I'm a firm believer in education.
A bumper sticker that I saw said "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." Upon further research, I found out that this quote was from Derek Bok, a former president of Harvard University.
Try this one on for size: The money that you earn is directly proportional to the amount that you learn. You can quote me on that.
Learning comes in many forms:
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formal education -- K-12, college, university, graduate school
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continuing education -- Realtor designations, certifications, conferences
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reading -- books, magazines, newspapers, internet
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other people -- informal learning from discussions with others
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keeping your eyes and ears open -- observations about the world around you
Everybody has their own mix and different ways work better for different people. The key is for you to always continue learning, realize that you do not have all the answers, and that there is so much out there to learn and discover. The process of lifelong education does not end.
Meeting a wide variety of people from all walks of life is one of the most wonderful things about the real estate profession. Developing relationships with clients, you have the opportunity to learn from them, whether it is about a new development in the computer industry, the best type of blender for preparing delicious smoothies, or about agricultural refrigeration in third world countries. Sure, some of these things may not make you the star of your next cocktail party, but they add to your knowledge of how the world works.
Working in the D.C. area, I have the added benefit of working with the most educated populace in the country, so meeting the next client is always an interesting adventure.
Engage your clients in conversation and learn about their passions. Talk with them -- not at them. You'll understand them and serve them better. You may be surprised what you'll learn.
And the more you learn, the more you'll earn!
Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:
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