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Capitalism: Let the Fittest Survive

There's so many thoughts that go through my mind when I read blog after blog of real estate professionals considering "throwing in the towel". When I look up, more doom and gloom news about the real estate market. The rain for over 24 hours now in Frisco TX isn't helping very much either. It's funny how sunshine can affect one's mood.

I read Katerina Gasset's post on So Are You Thinking About Quitting Your Real Estate Business? I read about posts and comments about how these times are challenging and troubling for and in real estate. While I do not deny these facts, at times I get a little tired that these terms need to be described and associated with real estate.

My question is: Why can't we let the fittest survive? Not everyone or every company (real estate or not) need to survive this "market". The weak has to make way for others to give the new an opportunity. Because America is built upon capitalism, we should and must let those who cannot fit in dwindle and die. Perhaps there is a better place for them somewhere else. Perhaps they haven't performed fully to their expectation because this is not their right path? Their destiny?

In How They Mighty Fall, written by author Jim Collins (of the Built to Last and Good to Great), Collins mentioned one very important question all businesses must answer:

How will the world be worse off if the (your) company cease to exist?

He asked, When Do You Fight to Hold On? and When Do You Decide Enough is Enough?

When he studied the demise of great companies, he saw the difference between those who offer a clear and inspired purpose for survival, built on core values than those who do not. He said, a business cannot just survive but to make a distinctive impact on the world around it, and does so with superior performance.

With that, when do you decide it's time to move on to something better? Or have you really sat down to study how distinctively you can create the impact around those you serve and serve with a clear and intentional purpose?

Capitalism is the greatest economy there is. Let the consumers decide if you should be in business or not. Sounds too gutsy? Well, it takes guts to succeed in a capitalistic country.

If you decide to you want to give it one more try, then find core values and build a business based on it.

This is the 1st of a "few" part series on How to Give Yourself A More Successful Chance at Success in the Business. I just haven't decided how many parts. I have a big heart of a mentor, in business and in life and yes, sometimes all mingled up together.

Here is Part 2: Not a Question of Value but IMPACT.

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Loreena Yeo - Frisco TX Realtor
Loreena Yeo - Realtor® in Frisco TX
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Posted by Loreena Yeo, Realtor®| Frisco TX Community Ambassador (214)783-2210 on 09/08/2010 11:20 AM

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165 Comments on Capitalism: Let the Fittest Survive

SEP

2010

thanks for the post.....I will never quit real estate...the workers will survive

I love that you're turning these ideas into a series. I'll be back for more!

"Why can't we let the fittest survive?"

It is a wonderful thought, but what I have found in my market is that people are not dropping their real estate licenses, they are just working at it part time. The number of part timers I have had the priviledge to work with over the past two years . . . and the trials that go with them! I really enjoy working with some of them, because they will listen to me and try really hard, but they are the exception.

Real Estate is both your career and your passion, Loreena. You are lucky. You are a role model in that respect. I have come late real estate but am equally passionate. In every industry there is turnover, even the good ones. The volatility of our economy creates volatility inside the careers of all industries. During those times people look to deeper reasons for their choices. This is a good thing. If people choose to leave because of personal reasons then my hope is they are moving because they have a new place to focus their passions. For me it is real estate and all I am going to do is change states.

Loreena,

I wrote about the ability to fail being one of God's greatest gifts, only Socialist, Communist, Fascist, and Dictators believe it's wrong to fail if you don't succeed!

It's was two years ago yesterday, when Bush and the Democrats in Congress bailed out Fanny and Freddie, are you better off? Is any one except the failed executives any better off?

To big to fail is an oxymoron! They know where to many bodies are buried to fail is true to many of our rulers.

Think about our banks. The depositors were never at risk, remember FDIC. The stock holders lost every thing by being saved, sorta like the Branch Dividan kids.

Then there is GM and Chrysler the stock holders lost every thing! The failed executives got "Golden Parachutes" or retained their jobs!

It's not realvent that you're leaving your real estate job, it's just that it's to small to steall.

Bill

PS: at least my summation is close, I wanted to say this yesterday and though I'd missed my chance.

Hello Loreena:

If only we were allowed to practice Capitalism without all the government intervention! The opportunity to make it big also implies the opportunity to fail. It has to be that way to work. Our only problem now is the failure is not allowed so bailouts save the weakest among us. I have suggested as I believe there will be lots of interest.

Real estate is definitely a business where only the strongest brokers will be able to make a real living doing it. The problem sometimes is that there are so many agents that might do a 1 or 2 sales a year and thats it. It's always going to be a tough decision when enough is enough and to move on to something more reliable.

A lot of people have moved on and I hope they are doing well. A lot of people move on to better fits anyway.

I agree thank you. stop spending money today....

Hi Loreena,

Although your post has a strong injection of reality, I see optimism in it. If someone decides that it's time to get out, is that a bad thing? If they make a change, isn't there a chance they'll do something that they're better suited for (making them happier)? Not to mention getting passed any financial hardship they might be experiencing?

I also believe that the fittest will survive, with or without permission. That's inevitable. These are the folks the are in touch with their passion and it can't be hidden.

I'm interested in seeing where you'll take this. Thank you.

Loreena, I enjoy your blogs very much, you are a great at what you do, but you as well posses an inner wisdom that lets you see many events in a different light. I'm very intrigued to read all your sequence on the topic.

Very thought-provoking post! I will be following your blog to hear the rest.

@Mike - That's exactly what I think (or I hope) I relayed on my post. We must let the weak die and be replaced. So, for those who made a decision to leave - that's not a bad thing. I also wouldn't look at it as a defeat. Some people are meant to do real estate. Many more are not. Those that are not may serve another industry, with far more passion and intuition for success.

@Anna - Thanks for your wonderful comment.

@Brian Rugg - Where there's no gain, there's no reward, right?

@Larry - We'll hang in there together.

@Bill - Fannie is quite a joke. Back when AA was under deep scrutiny, I bought their stocks for pennies. Then I sold it when it got "better". I did that because I knew the government loves AA too much to see it fail. Now, if I'd just repeat this history again, I may become the next millionaire.

Loreena: Is this a book or article (How The Mighty Fall)? I'd like to read it.

Has anyone thought that if only the best among us lasted the downturn, what that would mean to the consumer? Only the best professionals, not the hobbyists, hangers on, and less committed to dilute the talent and performance pool?

I would think that a better, smaller pool of agents would serve the public better and improve our image.

I was of the mind a couple years ago that the gov't should have allowed the country to fail...artificially propping it up scares me more than a depression (it's been deferred at best)...the weak fail, the strong survive...it's been that way since the beginning of time...I really wish we could get some fresh blood in DC...outside of the 2 parties..neither one of them have been able to do anything constructive without pandering to special interests.

@Charita - It's a book by Jim Collins - How the Mighty Fall. He also wrote Good to Great. Both of which you should read.

@John - Look at the Housing Tax Credit. Did it help? It helped individual businesses like me, but at times I think those people would have bought, just at a different time.

Loreena...

I have yet to read your post...just saw the title. Enough said. 2 thumbs up!

Hi Loreena...yep...I absolutely made money on the tax credit...did it help? well, for a fleeting moment...what bothers me about it was the fact we had to do that in the first place, and, frankly, I hope they don't do anything like it again...it fosters a false housing market and a populace who won't participate without getting a gift from the gov't...entitlement thinking...things need to turn around on there own, as painful as that is...and I wish the gov't would stop relying on the housing market like it's the only industry we have...the boom & bust world we live in gets tiresome.

Well Loreena...i've always been for the part -time people who don't develop their skills beg out of the profession. My reference point is similar...why should realtors hang on who aren't making it & depressing everyone out there...find something you love & do it well- be healthy in one's profession and then you'll build your wealth stream...look forward to the blogs as always.

Agree and loved your post Loreena-now I need to read "How the Mighty Fall". Looking forward to your sequels.

When the Market shifted I was excited and Nervous. Excited to see if I was really as good as I thought myself to be and Nervous because what if I wasn't. What I soon found out was I was neither. I found out that in order to continue to be successful I had to change every thing I knew about how to do real estate. I had to stop focusing on the traditional selling (Pretty flyer's, Virtual tours etc...). There were plenty of people wanting to sell but no one could do so I found out how to make the sales possible (short sale Negotiation). Then in a matter of a few months I found myself with largest pool of clients I could ever imagine. Now I have a Growing market share with no end in sight. What has this market taught me? It has taught me that I must run my career like a real business, I must have a staff, I must have regular business hours, I must have a proper CRM system I must educate myself to stay ahead and not wait for some seminar to teach me what people who were successful were already doing because by then it could be too late I must be a pioneers, I need to be the fittest to survive.

Pruning makes for a stronger tree.

Same could be said for any business - including ours.

Loreena,

I've been out listing all day today in the rain. Wow, we really needed it but it made a real mess of my day.

Tom

This is a necessary trend in our business. Pruning will make for stronger businesses in the future.

Loreena - I was actually speaking with a friend today about a similar topic. When the herd was thinned from tough economic times in real estate over the past two years or so, the "weak" agents were replaced by inexperienced agents who had been laid off elsewhere. Neither is that desirable, of course.

Interestingly, this would have seemed normal 100 years ago, or even 50. Only since socialism began creeping in in the 1930'S and redoubled in the 1960's did the idea that failure was not an option become mainstream. Great members of society regularly failed at business and re-invented themselves. Stay with it!

Just yesterday a company in my area shut down. Agents were poppin' up all over the place at other companies. I had the pleasure to work with an agent who work there this past spring. They offered everything an agent could want, 100% commission, $300per transaction fee, e&o insurance included, and a game room in their office but didn't have any present in the area. There was no advertising. I heard sellers say I like the agent but I'm not getting anything from their company. Their mortgage company SUCKED!!! Almost cost us the whole deal because they didn't have any money to fund loans. They are a thing of the past but most agents just tooK their listings and went somewhere else.

Survival of the fittest is a natural law I agree Loreena and it definitely happens in a DOWN real estate market.

