Are You Living Beyond Your Ability? (The Art of Fruitcake)

Gosh, I hope you are.

People restrict themselves when they consider the possibilities for their life.  You are probably on your "second career", as most of us are.  Your career may have been in corporate life, small business, child-rearing, or education.  You made a conscious choice to take charge of your life and pursue the entrepreneurial life of real estate or mortgage brokerage.  Perhaps external forces pushed that "conscious choice" but the very act of closing your first transaction made you a REALTOR or loan originator.

balank canvasMaybe you've been successful, maybe you've been a failure; that doesn't matter today.  Today is a blank canvas and you, dear readers, are artists.  If you're not, you're thinking is all wrong.

READ:  Realtors Should Stop Selling Houses

What CAN you do?   Can you close 400 transactions a year, like Russell Shaw?  When you do, can you close 2000 transactions a year, like Russell Shaw wants to do?  Our dreams are our reality and this market has been robbing so many of you of the delightful pursuit of the ridiculous.  Rise to your level of incompetence; that's the best thing that could ever happen to you because it means you're living BEYOND your ability.

Tony Gallegos talks about "changing armies" today at the Mortgage Cicerone:

Changing armies and the honest self assessment that is often required to do so are really the questions at hand. If you are currently in a work environment that does not meet your personal standards for quality, ethics or orientation toward the customer, you should consider moving on. Too often, LO's will stay with an "army" that is wrong for them. The reasons can be endless:

  • Do not have the time
  • Do not have the contacts
  • It's really not that bad here
  • Lack of visibility in the market
Is your "army" dedicated to the ridiculous notions you had when you entered the business?  Do they share the frivolous thought that you can eclipse Russell Shaw and become one of the top 25 REALTORs in the country?  If they don't, you're fighting in the wrong army.ae
 
Tony Robbins once said that "thoughts are things".  Stephen Martile expanded upon that idea:
 
So thoughts really are things. The beauty of this is that you may choose your thoughts rather than have your thoughts choose you. In the beginning, it’s difficult to change your thought patterns and replace them with new positive thoughts. There is some resistance. This is normal. You may have spent years generating patterns of thought that don’t even support you. If you’re not putting thoughts in your head, then someone else surely will.
 
Here's my advice: 
 
Give up.  Give in.  Surrender. 
 
Accept the fact that your reality doesn't equal your fantasy and change it.  Don't change your fantasy, I want you to change your reality!  If your thoughts are not consistent with your dreams, change your thoughts.  If the army you joined doesn't support your fantasy, change your army (or at least put 'em on notice).  Aspire to be in SO OVER YOUR HEAD that you are overwhelmed. 
 
Then...ask for help.  Be selfish about your dream and ask others to get you there.
 
 
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18 Comments on Are You Living Beyond Your Ability? (The Art of Fruitcake)

Change your reality...great advice.  Wonderful post!

01/03/2008 10:18 AM by Jason Romrell (CheapHousePayments.com)


Brian, well written. Enjoyed reading your thoughts!

01/03/2008 10:22 AM by Duane Marlink, Rate A Home (Rate A Home)


I really enjoyed reading this.  I have it bookmarked to come back to again and again this year.

01/03/2008 10:28 AM by Heather Fitzgerald (REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc.)


sounds like a challenge to me!  Excellent advice!

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

01/03/2008 10:37 AM by ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.


This is a great post to begin the New Year. I came in yesterday with the "I will have a great 2008" attitude and what happened? I made those calls...I got those calls...I qualified the buyers...I am happy to say that my first business day of 2008 was in the positive direction I wanted! Speaking with my realtors yesterday I was informed their phones were ringing off the hook! It can be this way for anyone who wants it and believes they can have it! If you are the elf who wants to be a dentist, Hermie the elf who wants to be a dentist!  then go be a dentist! While we do operate in a dynamic world, we create our own reality!

