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Aren't We All Just A Collage - My First Post on AR!

By
Real Estate Agent with The Kerissa Payne Team at eXp Realty 0587663

I just finished uploading the background and header for my first blog post!  Yes, this is a milestone!  After 6 months of watching, commenting, and gleaning from my fellow AR bloggers I have decided to dance in the rain.....Active Rain that is! Mimi Foster was so great as direct me to Craig's Classroom where I was able to learn how to create a header and background.  Alas I must confess, I enlisted the help of my 11 year old daughter, Matti!  Together we created a header in Picnik!  

I really began to think about the fact that we are all just collages, in one way or another.  Think back to your first day in real estate.  I remember mine......  I joined a local real estate firm in my small town of Lindale, TX.  I came prepared with my laptop, file folders, pens, etc.  I ordered my shiny new name badge and first 1000 business cards.  I was well on my way, so I thought, until that first listing presentation came.  I had worked so hard calling expired listings and telling everyone I knew I was in real estate.  It finally hit me.....I didn't have a listing presentation!  My excitement turned into sheer panic.  I had to give a presentation in a couple of hours and wasn't sure what I was going to take with me as my presentation.  Another REALTOR in my office at the time was so kind to sit down with me and talk about what the elements of a good presentation must contain.  She sent me a copy of her presentation and I customized it to fit me.  I added my specific comps and I went to my listing presentation.  You know it's funny, I do not recall if I got the listing, but I vividly remember that agent sowing into me.  I still have basically the same presentation.  It's been tweaked of course, but the same bones are still there.

I remember the first offer I needed to make.  I had a buyer ready to make an offer on a property.  I was so excited!  I told my buyer that I just needed to go back to the office and get it ready!  Again, it hit me that I was unsure as to how to draft the offer.  How many days should I put in that blank that says Option Period?  How many days do I need on that Third Party Financing Addendum?  Again, there was a kind agent in the office that was nice enough to sit down with me and go through the offer page by page.  She was a major producer, and still is, but she took the time to sew into me as a new agent.  

I have come to realize that I am really a collage of agents that have touched me in one way or another.  Some are great memories and to be honest some are not, but they have made an impression on me all the same.  I have learned and adapted from excellent agents and I have learned and adapted from some not so great agents.  I choose to learn from every business deal.  I have been in countless real estate classes and learned from world class people!  

I truly believe I have a little piece of each "teacher" I have encountered.  I have listened to world-class speaker Jim Rohn and love his material.  If I just glean and apply one principal I have a little piece of Jim in a way.  I also listen to Dave Ramsey and apply his principals (which are really just my grandmothers ideas re-ackaged..lol). 

 

Jim Rohn

We are all collages in a way..... Carrying little pieces of those we encounter.  I am so excited about all the new people I know I will meet here on Active Rain.  My collage is going to be ever so colorful!  

 

Comments (59)

Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Kerissa, wow look at you go girl! You are just a natural at this aren't you?  Very well written post and you are going to flourish here, much like the azaleas you have in your background photo.  Nice job with the feature too.  (Craig's Classroom AND Craig - just the best!)  Glad you joined AR.

Jul 06, 2011 02:51 AM
Gina Chirico
Lattimer Realty - Fairfield, NJ
Real Estate Agent - Essex County, New Jersey

Welcome to ActiveRain.  You will love it here and AR will definitely add to your collage.  I love the description of your collage and you are right, we all take something with us from every transaction to every person we encounter - whether good or bad - it becomes part of us.

Jul 06, 2011 02:57 AM
Laura S. Baker
First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI
Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

Oh you are so a firework Kerissa!  What an inspiring first blog you wrote.  Well deserving of a feature!  I just wish you wouldn't have made it "members only".  I would have loved to re-blog this to introduce you to all of my subscribers.  Can't wait for the next one!

Jul 06, 2011 03:04 AM
Kim Dean
www.GoSimplyTexas.com - McKinney, TX
Simply Texas Real Estate - Broker/Owner

Thanks Kerissa! I'll keep you in mind too. My husband's family is in the East Texas area and I don't really have any one to refer too out there.

Congrats on the feature, too!!

Jul 06, 2011 03:33 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Kerissa, I wish my first post here was of the quality of this one. Congrats on the feature also!

Jul 06, 2011 03:35 AM
Robert Hammerstein
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Kerissa - Way to jump into the fun. Welcome and welcome to your latest addiction..... at least that's what happens sometimes to us. Best of luck to you and have some fun in here. You will find so much support and friendly knowledgeable people you'll be blown away by it. Welcome!