Not always is because of the weak or strong...especially in real estate. There are certain circumstances within certain local areas that cause darn good agents to throw in the towel in search of income to feed their families.

It is also in other career paths as well...even in the corporate world. There are changes being made and hopefully all find their way in this hard market and life in general.

There will be continuous cycles during these times....and I believe that things do happen for a reason. What those reasons are we may not grasp...but there certainly are a lot of learning lessons.

Loreena: I disagree with your presumption about "capitalism" (what we have here isn't really Capitalism, but it is a truly an evil thing), and also the book to which you refer. There is no business on Earth that can make a "distinctive impact" on anybody or anything. Ever. People who run businesses can, however.

"Capitalism is the greatest economy there is. Let the consumers decide if you should be in business or not. Sounds too gutsy? Well, it takes guts to succeed in a capitalistic country." -- L.Y.

Seriously? Since when do consumers decide anything?

@Aaron - Did you say Capitalism is evil or did you think I said that? I would also assume that you know that I know people run businesses. People make it successful or run it into the ground.

And letting consumers decide is what we should/ or at least I'm proposing in this blog. Let those service providers who cannot sustain and run a profitable business get out of the picture.

Perhaps I was unclear somewhere.

Only a social conservative would write such nonsenese. I'm sorry Loreena, but I'm not seeing the cream rise to the top at all. The most vicious, and some of the most dishonest in our industry are doing all too well at the expense of those who WON'T take an overpriced, unsellable listing to scoop up buyers, who WON'T try and steal clients deliberatley from another agent, that WON'T create a split that ensures a fat pay day for them at the expense of the buyer's agent, that WON'T be honest with a client - but will take on the listing and jawbone the price down endlessly that DON'T have a wealthy husband supporting their lifestyle while they "play agent" and mess up the lives of others.

It has absolutely nothing to do with ability, self-promotion, blogging, prospecting or any other of these issues. In our market it comes down to resources - financial resources. All too often that means a Wall Street husband supporting a lifestyle while the wife indulges in her real estate hobby.

The trouble with most social conservatives is that they confuse "strength" as meaning ABILITY and SERVICE rather than what it really is - cold hard cash.

The customary appeal of painting with such broad brush... Aaron is right, as far as definitions go, but that's besides the point. I wonder if any of the proponents of the very black and white version of life and business ever drive through a community that was thriving just a few short years ago, and hand money to kids who are now living on the doorsteps of the homes their families used to own. Some of those parents were in real estate and building industries. Some of those people were quite good at their jobs. None of them changed their political affiliation or suddenly chose to aspire to an economic model you happen to despise - the market crashed around them. Where exactly would you have these people go for their new careers when the unemployment is at an all time high? Or maybe, everyone should get off their lazy asses and just invent something no one has the money to be able to afford...

Shallow and callous this is to quite a few of your colleagues that may be struggling at the moment but are not in a position to change their LOCAL geography or market.

Just one girl's opinion, of course.

Hi Loreena. Nice post. I look forward to hearing more in this series.

While I agree with your passion and values on success, your article seems to condemn those who are not succeeding currently. As I am sure you understand, one must fail, even in their chosen profession, to become stronger, leaner and seasoned. If they stay in this industry, even their failures will improve their skills in life and in business.

Thanks for keeping us thinking.

Loreena

We better ourselves, we have all the tools we can reach for, and yet some will not step up to the plate. I know this is a hard time for many but this truly is an Industry of survival of the fittest

Lorena--You are one tough cookie. I think I wouldn't mind being in a foxhole with you. You would watch my back as long as I hung in there fighting. My credo is "Never give up" and I never have. There is always tomorrow, and a chance to become the person you saw yourself as when you had dreams and aspirations. I am not there yet, but I can honestly say it is not from lack of effort.

@Ruthmarie - I do believe that honesty will prevail. No one or business can sustain long term success and growth if s/he continues to take an overpriced listing, lies to clients, is not honestly, genuinely good. I agree with you that cash is an important factor. It is not the earnings that keep a business rolling, it's the cashflow.

@Inna - What economy do I despise? I'm unclear from your statement. As far as I know Capitalism is the way to go. I left my country because we could **almost** practise free trade here. Not so much where I'm from. I'm still very much determined by my race. You know. Life is a choice. If someone choose to be in the place where unemployment is high, they have to make do with what they got. Or, pick up and move. I came across an ocean. I left to begin a better life for me. I had that choice. Unless someone is incarcerated, everyone is free to move, not only in this country but around the world.

@Elliott - Yes, I will watch your back if we were hunting together. You can bet your life on it. Whether I'll be good at it, then that's another story. If you are all I got, I will die defending you. Life is a continous improvement. You probably have come a long ways from where you were so I wouldn't be so quick to discount yourself. Life is so much to look forward to because we constantly seek improvement and have "not arrived yet".

David,

I don't think the post is condemning those who did not succeed but a point to say that that to survive and built a great company we have to have a purpose to survive. Yes, money is a purpose but it is not the only purpose. If money is the only purpose then you are not putting in your best or create value add for your clients. As for those who "DIE" it is not to condemn them. Maybe another word is "REFOCUSING" (to be PC).

Some successful businesses who wants to stay in the game might refocus on their core values.

This is a highly recommended book or audio book. It is not to create controversy at all.

Not saying this because she is my wife but more to agree with what Jim Collin's research found.

You are very brave my friend for "coming out" of the closet with your belief in Capitalism. That is something that is attacked today so much and yet it is one of the things that caused you to become an AMerican citizen. Since I am a very much a libertarian, I wear capitalism very well. It is not evil at all. True Capitalism is not evil, it is what people from all over the world want to take part in. Why do you think China uses Capitalism as their economic model in a very totalitarian government. Because they know it works. Socialism is evil because it takes free agency away from the human being and you must obey big brother or else. Capitalism in its true form embraces free markets. Most people who say Capitalism is evil are confused between what we have today which is NOT capitalism, it is cronyism - which is way different. True Capitalism can only work when you separate government from business not sleep in bed with one another - that is evil. Again, in that state, you are again infringing on the liberty of another company to be able to make it.

There is much truth in your post, unfortunately most people here do not what it was like where you are from, they do not know what life is life in communism, dictatorships and socialist places where people can not even make their way to create a product or service nor are most allowed to. Even in India which is considered one of the most democratic countries- the children are still expected to be what their parents are, if you are poor there, you stay poor with a super slim chance of getting out unless you happen to be slumdog millionaire.

Survival of the fittest in companies is a great plan, however, since the 1930's- all public schools here have taught that is not right, they teach totally different values and principles, like every kid gets a trophy, every kid gets a ribbon. That is not teaching productivity very well. Not to mention the other anti liberty philosophies they are teaching. There should be no bail outs, all companies should be allowed to fail That is the natural law and no matter how much man tries to manipulate it, it will prevail at the end of the day.

When immigrants like you take a stand, thank you. I thank every Eastern European who comes here and takes a stand for liberty, I thank every Asian that comes here and says, don't go down that bad path you are heading down, I thank every Cuban that comes here to teach us that Fidel Castro is evil- not capitalism- but Castro regime is evil- look at what happened to Cuba! These brave immigrants appreciate the free market and speak up. Thank you for speaking up. We need you. Our Country needs you.

And no, it is not really social conservatives that believe in Capitalism, because even they, when pushed, will lean to socialism light.

However, you can not be a libertarian without also believing fully that Capitalism is the best economic model. Katerina

Mike- You have every right to defend your wife. You also have every right to speak your mind as does Loreena. You also don't need to be PC.

@Katerina - Thank God you explained it to me. I was going bizzarre wondering what I wrote could be so potentially wrong. I may live in a Fairy Tale world. I learnt about Capitalism when I was a child growing up in Malaysia and the Capitalism that I learnt is in free economy, for sure Big Brother wasnt there to bail anyone out.

Even in a broken economy such as this, it's still better to be here than anywhere else in the world.

@David - I hope you didn't think I was condemning anyone. I would never do that. I think those who cannot survive dont need to force themselvees in a rut. Perhaps there's a better place somewhere else for them that could better utilize their gifts and talents.

Great post! I love capitalism. The strong always survive and the weak fade away quietly. Capitalism to me is so simple, work hard and the rewards will follow and others will benefit as well

I never got a job offer from a poor person or one that wasn't successful.

Money doesn't solve all the problems, but it does give you more options to deal with them.

Loreena,

I would love our industry to come out stronger after this economic journey. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

I really enjoy reading your posts!

All the best, Michelle

The market punishes and the market rewards... unless the government someone sticks their hand in and screws it up.

I really agree with you Loreena. And am proud of your strong stance!

I am not for coddling or hanging on when you should fold. The strong WILL survive.

This is the greatest place on earth- as soon as you travel around the world you know it- that said, we need to learn from history... How great Loreena that you took the bold step of coming here and making free choices to work and live as you please. My hat is off to you!

Loreena - I admire your stance, and believe I fully understand both what you said and why you said it. Not everyone understands capitalism, nor do they believe that it works for everyone. However of all the systems I've studied, it seems to offer the best opportunity for success for those willing to work and pursue their dreams.

I think Winston Churchill had it right when he said: Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.

Something to think about for sure! Honestly, I wish the politicians would have done just that with the banks over the past few years. I look forward to the other posts in this series.

Loreena, I have to agree with you on the idea of let the fittest survive. The government needs to get back to this idea. If a big company goes out of business so be it. No one is too big to fail. Will little people get hurt if the big guy fails. Yes. Will the economy be better in the long run? Maybe. But that's how the "system" has always worked and will continue to work if politicians keep their hands off.

Same goes for weak and strong agents. The weak ones will not survive and will get out. No problem that's how it always works.

Works the same way in the jungle. The fittest and the strongest survive, the weak and puny get eaten. It's called life.

I agree. Some handouts encourage people to sit around and do nothing as they receive money from the government. Maybe instead they should give some incentive for people who are out of work to create their own small business ventures.

Capitalism is the greatest economy there is. Let the consumers decide if you should be in business or not. Sounds too gutsy? Well, it takes guts to succeed in a capitalistic country.

