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What is AR for us? Why are we here?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408

It is not surprising that we are trying to answer this questions. We already know its dangers. So many people confessed that they are addicted, and I am guilty of that, too. I am a night awl, and I noticed that I am not alone on AR at 3 A.M. How many wives or husbands are trying to figure what we are doing there in the middle of the night?

Do we come for business? Do we come for pleasure? Or it's a pleasure doing business? 

What is Active Rain? A prototype of coming business models? Some agents have already experienced some luck getting business of it. Are these exceptions, or the rule?

On AR we are like teens first time going to college. We enjoy life to the fullest. We finally got a place to socialize, to bump heads, finds friendships, find mentors, find good advice and learn to recognize bad advice. We found our own university, where all you need is listen, and where one day you are a student and another day you are a mentorr. It is FREEDOM. We got our own social club, and we are enjoying it. It is so much more fun than any sales meetings of Association functions.

I have virtually met more interesting people, than I ever expected. I have run into more very interesting questions in just one month, than in years before. Read exceptional blogs, and I did not know what a blog was before joining AR. And now I am writing a blog (sounds like a love letter) about AR at 3 A.M. I followed some of the most fascinating comments to great posts and learned so much from it.

But isn't this also our business? Not only getting calls and e-mails and making deals, but learning ways to do it right, to be smarter, better. Do we forget about it in pursuit of calls, e-mails, transactions? Maybe the results will be less measurable, but becoming better trained, better prepared, better understanding small issues through the pryzm of bigger issues, this will result in us being better and more successful overall agents? Why not?

AR is in its infancy, it could eventually start branching out, as you can only  accommodate certain number of people or it could become unmanageable. Soon you can end up with everybody talking, and no one listening. But right now we need to remember that AR opened this door for us, and we can see the future a bit better, and we can become better for that future. This is the best thing that AR did for us.

 

Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team
Jon, great post!  I like what you have written, and agree that I as a Realtor have greatly benefitted from Active Rain!
Nov 27, 2007 07:13 PM
Kay Perry
Kay Perry, Broker - College Station, TX
Jon, I have learned new ideas and made friends through AR.
Nov 27, 2007 07:31 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I think I vote for "it's a pleasure doing business."


Nov 28, 2007 01:19 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Tony & Darcy,

I have run across the question about the business on AR several times, and it suddenly donned upon me that we may see only the tip of the iceberg, and though immediate gratification in the form of a referral is welcome and appreciated, the "inner" part of it, though, not immediately seen, can be of more significance. Us getting better is a powerful formula.

Nov 28, 2007 03:17 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
Kay - Absolutely, that's what makes it so addictive in the first place. Thanks.
Nov 28, 2007 06:29 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
Elizabeth - Thanks for reading. I think you are correct. Just need to learn keep the balance.
Nov 28, 2007 06:30 AM
D B
Quakertown, PA
e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578
wow  this is a good posting.  It is addicting isn't it. I joined about 60 days ago, now at 38,000 points,  I have a listing, a sale, and a listing of that buyer's house, and a referral lead with a buyer, and now another listing appointment.  It is the best form of prospecting
Nov 28, 2007 06:38 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
Don - You enjoy this addiction in the best sense. You are actually getting business from AR. Wow. What would you attribute it to in the first place?
Nov 28, 2007 06:49 AM
Matthew Zgonc
Aksland Real Estate - Modesto, CA
Realtor, CFS, CVS
I really enjoy the connections that AR has allowed me to make in the industry. I have learned many things from this site and it has made me a better realtor.
Nov 28, 2007 07:20 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
Matthew -  I agree 100%. Not only what it help us become, but the continuity is important. So, we can keep getting better.
Nov 28, 2007 08:25 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info
Jon, you have nailed it on the head.  Try and get some sleep tonight though! lol
Nov 28, 2007 12:23 PM
Jan Wood
None - Gallatin, TN
Jon:  Active Rain is Addictive, I agree.  But, you are going to have to pace yourself.  Get some sleep, for goodness sakes.   
Nov 28, 2007 12:42 PM
Andrew Trevino
ADT Real Estate - Wilkes Barre, PA
Wilkes-Barre Homes For Sale

Jon,

Very well thought out and conveyed post here. I think it's evolving, this thing we call AR. For most, it starts as a form of business and, after the realization hits home of how extensive the network is, it becomes a pleasure. The pendulum's constantly swinging. Thanks for the post.

Nov 28, 2007 02:24 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Georgina -  Thank you for visiting. It is funny of course. I am not fighting the tiredness and the desire to go to bed, I am fighting the addiction, the time when I say to myself that I am done, and it is time to go to bed, and meanwhile click on blogs to see what new stuff poped up there.

But I will try to discipline myself.

Jan - Pacing myself is an art, which I am not good at. But I keep trying and hope I will become better at it. Thanks.

Nov 28, 2007 02:49 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Andrew -  It is my pleasure having you here. The interesting part is that I tend to think that I already have an idea of the AR, and then another blog pops up, and I read it and I am lost. It is like uncovering layers. 

AR gives me the feel of the field. Of course, this is not representative of the industry, and the numbers clearly show this. People who can't put words together would not be here, I even think that the biggest top producers will not be here (at least none of our top people are here).

We will see where it goes.

Nov 28, 2007 03:16 PM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

This is a great place to learn.  No matter how adept at technology you are, you will see or read something here that you haven't been aware of.  It's a great resource for tips and ideas.

It's also a great place to network.  I agree that not all "top producers" are members by any means.  But the industry is changing along with the marketplace and it wouldn't be surprising to see some rearranging of the ranks as time goes along.

Nov 28, 2007 03:20 PM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Eric - I would not be surprised to see that this "rearrangement" is taking place right now. But then again,l if someone is not here, there are three reasons:

  • they do not know about it or do not realize the value so they haven't joined
  • they are too busy and just can't afford spending time on socializing and networking.
  • they realize themselves in another way or through another media

All three are legitimate reasons. Hey, as long as they are happy, they are not losing anything. And as for learning, this is simply indispensable.

Nov 28, 2007 03:35 PM