Help me . . . I’m FADING!

Valerie, I don't think you are fading. My business is real estate and I help people buy and sell homes, regardless of beliefs, colour, nationality, likes sports, dislikes sports, sleeps in, wakes' up early, it does not matter!

If however, they are not motivated, not pre-qualified or just not nice people, then my views are prevalent!

Good subject you have covered.

Ty

I beg to differ with many - We are "just Realtors" and I am usually willing to work with Clients with beliefs different than mine.   After all, when did it become imperative or even normal to inject our personal value systems into a business transaction. I never ask my insurange agent for his political or religious affiliation before taking out a polcy.  However, in the event, I found my beliefs so far apart from a Client's as to make it impossible to service them well, I would find a way to beg off or refer them to another Realtor.  

I would no more express my personal beliefs on a page available to the public than take out an ad in a local paper expressing those beliefs.  I'm very free with what I think and believe in an appropriate setting and that is not, to me, a site where I have a public profile. 

Be true to yourself and your beliefs. 

We live in America, and we should be able to express ourselves freely, as long as we don't hurt others.  With that freedom of expression, we also give others the same freedom and right to express themselves.

Unfortunately, it is a sad day when we start to feel that we do not have the freedom to express our views living here in the land of the free.

Valerie,

Nice Post! I am kinda on the fence about that as well. It includes everything from religious beliefs, sports teams, and local groups.

Excellent thought and post. I am by no means an activist and yet I believe in being very involved politically. I think Realtors have a rare opportunity to see the results of government policies and how they effect the people we work with every day. I do post many of my thoughts on facebook. I would say my business has actually picked up. If I've offended someone, more often than not I actually gained the respect of 2 others.

I think we are in the mess we are in because too many people have remained silent. Get involved, be willing to make a stand based on information and principals. If more start doing that than maybe our government will start being "of the people, by the people, for the people" again!!

Great post. I go with being yourself.  I don't have time to join all the events, causes, etc.  Looks like this blog could be taking a lot of time also.

Valerie,

Apparently, some people have lost sight of the question.

The question you posed is, "Should we whitewash ourselves because we are Realtors®?"

The long answer is in Comment #219.

The short answer is NO!!!

Some of the commenters seem to think that you are asking whether you should try to convert someone from their beliefs.

Are they afraid of discussion or conversion?

Or are they afraid of the truth?

Be yourself, your beliefs are your core, it's who you are.  If someone doesn't like who you are then they shouldn't do business with you. 

I, for instance, am not a woman.  Someone wanting to work with a woman would not want to work with me.

I am also a Christian.  I have worked with people of many beliefs and they know who I am and I know who they are.

I'm sure that there have been people who have discriminated against me because I am a man, because I am a Christian, because I am a Republican, and in my younger years in this business because I was in my 20's.  That is their problem for being closed minded and it is their right to make that decision.

Thankfully, the majority of people in this country have enough intelligence that they are not afraid of being different from someone else and feel free to be themselves and express themselves openly without the fear of persecution or discrimination of others.

Our Freedom was fought for and WON!

Cherish it and thank our Veterans!!!

Lucky :) 

How did everyone handle all their personal opinions, beliefs, and causes before Facebook? Did you take out an ad in the local newspaper listingall the charities that you contribute to? Your political beliefs? Your religion? I think not. These things were discussed with the appropriate people at the appropriate times. And that's that. Why, now, has it become so important to express every feeling and belief? Furthermore, why does anyone feel "less of a person" because they DON'T post messages about all of their favorite charities? I belong to several groups, volunteer, and give money and time to several charities, but have never felt compelled to "like" all of these charities on Facebook. Getting involved in your free time is what's important. Not how many causes you have listed on your page.

Please don't feel "Whitewashed" because you are not proclaiming to the world every thought, belief and cause that you admire. Let your actions speak for themselves.  And keep your Facebook page strictly business.

Just my 2 cents....

Valerie ... Your post is good and valuable, because we as REALTORs and business people are watched and listened to by others.

I agree with a prior comment that home seller/buyers mostly want somebody who can sell their home and/or help buy a home at the best price.  They probably don't want to hear about our political beliefs.

On the other hand, it's important for us to reveal the truth about who we are, including the causes that we believe in.  As business people, it's better to use off work hours and platforms for support about political issues, which is indeed the American way.  However, it's OK and probably a good thing for us to reveal our religious beliefs as long as that doesn't become argument or detract from focus of the business relationship.

I'm still not getting why it is so important or desirable to discuss our religious, political, or social beliefs with people we do business with. It doesn't make me any less sincere in my beliefs, or less able to support my causes, if I simply do not bring them into my business relationships.

If a client happens to see my name on the local Humane Society website as a contributor and mentions it to me, fine. Ditto any other accidental, incidental "discovery" on either side. But why bring it in when it's not already present? If your views are diametrically opposed to your client's, it might cause some uncomfortable situations...or maybe not. But why take the risk?

Just be a great agent and representative for your clients, not their new best friend or comrade in political views or religious associate.

Wow! This blog is a HIT. Congratulations to you on the Gold Star and all the comments. I understand where you are coming from. Have a great weekend. Great post.

Seems your question is a bit rhetorical.  If you're a child of the '60's, then you can easily see what your broker wants you to do is sell your soul for sake of $$$$$.

Or to answer this in TLA's:

PC for the sake of CYA and $$$ is BS.  One of our country's core founding principles is freedom of the individual.  Freedom OF religion, not FROM it, Freedom of speech, not from it, Freedom of association (this works both ways, some may choose not to do business with us because of our expressed beliefs/positions, or we may choose not to serve someone because of the same). Freedom to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.  If you choose being a Realtor as part of your pursuits, you're not only entitled, your PROTECTED!  Regardless of your expressed opinions. And you also have the freedom to choose to abide by the wishes and direction of your brokerage. 

Throw out the PC, but incorporate courtesy, common sense and respect in all your dealings.  Something the political landscape in this country is desparately in need of.

Point is, its your call.  Don't fade away, be full of life and color.  You'll be more interesting and engaging to prospects and clients.  You can't please everyone.  And find comfort in the fact that some just wont like you, no matter what path  you choose.

have one FB persona just for your personal relationships and do what you want. have one for your biz and just don't go crazy. that's one way to handle it.

i'm myself on line, i just don't show all of myself all the time.

Should be real to your clients