We are slowing slipping away...congrat's on this being featured. Needed to be said.

Very interesting post and responses. Loreena, you always have something great to say. I believe the ones who are leaving just can't afford don't want to work hard being in real estate at the moment. This economy will recover and with the recovery will come more and more new agents. It is a cycle that just won't be broken.

The difficult times definitely make us all reexamine our business & cause some people to leave altogether. I welcome the challenge because it's making me a better agent & reducing the competition out there. By the way, sorry the to hear about the rain in Frisco, too...Austin is getting drenched as well...ready to see the sun already.

There is much to be learned during challenging times. I believe in survival of the fittest.

SEP

2010

"[F]ind core values and build a business." This makes a lot of sense and deserves a lot of focus.

survival... for even the fittest is a challenge sometimes. Nice post..

Capitalism. One of my favorite words. It makes me tingle with pride. Love it.

Thank YOU!!! This is what makes this country so great! FREE ENTERPRISE the ability to succeed or fail depending on ones ability to perform or not. This is one of the best blogs i have read!

Loreena, great post. I see you stirred up the pot. It's up to the individual to decide if they should throw in the towel or not. Failing can be a precursor to succeeding. That's the capitalist way. Entrepreneurial spirit goes a long to survive the dips and bumps in the road.

I'm so happy that the government over-regulated lenders and investment banks.

Who knows what would have happened if we essentially had a free enterprise system that encouraged aggressive lending and speculation combined with complex securitization of residential and commercial mortgages that over-extended our banking system would have likely created the largest speculative bubble in history that when popped would lead to double digit unemployment and an astonishing evaporation of wealth?

/sarcasm

It's too easy to get a real estate license, and there's too much riding on each transaction. Agents who don't have a passion or a talent must be allowed to fail. At the peak of the last runup, the DRE in California reported more than 10,000 people taking the real estate licensee test every week! Many are back to their old jobs now, and our clients are safer because of it.

Loreena, You are very, very, very naive to think that the honest will prevail. Over and over again this has been proven NOT to be the case. I'm angry. I've worked my tail off and had one career outsourced and now the rug is coming out from under me in real estate. But I suppose to you and Katerina - I'm just not good enough....Well you know what? If you feel that way about me, then I've lost a lot of my respect for you. You don't deserve my respect with that attitude.

You know what? I'd be doing a whole lot better if my moral compass were a lot more flexible. Think on that for a little.

@ Inna - thanks for the sanity.

Atlas Shrugged in real estate? In America? You must have no idea what you're suggesting. You start killing off those who don't meet your production standards and we will quickly revert to totalitarianism, facism or worse. Insulting to generations who have spent their lives working for a just society.

Tonight 250,000 veterans are sleeping on the sidewalk and throughout the year 800,000 veterans will find themselves homeless at some point. In 2008, 44 percent of homeless veterans reported being homeless for the first time.

While some of them have problems as a result of their service, I dare any social conservative to go up to them and say "Why don't you look for a job you lazy bum?" or "Only the strong survive, guess you weren't strong enough?"

Are veterans just lazy people who fought bravely for your freedom at the expense of developing other job skills? Or are they perfectly employable people who are having a difficult time finding employment as a result of a wrecked economy?

If only the strong survive, why are the strongest Americans living with such difficult economic realities?

Leslie makes an excellent point - There is no such thing as a totally free market. It simply doesn't exist. Ayn Rand's world is not real because left to such extremes society would devolve into chaos. William's point is also well taken. In the name of "Capitalism" we have treated those who have made the ultimate sacrifice as if they are easily dispensed with should they not continue to "perform" up to certain standards. What kind of society does this?

Great post. Look forward to more.

I have read from Good to Great and will be picking up How The Mighty Fall.

@Ruthmarie - First of all, I want you to know that I respect your stance and I appreciate you bringing this up to me in such a respectful manner. I wouldn't expect it any other way from you anyways.

You believe I'm extremely naive? Maybe you're right.

But I've been brought up in a tough environment, even within the discipline of my parents that the fittest will survive. It's the only concept I know because my family run a family business - a 2-person operation (both my parents) in a jewelry store making lots of good wealth while "competing" with other jewelry stores with more employees and a fancier storefront. My parents and I took our advantage and made it our winning reason for success.

What was it? We speak Malay - our national language very fluently, We mingle, hang out with all Malaysians rather than the other jewelry store owners/ employess who mainly kept to themselves (of Chinese-decent). Our clients laugh and joke with us as we negotiate on prices of the necklaces, rings and stones they want to buy. We give them a complete different experience. We broke down the communication barriers while others couldnt. My dad retired the store at 52, saved enough of money to keep him and my mom until their very old age because we believed in capitalism.

With the gold prices going up so high, not many people are buying jewelry anymore. The culture is changing too. Cellphones and cars seem to be the "show" of wealth. Many of my dad's competitors died along with the new gold prices.

Are there any one who is left? You bet. Those who survived would have been those who has more capital to sustain in this business and at the same time provide a good value to the consumers.

Let me take this closer to home. And let me please clarify that Katerina (at least I think I can speak for her) and I DID NOT SAY YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH. As a matter of fact, before you planted this thought into my head, I've always viewed you as highly successful and I still do. I'm not sure where that thought came from.

Success, just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Many times, it's in the state of mind. I guess it depends on how you measure success.

I measure success by the number of families I serve. My first few years of real estate (as a part-time agent), I served 6-8 families. Some people that me that's more than some full-time agents. So I guess I must be successful then.

I used to measure success by whether I hit my goals or not. I was very stressed and miserable.

And don't mind me saying this. You mentioned it so I just want to share what little I know and perhaps you do too. Anger is not good for the heart. It keeps grudges and in the end, it only hurts you. Those people that outsourced a job away from you, what are they doing now? I'm pretty sure you're not moaning and making that the focus of your day, but if you let what little grudge go, your views might change. The only reason I suggested this was because I personally walked those experiences. My place and circumstances didn't change. Only my views did. And when it did, I could view the same person in love, rather than in anger, fear, etc. Of course, this is just a suggestion.

I also have no idea I was a social conservative. I didn't know that term. I only know the Kill it and drag it home concept. If I didn't do it for my family, I wouldn't expect anyone else to do the same.

@Leslie - I believe staying in the business (for any company for that matter) is a personal choice. So, again, it depends on the personal brokers/ managers to have or want to set a strict high production guideline for their own company, that's their personal choice too. Those who could not maintain can leave and go to a broker who emphasize on something different.

Because we live in such a great country, we have choices, for ourselves and our businesses. Who's to say that everyone must conform. And even if it did, it would only make individual agents strive to do better. There will always be variations because we live in a somewhat free economy (if Big Brother would just back off). Then, those who could not keep up will have to leave, just like Circuit City and Ultimate Electronics.

The consumers will determine the demand.

@William - I know that and I am very thankful for our troops who are willing to sacrifice. I'm also thankful that their families let them do that.

Again, I did not explicitly say, "You're not good enough" or "You're lazy".

You must understand that prior to this post, I do know that there are different variations of economies out there. But as I have shared with Ruthmarie, Capitalism is the only thing I ever known. I was writing what I believe that only the fittest will survive. The rest will falter and windle away.

My mind is not big enough, smart enough to understand the bigger and larger concepts of government issues. All I can tell based on my walk as a normal person as a citizen is that many people misuse their military disability. I know of a person whose deemed disabled but plays ice hockey every Sunday!

Now, these may be isolated incidences and in no way am I referring those 800,000 men that serve the country are like that. So before anyone jumps on me, don't put words in my mouth that I didn't say.

I counsel alot of financially strapped people. There arent really willing to make sacrifices. Real ones.

How about walking door to door offering domestic help (mowing yard, some handywork, babysitting, etc.) to earn some money? You said the economy is tough. Not as tough as it could have been because people have not shown they are truly desperate.

Some do. But these are also the ultimate winners in my mind.

Loreena - no surprise, I agree 1000% with what you say here. This right-wing, social (and financial) conservative doesn't understand how there can be an argument that the strong should be allowed to thrive, especially since that puts them in a position to help others. Whether they choose to or not is a personal decision and plenty of successful people help others. Successful people spend money, hire employees, provide benefits and keep the economy rolling. I, for one, am grateful that Capitalism provides opportunities for the strong to survive, thrive and become filthy stinking rich if they EARN it.

My question is stiil, "Why cant we let the fittest survive?"

Why should we serial bail out everyone every time? The choice of word here is "serial"..... Continuously, time and time again.

I'm all for mercy and grace. Thank God for that. But if keep wanting help and never go out on our own, when will we learn?

Case in point: Training wheels on a bicycle. Is it good to keep them on the rest of the journey?

Loreena,

"Let the fittest survive" is a philisophy our government should have adopted instead of pumping billions into wall street companys who then turned around and gave our tax money out as executive bonuses.

I totaly agree. The self proclaimed advocates of the poor are going to destroy eveything if we let them, but we are not stupid and we are not goign to let them.

Capitalism is great as long as there are not external forces trying to manipulate it.

I agree with #76 & 78. We're a long way from real capitalism. Too much outside manipulation based on excessive greed as opposed to honest profit is involved. But like you said, "Even in a broken economy such as this, it's still better to be here than anywhere else in the world."

Wow. What a spirited debate you started. Good job. I see a lot of agents clinging to real estate because they have nowhere else to go. It is not pretty. Others are still in it only because they have a spouse that gets a paycheck.

Well presented and good topic post

I have seen businesses where the help (or owners) were rude and unprofessional and I always had this thought that if and when things got rough, either with the economy or competition, they wont make it......Weeding out is for those that become weeds...perhaps? Another thought.....supply and demand, when operating freely produce the desired affect. When people try to control or interfere with that process, financial harmony is sacrificed for the sake of something or someone. Sometimes it is not wise to interfere with water, which if left alone, seeks its own levels....

thank you

Loreena - What a great post and line of comments...I know a lot of people who feel this way but would never put it in words. I believe we need to be compassionate and help our fellow man . However, there is a point when enough is enough. What's the saying...Give a man a fish vs. teach a man to fish. If the man can't learn to fish perhaps it's time to make a change. A failure in one avenue/career/business might mean you're better suited for another.

