Thanks, Groupon
Sarah Lyons, 28, owes her career to her mom—and Groupon. Seeking a way to earn money during a difficult time, Lyons asked her mother for an early Christmas present, a Group-on for real estate classes. She squeezed in coursework during her children’s naps and after bedtime. During her first week on the job, she spotted a handwritten “moving sale” sign in front of a house as she was driving to the grocery store. Before she could talk herself out of it, she parked, walked up to the door, and introduced herself. She landed her first listing. Three years later, she’s the breadwinner while her husband focuses on homeschooling their two children. “This business changed our whole world,” Lyons says. “We have the ability to provide for our boys and build toward our future.” She wants the same for her clients: “I enjoy helping people change their lives for the better.”