Question for CRE brokers: How did you earn $ when starting out?

[Andrew Smith]

I'm thinking of accepting a job offer to become a commercial real estate broker in a major city (Los Angeles).  The thing that worries me is the lack of income and health benefits when starting out.

For those of you who are established commercial real estate brokers, how did you stay afloat financially while beginning your career? Did you take a side job with flexible hours that also offered health benefits? Or did you dip into your savings and pay for health insurance out of pocket?

How long did it take before you earned your first commission, and how long before you started earning reliable income?

Thanks in advance.