@Richie - That's exactly how I feel. I have no condemning attitude towards anyone who thinks they cannot make it.

@Kryste - When to fold is a good question. There are so many factors on how long a business should sustatin.

I couldn't agree more. Business is all about survival of the fittest which also goes hand in hand with adjusting your business model to the constantly changing times.

I basically agree with your post and although we don't have pure capitalism, we have enough. The comments are revealing. Those who disagree believe that successful people are only successful because they are cheating somehow. Some people do cheat, but I do believe that the people who are successful long term do so because they offer a great product or service. You are not being cruel or unfeeling. If the best are surviving this market, then those using their services are getting the best. Isn't that a good thing? Those who don't survive real estate can try something else. One of the comments said:

"Where exactly would you have these people go for their new careers when the unemployment is at an all time high? Or maybe, everyone should get off their lazy asses and just invent something no one has the money to be able to afford..."

Yes, exactly, people invent things and re-invent themselves every day. People start new businesses. They learn new skills, identify a need, network, look ahead. Ideas are free. I see it happening with the people I know. My husband and I and many of our friends lost our jobs in an industry that was outsourcing. We started over. Was it easy? Of course not.

We can't look to politicians for ideas. Ideas come from people. We can solve our own problems, but there are too many who think we can't, and they spend a lot of time trying to convince the rest of us of that.

I agree with you & also with Jason. We need to filter new agents better. Harder licensing, required mentorships, etc. Otherwise we are replacing bad agents with bad &/or inexperienced agents.

I liked your blog. Several of my collegues have had it with the ever changing guidelines and problems we often confront and are ready to jump ship in one of the best times to be a loan officer. I don't get it! And certainly don't have a problem seeing them go as it only makes room for me. I liken much of business to the days of when I was young trying to get another lawn to mow. Adding one after another really add up and you only have yourself to thank. You can't take that away from someone.

Loreena,

In your original post it said "...let those who cannot fit in swindle and die..." I see now you have changed it to 'dwindle and die'... The original may have been more accurate. Did you mean to say "swindle OR die".

The ideal of capitalism (and economic theory) has some basic assumptions that don't exist in the real world - even yours.

Perfect information and homogeneous products are starting points for western economic theory. Since they don't exist neither can (or should) pure capitalism. Some people say they believe that business is over regulated. Is it?

Which of these laws would you do away with?

Laws against misleading advertising? After all, if people are misled won't consumers just take their business elsewhere.

Laws requiring a license to operate? After all, consumers should get to decide who they want to deal with.

Exactly what laws or regulations should be done away with to make capitalism more pure?

It isn't alwas the "fittest" who survive. Everything else being equal it is sometimes the swindler who survives.

I am happy that the vast majority of people in real estate don't fit the swindler profile. I'm sad that some do - and thrive no matter what their 'fitness'.

Failing to survive doesn't always indicate a lack of fitness. Many things, including pure luck, pay a role.

Ask Warren Buffet.

Diane - I am the commenter you are referencing. Let me expand some. In Palm Coast, Fl where I live, the driving force of the economy was real estate, and by side-effect, construction. These and related industries employed the majority of the population for the last decade or so, and the city was booming (fastest growing in the nation in 04-06, I believe). Since this is basically a suburb of nowhere, most people bought or build their homes, with the largest numbers coming in at the height of the market. See, the developers, at the time very successful ones, were able to sell the same property twice in one day with hundreds of thousands in price increase, and it was all kosher, and quite financible. An average home was going for well above the cost of replacement. People's life savings went into these homes.

Some did come and open businesses, but these are not sustainable in the economy where rather suddently no one has the money to pay for much outside of bare necessities - and there is always a WalMart to feel those needs.

The people who own these homes can't pack up and move, or take out a loan to start a business. For that - they'll have to sell their house first, and there are not takers for the prices they would need to walk away. Some real estate agents did make a crap load of money in the boom, but they, too, for the most part invested into the same inflated market they were working in. So there you have it.

Did I mention that the unemployment here is at around 20%, and that's a published number? The ones who came here to retire, lost their 401K and any stock portfolios they had, more or less overnight, and they already worked their whole lives. They did all they were taught to do in this brilliant capitalistic society: work, invest, buy a house and live happily ever after... Now you are going to invoke Darwin, as if theirs is a genetic deformity that will make the species weaker?

But you are right, Loreena, and Diane, they maybe should live in a tent at a local park for a while and brainstorm for some service or product they might be able to offer to the world in one of these delusional 'everyone can invent something sellable' states. Heck, at least now they have pretty much nothing left to lose. Their kids are already homeless.

I love Diane's (#85) comments above. Here on the Gulf Coast, there was a lot of justifiable complaining and kvetching and grousing after the oil spill, but at some point, you have to accept reality and adjust to it. Yes, an oil spill or a bad economy or a natural disaster makes things tough... and tougher on some than others, whether fair or not. But everyone has to gets to make a choice whether to move forward and survive... or just continue to whine.

Great and well thought out post. I really like your style.

I believe this naturally happens. Those who struggle eventually run out of money and need to seek alternatives. After all, you need to put food on the table no matter what you do.

Wow, I am surprised at the direction some of these comments have gone. It is a very good post and personally I am looking ofrward to your follow up posts.

As things go in my area - it is true, I am successful. 85th overall percentile in the first five years is by most definitions successful Sadly, I am going bankrupt in my success and will soon lose my home if things do not turn around - and FAST. You see, to make enough to live without digging into savings - you need to be in the 95th percentile. That's an impossible bar when 90% of your competition has been in the business 10 years or more.

The fact is that I have poured capital and savings into this business which has become a bottomless pit of marketing and prospecting with almost no reward. I was about to throw in the towel at the end of 2008. Last year I had the first glimmer of hope. Business started flowing in through my post-card campaigns, and my web site/blogs. Since my area is so high-priced, I really did not attribute it to the tax credit. The effect of said credit should have been nominal at best. I had one client who really needed the credit and that was pretty much it. I was patting myself on the back for perservering and taking the risk of "investing" in my business. After four miserable long years it was all starting to pay off. Then the tax credit expired and the floor dropped out from under me - AGAIN. I haven't had one sale since that time. I do have one tiny listing - which will pull in at most about $2500 - never mind that I had to spend $600 marketing the thing. I have maybe two buyers who are both very lukewarm and another buyer who is trying to pump me for information while sneaking around to listing agents. I just let that one go. We are back in the deep freeze of 2006-2008.

I stayed in part because my other career wasn't going to do anything at all. I would make a little more money - BUT it was 70+ hours a week at about $33k a year - and then I might move up to about $50k if I was lucky - but it would peak there. You can't survive on that in a the major cities - and that type of work keeps you in major cities. Yes, you USED to be able to make a good living doing what I was doing - but once again my timing was off. The bottom fell out of that field when I was 18 months short of my doctorate - and a great job. At least with real esate there was a shot at a decent income. I also happen to truly love what I am doing. But as I found out in science - love and passion do NOT pay the bills.

Bottom line a market must be MOVING for anyone to have a shot. From what I can see of my own city - less than 2% moved last year. It's going to be lower this year. I could survive at hat 1.8% move rate - but only those who have been around for eons or who have husbands to support them can tolerate even slower turnover. Those who entered this market prior to the deep freeze have ZERO understanding of what newer people are experincing - and some markets haven't really frozen. We don't have the short sales and REOs that many do - but they have something we don't - a market where people are MOVING. So they don't get it when someone with blogs that drive about 5000 visiitors a month don't generate any business. That's what I've got. Over 5000 visits a month on both my blogs and maybe one or two consumers calling me on the phone a MONTH.

Further, I just lost a despeartely needed listing. Why? I told the truth. Someone wanted to list for $400k on a coop worth - if she's lucky about $330k. I told the truth because there is a short sale in the building that once it closes will put her below $300k. Median price in the complex for this year $290k. Her unit is prime, but that won't bring her up $110,000 from the median - BEFORE the short sale. Time was of the essence and she couldn't fool around with a high price. Could I have gotten buyers from this - YUP - they would have flocked like bees to honey because its a great unit - and eventually I would have jawboned her down. But doing it that way would have hurt her. Instead - one of the old crones got it and listed it near $400k. She knew what she was doing - but didn't care. The ethical around here are drowning.The cynical and sly - doing quite well.

Also please note - I had the resources to MAKE IT WORK. I treated it as a business from the get-go and still am floundering. What of someone who has no resources??? What do they do? They NEVER had a chance in our area - NEVER. I've seen these types used and abused by agents who hire them as assistants and unscrupulous brokers who take them for every penny they have left.

One other thing, if I had written what you wrote and my very successful Grandfather had seen it - he would have been furious. He would have rightly bashed me for my smuggness and lack of compassion. He understood that the best don't always see success. He lived through the Great Depression and would have been ashamed of a grandchild who so callously decided to throw hard working people off a cliff.

So yes, you are either very, very naive or very very cruel.

Capitalism works when we let it.

Too much government bloated welfare. Why isn't the D.C area home price index dropping as the rest of the country?

Probably that's where most of the government jobs are located.

Get a government job and move to D.C or the White House.
Or relocate your real estate business.

@Paul - I really meant dwindle and die. I would have never encourage anyone to "swindle" any person. Tim Maitski helped correct me.

I do know that there is no PURE CAPITALISM. In my most naive head, I know it doesn't exist.

We (I'm not saying you but us in general) constantly complain about what's not good in this country. Try living somewhere else. Then you could tell me in the most unperfect world such as this place, if it's still better to be here.

There was way too many agendas in Washington DC, far more than the People's interests.

@Inna - I'm not sure if you are saying that there is a complete breakdown on spending where you're at? No one is spending any money at all? Then my question would be, should people really live in tents, then why dont they pick up and move to another place? Life is about choices. Stay put where you're at and be utterly miserable, or find happiness somewhere else. I could say that because I came across an ocean. And that was my choice.

