The Harcourts Greater Springfield Principal has transformed his diagnosis into an opportunity to raise awareness, strengthen his family business, and appreciate the loyalty of his team.
Rudy’s journey into real estate began after he started in the plumbing industry.
“I used to be a plumber and had a plumbing business,” Rudy says.
“We had a number of builders that went bankrupt during a twelve-month period which really hit us hard as a family.”
Looking for a change, he connected with a successful real estate agent in Goodna who brought him on board, despite Rudy having “absolutely no idea about real estate.”
From that point he’s gone from strength to strength.
“It’s all about people and building connections and relationships,” he says.
“I just had a positive outlook on every day and made the best of it.”
Since he started the business has truly become a family affair.
Rudy’s wife joined several years ago, providing support and “being a mum figure for everyone.”
His daughter, a former champion gymnast who was once in training for the Olympics, left that career to join the real estate business.
“My son gave up his professional football career overseas to come home and join the family business,” he says.
“It showed that we’ve done the right thing and raised our kids the right way, which was a very emotional and proud moment.”
Facing cancer with positivity
Last November, Grommen received life-changing news – a diagnosis of stage four colorectal cancer that had spread to his bones, lymph nodes, and liver.
“I was healthy, running every day, going to the gym pretty much every day. Before that, I cycled 500 kilometres a week,” he says.
“I didn’t realise that the constipation I was having for the last twelve months was cancer.”
After months of treatment and two surgeries, including a recent stoma procedure, Rudy is feeling “like a real person again.”
Rather than hiding his condition, he has openly shared his journey on social media.
“I’ve been sharing the stoma information and showing it to people on social media just to make sure people are aware.
“We’re all human – make sure we look after each other and look after yourself. When you have things wrong with you, get yourself checked out.”
Team loyalty in challenging times
When news of Rudy’s diagnosis spread, competing agencies saw an opportunity, approaching his team members and even making offers to buy his business.
“Every other agency in the area started to talk to my agents saying, ‘You may as well join us because your principal’s got cancer,'” Rudy says.
“I had agencies calling me up trying to buy the business.”
“There is no way in the world we are going to sell. We are a family business, we are here for years to come.
“We have a great team, we want to support our team, and we want to grow the individuals within the office.”
The fact that no team members left speaks volumes about the culture Rudy has built.
“We’ve got a great culture and a great team, and that’s what it’s all about,” he says.
His illness has actually strengthened his resolve to grow the business further.
“If it wasn’t for my cancer, I would have been just happy and satisfied with the way things were.
“Now I want to start pushing and making things bigger and better because the guys that work for us deserve that.”
Turning challenge into opportunity
Despite his health struggles, Rudy has maintained his characteristic positivity and is using his experience to help others.
His team is organising a 10-kilometre charity run on September 28, aiming to raise $10,000 for the ICON Centre at Springfield for cancer research.
“Everybody goes through a fair bit, and I think it’s how you deal with it,” he says.
“You can crawl in bed and be miserable about it, or just live every day to your fullest and enjoy life and make the best of it.
“Celebrate every good day, be positive.”
Remarkably, Rudy hopes to participate in the run himself, just weeks after his surgery.
“Mentally, I’m feeling like there’s nothing wrong with me.
“Physically, of course, I’m dealing with some issues, but mentally I’m completely fine.
“I’m very headstrong, so I think once I jump on that treadmill, I’ll be fine.”
