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Wherever You Go....There You Are

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Does anyone else remember the horribly corny HBO movie from the 80's called Buckaroo Bonzai?  I will never forget the dead pan line that was seen in the trailers over and over again.

WHEREVER YOU GO....THERE YOU ARE.

There are times in all of our lives when we look for external influences to make our lives better.  If we just moved to a sunny state with no snow, our lives would be better.  If we just moved into a bigger house, we wouldn't fight with our spouse so much.  Or, if we just move to another company, our real estate business will improve.

The hardest thing for anyone to do is to look internally for the cause of their unhappiness, dissatisfaction or career shortfalls.  I've seen my own family members follow external steps to solve internal problems.  An expensive move across the country and back, only to find the the problem is still there, gnawing at their insides.

WHEREVER YOU GO...THERE YOU ARE.

It's particularly hard to watch friends and colleagues struggle in the real estate field, blaming the market, or their former offices, for the shortfalls in their income.  My office has gained and lost agents as we draw to a close this year.  I've seen good friends honestly believe that if they just moved their license somewhere else, then suddnely their business would increase without them having to change a thing about their own approach to it.

No matter how hard it may seem, the journey inside will bring far more drastic results to most of the problems we face in our personal or business lives.  Nothing in our life will change until we change our approach, attitude or both.

 

Comments(114)

Jackie Connelly-Fornuff
Douglas Elliman Real Estate in Babylon NY - Babylon, NY
"Moving at The Speed of YOU!"

Hi Chris Ann! Awesome post girl! People never think of themselves as their own worst enemy. They blame everything and everyone else for their problems. As a new agent, it's been rough but I expected it. The business will come only if you work it. You can't expect results overnight and you can't just sit back and wait for someone on your SOI to give you their home to sell or for them to buy. I've worked until 9 p.m. every night for over 3 months including this week making phone calls and sending out market reports to FSBO's. I've left over 500 market reports on doors in November. I've placed a controversial ad in a local paper 2 weeks ago knowing it takes 4 to 7 times for a person to read that ad before calling on it. It's been hard work but I know it's going to be worth it.

And today, I'm going to Babylon Village and hand out 15 scratch off lottery tickets with my business card attached to complete strangers and say, "Happy New Year".

Happy New Year Chris Ann and I hope you have an awesome 2010!

Dec 30, 2009 11:05 PM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Chris Ann-as the year draws to a close and everyone reflects on their year and the good, the bad and the ugly.  For some jumping companies may seem to be the answer.  For others it may be digging in and continuing to take on the hard jobs in real estate such as short sales when others shake their head and say "no way."  May 2010 bring you continued success on your choosen path no matter what it is and remember to look in the mirror and realize that "no matter where you go there you are."

Dec 30, 2009 11:20 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Patricia:  That's brings to mind another post I'll be writing today.   Some people see the writing on the wall, others have to go toward the wall at full speed.

Chrystina:  It's such a simple message.

Richard:  Thanks.  After two years, could it be that I am finally getting the hang of AR feature writing?  :)

Dec 30, 2009 11:47 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Jerry:  True.  Some offices can be toxic environments. 

Terrylynn:  I am not proposing that changing offices is ever a bad idea, but it seems that this is where many agents start to fix production problems. 

Ron:  You truly can succeed in just about any environment.  It's up to you.

 

Dec 30, 2009 11:51 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Yolanda:  I have that on a painting in my house.  It is also a simple message.

Jennifer:  Self exams are very necessary, yet rarely done.

Susanne:  Same here.  Of course, success takes a lot of hard work...another thing some aren't willing to do.

Dec 30, 2009 11:53 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Gary:  When I was writing this post I felt oddly inhabited by the spirit of Gary Woltal. This type of message is right in your wheelhouse.

Amy:  Ah yes.  Planning.  Another skill sorely lacking in so many real estate careers.

Michelle:  Thanks.  It certainly seems to be ringing true to a lot of people.

Dec 30, 2009 11:56 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Michelle:  I sold a house to a couple this year that had a similar issue after they moved in to their new house.  Now their two year old daughter is battling brain cancer.  The imperfections in the house don't mean a thing anymore.

Elizabeth:  OH!  Duh.  Must have been in too much of a hurry for that one to compute.  :)

Bill:  Simplicity is where I try to live my life.

Dec 30, 2009 11:58 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Marney:  I learned this lesson myself from years in the sales field.  IT took a few years, a few scenery changes to realize that my attitude and actions needed a change.

An:  Great saying for anyone avoiding the obvious.

Tammie:  I have seen agents struggling with leaving the business.  It's tough.  This is not a business for everyone. Yet some of the agents that give up, I think, could have a much more lucrative career than some that have stayed, if they just worked at it.

 

 

Dec 31, 2009 12:01 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Christine:  I almost used a picture of grass for this post, but went with the chick in the mirror, fixing her "outsides."

Wendy:  Invoking Pink Floyd for a slam dunk!

Loreena:  When they get the license back, time to investigate the four letter word called WORK. Nothing in my real estate career has fallen in my lap.

Dec 31, 2009 12:04 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Fernando:  I certainly will.  Rolling into 2010 with four clients under contract, and three more following rapidly in their footsteps.

Sheldon:  Okay.  Add me to your list of subscribers visited. You've been very busy these days.  :)

Jackie:  You are the poster child for hard work.  You are already a great agent, and will have a great 2010.

Cindy:  I feel like 2010 is bound to be a repeat of 2009 in the type of transactions we face, but we did it in 2009.  Time to suit up and get ready for 2010.

 

Dec 31, 2009 12:08 AM
Peggy Chirico
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

And I am reminded of everyone who said "if you don't know where you are going, you'll probably end up somewhere else" or something like that - I think that was a book too. 

Dec 31, 2009 04:20 AM
David Salvato
David Home Inspection Service Home Inspector San Bernardino - Los Angeles, CA

Best wishes for continued success in the new year. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! David Home Inspection...

Dec 31, 2009 04:27 AM
Patricia Aulson
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES Verani Realty NH Real Estate - Exeter, NH
Realtor - Portsmouth NH Homes-Hampton NH Homes

I'll be looking for your next post!   Thank you and Happy New Year from Secoast NH

Patricia

Dec 31, 2009 06:45 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Peggy:  You definitely need a plan to get where you are going.

David:  Thanks.  What a neat looking graphic.

Erica:  Ah yes.  Blaming the "other guy."  Another marvelous business tactic.  "If everyone else wasn't so darn successful, I would be."

Patricia:  I better get busy then.  Happy New Year to you too.

Dec 31, 2009 07:29 AM
J. Philip Faranda
Howard Hanna Rand Realty - Yorktown Heights, NY
Associate Broker / Office Manager

I live that phrase, it is something I often repeat. Did you know there is a book entitled "wherever you go, there you are."? You are who you are no matter the surroundings. 

Dec 31, 2009 10:21 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Philip: It's a good thing I learned to be happy with myself and work on me to change the things I want to change.

Dec 31, 2009 10:23 AM
Terry Chenier
Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Chris,

I'm on the other side. I was in a toxic office; when I left and surrounded myself with professionals, my business took off.

Jan 04, 2010 04:50 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Terry:  That's good to hear.  An office full of negativity isn't good for anyone's success.

Jan 05, 2010 12:43 AM
Anne Clark
Metro Referrals - Gainesville, VA

We do take our baggage with us everywhere.  A change of scenery is not usually the answer.  I know that from experience.

Jul 28, 2010 07:48 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

The hardest place to look for answers is inside.  Very hard to do when it's so easy to blame external circumstances, especially in sales.

Jul 28, 2010 08:41 AM