A “safe” paycheck can still be a trap when it costs you your time, your peace, and the version of yourself your kids get to see. We’re Colleen Basinski and Kimberly Neill, and we sit down with Jackie Poponi, a former government mission planner who made the call a lot of people daydream about and then talk themselves out of: she walked away from a six-figure government path and went all-in on real estate with three little kids at home.

Jackie takes us through the real fear behind the highlight reel, including the government shutdown scare that exposed how little control “security” can actually provide, and the sudden return-to-office order that turned childcare and family life into a daily scramble. We dig into the emotional whiplash of feeling grateful while also feeling stuck, plus the faith and values check that helped her admit what she was truly called to do.

Then we get practical. Jackie shares how she built her exit ramp by getting her real estate license in the cracks of real life, how she handled imposter syndrome, and what changed when she had no boss and total responsibility for her results. We talk real estate lead generation through Zillow Flex, referrals, repeat business, open houses, and local networks, along with the systems that made it sustainable: CRM follow-up, nurture plans, and accountability you can’t outsource. If you’re thinking about a career change, entrepreneurship, or building true work-life balance as a working parent, this conversation is your roadmap and your gut check.

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💡 Lessons we’ve learned about balancing it all—sometimes successfully, sometimes… not.

If you’re out here trying to DO EPIC SH*T, this one’s for YOU. Hit play, tag a friend, and let’s do this thing together! 👇🔥

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