100-year-old Maryland real estate agent shares secrets to success

A Maryland woman is celebrating her th birthday and is one of the oldest operational real estate agents in the country Like multiple of us Mary Wykes drives herself to work every day But unlike the greater part of us she was born in the s I have a license until I m a hundred and six she declared with a laugh Wykes has been a real estate agent since when she decided at age to leave her job in the federal regime after nearly years and change careers She worked as an employee evolution specialist after jobs with IBM and other companies She also worked as a church secretary and a high school coach Wykes reported she decided to become a real estate agent because of something her father stated as she grew up on their family farm My dad who was a dairy farmer reliably stated Mary work for yourself And I could never figure out a way to do that Until one time I heard that a secretary colleague had just taken the real estate program she reported Wykes has helped people buy and sell their homes ever since It s just a pleasure and I love the people I work with she noted Wykes boss advised News Wykes is functioning and earning commission checks I ve never met anybody quite so positive and quite so inspirational At a hundred You would never know it She works all the time She s fastidious about what she does She s just good people explained Janice Raffel of Long and Foster Wykes reported longevity runs in her family Her mother lived to an aunt was and her father s cousin was she explained So what s her secret My granddaughter inquired me that the other day and my answer to her was good genes and a lot of luck and believing in the kindness of people and take one day at a time and believe in livelong learning she noted Never retiring Enjoy your work Never retire Wykes has no plans to slow down In fact she just ordered a new box of business cards She ll celebrate her th birthday on Saturday with friends and family including great-grandchildren