Way back in the last century, around 1991 or 1992, I was driving to the office while listening to a Mike Ferry audio tape. Mike was interviewing Walter Sanford. Walter talked about forming a Master Mind Group and meeting for lunch with his group in Long Beach.

Bingo! As soon as I reached the office I started calling some of my close real estate buddies. At that time we were all at Re/Max offices. We started with 8 people and pretty much that group was our core. Kathie represented Wheaton and Glen Ellyn, Mary Jean did Lisle and Woodridge, John's and Phil's office was Downers Grove, Lynn was the only agent who was not at Re/Max (but we liked her and invited her to join); and Ruth represented the south suburbs and I was Naperville.

We met once a month, usually for breakfast as that was the best time for all of us to get together. We'd go around the table and talk about our goals, our family, our aspirations and our hard decisions. We supported each other and enjoyed the companionship and help from each other.

We were lucky. We stayed together for over five years. Even as agents changed offices and companies...or started their own companies. We were there for each other. Generally our December meeting was a holiday luncheon and we talked about our year...laughed and even cried.

Our last time together was in 2000. And, now, although we're all still selling real estate...but most of us are the senior agents, the agents that the newbies turn to.

And I ran into Mary Jean and we both said, "Hey, let's do a Master Mind Lunch!" That was all it took! So, today we were able to round up six of the original eight. One of our agents has two great-grandchildren! Another has 11 grandchildren! Another has a son in the engineering college down at the University of Illinois. We went around the table. This time we talked about our health; our parents' deaths; reading the obits; our children's marriages and divorces and their health.

Not a single one of us had a goal to be the top agent in their office. We've been there and done that. However, we did feel that this slow market would weed out the agents without skills. And, that was to our advantage.

One agent talked about how unproductive her mailings were. Another was training all the new recruits in her office. And, another agent was opening up his third office.

Yes...we're older...and wiser! And, we don't look any older than the last time we got together. And, 'cause we had such a good time, we're going to meet during the summer and sit out on the patio under an umbrella and watch the golfers...and wonder if it's time for us to join them!