When I'm not practicing real estate, I'm a high school and NCAA basketball referee.  I love doing it.  It's chaotic at times, but there is never a better seat in the house.  :-)

Referees should be perfect, right?

Funny thing about officiating is that it is one of the only things you can do where everyone expects you to be perfect, and then get better from there.  Of course, everybody knows that people make mistakes, and basketball referees certainly aren't an exception to that rule.  The convenient thing about making mistakes when wearing the stripes is that there is always someone there to tell you just how big a mistake you made (usually very loudly). 

A lot of people think that referees are stubborn or obstinate, but nothing could be further from the truth.  The best referees know that they are going to make mistakes, and when they do, they are free to admit them.  It is a hard thing to do when you are a referee, becuase part of the job requires a tremendous n of self-confidence and a healthy ego. 

Stripes or not, I am far from perfect

When I first began officiating, I was reluctant to admit mistakes.  It's natural to not want to admit fault when the purpose of your existence is to get things right, get everything right, in fact.  I learned pretty quickly, however, that the perfect game was an ideal worth striving for.  It was worth striving for precisely because it would probably never be achieved. 

One of the things that I had to learn if I was going to advance in my officiating career was the ability to recover from the inevitable mistake.  It was hard to do, at first.  Initallly, when I would do something wrong, or make a bad call, I would spend the next few minutes thinking about it, dwelling, beating myself up.  The problem with that was that I was worrying so much about the mistake I had already made that I was losing focus on the calls that were coming up that I had to get right.  I was letting the first mistake get in the way of doing things right in the future.

I learned that I was going to just admit my mistakes to myself, accept them, and concentrate on not making them again.

The same strategy worked for the occasional tense interaction with a coach.  I noticed that sometimes, with some coaches, the best way to handle them was to simply admit that I had missed a call, and work harder to not do it again.  Most coaches understand the fact that officials are going to make mistakes, and they respect someone who has the confidence to admit those mistakes.  Now, you can't be saying, "sorry coach, I missed that one," all the time.  But, then again, if you are doing your job, you shouldn't have to.  :-)

Admitting mistakes to your clients is okay

Sometimes, as real estate professionals, we tend to make things worse by not simply admitting that we don't know everything, and acknowledging to our clients that we've made a mistake.  Sometimes, you transpose numbers, forget to return a phone call, miss a home inspection item, show up late to an appointment, whatever.  It doesn't matter what it is, mistakes are going to be made.  Beating yourself up over them doesn't make them go away, and ignoring them in front of your clients doesn't help anyone, either.

Remember, our clients are people, too.  They know they have made mistakes, and they know you will, too.  On those rare occasions when you do make them, have the confidence to admit them, apologize for them, and work harder not to make them again.  The clients who appreciate your candor are the ones who will be the best clients you've ever had.  The ones who don't understand and demand perfection are just self-selecting themselves as jerks, and probably aren't really worth the time and effort you will need to spend to try to please them.

So, when you get the chance, don't be afraid to admit your mistakes.  Admitting your mistakes is the first step to preventing them.  Once you admit that you aren't perfect, it frees you up to focus on the things that will make you better going forward.

Back in March, I had the pleasure of doing a presentation about social media for an audience of REALTOR Association Executives at the NAR Association Executive Institute in Colorado Springs. The setting was spectacular, and the audience was great. I had a lot of fun; but, I always have a lot of fun doing this type of thing.

After I got back, I uploaded the presentation deck to my slidespace on Slideshare.net. When I do presentations, I usually upload the deck there so that others might be able to learn something from the slides. Sometimes, however, things are missing when you only have the slides, and not the presentation. I fixed that with a feature of SlideShare that allows you to record audio in conjunction with the slide deck. That is exactly what I did with this presentation.

