“I try to remember all of the things I am grateful for,” says REALTOR® David Fields of Compass in Chicago. Keeping a positive mindset and an optimistic outlook is something that has made a huge impact on David's business. “I have gone through hard times and have come a long way, and I have found that being grateful for the journey has helped me push myself to get better on a daily basis.”

At the end of his high school years in Highland Park, David was faced with an intense and extremely difficult life challenge when his father was diagnosed with life-threatening kidney disease. Upon graduating, David made the difficult decision to stay home, work full-time, go to school full-time, and care for his family. 

“That was by far the most difficult time in my life,” says David. “It was difficult to remain positive, but I know now that if I never went through those struggles, I wouldn’t have developed the work ethic and character that I have today.”

During those days, David attended community college. Eventually, he transferred to Illinois State University to earn a degree in sociology. After graduation, he was unsure of what to do next. 

“I entertained multiple opportunities, but nothing felt like a good fit,” he says. “Eventually, I found an opportunity to do day trading and I stayed in that career for four years. I enjoyed my time trading, but I like to be out and about, moving around, meeting people, and serving a larger purpose. Sitting in front of computers all day just wasn't for me.”

Then in 2017, one of David’s close friends told him about his job as a sales and leasing agent. David was intrigued by the opportunities to connect with more people and help them during stressful life situations.

“As soon as I made the switch to real estate something clicked,” recalls David. “Real estate not only made sense to me, but I felt as though I was serving a larger purpose. Plus, I was having fun doing it.”

Initially, David had a lot to learn about his new job and new industry, but he was able to lean on his knowledge of finance and his analytical skills to make an impact in the tough first seasons. And he has always been able to leverage his grit and work ethic, honed from his experiences in overcoming adversity. Now, over seven years later, he’s relishing a new challenge: being a mentor and leader on the Ben Lalez Team at Compass.

“I am always passionate about helping my clients reach their goals, but recently, I have also developed a passion for helping fellow agents on my team,” says David. “I have taken more of a leadership role with the team, and I am enjoying seeing my fellow team members succeed.”

Outside of serving his clients and fellow team members, David prioritizes giving back to his local community. Over the years, he has supported several charitable organizations, especially those that give an extra hand to people facing hard times, as he remembers what that feels like. 

“The organization that I have been working with the longest is Best Buddies International,” he says. “They provide opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”

In his downtime, David focuses on his family. He and his wife, Stephanie, and their young daughter, Brooklyn, enjoy going for walks in the city, playing in the park, visiting the zoo, and singing along to Disney princess songs. For David, happiness lies in both his personal and professional lives.

“I’m genuinely excited to wake up each day, spend time with my beautiful wife and daughter, step out into the world, and go to work,” says David. “I have big goals for my business, and I look forward to making them a reality.”

David embraces his new mentor role as he offers the following advice to not only new agents, but also to anyone facing a difficult situation: 

“To those struggling or facing a challenge, keep going and keep working hard,” says David. “It is only a matter of time. Things will go your way if you stay consistent.”