Inspired by the writings and musings of Patrick Buchanan.

Chances are you are like most Realtors…you are sensing a need to change but, not sure which direction to go. You could always stay on the same old path you have been on….But, you know that you must make a change.

Simply put, you intutively know....you can feel that there is a shift taking place. A shift in our society, a shift in our economy...a shift in how people look at homes and being homeowners. Perhaps, a wholesale change in the very fabric of our nation.

Know this, you are not alone.

We are living in historical times. Our industry, our country is in the midst of a social and economic shift that historians will look back upon as one of the most significant turning points ever.

There have been historic times like these before…

During those times there were those whom embraced the opportunities that the changes created and those who couldn’t (or wouldn’t) evolve.

The end of one era marks the beginning of another.

Every week we provide literally tens of thousands of Realtors with coaching. Many of you are already involved in a Harris Real Estate University program.

From all of those agents we have noticed a decisive shift taking place. For many this shift is marked by a  powerful feeling of longing for something better. Something more complete.  These feelings can be exciting and for others is down right terrifying.

First lets take a closer look at the massive changes happening in the economy.

The Stock Market Crash of 2008-2009, which is now wiping out trillions of dollars of wealth, is, like the Crash of 1929, likely to mark the end of one era and the onset of another. Millions of Americans are seeing their life savings greatly diminished or in some cases completely wiped out.

For millions of babyboomers the colossal loss in retirement savings will mean never being able to retire...at least not tradiational sense.

The new era will see a more sober and much diminished America. The “Omnipower” and “Indispensable Nation” we heard about in all the hubris and braggadocio following our Cold War victory is history. Our country is going to have to rethink how we interact with the rest of the world. Maybe being the one and only ‘Superpower’ isn’t all that its cracked up to be.

Seizing on the crisis, some will tell you we are witnessing the failure of capitalism.

This is nonsense. What we are witnessing is the collapse of Gordon Gecko (”Greed Is Good!”) capitalism. You know what I am talking about. Chances are you have lived this “lifestyle”.

Many of us have benchmarked our lives by the ‘buying of stuff’ lifestyle. For example, why is it that so many of us think that its our right…perhaps our purpose to be constantly “upgrading”. Do you mark your progress on this earth by the car you drive or the neighborhood you live in? Is your definition of a truly successful person someone who has many material things…the homes, the cars etc?

That’s 8 track thinking in a MP3 world.

Now, its time for you to think about what YOUR definition of success is.

You define what makes you successful. I bet once you think about this you will find that the very ‘things’ you have been spending your life paying for…in hopes that those things will make you feel successful…..have been a complete waste of your life’s energies.

You have been sold into believing that more stuff, different stuff will somehow make you feel successful. Think about who benefits from you believing that more stuff, being in debt is the preferred way of living.

Have you ever noticed that the very things you have pined away….the new car or country club home…have now become a burden. Are you fighting to maintain this ‘Lifestyle of Stuff’? Losing sleep over what might happen if you have to downgrade your S class Mercedes to a Honda? Would doing that mean you have failed?

Chances are if you have any of the above thoughts you need to take a seriously hard look at how you are spending your time on this earth.

What we are witnessing is what happens to a prodigal nation that ignores history and forgets and abandons the philosophy and principles that made it great.

Focus on what you are here to give... not what you are here to take.

The new era will be embraced by those who understand that our purpose on this earth is to be of service to others. Plan and simple. If you aren’t living the life of your dreams, if you don’t have the security and excitement in your life that you deserve its simply because you are not serving enough people at a high enough level.

There is a wonderful quote from one of our founding fathers Thomas Jefferson that is as relevant now as it was hundreds of years ago….

“At some point in every Man’s life he must decide to stand for the few or for the many”

You must start by making yourself free. Take a serious look at how much time and energy you are spending on serving debt and your ‘stuff’. Seriously, that boat that you are shoveling out money for every month…and rarely use. Is that boat worth the hours of your life’s energy? Is  that 6000 square foot home really worth the time and energy it costs to pay for it every month?

Think about this. Why did you buy all of that ‘stuff’ in the first place?

Perhaps your new definition of success should be cherishing prudence and believing in fiscal responsibility. Live from a balanced budget and be self-reliant. Believe in saving for retirement and a rainy day, in deferred gratification. Stop buying on credit what you cannot afford, in living within your means.

Yes, that means a radical shift in the way you relate to money. For most of us who will move towards this new paradigm there will be a new sense of freedom…and success.

The only true hope for homeowners is....caring, competent and skilled Realtors. Realtors are at the front lines of fixing this mess. We are the first responders to homeowners when they are in crisis.

The Government is NOT coming to save us. Don’t be fooled by all of these politically motivated ‘bail outs’. In all reality all these ‘plans’ are doing is pushing off the inevitable.

“Government must save us!” cries the millions of Americans. But, who got us into this mess if not the government — the Fed with its easy money, Bush with his profligate spending, and Congress and the President Obama seem to be carrying the same torch.

But, you (and me) we agreed to all of this. We could of said NO to the easy credit, the constant debt. We knew better, didn't we?

For years, we Americans have spent more than we earned. We save nothing. There is an joke that an Americans idea of saving is shopping at Macys vs. Neiman Marcus. Americans don’t save. We have been spoiled (and fooled) into thinking that we didn’t need to save because there was always easy credit to be had. Another home sale to be made.

Last year on our blog www.TimandJulieHarris.com we helped to break the news story about HELOCs being canceled or reduced. The lenders quietly and with lightening speed summarily smashed millions of Americans ‘piggy banks’…their home equity lines of credit.

Credit card debt, consumer debt, auto debt, mortgage debt, corporate debt — all are at record levels. And with pensions and savings being wiped out, much of that debt will never be repaid. Millions of small businesses will fail. Millions of families will go broke.

Our standard of living is inevitably going to fall. For foreigners will not forever buy our bonds or lend us more money if they rightly fear that they will be paid back, if at all, in cheaper dollars.

Here is something fun I read not too long ago. One of the last rounds of ‘economic stimulus’ that the government arranged for our country….whereby millions of Americans received $600 checks in the mail. You will never guess where that money came from? Here is a hint..the US Government (remember, that’s you and me) had to…borrow it. From….any guesses? Yep, that’s right…we borrowed that money from the Chinese.

Here is the part I really like.

That borrowed money was then sent to millions of Americans…..what did they do with that money? The spent it on ‘stuff’ made in…..China.

The easy credit, greedy way of living is OVER.

So, what comes next?

Will you be part of the Great Real Estate Shift? How will you change so that you are not merely 'relevant' but, you become one of the leaders of the new emerging consumer lead real estate movement. Dont kid yourself. Business as usual is dead. Your real estate clients will expect you to represent a new set of values...they will expect you to possess a new set of skills.

Be excited! You have the historically unique opportunity to participate in reshaping the real estate industry.

Tim and Julie Harris are the founders of Harris Real Estate University(HREU). HREU is the nations largest online real estate University with nearly 40,000 Realtors participating in a HREU coaching program everyday. For more information on Tim and Julie and HREU visit their blog: Tim and Julie Harris or the main campus site Harris Real Estate University.

PART 2 COMING SOON. Tell us what you think…..