The presentation was all about how associations can utilize social media to reach their members and strengthen their associations. I think the message is valuable not only for association execs, but for any real estate professional who is utilizing social media. I hope you enjoy the presentation, and if you have any trouble with it, let me know (to hear the audio, you have to hit the play button at the BOTTOM of the slides, just ignore that other one):

First of all, I want to say a giant THANK YOU! to everyone who left a comment on the post I wrote yesterday, re-introducing myself to the ActiveRain community. I can tell right away that things are different here than my first go around, and I'm going to have a lot of fun getting to meet new folks, and connecting with the folks I've met before. Sweet. One of the comments that really got my attention was from Missy Caulk. I've met Missy and her daughter numerous times F2F (face-to-face), and she was even gracious enough to help me diagnose a Skype issue that a neighbor of mine was having. Missy is a great lady, and an awesome REALTOR. She said:

I'd like to see you re-post on your sellers in black and white. :)

A smiley face, indeed, Missy!

"Real Estate in Black and White" was a series of videos that I started over on RealEstateZebra.com. Basically, it was my unique way of addressing issues in real estate. I could explain it, but it is much easier if you just check out the videos. . .

The one that started it all was, "How to sell your home (in black and white):"

Next came, "A lesson in honesty (in black and white):"

Then I created, "It's not about you (in black and white):"

There was even a cautionary tale about the life of a blogger. . . "The dangers of blogging (in black and white):"

I had a lot of fun creating these videos (obviously). I know that a lot of folks enjoyed them, so I'm hoping that you will, too. I'm glad that Missy reminded me about them. In fact, now that she has reminded me about them, perhaps it is time to create some more. . .

Hey everybody, I'm Daniel!  Some of you may know me as The Real Estate Zebra, and some of you may know me as the Community Manager for Inman News.  Many of you don't know me at all, but I'm hoping I can change that. . .

A little bit of my ActiveRain story

I joined ActiveRain way back when.  Honestly, I don't remember exactly when, but it was a few years ago.  I joined when I first started blogging.  Honestly, I joined, wrote like 1 or 2 posts, and then never came back because I started working on my own site.  

After I left, though, I started getting to know a lot of the folks who not only run ActiveRain, but a lot of the really cool Rainers who hang out here.  So, I think it is about time that I go walking in the rain a lot more often. . .

Why I'm here

Here's the deal-- I'll be writing more blog posts here.  Not a ton, but more.  I'll be writing about the things I'm doing with technology and real estate, the things going on at Inman, all kinds of stuff.  The vast majority of it will be different from what I create at The Zebra, but I might cross-post from time-to-time.  

I really hope that you'll stop by and check out my content here on ActiveRain.  What I really want, though, is your help.  I want your help spreading the word about the power of technology and social media throughout the real estate and mortgage industry.  I've got some plans to do that, but I won't be able to make those plans happen without help from all of you.  Just stay tuned. . .

So, do you mind giving me a hand? 

For many years, Fluvanna County was one of the fastest growing counties in Virginia (per capita). During that time, most of that growth occurred in one neighborhood, Lake Monticello. Now, new construction growth at Lake Monticello has slowed due to the community getting closer and closer to build-out. Fluvanna has been trying to prepare for growth to move to other neighborhoods, many of which are brand-new. One way the county has decided to direct and restrict growth is through new planning and zoning regulations. One such regulation creates what are known as "cluster subdivisions."

The purpose of cluster subdivisions is to allow for growth while still maintaining open space. Under the regulations, a new subdivision in Fluvanna County must remain at least 75% open space. This means that if a subdivision is a total of 100 acres, the homes in that subdivision must all be located on 25 acres, and the rest must remain undeveloped. This regulation is even more restrictive than a recently passed state-wide law regarding growth planning in the Commonwealth.

Since the passage of the cluster subdivision regulations, there has been much discussion in Fluvanna as to how this will affect growth in the county, and the physical appearance of the county. Until very recently, there has been no way to answer that question, as there haven't been any cluster subdivisions built. Such is the case no more.

Enter Sycamore Square. Sycamore Square is a new-construction subdivision being developed in Fluvanna County right now. It has been easy for me to watch its progression, since it is located directly behind our office. Sycamore Square is remarkable for at least 2 major reasons reasons:

1) This is the first major cluster subdivision in the county. It consists of just over 100 building lots. Most of these are +/- .5 acres in size. The open space required by law is going to be used for walking trails, picnic areas, and other common areas. Being a cluster subdivision, the community will be planned in a way that is currently not found in Fluvanna. The community will have curbs, and it will have public water and sewer. Most subdivisions in Fluvanna are quite rural, and do not have these features.

