Many in the real estate industry have moved towards the team model.  This is one of the best ways for experienced agents to share their knowledge, while at the same time learning from young agents that may bring something new and exciting to the table.  As the average age of a real estate agent hovers around fifty or so, an infusion of youth can be positive for the overall industry.  The inspiration for this thought did not come from real estate, but rather from the world of professional sports, more specifically, the NFL.

Fans of the game know that football is a game that cannot be played for a "long" time by most players due to the physical demands and punishment that each player experiences.  Players in their mid thirties are usually considered to be at, or near, retirement age.  Clearly, this is not the case with REALTORS®, but a parallel exists just the same, which you will be able to see as this story develops.

One of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game is Brett Favre, of the Green Bay Packers.  In recent years, there has been serious discussion of retirement during the off-season for Brett Favre.  He has achieved so many great things, that the only reason for him to continue playing is for a chance at winning the Super Bowl one more time.  Prognosticators may not have expected the success that Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers are experiencing so far this year, but he obviously saw enough talent on the team to decide to return for another season.

As a younger quarterback, Brett Favre offered everything that a team could want from the position, although he was sometimes criticized by the press for his "gunslinger" approach to the game, which resulted in many great plays, but also many miscues.  Now as he approaches the twilight of his career, he is considered the elder statesman of his team.  His experience in virtually every possible situation is something that the younger players can learn from.  This is similar to the lessons that experienced agents can teach to young agents just entering the business.

Many of the players that Brett Favre won the Super Bowl with years ago are either out of the league all together or no longer with the team.  The graying quarterback that is definitely a step or two slower than he was in his prime, now must rely upon players that grew up watching and idolizing him to achieve his goal of winning another Super Bowl. 

No matter what team you are a fan of, if you're a real football fan, you must at least respect the career of this great player.  You can only imagine what his young teammates think of him, in particular, one of his young wide receivers named Greg Jennings. 

Greg Jennings is in his second season in the NFL, and he was on the receiving end of one of the greatest plays of Brett Favre's illustrious career in their game Monday night against the Denver Broncos.  After the Broncos kicked a game-tying field goal with no time left on the clock, a game that was once in the Packer's grasp could now possibly have been decided by the flip of a coin.  The Packers won the coin toss and had a below average kickoff return which brought them to their own 18-yard line, not exactly an ideal way to start off sudden-death overtime.  Normally in this situation, teams will try to work their way methodically down the field to get close enough to attempt a game-winning field goal.  But not this time!

The savvy veteran stepped back in the pocket and threw the ball 50-yards in the air into the awaiting arms of his second year wide receiver, Greg Jennings, who proceeded to run an additional 32 yards for the game-winning touchdown.  One play, against the odds, in a hostile environment, on National TV, and magic happened because a seasoned veteran with no fear threw the ball to an up-and-coming wide receiver with no "big-game" experience resulting in a touchdown that neither one will forget anytime soon.  It all happened because of TRUST.

So, how does this relate to real estate?  It all comes back to teamwork, and having a team of people that complement each other to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Experienced agents can make themselves more well-rounded by tapping into the youthful exuberance and skills of a young agent.  Young agents can learn to master their trade by learning at the hand of someone that has seen it all and done it all, or at the very least, has seen and done enough to know how to handle situations "on the fly."

You also have to have the right people in the right position.  The Packers made this magic play happen because the experienced quarterback had the know-how to get the job done and the wide receiver had the speed and skills to make the play.  Had this been a second year quarterback throwing the ball to a wide receiver that had lost a step or two, this story would likely not have been written.

The savvy veteran and the enthusiastic rookie can do great things if they team up to complement each other's talents.  Sports is just a microcosm of life and business, and the real estate profession is no exception to this rule.

If you're thinking about building a team, or even joining a team, you should be looking for someone that has strength where you have weakness.  True teamwork is about trust and making each other better.