The most spectacular thing happened to me today. I got a call while in the drive thru at Starbucks. It was from an investor off the coast of NC who was in the area and looking for a real estate agent to find investment properties for him here in Guilford County. He is an experienced investor so the first question that came to mind was, "are you working with several agents and just need one more?" He replied, "I am working with someone already but my contract ends today and I don't plan to reninstate with her." Of couse I had to know why. He said, "She didn't smile much. Even when she did, it never came across as genuine." I asked him what her performance was like as his agent, He replied, "Oh, she did great but I need to work with someone that makes me feel good about my investments. A smile means the world to me and I really don't think that's asking too much!"
Now, he and I had never met so I was curious to know how he found me. Not that it's difficult because I'm a member of just about every social networking site out there except maybe Myspace -- tried it once...too much maintenence and perhaps a bit over my head! Anyway, he admitted he found me through Twitter at www.twitter.com/color_me_realty and that my smile captivated him and that he wanted to meet today while he was in town. Turned out he wasn't very far from the Starbucks I was at so we met close by (in a very public place by the way...you can never be too safe). He pulled in the parking lot just about the same time I did. I got out of the vehicle admittedly with a can of pepper spray under my left cuff. I shook his hand with my right hand and delivered my usual natural smile. With no further discussion, he said to me..."you're hired"! We then laughed, carried on a nice conversation in the parking lot then began to talk business....simple as that!
I had to share this small wonder with you today not necessarily to prove that you can get more sales by changing the simplest of things in your life. But also, to demonstrate how people really do want the basics. A simple smile, a handshake, a joke or two, or even a laugh; all these gestures are the foundation of building incredible relationships with people. I am thankful that my photo smile came across in a way that made someone else feel comfortably convinced to hire me. I am even more thankful that it made him smile too.
PASS IT ON...
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