2) The homes in Sycamore Square are being built by four different builders. Three of these builders have never built in Fluvanna in any significant way. Ryan Homes, Craig Builders, and R.D. Wade Homes have built all over the Charlottesville area, but building an entire subdivision in Fluvanna will be a first for all of them. The fourth builder, Southern Development, began building homes in Fluvanna a little over a year ago. All of these builders are known throughout the Charlottesville area for their construction. Having attended informational sessions with all of the builders, they seem very excited about this opportunity to build in Fluvanna.

For some people, the news of a new subdivision is no news at all. In Fluvanna, however, the development of Sycamore Square is something that will be watched very closely by not only the real estate community, but also the community at large. As of right now, most of the roads have been cut, and curbs have been started, and all of the builders have begun work on their first homes. I will try to keep everyone updated as more begins to develop at Sycamore Square.

For more information, visit my site at www.RealEstateZebra.com 

There aren't exactly a lot of articles written about sports officials in the popular media. There are even less articles that give a good, in-depth look at officiating. That is why I found this recent ESPN.com article a pleasant surprise. The article follows a crew of ACC football officials as they prepare to officiate a recent game between the University of Miami and Virginia Tech. If you like college football, you should read the article. If you are interested in what goes on behind the scenes with the zebras on the field, you should read the article. If you are involved in real estate, you should read the article. I want to take some passages from the article and illustrate how they can be applied to real estate:

How has the season gone so far? The 14-year Atlantic Coast Conference veteran closes his fist, finds a wooden strip on the back of a lobby chair and knocks it for good luck."So far so good," Cherry says with his trademark grin. "But you never know. We could all be raking leaves next Saturday."

Officiating, like real estate, can be a fickle business. One minute you are on top, the next, you are in the doghouse.

The seven-man team -- a dentist, a firefighter, a salesman, a realtor, an investor, a builder and a customer service manager -- has a combined 100 years and more than 950 games of Division I-A experience between them. (emphasis added)

Who would have guessed that a D-I college football official would also be a REALTOR . . .?

"If you want pressure, you walk out onto the field with a coach who is in trouble," says field judge Jim Coman. "Listen to all the people call him names, call for his head and you'll realize real fast how important this all is. One bad call can determine the fate of his job, his assistants' jobs as well as the lives of all their families. That's pressure."

Officials thrive on this type of pressure. The best officials are even able to raise their level of performance in this situations. Alternatively, the best REALTORS are able to deliver for their clients when the stakes are at their highest. How many times have you had a client who had a desperate need to sell or buy? How did you feel? Were you able to perform?

Those who don't make the trip to the book store kill the afternoon by watching other games. But they don't watch the players. They watch the officials."Since I became an official, I never watched a game the same way again," Allen said.

I know this experience first-hand. Whenever I watch a basketball game, I always spend more time watching the officials than I do the players. I always want to see what they are doing, how they are adjusting to plays and making calls. I want to learn as much as I can. The same is true in real estate. When I go through a home magazine or check out websites on the internet, I'm not looking at homes, I'm looking at agents. I want to see how they are doing things, and how what they are doing might help me in my business.

"Sixty minutes of complete concentration," Cherry tells the crew. "That's everything. Men, officiate as hard between plays as you do during plays and we'll nail this son of a bitch tonight. Nothing else is acceptable."

This goes back to being a pig (or a Zebra). Total commitment is what is required to do the job properly.

On the field, Safrit and Coman are studying players during pregame warm-ups. Coman makes a note of all the left-footed kickers and passers, information he will later pass on to Cherry so the referee will know where to position himself in the offensive backfield. On this night, both teams have left-footed punters. Safrit makes a note of players who have their knees exposed and warn them to lower their pants before the game.At the same time, Ryan, who is in charge of television timeouts, meets with a producer from ABC. And Samples gets with the chain gang and double checks the length of the chains while making sure everyone in the crew understands each of his signals.

