Inspirationally, sometimes I am just moved beyond words. As I give important thought to my upcoming 100th post on ActiveRain, I have been inspired by other ActiveRain professionals,, the likes of Marlene Bridges, Celeste "Woo Hoo Sally " Cheesman , Jason Sardi, and many many others in our industry. It became crystal clear to me that anyone with just an ounce of intelligence and understanding could easily recognise what the accomplished of this real estate industry bring that is unique to our clients. We bring a spirit and a passion and a knowledge base that have benefited consumers for over 100 years.
In our society today, we find ourselves the easy targets of the news media and those that have no other outlet for their own misunderstandings and failings. With new business models appearing daily that threaten the very existence of that striving for excellence, we must be very diligent in our discourse to provide the ways and the means for the land holders of our great country to know and appreciate our value.
As REALTORS, we espouse that it is the fulfillment of the American Dream to own your own home. Professionals across the land ready themselves to fulfill that quest. Often interrupted by obstacles such a changing market or other business models that seek to curtail us being at the center of the transaction between homeowner and prospective buyers.
These purveyors of our own data can not and will not abide by our Code. With greed and self determination they bypass the very foundation of the institutions that paved the way for their existence. They seek to infiltrate our ranks by providing promises not often kept and seeming more like parasites than innovators. The context for their existence took many many decades of deliberate efforts and policy making by others now easily delivered with the advent of our new technologies that facilitate it.
The REALTOR Creed ( preamble of the code of ethics) starts by saying , "Under all is the Land . Upon its wise utilization and widely allocated ownership depend the survival and growth of our civilization". This is then foundation for everything that we all hold dear. When we speak about our respective markets, always remember that is not who we are but more about the conditions upon where we find ourselves working to fulfill that dream. Good markets or bad, as Trustees of the Land, we must constantly rededicate our selves to the excellence we strive for.
We must recognise the skills and aptitudes of others as we build our knowledge base to aspire to that excellence. In our REALTOR Oath, it speaks to the continuance of building our knowledge and competence. It is our charge to lead the way and not follow. To set the course and not be intimated by the imitators, for they know of no excellence , they seek no excellence, they protect nothing beyond their claim to have a right to participate.
It was the NOT the REALTORS that shunned them away. They would fail to see or embrace our Code, our Creed and our Oath , They would see it as nothing but hollow promises, meaningless words written by poets, not committed practitioners. Instead they demonstrate a contempt, a greed and an arrogance for any sort of reasonability. They justify their existence as "just because we can".
To my fellow professionals. In the days and months and years that will follow, be true to yourselves, your ideals and our lofty aspirations. There is great value in your commitment for excellence. I will quote here from a writing that I live my life by. In part is says "Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is, many people strive for high ideals. Be yourself".
As a REALTOR here in our social community of ActiveRain,let each of us make the further commitment to take the time to read and embrace those things that set us on this course. The Creed, the Code and the Oath.
In my years in leadership , I have administered the REALTOR OATH to hundreds and hundres of new real estate licensee that would come to embrace the ideals of being a REALTOR. In case you have forgotten the REALTOR Oath, Here is it for you. Read it , copy it, live it.
REALTOR Oath
I pledge myself
to protect the individual right of real estate ownership
and to widen the opportunity to enjoy it;
To be honorable in all my dealings;
To seek better to represent my clients
by building my knowledge and competence;
To act fairly towards all in the spirit
of the Golden Rule;
To serve my community, and through it
my country;
To observe the Realtors Code of Ethics
and conform my conduct to its lofty ideals.
;)
;)
William - Thank you so much for including me among the stellar list of those who inspire you. I am honored because you are indeed in my opinion a man of honor. Like you I am a REALTOR®. We have chosen to abide by a code of ethics that goes beyond what is merely legal. Not everyone who is licensed believes as you and I that this is important and necessary. That is not to say that those who disagree with us are not ethical, many are, some are not. It is the few that are of concern...it only takes one bad apple...as the saying goes. The one bad apple can give everyone in the real estate profession a black eye whether they are licensed agents or REALTORs®. The difference is that as licensed agents the standard is only what is legal. As REALTORs®, we are not only bound to adhere to legal guidelines, but also to ethical guidelines. And, as you know, there are consequences for REALTORs® who cross the line of ethics.
Thank you for writing passionately about this issue.