I remember the early 70's when bell bottom pants were all the rage. The bigger the flare the better. Everything was just a tad 'puffed' up and that included 'big hair' like the Afro. Sometimes, it was difficult to have a sense of how tall a person really was. Several young men I knew used the cover of bell bottoms to add several inches of height with platform shoes!
Bell bottom pants were also handy for 'sweeping streets' clean. Many kids wore their bell bottoms so long, that the bottoms actually frayed from dragging across the street. But this was deemed better than revealing that you had spindly legs and a short torso. But really...who were you fooling?
Today, that excess almost seems nostalgic. In fact, bell bottoms are considered vintage wear in some circles. And as for the mile high Afro...well, that was OK until it rained. If you were unlucky enough to not have a head covering, your Afro disappeared like a poof of smoke! Now, come to think of it, both bell bottoms and the Afro relied on the cover of 'fair weather' conditions.
But like all things in life, change happens. In the late 70's and early 80's, the shift to skin tight stove pipe jeans created unforgiving revelations for everyone apart from those who had almost perfect figures. It was as though, we had entered into fashions' version of a period of reckoning.
You see, fair weather has a way of making many things seem alright. Over the past decade, the real estate industry has enjoyed a good deal of it. During the fair weather period, just about anyone was able to get a license and sell at least a couple homes a year... During the fair weather period, real estate brokers and associations welcomed everyone in with open arms; it didn't matter if you could sell as long as you paid your fees on time. During the fair weather period, just about anyone with breath could get a loan...
But like all things which depend on the unpredictability of fair weather, the day of reckoning has arrived. Short Sales have now replaced the Sure Sale. A lack of training has revealed an industry that is significantly short on training and follow-through at a time when the market is dictating increased scrutiny and consumers want to look to see what's underneath your bell bottoms in a manner of speaking.
And in truth, Bell Bottoms never really covered anything. It was all just temporary. In the end when you took off your pants and platform shoes, you returned to the real you. Even if that was just at bedtime.
This is the sort of re-adjustment which I think is taking place in the real estate industry today. We're being forced to look at ourselves and take stock of our strengths and weaknesses. Stormy conditions are forcing us to take a good hard look at who we're connected to. Have you found yourself surrounded by fair weather friends? Folks who are all too happy to enjoy the good times with you but are unwilling to buckle down to support the load?
Or, has your experience been more about the bell bottom covering up stuff that really needs to be dealt with? Things like the fact that you're not meeting your goals and don't have a plan in place to make them happen. This is an opportunity to take stock of what's really going on professionally and to assess what skills we need to become competent to meet today's challenges. Without this sort of honest assessment, all the marketing in the world is doomed for eventual failure in this new era of transparency.
You know, times of challenge are kinda like stove pipe pants that have a way of revealing things that were less noticeable during a more forgiving period. It's up to each of us to get in shape!
Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511.
Posted by 
;)
;)
WHOA!!!! LOLA! Did you bring back memories! Good parallel of what we are facing in the market.... we can NO LONGER hide! The shape we are in is showing.... midriff bulges and all! Excellent post... been waiting for you to break out with something like this! (knew it was coming)