Officials make every effort to make sure the game runs smoothly. Many of these efforts are made before the game even starts. In real estate, I try to do the same thing. I do as much of the work as I can before my client shows up to see homes, or before the home goes into the MLS. Clients appreciate it without even knowing about it, because it makes the process easier for them; and I appreciate it because it makes the process easier for them, and therefore, for me also. Just as the officiating crew must coordinate with the chain gang and the others who make the game work, agents and clients must work together and coordinate with the lenders, attorneys, title reps, and home inspectors that make the real estate transaction work. Every person is very important in their role, and coordination between everyone is required in order to make for a smooth transaction.

They know what's at stake: futures, careers, livelihoods. And yet they block it all out."We call it 'painting houses,'" Cherry says. "Nobody ever notices who paints your house. They just know it looks beautiful when it's finished. We just want to paint houses."

If Ron Cherry and his crew just want to "paint houses," then I just want to sell houses. What he says is very true about officiating, and also about real estate. A well-handled transaction that goes smoothly for all parties involved is something that may not garner a whole lot of talk, but it is always noticed and remembered. I want to help my clients in such a way that they never even really notice that they are buying or selling a home, or at least never have to think about it. That perfect transaction is always the goal.

It took nearly half the game, but that one toss of yellow fabric has put the crew in a position they know all too well: the enemy. The typically stoic Coker nearly pops a vein in the side of his forehead stomping out on the field to bark his displeasure. The Miami fans begin screaming and swearing. And on the ABC television broadcast, commentator David Norrie adds, "I haven't seen a more ticky-tack call on a cornerback this year. Larry Coker has every right to be upset."But the criticism is all part of the territory. Put on the black and white vertical-striped shirt and people are going to hate you.

Everybody loves you until something big happens, then all bets are off. I covered one aspect of this already, but it is something with which most REALTORS have some sort of experience. Things could be going along perfectly, and then something happens that either your client, or the other party doesn't like, and that's when things get sticky. As long as you have done your job ethically and correctly, there is nothing to fear, just a storm to be weathered. It all comes with the territory.

"That's why we're out there," he says. "I was in total control. Miami was entitled to both of those downs. And if they would have scored there, they would have earned it. You have to officiate all the way until the very, very end."

The REALTOR must always be in control. The REALTOR has the power to either escalate a potential situation, or take control of the situation and find a solution. REALTORS must also be fair to all parties involved. It is an ethical requirement that is sometimes overlooked, but it is extremely important. Granted, fairness doesn't necessarily mean that all parties are going to agree with the solution to a problem, but fairness should always win out. This quote also goes back to being totally committed to something all the way through. This officiating crew had a job to perform, and they did it to the very, very end. REALTORS also have a job to do, and it is something that requires commitment and concentration until the very, very end (and sometimes beyond).

Sometime between now and Wednesday, technical advisor Ted Jackson will comb over the game film, evaluating each official's performance. They'll never see those grades and instead will see only their end-of-season ACC ranking by position. It is this ranking that determines bowl assignments and crew assignments for next season.

Officials are evaluated after every game. For REALTORS, their may not be anyone to evaluate them all the time, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be evaluating their own performance. After every transaction, successful or not, I always go over it and try to see what I did well, and what I might have been able to do better. Mistakes are going to happen, but it is important to learn something from them.

Hours after the game, while walking out of the hotel bar where Ryan, Laverty and others are grabbing a late-night snack, Cherry is asked to evaluate the weekend. He turns to a wooden table a few feet away and gives it a knock."Another house painted," he says.

The satisfaction of a job well-done is a beautiful feeling, for referees and for REALTORS.

If, by now, you haven't actually read the entire ESPN.com article, do it. I picked some of my favorite passages, but the entire article is a great read. I will try to post things like this as I find them. Real estate and officiating really do relate to each other in many different ways, and this article is a great illustration of that. Maybe you can use some of the principles that Ron Cherry and his crew use in order to improve your next real estate transaction.

For more, please visit my blog at: www.RealEstateZebra.com 

Be sure to check out my blog at www.RealEstateZebra.com!