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Instead of attacking your best competition, why not try to learn their secrets of success?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Richard Weisser Realty

Budding rose by Richard WeisserAs May's buds burst from winter's sleep
Emerging primped with fragrance sweet
And beckons every passerby
To gorge on scent, as summer's nigh!
           (R. Weisser)

If I have learned one thing in life, it is that I have a lot to learn! And while it is true that I have gained a lot of knowledge and even more experience over the years, there is always more wisdom that can be absorbed and incorporated in our life's journey.

There are those that attempt to denigrate or tear down others that have succeeded, operating under the false premise that their own position can be elevated by attacking those producers that may be more prominent in the same endeavor.

This doesn't serve any useful purpose, other than to give the one guilty of the assault the appearance of being petty or bitter. It has no place in business or in life.

How much better would it be to learn from those that are achievers, and to emulate them? Study their success, examine their practices and rituals, and utilize the skills that you gain as a springboard to propel yourself higher and higher with each successive leap.

The brass ring is there for the taking. Will you grasp it?

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
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Comments (72)

Russell Lewis
Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate - Austin, TX
Broker,CLHMS,GRI

Richard, you are right, criticizing our competition will only make us appear small and petty, I have tried over the years to emulate any of the people i think are successful, at least in a way that helps me grow professionally. Trash talk will only come back to bite a person!

May 08, 2009 03:02 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

Back when I used to race sports cars, one of my best friends was also my toughest competitor.  We elevated our game because we each wanted to beat the other at their best. 

May 08, 2009 03:04 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

So true! This is exactly what I did when I first got into the business. I got sick of hearing so many agents just complain all the time, and never do anything to change it. when they had excellent examples to follow who were right in front of them. I hope people who are struggling will take this to heart. =)

May 08, 2009 03:41 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Wow! We alwaye have a lot to learn! Thanks for reminding us!

May 08, 2009 03:51 PM
Paula Swayne
Dunnigan, Realtors, Sacramento (916) 425-9715 - Sacramento, CA
Realtor-Land Park, East Sac & Curtis Park -Dunniga

Hi Richard!
You are so right!  We had an agent who promoted herself constantly in a specific neighborhood with continual "drop offs" of information at their doorstep.  She was quite the diva, so none of us dared to the same in the same neighborhood...but guess what happened the moment she was no longer with us?  Yep...I am dropping something off at their doorstep 4 times a year...and it is paying off!

May 08, 2009 05:15 PM
Stephen Kappre
KW Hometown - Mantua, NJ
Helping You Home

There is nothing wrong with being a great implementer!

May 09, 2009 12:02 AM
Jeani Codrey
RE/MAX Corridor - New Braunfels, TX
Director of Opportunity & Agent Development

You hit the nail on the proverbial head here!  I watched my mom build a successful real estate business.  She moved to a new town where she knew no one and made it her goal to become the expert and top agent in the community.  She did it and made some lazy agents mad along the way.  How could she come into our town and steal our clients????  Well personally I think that if you have lived in a town 30 years with a real estate license and you have never sold more than 2 mil and you dont have market share, you should be EMBARRASSED!!!!  She took some hits along the way, but today, she has the respect of most everyone and I am proud to call her my business partner as a broker/owner of our own office!

May 09, 2009 01:10 AM
Richard Byron Smith, NMLS #184479
Mortgage Loan Officer, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation NMLS #2289 - Chattanooga, TN
Mortgage Loan Officer

Let me add to the comment trail.

Learning from those who are already succeeding, not much better advice that this. It is a habit well worth developing.

Alot of that learning can even be done here on AR.

Thanks,

Richard

May 09, 2009 01:16 AM
Lori Churchill Cofer
Beasley Realty - Pullman, WA
Realtor - 509-330-0086 - Pullman, WA
Richard, I totally agree. When you aren't learning you aren't growing. And what is the fun in that?
May 09, 2009 01:52 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

61 comments, it looks like I am late to the party. I started a home electronics business in 1973. My competition around the corner was a long time established store that didn't like us coming in. There response was to constantly badmouth us and the products we were selling which was different from theirs. Our first six months we were inundated with traffic because folks wanted to see why we were so scary. Batmouthing the competition just builds up their power. I know this is tangential to your post subject, but I just wanted to add something to the conversation. 

May 09, 2009 03:27 AM
Paul McFadden
Responsive Pest Control - Seattle, WA
Pest Control, Seattle, WA.

Richard: Thanks for the post. I'm glad you wrote it. I occasionally feel like people here tear others down to build themselves up. Sure, it may position themselves as an expert but, over time, we get tired of their rants about others and how good they are. The bottom line is it doesn't really matter what credentials or reputation we bring to the table. What matters most is how we view others. If we view our fellow man/woman as someone we value, we are better off ourselves. Everyone should remind themselves of this. If we think we're better than someone else, we're ripe for a fall! Thanks again!

May 09, 2009 03:55 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Great post - and such true words. Thank You!

May 09, 2009 05:51 AM
#64
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

The 4 W's :-) Wise Words of Wisdom Weisser :-)

May 09, 2009 06:47 AM
Esko Kiuru
Bethesda, MD

Richard,

It's of great value to try to have an open mind toward learning new things, no matter how much knowledge and experience one has. Because there always is something new coming down the pike.

May 09, 2009 01:56 PM
Heather Fitzgerald
REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc. - Greenwood, IN
REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate

Beautiful photo, and very well said.  Emulating is the best way to when you are learning.

May 09, 2009 02:34 PM
Yvette Gardner
Keller Williams Realty, Spartanburg, SC - Spartanburg, SC

Great words to live by Richard!  Thanks, Yvette

May 09, 2009 02:47 PM
Ryan Shaughnessy
PREA Signature Realty - www.preasignaturerealty.com - Saint Louis, MO
Broker/Attorney - Your Lafayette Square Real Estate Partner

Richard - Nice post... there is a simple golden rule - if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything...  Pretty simple, right?  As to the rest of your post, I have often taken a look at the competition to see what they are doing right or wrong and have adopted their best practices.  Even if you aren't creative or innovative, it is an easy way to stay ahead of the curve.

May 09, 2009 03:10 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I love meeting people who are successful, they are successful for a reason and I want to find out what makes them tick as it may help me discover what can make me a better person.

 

May 09, 2009 05:43 PM
Bob Dunn
Sutton Group West Coast Realty - Abbotsford, BC

Richard this was a great way to start my Sunday morning. Its as simple as making a conscious choice every step of journey.

May 10, 2009 02:34 AM
Connie Case
Platinum Realty Group - Fountain City, TN
Realtor, Knoxville Tn.

Richard,

Sweet poem and beautiful picture! The truth is that it is a fight within ourselves to keep from being jealous, so it is best to keep our minds on what We are doing, and leave it alone!

May 11, 2009 01:31 AM