@Ruthmarie - I understand your situation much better now, rather than just feeling anger when you first shared your feedback.

This is not a personal attack on you, but I want to ask, Do you have an open mind? If you do, stop. Read what you wrote in calmness. Remove "yourself" from the comment and see it as another person.

Mindset is a highly important thing. You will not like me anymore when I say this but the negativity that surrounds you may be clouding your judgment.

On a business fact, what marketing could cost $600 on a $2500 potential income? Those numbers don't add up.

I just got back from a Broker's Networking session. Everyone continues to say how business is bad. These are brokers with 15-30 years experience. On the other hand, that's not what I experienced. Maybe because I'm new, that's why I'm in the upswing of my business. But I also know, like you I work hard everyday.

About your grandfather comment, here's what I'd like to add: I read in How They Mighty Fall, that some companies (on top of their hardwork, good leadership, wise business decisions), they also do not discount LUCK. I would say LUCK may not stand a chance in a capitalistic society. But what I want to ask is if one person (you, me or anyone at all) are going with the flow. Is real estate your calling?

I SUCKED when I sold MaryKay. I didn't last the first 30days. I felt like a failure when I couldn't sell a $20 lipstick. Why should I be able to sell a $200K house? My personality doesn't fit in the Lipstick world. I'm much better off taking market data and stats.

I consider you my good AR friend whether you think I'm naive or cruel. Either way, I love you and I feel for you. And I have a bulldog attitude. I wont go down without a fight (I'm not saying that you are). I dont know how I'm able to help you but I want to help.

Also, I'm not sure if my success has anything to do with my sustainability. But my income is a supplemental income for my family. We do not have any debt. We live frugally. Anything I earn, if I wanted to could be poured back into my business. Yet, based on what my accountant tells me, my profit margin is 94%. I came into this business with no debt, and 4.5 years of part time real estate business as my war chest. Looking back, my marketing is hardly anything. But it's about to change - with intention of earning more.

Here's a quote from my first book, which was quoted with permission from the late Dr. Richard Carlson in "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money:"

It's Not the Circumstances, It's You!

"It's extremely rare to find a successful person who whines, complains, and frets about her circumstances. This is despite the fact that she may have overcome great obstacles to achieve her level of success. On the other hand, it's extremely common for struggling individuals to continually blame their circumstances for their lack of joy and abundance. The real question is: What came first-the attitude or the success? The answer, in virtually all cases, is that the winning, positive attitude came first, followed by a lifetime of abundance.

"Your circumstances are what they are; they were what they were...it's time to get over them and move on.

"You'll find that life will be a lot easier and much more fun when you make the decision to drop your complaining. All it does is make you feel sorry for yourself-sad, angry, victimized, suspicious and / or self‑righteous. When you argue for your limitations, your thoughts and words merely get in your way and greatly interfere with your ability to create. With complaining out of the way, you'll create the space for an explosion of creativity and brilliance. You'll be able to be more focused and oriented to the present moment. Instead of focusing on problems, you'll begin to see solutions. Instead of maintaining an ‘I can't' attitude, you'll quickly develop a more positive vision for yourself."

[1] Richard Carlson, Ph.D., Don't Sweat the Small Stuff About Money, Hyperion, 1997 & 2001, page 75

One of my clients said to me recently, "It's funny the harder you work the LUCKIER you get."

My area has 11+ % unemployment. We have seen 20% drop in home values in the past 2 years.

Not ALL houses are sitting! Someone still is buying! There are not ZERO sales. And I am "lucky" to be one of the agents selling. Why?

1. I prospect my ass off. I am always moving and marketing.

2. I don't spend money foolishly. I only spend money on what brings money in. What works.

3. I treat this like a business--it is! I run profit/loss statements and analyze spending categories brutally.

4. When things are not working, I sit down and try to turn them on their head. Think outside the box and come up with new ways of doing business.

There will always be people buying and selling houses! Marriages, births, deaths, relocations .... this is not an industry where ZERO houses will be sold. Somebody is moving in and out or up or down. If it's not moving in your segment, pick a new one. If it's not moving in your town, pick a new one. If your brokerage is too dead, pick a new one.

phew... there is a LOT to read here with all of the comments.

I have to say that I agree with this post. I did not see it as bashing anyone, and YES, there will be some dishonest individuals that survive... thats true in ANY business, not just Real Estate or Mortgages.

I believe there are good agents out there that will not survive THEIR market. We have to remember that not everyones market is like Texas. Most of Texas is doing pretty well with some concerning areas due to decreased values. But all in all, a Real Estate Agent that has a good 'plan' can certainly survive out here.

In California, thats a different story. You could have a good agent (and what I mean by good is that they understand contracts, great service to the consumer, good grasp on their market, etc.).. but this agent now has to become good at Short Sales. Well, if they dont know short sales, they will have to learn it in order to survive in California. If they dont, then they wont survive. That doesnt mean that all homes are Short Sales, but certainly they have a high percentage of them (along with many other states... and yes, we have Short Sales in Texas too.. but its not the majority).

If you live in a smaller area (I did not look with RuthMarie works, so this is not really directed towards you)... but if you live in a smaller area that does not have a high turnover rate, then Real Estate just is not a good business to be in there. Too many agents and not enough listings / buyers. So, even if you were the BEST in Real Estate for your area, you cant do much with a small inventory. Its an example of that famous saying... location, location, location.

I think that many people WANT to be good agents, and perhaps they can be. Without the resources or the real 'know how' they are doomed. They could have been GREAT.. but without resources its hard to be successful.

I have no doubt that agents will get out of the business (and Loan Officers for that matter) who are really great at what they do, but no one really knows it. But I also know for sure that many agents (and loan officers) will get out of the business because they failed. They thought they could perform a full time job in just 2-3 hours of work per day. Real Estate is a full time career. I believe that we will see agents and loan officers get out of the business because they just are not cut out to do this job. They didnt know how, they were not trained or assisted by their broker, and they thought they could work part time hours and make full time pay. It just does not work that way. ** Please note that I am not saying ALL agents or Loan Officers... I am making a general statement that the 'part timers' are going to be pushed out of this market. **

Loreena - I agree with your post. Sorry for the long comment... my fingers just kept typing and typing.

#49 Comments, expert advice and practice.

Thank you!

Wow Lorena,

You certainly hit a nerve with the AR public. Not only should there be a survival of the fittest mentality but there should be an eat what you kill mentality.

I have so many little issues with this. First of all, capitalism and darwinism aren't the same thing. In capitalism the goal is to sustain growth, while darwinism is about personal adaptation.

I think that Capitalism is the greatest economy for growth, yes. But by definition it is insustainable, you either need to exhaust an existing market or create a new one... and eventually both the markets and innovation will plateau.

This article is about letting struggling real estate businesses "die" - as if you were a lion and they were gazelle. But we're all humans in this equation - and in both darwinism and capitalism there is a strong motivation to protect our fellow species in a time of crisis.

If you let them fail now, who will be there to lend you a hand when you are struggling?

Loreena - ever read a post not yours and read all 100 comments - well I just did...here. Coming from a different country like you, your husband, and myself or have spent a lot of times in a different country whether in a communism, socialism and capitalism - I have seen it and especially here in America, the possibilities are endless - even in this economy a person still can be prosperous - I may be naive, but I'm a firm believer.

In my opinion, it is really up to the individual and personality to succeed whether in the corporate world working 9-5, military 24-7, entrepreneur - where the choice is yours there are folks in every level who are very successful.

Look in the mirror - the choice is yours :)

Thank You Erica Ramus. I could not have said it better if I tried. You have a new fan!

@Torgie - The economics will take care of itself. The weak will be replaced by the new. The new will see if they sustain or falter.

@Petra - I'm glad you've walked the road I have to know despite the imperfections, it's still better here.

Loreena ~ You make me so proud to be an American. I wish many members of the "me" generation would read this blog!

SEP

2010

Loreena: I was here several hours ago, and read ALL of the comments up to # 100. I actually could not comment then... I was so angry.

I think I can honestly say that I have not read a post that INFURIATED me more than this one has... especially after reading ALL of the comments... by both your readers, and by yourself. The first word that comes to mind... is mercenary.

Kill or Be Killed. (<--- this is a "euphemism." It describes a philosophy. Nobody said anything about 'killing' anyone)

What a gosh-awful way to live. What a "jungle mentality !" Filthy stinking rich (<--- someone else's words), my patootie.

Why does everyone need to only think about what is in it for themselves? Win at all costs. It sounds like Sherman marching through Georgia... trampling everything in his path... if I have my Civil War history correct... (which I may not, and will have to check.)

But, I guess it is just "The American Way." The only place that counts... is First Place. I remember once when I was in sales with a major home builder, and came in second out of all the salespeople. The number one person got a trophy. She and I were one-two out of a group of sixty. I asked the DFW President about it. He asked me where did I come in. I told him I was in second place, and he said... "Karen, all second place is... is the First Loser."

Sorry for the long story, but it is an excellent example of what I see here... in both the post, but especially in ALL of the comments, except perhaps four of them.

Me, Me, Me. This IS Darwinism. Survival of the fittest, and destruction of those who do not "measure up." How mercenary ! Actually, it isn't quite the Darwinism I know of... more the Darwinistic method... of where only the most mercenary survive.

Yes... I have seen perhaps FOUR comments here that I would consider "human." So many of the rest of them... everyone's comments... sound so much like an "animal herd" mentality.

As I said, what I am hearing here in the great majority of the comments... is an attitude of "only the strong survive... the heck with the rest." Maybe I'm just an old hippie from the 60's... although back then I was teaching in the Catholic schools. Anyone ever heard of the word "compassion ?"

I see so little actual consideration for our fellow human beings, here. I mean, how much is enough? How much does each of us NEED ? From the comments, it appears that nothing is ever "enough."

