success: Skeptical? Me too. But I'm not afraid to say I was wrong. - 09/24/10 12:55 AM
Sometimes I'm wrong.
I can be very skeptical when it comes to a whole host of things, but since becoming a Realtor®, I've found that my skepticism has grown.  Don't take it the wrong way and think I pace about all day not believing anything, but in large part due to the fact that we agents are constantly bombarded with calls and emails telling us how to succeed, win, make more money, guarantee us more production...whatever the promise, few people deliver and we all know that.  So we turn inward to our own doubts and fears and shut out most of … (27 comments)

success: I've Hit Rock Bottom. - A True Life Allegory Of My Place In Real Estate. - 07/24/10 02:48 AM

Reality Bites.
There's no easy way to say this.  I've hit rock bottom.  No, the bottom isn't found at the end of a needle, a tent under the overpass, or the last few drops in a bottle of cheap booze.  The bottom is a familiar place to many agents I suspect.  It's cold and dark and not really a fun place to be, but I'm here and I better get used to it or get out of it - and fast!
As you may remember, I won some free coaching with Tom Ferry here at ActiveRain.  In the past few … (297 comments)

success: Need some motivation? Ask yourself "Why?" - 04/09/10 05:53 AM

Feeling introspective?
The other day, I needed a bit of help from my broker and sought out her advice.  Not only did I get some great ideas from her on business in general, but I walked away with some solid questions that I needed answers to in order to continue my growth as a real estate agent.
The most valuable part of our conversation led me to a new post at AgentGenius, "Why? Finding real estate career motivation in down times.," and to looking for the answer.  I've done of a lot of thought on the subject and you'll definitely … (8 comments)

success: BlogWorld 2009: The secrets of Las Vegas are not so secret anymore. - 10/19/09 07:44 AM

photo courtesy of ChicagoGeek
It already feels like it was weeks ago.
I landed in San Antonio late last night from my trip to BlogWorld 2009.  This morning it already feels like it was a long time ago.  So much fun had in such a short space of time always seems to make it feel like the distant past a lot quicker.  To say it was a blast would be to lie.  It was more than a blast.  Seeing friends, meeting new ones, listening to some of the best and brightest, and toying with new products for a few days … (36 comments)

success: I'm A Real Estate Expert - What's Wrong With This Statement? - 09/22/09 05:09 AM

photo courtesy of Mai Le
Being an expert.
I read a comment on someone's blog today (and won't link to it as the comment doesn't really apply to what I'm writing, it just sent me down this path) that made me think about the word expert and how we use it consistently in real estate.  Everyone wants to hire someone with expertise in their field, no matter what industry you're coming from.  We like to know we're getting the best of the best.  We don't want to hire someone who has no experience in their field.
Merriam-Webster defines expert:
2 … (83 comments)

success: Remember this little fellow? You won't believe how things have changed. - 09/08/09 07:48 AM

image courtesy of g.originals
The angry cat in a box.
Anyone who's been reading me for sometime, might recall the story of the cat under my deck that I wrote back on December 21, 2008.  The story was a bit of a parable about the cat we find in our backyard and how we were building trust and a relationship.  I never actually compared the cat to real estate in any way (except for a note at the bottom saying I think most people would get exactly what I was getting at).  The cat in the photo above wasn't the … (16 comments)

success: How I almost quit real estate in 30 days or less. - 03/12/09 05:16 AM
 

photo courtesy of zoutedrop
I was newly licensed and very eager to get started.
Some agents had told me open houses were a great resource for someone like me - not many friends in town, no family, no real ties to the community.  No sphere of influence in other words.  I started seeking them out, but as luck would have it, someone in my office always beat me to the punch when an email would go out asking for an agent to hold an open house.  I was a bit bummed, but still determined.  I kept my eyes on … (24 comments)