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Are You More Than Just One Thing?

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

June 05, 2012 02:07 AM

Einstein Guitar Man I had a discussion recently with a Member here about not getting pigeon holed as being just one thing in life. It is a pet peeve of mine with the profile function on social media that you ARE painting yourself as one thing, REALTOR, Stager, Virtual Assistant, Social Media expert, Inspector, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Loan Officer, etc.

We really should show the world we are more rounded than that whether we wear maybe a handful of hats or those very weird birds like myself that swear we wear 100 hats. I try not to mention that too much cause most people completely don't understand it.

The rounding out of YOU with multiple hats is not meant to lose focus of what maybe your core competency is and what you do for a living and offer as services. It is meant to make you more HUMAN. What kind of music do you like? Do you play an instrument? Are you into gardening or horses or antiques or you like fishing? What about a family person or you like Friday and Saturday night social activities with your friends, significant other, or community or neighborhood activities?

That is a long way from your role as a CPA or Drywall Installer.

A good take on life and work is you are YOU first, then your work.

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Tammie White, Broker

Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN

Franklin TN Homes for Sale

This may be more of a problem for men than women. My job is not who I am, it's what I do for a living. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and believer.

Jun 05, 2012 11:54 AM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

A good take on life and work is you are YOU first, then your work. I love this Gary... sometime days I feel I am work ONLY and forget about me... It's time to find the balance.

Jun 05, 2012 12:36 PM

Linda D. Pufford

Stage with Divine Style - Home Staging - Novato, CA

ASPM, Marin/Sonoma Home Stager

Hi Gary,

I really like that saying: "A good take on life and work is you are YOU first, then your work". Even though I love what I do, I really am not what I do. I am often asked: What do I do? From now on I will have a new answer. Thanks Gary for putting a new perspective on this age old question!!!

Jun 05, 2012 12:46 PM

Jo-Anne Smith

Oakville, ON

Gary,

You mean we're actually human afterall? Funny how so many people think we are nothing more than whatever our business is....

Jun 05, 2012 01:57 PM

Regina P. Brown

MBA Broker Consultants - Carlsbad, CA

M.B.A., Broker, Instructor

Gary, I have this passion for my work and just like all the others, I also wear many hats. But on top of it all, I make sure that I still have time for myself. I love to catch sunset on a bicycle ride!

Have a wonderful week!

Regina P. Brown

Jun 05, 2012 03:54 PM

Christine Donovan

Donovan Blatt Realty - Costa Mesa, CA

Broker/Attorney 714-319-9751 DRE01267479 - Costa M

Gary - I think one of the interesting things is when someone asks what do you do, the initial response is to say what there work, job or career is not what they do in the rest of their life.

Jun 05, 2012 03:59 PM

Jordon Wheeler

The Jordon Wheeler Group - Fairburn, GA

J W Group Real Estate Sales and Service

Hey Gary,

Awesome post. I am so much more than a real estate broker. I enjoy music and reading. Best of success to you this year!

Jun 05, 2012 04:05 PM

Susan Walters

Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI

Today I had someone say, "I don't want a story, Susan!" There was only going to be one!! True, she has a 6/15/12 end of redemption looming with a 6/8/12 closing on her short sale. It was probably not story time. :)

Jun 05, 2012 04:44 PM

Bob Caldwell

Fitzgerald Financial, a Division of Monarch Bank - Annapolis, MD

VA Mortgage Specialist and Military Relocation Services

That's a great picture! Great advice as well--in this business, in many ways the product we are selling is, simply put, us; real estate professionals, unfortunately, are somewhat of a commodity. But *good* and *experienced* professionals, on the other hand, are not a mere commodity and that's how I've always tried to stay ahead of the game!

Jun 05, 2012 05:35 PM

Leslie Godbold

WZGM AM1350 Independent Asheville Radio - Asheville, NC

Motivation Speaker, Radio host "Positively Living"

Very true Gary. We may do ________ but we also have to market, sell, invoice, etc. Thanks

Jun 05, 2012 09:33 PM

Amanda Christiansen

Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN

Christiansen Group Realty

Great post and great thoughts Gary. Selling real estate is what I do, not who I am. Great reminder. :)

Jun 05, 2012 09:58 PM

John Dotson

Preferred Properties of Highlands, Inc. - Highlands, NC - Highlands, NC

The experience to get you to the other side!

Gary,

When I was a bit younger I wanted folks to associate me completely with what I did for a living - in the belief that being "all-in" was the way to the top.

As I have grown older, I have found that being completely wrapped up in your profession is not all it's cracked up to be. A good life needs to be enjoyed, not relentlessly persued.

Great Post!!

Jun 06, 2012 12:21 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful comments. It is good to hear that everyone knows about being THEMSELVES first with their unique qualities and then comes their work.

Jun 06, 2012 12:21 AM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Gary:

We all have other sides, but we choose to present our "Realtor" side to the public. I am a bird watcher, "birder". I could spend all my time bird watching, but real estate is how I earn money so I can watch birds.

Jun 06, 2012 02:28 AM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

My Facebook page is an open book to anyone and my personal page says little about real estate.

Jun 06, 2012 04:12 AM

Paula Hathaway, REALTOR, LBA

Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Southampton, NY

...A Local Expert in all The Hamptons

Gary: Interesting that you picked Albert Einstein as your iconic image out of context; I feel like a "Jack of all Trades" most of the time and I would love to add Part-time Psychologist, photographer, and Physicist to my profile too but I don't think anyone would believe me! Nice post!

Jun 06, 2012 06:31 AM

Marte Cliff

Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID

Your real estate writer

Gary - This is why, when I write agent bios, I urge them to allow me to include a bit of who they are when they're not wearing a real estate hat. I want them to share that they're a fisherman, dog lover, parent, volunteer, or ??

Jun 06, 2012 09:55 AM

Bob Miller

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL

The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Gary, excellent point. At one time we were ~#1 short selling agents in our office. Some still think we are even though that is less than 10% of our business now.

Jun 06, 2012 08:16 PM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Gary, thanks for the entertaining post and Picture. I wear many hats, sometimes too many, with several businesses, a family and many other interests. Often the challenge is deciding which hat to focus on today.

Jun 13, 2012 01:06 PM

Laura Filip

Laura Filip Broker , Opening doors for All Seasons of Life - Whitesboro, TX

What can we do for you today?

Gary thank you for the post I must say that I struggle with this item work seems to keep me busy all the time but that is a choice I am sure of that one. With the kids all grown up and no one to take care of work is a good thing to keep me busy late into the night. Keeps my mind off of the kids living so far away. Have a blessed day Talk to you soon

Jun 15, 2012 08:36 AM