Ruthmarie, Leslie, Inna and Aaron... thanks for your comments, and for being brave enough to go against the grain, here. Until I got to your comments... I thought I was going to be here... alone.

Loreena... you wrote a wonderful post about "The Go-Giver." I bought the book. I read it twice. I loved it.

I sure don't see very much of the "Go-Giver" here. Lots of "Me First'ers," though. What happened ?

Boy oh boy... how the comments take on a life apart from your post.

I believe you said, in talking about survival of the fittest, that we should each find the place where we are most fit to serve in a capitalistic society. Some do not fit in real estate.

And sadly, some do not fit anywhere because they are not willing to make the effort. Do they really deserve to have all the goodies that financial wealth brings? I don't think so.

In spite of what some here have understood, I didn't see anything cruel in your post or in your comments.

I don't see this as "Me, me, me" at all - because in order to survive and thrive, we must each give something of value to the marketplace and our fellow man.

I wish our government leaders could understand this - and would let companies that are driven by greed rather than service go ahead and fail.

We all understand that some areas have been hit harder than others - and that real estate is barely moving in those places. That being the case, agents who can't figure out how to capture the business that is there should shift to a different line of work. I think there's a place for everyone who is willing to give value to the marketplace in some way.

Just the other day I read an essay from a man who has now been unemployed for 4 years... but he is still supporting his family because he gets out and finds odd jobs that need to be done. And he has not signed up for unemployment benefits this whole time.

One more thing... and I believe it is important. The Law of Attraction is always at work. Those agents - and people in every other profession - who cry doom and gloom and "I can't" are going keep right on getting what they're getting.

Becoming depressed and mired in thoughts of failure may be what is holding Ruthmarie back right now. I believe that's what's holding many Americans back right now. It isn't easy to break out of that habit, but it is necessary if a person wants to turn their fortunes around.

Henry Ford said it a long time ago: "Whether you think you can or you think you can't - you're right."

Ruthmarie- You are good enough. I never ever said you were not good enough. EVER. EVER, you know we do agree about things and we disagree about things. I respect your feelings and I believe I have always shown you that respect.

Ruthmarie- And I KNOW FOR A FACT that you are a very dedicated and successful, honest and hardworking agent.

Great post Loreena. It's your perspective that is so different from mine that gives me hope. Where I live (my reality) is completely different from yours, my background is cityfied, but I choose to be rural. Not good for real estate though, watching all our construction friends eek out their existence trying to keep the lights on while 60 miles south the metropolis isn't hurting since there is still a housing shortage there. We won't move back.

After 9/11 the commercial market collapsed & we reinvented ourselves because we like our town and two years later sold commercial property over $1million. Little knowing that we reached the peak of our business about that time, however guessing we were riding a wave that would hit the beach eventually. No increase in income to sustain our balloon in prices!

You just don't know what your future holds, how much your fortune depends on outside influences or inner fortitude, any accident could change your situation in a twinkling.

We have faith and believe in charity from people--not government. We pray about our choices to know if they are right for us, not someone else. So since we cannot walk in your shoes, we love to hear what your plans are & do not judge.

Inna- homeless is not always a bad thing. I talk to a lot of homeless people. When I lived in San Francisco I would go down to Fisherman's Wharf every weekend to buy the greatest Sourdough on earth. There was always the same old man on the same bench week after week. I would sit and chat with him and keep him company for a few minutes each time I saw him. I asked if he wanted help. He said why would I want help. I have the best life and the best view. I have a waterfront view and an unobstructed view of the Golden Gate Bridge. What a beauty to behold. ( the bridge). I asked him if he was cold. He said, Cold? No my dear- the sunshine warms my face throughout the day and the moon keeps me warm company at night. We talked about many things. I asked him if he was lonely. He said, Oh no dear, you and so many other people stop to talk to me every day. I have wonderful friends. I asked him if he wanted to change his circumstances and he said, Oh No, how blessed I am. I have the best life.

I lived in Hawaii for 5 years and met many homeless people. If the person was not homeless due to alcoholism or drug addictions- there were homeless by choice. My mother wanted to experience living homeless on the beaches in Hawaii so she took me with her when I was 12 and we lived in tents on the beach with fishermen. It was an amazing and free life.

I also by my own choices was homeless several times from bad choices as a wild teenager to well thought out choices to be homeless in order to start my business over again to being homeless to get away from an x husband who was abusive. All my choices. No regrets.

I have one son who ran away from my x who was his biological abusive father. He was homeless for many years and then became a carnival ride mechanic, still basically homeless in that environment. But he was happy. He was free.

Some of the best American success stories come from people who were homeless and came out of it like shining stars.

Did you know that homeless people in the United States are still richer than people in third world countries? Katerina

Karen Anne, no one is saying to kill anyone. Loreena did not say anything like that. Please understand too, that it has taken a lot of courage for Loreena to even feel comfortable with her English. Maybe she came across to you in a different way but as politically correct as you want everyone else to be, I would suggest a little more tolerance For Asian immigrants who have been taught in their own countries. I would suggest a little more sensitivity that English in not Loreena's first language and that her cultural experiences are different then yours. I would also like to point out that i don't know not even ONE Vietnamese family, one Chinese family or one Malay family or one Japanese family that is on welfare or not working at least 2 jobs. Also, another interesting fact, Asians have the LOWEST rate of foreclosure. I never cared to be politically correct so I will announce the facts. Asians are also are consistently scoring way above average on college placement tests. In fact, the university of CA wants to raise the standards for Asians but lower the standards for whites, blacks, and Hispanics so that they don't have so many Asians in their university. When the dean was asked why do you not want so many Asians in the school, he said, they are boring. All they do is study. HUH??? I thought that was what school was for! Anyways, the civil rights people are now involved over this discrimination.

I also would say that since you think that every agent should be coddled and supported that you do this with your board of realtors®- every time you get paid a commission you give your entire commission to your board of realtors. Every other agent in that board also gives up their commission to the board for each of their sales. Then the board chairman will take all of the agents' commissions and divide them equally between all the top producers, the part timers, the lazy ones, the ones that stand at the water cooler all day complaining about how bad it is, the ones that get one sale per year, etc, Then every agent will be taken care of in your board whether they worked for it or not. Then no one will be thinking about competing, "killing" or surviving.

#117 you said it all in your last paragraph! We need to stop making every one equal...there are winners and there are losers in any "life" situation.

If I am successful I share that success how "I" want to share it. That is the act of "GIVING".

Katerina-- Excellent, passionate replies.

Loreena is one of the kindest gentlest people I know. She would never harm someone or wish them harm. Nobody on this board (I believe) wants to harm other agents or KILL or eliminate anyone.

However, not everyone BELONGS in real estate. I owned a magazine and hired ad salesmen. Not everyone CUT IT. If you could not sell ads to cover your salary, you were asked to leave. Was that cruel? No, I was running a business.

I am a broker. I am running a BUSINESS. If an agent is not pulling his/her weight, they are asked to leave. I have one agent now who has not had a closing in months and we just went over her prospecting activity and daily tasks to see what is wrong. We did it in April and June and now September. The die is cast: her license is going into our referral company. She needs a full time salaried job. I don't hire part timers.

Is it cruel to say that NOT ALL AGENTS WILL MAKE IT IN THIS BUSINESS? Even agents with 5-10-20 years of experience are dropping out. Is that bad?

Well it is bad for them of course, but not necessarily bad for the industry. It's called supply and demand.

We here in America have an ENTITLEMENT society. I deserve. I breathe therefore I should HAVE or GET. I am hiring an admin right now. I chose to interview one person who said she wouldn't even come in for the interview (after submitting her resume) because the pay was not up to her standard. This woman is on unemployment and has not worked in almost 2 years. We have 11% unemployment here. Yet she'd rather collect a check than work for less than she thinks she is worth. Unbelievable.

But nobody DESERVES a check. You earn it. And if the checks are not coming and you're on commission, well, sorry if it's cruel but you need to find a way to support yourself where the checks are steady and put food on the table. Even if that is not real estate.

Let the barbs fly now.

Katerina: How in the world can you attempt to turn this into a commentary on Loreena's use of the English language? She has an excellent command of the language... better than many people who were born here. Where... did that come from ?

This is NOT about Loreena. I admire and respect Loreena. Did you read the same comment I wrote ? Are we in The Twilight Zone, here ? I thought I made it pretty clear in my comment that my disagreement in general... was a 'philosophical' one. It concerned the "attitude" of just about everyone who made ANY comments here... except the four "brave" commentors who "went against the grain." Did you skip over that part ?

Tolerant ? I am incredibly tolerant. Again... please do NOT try and turn this into anything about ANY race... Asian or otherwise. Where did THAT come from ? I do not know ANY "Asians" who are not incredibly hard-working people.

I see that you wrote your comment at 3:44AM. Perhaps you were not totally awake when you wrote it ? I just fail to understand WHERE you are getting what you are talking about.

OK... next paragraph. Ummm... just WHERE do you see that I said every agent should be "coddled?" Human compassion would be nice, though. All checks should be turned into the local Association, and then "redistributed ?" Ummm... I don't see that anywhere in anything I said. Again, I ask you. Where do you GET this stuff ?

You seem to be implying that I am in favor of the "lazy ones" or the "water cooler" types should be taken care of. Again, where are you getting this stuff from ?

And... my use of the words "kill or be killed" is a "euphemism." A "figure of speech." But, then again, the title of the post IS "Let the fittest survive." That IS Darwin, isn't it ? That is Darwin's "law of the jungle..." isn't it ?

Ruthmarie: you said," So yes, you are either very, very naive or very very cruel." to Loreena.

Taken that statement that would then mean you believe that all MALAY and Chinese who live in Malaysia- all those people are naive and cruel because in Malaysia where Loreena was born and went to school - this is what they believe. This is what they are taught in school.

And then that would also mean that ALL SOUTH KOREANS are "naive and cruel" because this is what they are taught and they love the Capitalist system and thrive in it. And then that would mean that ALL TAIWANESE are "naive and cruel" because the entire time I worked there, visited there and studied their culture- Capitalism was the system they were taught and in which they thrived. They are all taught in school what Loreena said in her post.

