Chace Whitson had a successful career in construction management, overseeing multi-million-dollar building projects, when an enticing job offer came along that would take him to new heights on the corporate ladder. But he walked away from it all seven years ago so he could become an entrepreneur.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no ceiling on what you can do when you work for yourself,鈥� says Chace, who heads up the Chace Whitson Real Estate Group at Macdonald Realty. 鈥淚 saw a lot of growth potential. Being self-employed and having the ability to grow my business as far as I can take it 鈥� it鈥檚 just such an opportunity to build relationships and make things happen.鈥�

But it wasn鈥檛 an easy decision. Chace, who was a general manager at the time, really loved his work and the job offer was for a vice-president position in a larger company on the Lower Mainland.

鈥淚t was a big promotion and an amazing opportunity and one of the biggest struggles I鈥檝e had in business was to turn that down,鈥� he says. 鈥淐limbing the corporate ladder at a young age and having that success right in front of me and deciding to go out on my own instead was a big risk, but I wanted to pursue my own passion.鈥�

The risk paid off. Chace is now one of the top realtors on the Saanich Peninsula, where he was born and raised. It鈥檚 an area he knows well and it鈥檚 where he鈥檚 now raising his own family.

鈥淕rowing up here, I have a really great understanding of the communities, the amenities, the beaches, the parks, the school system and I鈥檝e always loved it,鈥� Chace says. 鈥淚鈥檒l never leave! The peninsula has everything.鈥�

His building background, with a solid understanding of residential and commercial construction, has been a big asset for Chace.

鈥淚 know what to look for and I can give good advice,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t gives me a really good foundation to speak to the strengths and weaknesses of the construction.鈥�

But after seven years in the real estate industry, Chace says the most important skill is developing strong relationships, which he values more than anything else.

鈥淩elationships are the foundation of business, and listening to others and really, truly understanding what people want,鈥� he says.

Chace considers his dad, Gregg, one of his mentors.

鈥淢y father was also in sales and he taught me to listen to what your clients want and what they value. You鈥檙e always so much further ahead by listening. I saw first-hand with my father and the relationships he built in business and how they carried through his entire career and how much trust people put in him.鈥�

Another big lesson Chace learned early on in his career was not to take on too much and overextend himself.

鈥淚 think a lot of real estate agents go through this initially as they鈥檙e trying to grow their business,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 took on business that was in Sooke, Shawnigan Lake and Cowichan 鈥� all over the place. The first couple of years I was very busy but I was spread quite thin and it took a toll on me. I did say yes to everything and it wasn鈥檛 until I started saying 鈥榥o鈥� and being wise about it that things shifted.鈥�

Chace decided to focus his business on the Saanich Peninsula and become an area expert. Living in Sidney with his wife, Erin, and three young children, boating is one of their favourite pastimes. The marina is just a five-minute walk from their home and they spend a lot of time on the water.

鈥淚鈥檓 really happy with the balance I have,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 have great support from my team and I really value and respect my time with my family.鈥�

When he鈥檚 not working, with his family or enjoying the outdoors, you can find Chace in a dojo. He鈥檚 been practising karate since he was seven years old and holds a black belt in Shotokan karate.

鈥淚t鈥檚 taught me discipline and integrity and I love the art of it,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great exercise and you can really focus when you鈥檙e doing it and it provides that level of clarity.鈥�

As Chace continues to grow his business, he has a lot of clarity on the future.

鈥淚 love what I do and wake up every morning excited about what I do and I just really look forward to each day,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 love my job and I wouldn鈥檛 change it for the world.鈥