What I learned from the movie Soul Surfer

This weekedend the movie Soul Surfer, came out in theaters.  Based on the true life story of a young surfing teen who lost her arm in a shark attack.  It shows her life before and after the eventful day.  Young Bethany Hamilton on the verge of endorsements, loses her arm, and her future as a pro surfer, or so everyone thought.  She fought back hard to learn how to surf and surf competitively.  I was inspired.  As I drove home, I tried to think of applications to my own life.  The past few years have been difficult in the real estate business.  The  mortgage crisis has taken many sellers out of the market, and buyers having a difficult time with a lack of inventory that does not include a short sale or foreclosed home.

Bethany made the decision to continue with surfing, and she realized that she would just learn to do it differently.  Bethany had to attach a handle on her surf board, so that she could hold on with one hand as she dove in under the crashing waves, that way she could control her board from slipping from under her.  As a realtor, I need to adjust my "tools", to find those buyers, who want to take advantage of the dropping prices, and the sellers who cannot wait for the market to recover, but need to sell now.  Many of these potential buyers/sellers are doing extensive research online to navigate when the best time to buy is or who can sell market my property so that it will sell.  My adjustment, blog more, increase my online presence.  Active Rain, trulia, google, etc.

Bethany also realized that she was a "soul surfer", one who surfs for the love it.  Do I love my realtor business, do I love selling homes?  Actually yes, I love selling homes.  I love helping my buyers find the perfect home.  I love helping my relocation clients find the right neighborhood for them, and helping them get to know the northwest.  I love helping my sellers price their home, stage it, and sell it so that they can move on.  I love being a Realtor.

Bethany's love for surfing is what motivated her to adjust and persevere, and work harder.  Flexibility, perseverance and working even harder will get me through this slower market.