Karen Anne- I don't believe in Darwin's theories. That would go against my beliefs.

Katerina - I've no argument with someone who can justify 'homelessness' as not always a bad thing. I am washing my hands off of this display of callousness in the name of capitalism. or Darwinism or whatever theory or evolutionary or soicio-economic model fits this particular worldview.

Karen Anne- I find it interesting that you believe that only four of your are right and everyone else is wrong, or only 4 of you have compassion and no one else here does. You are putting everyone here down just because you don't believe in the philosophy of another.

Yes, Loreena's language does have something to do with this post because she said you misunderstood her, so if you misunderstood her, than was that you or was that you? If that was you, then you would not have written your chastising and judgmental comment. If it was Loreena, then there is something Loreena missed in the translation of what she really wanted to say. She and I talked about the comment I made before I made it. In fact, Loreena and I talk just about every other day, so I do know about English being her second language and thus, as with Nestor, sometimes the words come out a bit other than what was translated in his brain.

Erica Ramus...Thank you for putting into words my thoughts!

Erica Ramus, #119

Hit the nail on the head.

Persistance is 90%

Luck is 10%

Get Moving!

#117 Great points. The Art of Giving.

I like your slogan too, Cabins to Castles.
I created one myself that has a ring to it: "Co-Op, Condo, Mansion or Villa, buying or selling call Rich Pilla.
All the best,

RJ Pilla

Katerina: I have NEVER copied and pasted a comment in the way I am going to do right now... but Inna in # 123 shows in a very few words what I took MUCH longer to TRY to say, and Inna says it better than I could have. So, Inna... if I may copy your comment here... with slight modifications ?

Katerina... how could I possible discuss anything... with someone who can justify 'homelessness' as not always being a bad thing?

I (too) am washing my hands of of this display of callousness in the name of capitalism. or Darwinism or whatever theory or evolutionary or socio-economic model fits this particular worldview.

Back to me again, here. You said that you don't believe in Darwin's theories... and that doing so would "go against your beliefs." The title here... "Let the Fittest Survive" is straight out of Darwin.

I am done here. Whew ! Enjoy your tea.

My goodness. What a nerve I hit. I appreciate each and everyone's comments but I really think all of us are wasting our time here. Let's get on with your own business today and so will I.

For those who think that "Let the Fittest survive" concept does not work for you, just wait around for another handout or assistance from the government. For those who believes that you are responsible for your own action, own accountability and that you should not rely on someone else for your success, just go out and do your own thing.

There is no reason to quarrel like a bunch of 5 year olds on a very highly intellectual post. If you dont agree, state your reasons and not your threats. You guys threw out terms beyond my intellect. It's way pass me.

My daddy taught me to go for the best, don't wait for any help, just keep on and keep on going...... He didn't say No capitalism, Darwinism, etc.

Loreena,

I couldn't agree with you more. People act like they are going to solve the worlds problems here. Don't they have anything else to do? Go to work everybody! What a firestorm.

Wow! I'm almost speechless. Loreena, I know you to be a kind person so this is not an attack on you. Our area was not hit as hard as some in the current financial crisis, but we've all needed to learn how to go back to basics and work our butts off rather than be order takers. Having said that though, at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009, I honestly didn't know where the next paycheck was coming from. Fortunately, by mid 2009 and into this year, I've met with a lot of success but I know how it felt for 6 to 9 months to honestly not know, no matter how hard I worked, where the money would come from to pay our bills. This year I've been in the top 25 in the region 2 months out of the past 9 and in the top 25 year to date (for RE/MAX International). That's a big difference in a year. Next year, due to no fault of my own and due mostly to the luck of the draw, I may once again be wondering where the next paycheck will come from.

I understand that to you, who was willing to cross an ocean to find a better life, it's hard to understand why if we don't make it in one place, we don't just pick and move to another. If your house is now worth half of what you paid for it and your mortgage is more than you can clear on a sale, if you are lucky enough to sell it, where will you go with no money and no prospects. If real estate is all you know, where are you going to go and do better?

Survival of the fittest is great for wildlife. As a human being I believe we have an obligation to help those who have fallen on hard times. To Katerina, I would say that I think it's important to remember when we say that "homelessness is not always a bad thing", that families that lose their homes have children who are now living on the street. They don't have the choices perhaps you think their parents do.

I try to stay away from controversial topics because I have lost my taste for fighting. I just needed to put my two cents in here. I trust that you did not intend this post to incite the emotions that it has. We are all working hard, longer and harder for half the rewards. Saying that this should be survival of the fittest when we are all trying so very hard, comes across as callous, which I know couldn't have been your intent.

@KarenAnne - I thought of letting what you said go with my last comment above. But I couldn't because I felt attacked and that you had question the person that I am. It is important to me how others may think of me, after all - when it's all said and done, I will want someone to say, She did the best she could..... Whether you believe it or not,

When and if I ever mention - Let the Fittest Survive, Kill it and drag it home or Dog-eat-dog world, I noticed you dont like those terms. Perhaps it's not in your language. But for me and when I use those words, I do not literally mean that people who doesn't succeed, I wish them dead. My goodness, if you think I thought that, you dont know me well enough. I would never wished anyone harm to anyone. If I could be a fairy god mother, I would give the midas touch to everyone so that everything they touch turns to gold. But unfortunately, the world doesn't operate that way.

Maybe you don't like the term, filthy stinking rich either. Maybe that's why you were upset by the content of this post and the comments thereof?

What I wrote has nothing to do with my beliefs as a Go Giver ambassador. I'm just saying Fight, dont ever go down without a fight and when it's time to go, go if one has to.

Hey Susan, I want to say Thank you for leaving your comment. I read it, but I’ve spent way too much time on trying to explain myself. I want to tell you that I understand.

Business is up and down. And perhaps when I left to come here half way around the world, I left with not much baggage. I didn’t have a house to sell. But it sure was scary to go to a place when you are 20, and Mom/ Dad is not there to protect you anymore. I'm not going to discount any of those feelings I went through. I found myself in a police car in hand cuffs 3 months after I got there. Did you think I wanted to go home immediately? You betcha. But I'm still here today.

Business is our cycle. Up and down. When the waves are high, we enjoy it. When the waves are low, it’s good too. My waves are low too but I’m taking this time to ramp up my marketing so 2011 will be another best year yet for my company.

In the past, I’ve worried too much about where it will come from. Today, after 2 solid years of Matthew 6 prayer, I know for certain it will come. I just need to embrace the times of low tide to get to do the things I really do enjoy in the business: Internet Marketing and challenging myself with SEO because when Spring comes, I wont have time to do any of that.

I know you. I just want to say I understand where you’re coming from.

Wow...

This is a public post. Some of the comments are so unbelievably emotional. Low tolerance, hypersensitivity, anger, and frustration do absolutely nothing for your reputations as Professionals. Comment threads like this one, remind me, once again, that AR really is turning into just another "icky" real estate site.

Whatever happened to a place for everything and everything in its place? Some of you seem to have completely lost your minds. And I thought I was nuts. Ha. I ain't even close compared to some of you :)

TLW...ROAR!

@TLW - It's because we are nut jobs like you too!!! ROAR!!!

I'm very emotionally drained from this post. Not for the content because I stated what I believe to be true and I dont know other options that these people have presented to me. I realized I'm not cut for this. 1,432 posts and almost 4 years of blogging experience has not prepared me for this.

Billie: So... a place for everything, and everything in it's place ? So, does this post go in the same place that nailing a contract counter-offer on a tree, and blasting it with a shotgun... then putting that video on your blog and/or your profile page? Does this post go to that same place, or to another?

Have some of us have completely lost our minds ? Perhaps. Others... not so much.

I once ate my weight in IHOP pancakes. True story.

That's about all I feel like contributing to this mess.

Exhausting. Absolutely exhausting, reading this post and comment thread. I know what I think doesn't really matter. But I wish for a world where we didn't judge each other so quickly, where failing at something did not lead to us being considered "weak", where we tolerated different world views without spreading judgmental labels all over the landscape, where we had compassion for one another, where we understood that everyone comes from somewhere - even when we don't understand where that is, where being rich was not labeled "filthy stinking", where we all tried our very best to be the best we can be - and understood that everyone's "best" fluctuates from time to time given other things going on in our lives. Call me naive or PC or whatever you want. In the end, I'm human...and proud of it.

Paul, please pass the syrup. Thanks.

I'll join you Amanda as long as it is real organic maple syrup. No imitation crap for this Oregonian.

Paul -- Love you, guy. Is there bacon too?

OMG somebody criticized TLW now and her shotgun. (DUCK AND COVER)

Let's see how many spin off posts this one creates. I'm betting at least 3. Who's in?

Does writing about a love for pancakes and bacon count as a spinoff?

Nope, not biting, not at all...

When it comes to the counteroffer that had the seller we made it for laughing her ass off there is no comparison. To this very day she thanks us for helping her keep things in perspective. Besides, that counteroffer is legendary. That's probably why Ms Stone attacks it every chance she geta. In the words of Slaybaugh: You can't teach funny :)

One more great word: Branding :)

Did someone mention bacon? I like mine crisp. I might write a post about my love of bacon.

Billie, I really wouldn't call my sarcasm towards that shotgun episode an "attack"... just... ummm... "making fun of." And I would never attack you as a person... especially with all the medical problems you have had. And I do hope your health has improved.

But, just like all real estate is local, and all markets are different, each of us has her own definition of what is funny, and what is not. Neither definition may be either right or wrong... they are simply different. And to me, that shotgun episode is simply very sad. There is just so much unnecessary violence in this world. And again, to me, that video is certainly not funny.

I do agree, though... you have "branded" yourself very thoroughly. If it works for you... cool.

SEP

2010

Loreena, great post!!! Reading some of these comments from some of these "VICTIMS" makes me ill. Get off your asses and do something about it folks! I am running a real estate company in Phoenix, AZ, one of the hardest hit areas in the real estate industry. Am I sitting around, crying the blues, and blaming everyone/everything around me? Hell No! I'm trying to figure out how to make the best of it. I would suggest the rest of you do the same.

