The most valuable lessons in my life came from risk, failure, and getting back up to try again. Those experiences shaped my approach to business, leadership, and how I show up for the people I serve.

 

Pedaling my bike through the rain, I was 10 years old, heading to J.B. Hunt’s farm—yes, that J.B. Hunt, who built one of the largest trucking companies in the world. His farm bordered ours in Arkansas, and our cows had gotten out. I was home alone when he called. I told him it was raining and that I was just a kid. He said, “Seems like as good a time as any.”

 

I left a note for my parents, got on my bike, and rode three miles in a storm. By the time I got there, I was soaked, trying to fix a busted fence while Hunt watched from his truck. I struggled to lift heavy posts and push cows back through the mud. When my dad finally showed up, Hunt said, “Your boy did good. Needs some weight on him, but he did good.”

 

That day taught me something simple: sometimes, you just have to show up and figure it out. No excuses. No waiting around. Take responsibility, do the work, and follow through.

 

Military school reinforced that. I became the first-ever three-year battalion commander at Missouri Military Academy, leading over 360 cadets. From there, I played college baseball, turned down service academies, and like most 18-year-olds, thought I had all the answers. Then I got injured, and suddenly, I didn’t.

 

I joined the Navy and trained as an orthopedic and surgical tech. Later, I ran sick call at the Navy’s nuclear training school. It wasn’t the battlefield I’d imagined, but I learned how to lead under pressure and keep people calm when it counted. Those years taught me how to adapt and stay resourceful.

 

After the Navy, I started a bicycle taxi service while putting myself through school and earning a biology and chemistry degree. My plan was dental school, but an influx of applicants—thousands more than usual—changed that. After two years of trying, I had to pivot.

 

Over time, I started four businesses: two bicycle taxi businesses (Memphis & Louisville), a co-op for salons, and a consulting firm. Two of those failed. One shut down due to a law change, and the other collapsed after I trusted the wrong partner and lost everything. With each setback, I learned to get back up and keep moving. Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart.

 

Those experiences taught me how to adapt quickly, lead through uncertainty, and build with intention. They shaped how I approach business now—with smarter systems, clearer boundaries, and a long-term mindset.

 

Just four months after moving to Sarasota in 2014, I was out on a run and noticed a lot of older homes for sale. The pricing didn’t make sense, and the marketing was terrible. I got my real estate license to learn more. Within three months, I was teaching other agents at Keller Williams. A year later, Sotheby’s recruited me.

 

Real estate takes a wide range of skills, and my far-from-traditional background has only helped me better serve my clients. Every deal is different. Every client brings a new challenge. I like solving problems, building systems, and helping people. I’m always available to answer questions and be a resource, whether it’s a client or another agent.

 

I’ve built a team that reflects those same values. No ego. No internal competition. Just support, honesty, and drive. When someone closes a deal, they ring the Naval bell in our office, and everyone celebrates. When someone’s struggling, we rally around them. My goal is to help each person on this team define and achieve their own version of success.

 

Every day, I show up—rain or shine—because success only comes when you do the work, stay consistent, and keep going after failure.

 

Before anything else, I take time to understand exactly what my clients want to achieve. Whether they’re upsizing, downsizing, relocating, investing, or making a big life change, I start by asking the right questions. That early clarity shapes every step of the process. For buyers, I handle the research, sort through the noise, and narrow things down to the properties that actually make sense. I stay ahead of the process so they don’t have to chase details. One client told me, “There’s got to be more,” and I said, “There isn’t — it’s already done.” That’s how I work. I stay one step ahead so my clients don’t have to worry and they can move forward with confidence.

 

When I list a home, I walk the property myself, evaluate how it presents, and give direct advice about what needs to be done. We have a great team of trusted professionals to help with listing preparation, but I’ve also shown up early to clean a home from top to bottom, moved furniture, and staged rooms to ensure the home always presents at its very best. I treat your goals as if they are my own because that’s the level of care every client deserves.

 

Sincerely,

 

Gregg Center

REALTOR®

Primary 941.266.1868

Office 941.364.4000

gregg.center@premiersir.com

CenterTeamFlorida.com