Every so often, I hear someone toss out the word "factoid"

Usually, it emerges when there's a group of folks talking and someone in the group throws a random statistic that seems to have no validity whatsoever and when asked for the proof, the person responds that it's "Just something I heard (read) somewhere, but I don't remember where".

Wikipedia - My favorite on-line encyclopedia says:

"A factoid is a questionable or spurious—unverified, incorrect, or fabricated—statement formed and asserted as a fact, but with no veracity. The word appears in the Oxford English Dictionary as "something which becomes accepted as fact, although it may not be true."^[1] However, the word can sometimes mean, instead, an insignificant but true piece of information. In either formulation, factoids are potentially factual, just not self-evidently so.

Factoids may give rise to, or arise from, common misconceptions and urban legends."

I think it's safe to say that a factoid is a kind of "Mini-myth"

so . . .

Let's just imagine that you really DO do your daily 3 hours of Lead Generation and that you really DO make contact (have conversations) with a MINIMUM of 15 people during that 3 hours for the purpose of generating leads and building relationships that will lead to future business for you . . . Of course, I know this needn't be said because you are the quintessential professional :-)

The oft asked question is:

"What do I talk about with all those people?"

"I find it difficult to randomly call people I know out of the blue without a real reason."

"I don't want to sound "salesy" or pester these people."

"Won't they get irritated by me calling them all the time asking for them to send me business?"

OK!

Get those limiting beliefs out of your brain and start thinking FACTOIDS.

Once you train yourself to this line of thinking, you'll never run out of engaging things to talk about . . .

and next thing you know, all your Sphere of Influence will be EXCITED to hear from you because they'll know that you ALWAYS have something interesting on your mind . . . something of VALUE to them.

Every time you hear a random "Fact" or Myth relating to Real Estate or the Economy or the community, log it as a potential conversation . . . Then research it to determine validity (truth) or BUST it as not valid (untrue).

Now you're armed for some real, juicy dialog.

"Hey! Did you know that the average equity of Homeowners in the US climbed 1.2 percent last month resulting in an aggregate INCREASE of equity of @ TWO TRILLION DOLLARS?"

(I picked this factoid up from the Keller Williams Realty "This month in Real Estate" video)

The first reaction will be one of disbelief . . . and some sort of challenge for you to prove it.

The proof in this one is the video.

It's a pretty easy shift to offer to email a link to the source and to know it well enough for a short chat.

At the end of the call, just remember to remind the (now very impressed) person that you ARE the local real estate professional and that you would be HONORED to serve the real estate needs of them and ALL of their Friends, Family, and work associates.

One factoid can literally create hundreds of great conversations.

Be the mini-myth buster (or validator) MASTER in your community, and you'll become the legend you already are in your own mind.

I'm just sayin'

Best,

b

Barry Owen
Principal Real Estate Broker
Keller Williams Realty
30 Burton Hills Blvd Suite 175
Nashville, TN 37215 - Green Hills

Call me:                615-568-2123        
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