Quit feeling sorry for yourselves and others, pick yourself up by the boot-straps, and go MAKE something happen for once in your lives. Sheesh!

By the way, would someone please tell our president to do the same? Quit being a victim by blaming others, and start changing things now!

Quit being victims, and start being leaders, for God's sake!

I've given quite a bit of thought as to what has happened here. Let me first start off by saying, I sincerely never knew that there was another option. Life always come full force at me to make difficult choices in life - even at a very young age. I learnt to survive in a business world at 12 years old.

Some people might call it Jungle mentality. Perhaps it was. But what my family upbringing has taught me is to never beg down to what life throws at you. My mother wouldn't let me stop Piano at 10 when I was tired of it. She made me finish the entire Royal Academy of Music from England and that lasted 13 years of my life. Lesson learnt: You never stop what you start until the end of the road.

So, when I mentioned the word Dwindle and Die..... please forgive me for using that term. I shouldn't be saying that, especially when there are many people (real estate or not) are struggling out there. Learning when to fold is a tough lesson for me too - knowing my past history of bulldog attitude, it would have certainly been a bad blow to my pride at every crossroad.

There's so many things that's said on here that perhaps shouldn't have, mine included because I started it.

For those who believe in the mentality, good for you. I still do. But it's not coming from a selfish mentality. It came from an innate self-protection quality. Many successful people turn around to do alot of good things for many people. For those who considers the term, Let the Fittest Survive offensive - well, it doesn't mean we hope that the "weak" die. I apologize if the blog comes across that way.

There are so many "Survivors" out there - each in their own way, each in their own story. So, who's to say, they are not survivors at all?

Let the case rests.

Loreena: Real estate is like nature, the fittist survive.

I teach real estate licensing classes in PA. I have shown TLW's video to my class, to lighten things up. I also use Frank Llosas videos in class. This job is stressful. You have to have a sense of humor about it or you'll go crazy.

Karen Anne- I am not justifying I am stating that Homelessness is NOT always a bad thing and I gave proof in my comment that it is NOT. So you then, would go to that man who loved living on his bench and FORCE him NOT to be homeless because you think it is a bad thing? How is living on a beach with your friends in a tent out of your own free will a BAD thing? So you then are also judging my homelessness as a bad thing? One of those times, was one of the most liberating times of my life! How dare you judge me like that!

Holy Crap! This seems like one of purest examples of the subsequent commentary redefining the intial idea behind the post.

Lines are in the sand and the sides have been taken on either side of the proverbial fence. Strangely, I find myself impaled on that very fence. It's not because I don't have a stance, just not an ultra-extreme one. I'm socially liberal, fiscally conservative, and a firm believer in working hard and smart doing good by and for others. Greed though, in of itself, I find to be a remarkably dangerous and selfish way to be. For the record, while I don't know you well Loreena, I don't think you were promoting such.

Some of the articulation may have been misconstrued not only in the post, but in the comments thereafter. Then again, maybe not.

I don't totally buy into the Survival of the Fittest Mentality, as good things often happen to bad people who use deceit, corruption, & lies to move up to the top of the economic ladder in whatever business they are in. That's probably the rarity as opposed to the norm, but enough for me not to totally buy into the concept.

I do find Mr. Slaybaugh's acts on buttermilk a bit callous, though;) Whether it be pancakes or biscuits.

Hi Jason, so nice to have you on the blog. Thanks for mentioning that you do not know me. I really appreciate that.

Hugs to you all the way from Frisco TX. They say everything's bigger in TX, so are our hugs!!!

Katerina: Just what ARE you putting in your Tea these days? Where your untrue interpretations and inferences from what I said come from, is beyond me. It appears to me that you just make stuff up, then call it, and me... "bad," and then chastise me. I think it's time you switched to Decaf.

Perhaps you should try out for either the Miami Heat Basketball team as a rebounder, or try out for the High Jump event at the next Summer Olympics... cuz it is obvious that you are very good at "jumping" to conclusions. Again... try Decaf.

Katerina... please... no more comments toward me. This has gone way past being boring. Now, you take care... and have a great weekend. Please. No more.

So if I have a grasp on just how far the commentary got off the original post, I'd have to write that I firmly believe Karen Anne & Katerina won't be exchanging fruitcakes this year. Speaking of fruitcakes, my mirror is calling ...

Loreena - You are exactly correct, the consumer WILL decide whether or not you will be in business. This is not harsh, this is reality. If a business is failing, the owner needs to re-assess its operation. The owner may find it does not have what it takes, be it capital, desire, personnel, etc. to stay open and more importantly, to succeed. It cuts to the core, with Jim Collins' question: How will the world be worse off if the (your) company ceases to exist? Your article may help real estate agents or other business owners take a hard look at their company and make tough decisions. To change one's career is not always bad, it is often positive. To stay in one's field or keep the doors "open" and re-assess after struggling, can make a company resilient and better. I've seen it. Well done!

SEP

2010

This was quite the read. I really have nothing to add to the conversation. Loreena you did a very good job of keeping calm and collected during this conversation. Good for you.

Wow- what a life the comments have taken on. Way Over and above what I read in the blog post itself. So many reading between the lines and putting words into folks mouths. As I read the original post I can see the viewpoint that you have Loreena. Agree with you as well. I think the way we are brought up or the school of hard knocks that we might graduate from sets our viewpoints and perspectives. All I can hear in my head as I read all the comments was the old Kenny Rodgers song " You Got To Know When To Hold Em, Know When To Fold Em".......

Loreena, excellent post and good job working the comments and responding. I agree with your premises and appreciate your conclusions.

I just read this post, the follow up and all of the comments and feel like puking. What a stressful discussion!

Why do people take things to the extreme and speak in terms of "all" and "always" and "never"?

Loreena, I did not find your post to be judgmental or attacking, but I've read many of yours and feel like I know you are not that kind of person and frankly am really disappointed at the amount of venom in many of these comments.

You have a somewhat unique perspective having not been born here, having been sent here from a very different kind of country and being driven to be the best by your dad. You probably view capitalism through rose colored glasses. But it does have big flaws.

I see your point and in theory do agree, but in reality, I don't think that only the fittest survive in real estate. If that were true, why are there so many terrible agents who continue to thrive? The reason is there are those who would sell their mother's soul for a deal, those who lie, cheat and steal their way to the top. It is the dirty downside of capitalism. Capitalism is a beautiful thing, but it does have a loophole that makes it where not just the fittest survive, but the most unscrupulous can too.

Real estate is a business. Once you realize that, and operate it like a business (profit and loss, analyzing where your customers come from, cutting your overhead when times are tough) you must see that you cannot continue to open your doors if you are in the red.

If I own a retail shop and cannot pay the rent, I must either close up shop or figure out a way to make business work.

THe analysis should be made for any realtor in business right now. Many agents have husbands and wives with salaried or regular paychecks, right? But remove that from the mix. If you are single and don't have someone supporting your real estate down time, could you make it alone?

To me, that's how I assess if someone is "making it" or not. And I can tell you if my house was being threatened with foreclosure or if I couldn't buy my kids school clothes this year, I'd be looking elsewhere for a paycheck.

#163 -- many of the un-fit do survive thanks to relying on a spouse's support and income to subsidize their lack of sales.

To all - It's been exactly 4 days since I wrote this post. Wow, what a whip. At one point, I decided to make this a Member's Only post because the words that started flying has truly become very vicious and angry that I thought this post no longer has a place for the public.

I write Public posts for people who reads my blog on a regular basis because it applies to their lives as small business owners who are non-Active Rain members. I have a large audience that way.

Then, at one point, I felt I wanted to delete this post, not because I'm afraid of the comments. I was really afraid what this post might turn out, because it certainly had left some people hurt, bitter and angry. It had left people saying things, perhaps should not say, including me.

What's done cannot be undone. I probably have hurt some people along the way, but I never had intentions like that. But I also want to say that this post has taught me more lessons about people and more so, how much words carry in weight. I have to learn to use it more responsibly.

I've always been the compliant personality here on AR. Everyone on here is my friend even when I don't agree. When I define the word, FRIEND, I meant it by its fiber. So to be thrown on the wall like the way (over and over again) I felt so hurt myself.

Some have twisted my intentions, put words in my mouth I didn't say, read too much into what wasn't said and made me question myself if I have failed to be a living example of my faith. This is very painful for me as I've loved every single person here on Active Rain. More so, those who took the time to leave a comment (agreeable or not, that's really quite okay).

I don't write something that's not from my heart, but it sure at one point made me question Whom am I?

In the end, I thank God for mercy and grace. And I know I where my heart is (whether I doom people to death or not). I'm only answerable to Him and no man. This has gotten out of hand. And no one really needs to judge me or my intentions. He'll be the judge for that.

SEP

2010

Let the fittest survive, yes! And I am one of those part-time real estate agents who sometimes gets criticized for doing it part time, but this is what is best for me and my family for right now. I LOVE helping people find and sell their homes, and my customers know I have a second job, but I work hard for them, sometimes even harder than a full time agent. I am part-time for now, but would love to be able to do real estate full time again some day. Like Mom used to say, "Time will tell..." Great post! Thank you for your insight.

OCT

2010

By the time I scanned through some of the comments, I realized a lot of people read a lot into the article/post. My impression is that it is a great time to have an introspective look at your business, sharpen those areas that need to be sharpened, balance those areas that need to be balanced if you are to grow and flourish in this market. It is not like the boom years, and the current conditions may cause some to make decisions to pursue other things. As it should be.

I thought the post was well in line for real estate, however, some outside of real estate may consider it to have a lack of empathy.

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Loreena Yeo, Realtor®| Frisco TX Community Ambassador (214)783-2210

Frisco, TX

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3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Frisco TX Real Estate Co.

Address: Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Plano, Valley Ranch, Little Elm, The Colony, North Dallas, Addison, Frisco, TX, 75035

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