNNING THE COMPETITION IN RECORD TIME

John knows more than most about moving fast and winning. In 2008 as a senior at UK, he became one of the fastest humans ever to live on Planet Earth when he ran one mile in less than 4 minutes (3:59.35). In all of history, less than 1,600 people have broken the 4-minute mile barrier.

“Running a sub-four-minute mile was a huge milestone in my athletic career. I was very fortunate to have it come together on the right day and accomplish a lifetime goal. At one point in time, it was believed to be impossible to run that fast, so to be in the company of the few who have is very cool,” Johns says.

In his real estate business, John is a proponent of lifestyle design and engineering, which is “a systematic breakdown and construction of your life to find a way to make your life fit your values and serve what you care about most.” As he works with clients, he endeavors to align potential homes to their lifestyle desires.

“Helping people find a house that allows them to live a better life is truly a blessing,” John says. “I find my work fulfilling because the outcome of a transaction is deeply meaningful.”

“I adopted three guiding professional principles early on in my work career. They are to be kind to people, work hard, and do what you say you’re going to do,” John says. “I adhere to these principles now just as much as I ever have. I work to first listen to my clients and understand their goals and motives. Once we know this, it makes the process of buying and selling real estate a little easier.”

And John isn’t afraid of the hard work it takes to help clients find their dream homes. After all, it was his own hard work that helped him run a mile in under four minutes and win multiple SEC Championships in the 1500-meter race.

“I love competition and learned that success comes to those who do the work that no one else wants to do. I learned that the extra mile is often rather lonely,” John says. “I want to do things other REALTORS® won’t do because it is too hard.”

John loves hanging out with his girls!

WINNING THE MEDALS THAT MATTER

In his personal life, John is married to his college sweetheart, Andrea, and they have two daughters, Reese, who is 6, and Rory, who is 5. This summer, Andrea decided to leave her position as a school teacher and join John fulltime in real estate at The Richardson Group. She plans on getting her license soon. When the Richardsons aren’t working, the family enjoys going on trips to Disney World and turning running races into family memories.

“Andrea and I both compete in triathlons and like making races into family vacations,” John says.

His next big adventure: completing Ironman Florida in November.

“My family and I moved to Florida not knowing anyone, and I didn’t have a job,” John says. “God has blessed us immensely, and if I have any takeaway from the last two years, it is that God will bless you more than you can ever imagine if you truly listen to His plan.”

Like Amby Burfoot said, “There’s no reason to fear starting lines…or other new beginnings.” Sometimes, those are the risks that bring the greatest rewards.