Denise Says: A look at one Last Lecture

By Denise Lones M.I.R.M., CSP

There was a moment this week that everything stopped.  The world, in its constant grind forward, came to a sudden standstill. 

I couldn't hear my phone ringing.  I couldn't read my inbox.  I couldn't see my assistant standing before me.

What caused my entire existence to freeze?

This article.

As I read it and watched the video attached to it, I was taken back by the incredible attitude of Professor Randy Pausch.  Diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, this dear man, 46,  is able to laugh, joke, and inspire.  It made me stop and pause to think.  After reading this, I couldn't help but wonder what I would say if I had to deliver my "last lecture." 

I, too,  am up in front of an audience most of my working life, teaching and helping others to fulfill their dreams.

But what if-it all ended tomorrow?

This was the thought that froze me at my desk as I read the heartbreaking story of this college professor-husband, father, and humanitarian-as he said goodbye to his students.  And at such a young age!

And then-as so often happens-I remembered Garth.

Garth Robertson was my first mentor, my premier guide to the world of real estate.  He taught me, motivated me, and helped me become a successful agent with his incredible coaching.  If I ever had a doubt about anything, Garth was there to tell me in his smiling warm voice, "Denise, you can do it."

Garth Robertson was the trainer at the first real estate company I ever worked out.  He was amazing.  I went to every training he ever did and I can flat out tell you that if he had not been there for me my first year in the business I would not have survived that first year.  He was the most optimistic person I had ever met, but most importantly he believed in my ability and spent that year telling me what a great agent I was and was to become.  

Once I heard those words from him, I was always able to do it-no matter what it was. 

After working with him for just a year, Garth was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

I was devastated.  I was also completely NOT prepared for the year to follow.  Garth suffered a grueling decline in his health and his body deteriorated at a pace that was frightening to watch.  His attitude however never wavered, he was always so darn positive.  Even when he was dying he just keep focusing on what he had not what he was losing.  Garth taught me more about life through his death and to this day I do not forget the lessons of life that I learned from him.  

The very last time I saw Garth, I told him, "I'm not going to be able to sell real estate without you in my life."

On his deathbed, he smiled.  "Maybe not for the week of my funeral.  Maybe not on the anniversary of my death.  But I have good news for you.  What I have already taught you-what is already in your head-you will know forever.  You can't get it out of there.  It's not going anywhere.  So, whenever you have doubts, just remember that once you have already done, you will always be able to DO."

Both of these men, struck down in their prime, are shining examples of the right attitude.  They accepted their fate and continued to lift up the spirits of others-even in the face of death.  Which is why we should be grateful every day for everything we have.  In the face of our daily grind, we need to maintain an attitude of joy and thankfulness.  If Randy and Garth can, then we can.

So why do we all spend so much time focusing on what's NOT working and what we haven't achieved?  Why do we gripe and moan about all the sales that haven't closed or the people who seemed interested but never called us back?

When there's so much to be grateful for.  Look around you.  You're here.  You have choices.  You have options.  You have life.  Live it and love it.

We-and I mean all of us-don't focus enough on what we have accomplished.  This is especially true for real estate agents.  We are a negative bunch.  We always see what's wrong and barely acknowledge what's right.

We can do anything we set our minds to do if we are prepared to do the work.  What gets in our way is most of us don't have a Garth saying over and over again, "You can do it."

Once you've done something once, you can always do it again.  You've already proven to yourself that you have the ability to do it.

Take that one small success, pat yourself on the back for it, and then parlay it into a slightly bigger success.  Pat yourself on the back for that one and then parlay that into an even bigger success.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.

Quit it with the regrets!  Professor Randy Pausch's story showed me he had no regrets.  He understands where he is, but he doesn't whine or complain about it.  And we think we have problems?!

If you were told today that you only have a few months left, what would you focus on?  Would it be the listing you lost because the seller was unrealistic about price anyways?  That buyer who you toured around for two months who bought a house from someone else?  Or the person at the Open House who was rude to you?

Do these things really matter in the big picture?

Absolutely not.  What matters is the quality of your life.  If you're not planning your business around the quality of your life, then you're not living.  You need to plan time to enjoy every day.