01/03/2008 10:41 AM by Rich Dansereau Loan Officer Knoxville TN (Home America Mortgage)


Hi Brian,

How true!  I see a little of Geno in your article (that's a good thing).  I just don't like being called a fruitcake, unless more people understand the true meaning of word.

Dick Beals

01/03/2008 10:43 AM by Realty Executives of Wilmington


I just don't like being called a fruitcake, unless more people understand the true meaning of word.

but the "art of fruitcake" is living life on YOUR fantasy, regardless of what they think.  Tell someone you're a "fruitcake' today and see what happens- I guarantee that you'll have a great conversation

Disclosure:  "Fruitcakes" is a 14 year old Jimmy Buffett album that came from his book, Where is Joe Merchant? 

01/03/2008 10:56 AM by America's #1 Mortgage Broker


I think I missed the boat, I need to subscribe to Tony.

Excellent thoughts Brian, there's lots to ponder here.  I'll have to re-read this time and again.

01/03/2008 11:22 AM by Jason Sardi, Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker (First Choice Equity Group Inc.)


Brian - "There are too many bakers in this world and not enough fruitcakesBe a fruitcake. "  Jimmy B's philosophy works for me!   Now where did I put those Junior Mints?!

01/03/2008 11:31 AM by Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos| Laguna Real Estate|Marlene Bridges (Sherman Smith & Associates)


I believe that Rudy Gulianni is giving all of us a fruitcake for Christmas.  Mine hasn't arrived. I suppose it will be here around the first Tuesday in November. 

Goodness, I've been in corporate life, small business, child-rearing, education and now real estate for many years.  All were an adventure.  All ended except the last. 

The only real restrictions are self imposed. 

01/03/2008 11:44 AM by Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Real Estate


Very intersting way of viewing things.  I agree, your thoughts and army must match your dreams if you wish to reach your dreams.

01/03/2008 12:00 PM by Randy L. Prothero - Hawaii REALTORĀ® (Century 21 Liberty Homes)


Brian, If this is a challenge, where are the points? Oh, I forgot, you disdain points.

Personally, I think we are all a lot happier being under-achievers.

I remember when I was an over-achiever I got thinking about that Peggy Lee song, "Is that all there is?"

You know, I think that that is all there is, so why sweat it?

Relax. Enjoy. Dream. Do.

Bill Roberts

01/03/2008 12:05 PM by Bill Roberts - "Baby Boomer" Retirement Planning (Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate)


I love this article, Brian. You have a way with words, with sound advice and suggestions. Hope all goes well at Blogger Connect - wish I could make it back East.

Jeff 

01/04/2008 08:56 AM by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)


Brian- I love the Jimmy Buffett reference.. great way to work that in.... I think you have hit the nail on the head with this post. Too many of us simply accept things instead of creating them for ourselves. I heard something on the radio yesterday that struck me as interesting. Since WWII the U.S. has been a nation of consumers not creators..... I think that might be one of the main reasons that so many of us simply accept (consume) our fates.... It is what we see all around us and it is what we are told to do. It has been difficult for me to break away from that mentality and focus on creating my own reality. Off to listen to Jimmy =)

 

Best,

Scott 

01/04/2008 10:32 AM by Scott Cowan -Tacoma & Pierce County Area (Rainier Real Estate, Inc.)


Hi Brian,

That is my problem! (among other things) I never did get into Jimmy Buffett. 

Dick Beals

01/04/2008 10:46 AM by Realty Executives of Wilmington


I never did get into Jimmy Buffett

that's okay, Dick.  How about an Einstein?  While he was brilliant, Einstein was definitely a fruitcake (by Jimmy's definition).

The mere fact that you get it defines you as a fru an Einstein. 

01/04/2008 11:37 AM by America's #1 Mortgage Broker


Fruitcake is good!

I am loving 2008 - fresh attitude and it makes a difference.  I set those realistic goals and then bumped them up ~

Great message!

01/08/2008 11:02 PM by Katrina Lepkowski (Arrowhead Property Management)


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