Jul 06, 2011 04:20 AM
Ray Waisler
Finance of America - Atlanta, GA
NMLS #6621 - Specializing in Jumbo FHA & VA

Kerissa, well said, we are all the sum of our individual experiences and affiliations. Welcome to the rain and congrats on the feature on your very first post......well done.

Jul 06, 2011 06:03 AM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change
Love the sentiment of this post. It's so true that we are influenced by those around us. Hopefully we avoid the bad behaviors we witness and adopt best practices from the experienced and inspirational.
Jul 06, 2011 06:05 AM
Bruce Kunz
C21 Solid Gold Realty, Brick, NJ, 732-920-2100 - Howell, NJ
REALTOR®, Brick & Howell NJ Homes for Sale

Hi Kerissa: Great post (especially for a 1st one!). It is true that we are only as good as we can work together to get the job done. A collage of effort is a nice way of thinking about it.

Jul 06, 2011 07:11 AM
Morgan Evans
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

I find that when you make a mistake it builds a big piece of your "collage" and from time to time you meet a person who also adds a piece to that "collage."

Jul 06, 2011 09:03 AM
Kerrie La Guardia
ActiveRain, Community Manager - Kirkland, WA
Let it Rain!

We are soooo lucky to have another ray of sunshine here in the 'Rain!  Dance your heart out girl!

Jul 06, 2011 10:57 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Good Morning, Kerissa. Congratulations of Writing your First Blog and Getting it Featured too. It looks like you have been studying and learning a lot on your journey in Active Rain. I have just subscribed to your blog too, and look forward to reading a Fellow Texan too.

Have a Wonderful Day!

Jul 07, 2011 03:06 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

CONGRATULATIONS on doing your first post!   You did great, and love your header & background!   Mimi is a great teacher, and you will find LOTS AND LOTS of knowledge, and members very willing to help!

Jul 12, 2011 01:43 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Kerrisa - Welcome to ActiveRain!

Jul 18, 2011 03:49 AM
Kerissa Payne
The Kerissa Payne Team at eXp Realty - Tyler, TX
ABR, SRS, e-PRO, SRES

Craig....Thank you for the help!  You were instrumental and I appreciate the encouragement!

Irene...Thank you!  It was really daunting at first!

Eileen...Yes, it is cool!  I am amazed at the support of the AR community.

Deb...Thanks for the comment! Azealas are native to Tyler, TX which is an area I specialize in, therefore it seemed like a natural choice.

Jul 21, 2011 03:21 PM
Kerissa Payne
The Kerissa Payne Team at eXp Realty - Tyler, TX
ABR, SRS, e-PRO, SRES

Gina...Thanks for the welcome!

Laura....Yes, I have been described as a firework before...lol!  I wish I knew to make the blog public.  Still learning!

Kim....Thanks for keeping me in mind!

Mike...Just the luck of the draw I suppose.

Robert....Yes, it IS becoming an addiction!

Ray.....Yes, I believe we are a part of those we encounter in some way.  Thanks for the kind words!

Jul 21, 2011 03:26 PM
Kerissa Payne
The Kerissa Payne Team at eXp Realty - Tyler, TX
ABR, SRS, e-PRO, SRES

Karen - Yes, hopefully we take the good and leave the bad.

Bruce - Thanks for the kind words!

Erica - I love azaleas as they are native to this area!

Morgan - Well Said!

Jul 21, 2011 03:29 PM
Kerissa Payne
The Kerissa Payne Team at eXp Realty - Tyler, TX
ABR, SRS, e-PRO, SRES

Kerrie - You are so sweet!  I'm learning to dance!

Jerry...After reading your blog about "Your first blog" it encouraged me to write my first blog.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your encouragement!

Joan - Thank you for your kind words!  Mimi has been oh so wonderful to me!

Michelle - Thanks!

Jul 21, 2011 03:33 PM
Kerissa Payne
The Kerissa Payne Team at eXp Realty - Tyler, TX
ABR, SRS, e-PRO, SRES

Laura - I just corrected my spelling error (which I did not realize I could do) and also changed my blog to public (which I did not realize I could do.)  Thanks!!

Jul 21, 2011 03:34 PM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Welcome to the Rain Kerissa, and congratulations on your first blog, AND your first feature!

Jul 22, 2011 04:58 AM