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Fun, Food, Friends. - Oh my!!!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty

So, I was in a real estate manager’s seminar recently.  And other than being somewhat bored there was something the trainer said that made me almost fall out of my chair and have convulsions.

She said, “this business is about food, fun, and friends, and if you don’t have those three things agents will hate you.”

Whoa.

Now, don’t get me wrong, having fun is great, and if I make a few friends along the way, all the better - and god knows I can eat, BUT, I have always thought about my job being something very different.

From moment one, I have dedicated myself to one thing - helping coach my agents to be great at what they do and help them maximize their professional potential.  From specific strategies on innovative methods to helping them create new ways to communicate to their clients in a challenging market.

Social chair?  Yeah, not so much.

Here, at my office, I consider us the big time.  I am in a power city where major property is marketed and sold every day.  And because of the dedication from the agents here, we have continued to outperform the market every month since last July!

This is a serious business.  The time for Aunt Bee’s Basement Brokerage is over!  This is the show, and if you don’t understand that you’re dead.

So as this woman continued to drivel over 10 year old anecdotes about the way things were, I started to think about the way things are - knowing she had no idea, and neither did 80% of the people in the room.

Then I realized...that’s fine.  That’s why their agents are coming here.

And maybe, along the way, I’ll buy some pizza too.

 

 

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Comments (7)

Minette Evans - Net 1 Processing
Net 1 Processing - Van Buren, OH
You are right - having fun has it's place, and you should do that from time to time at work, But you are running a business and people work for you to make money - Work being the operative word!
Feb 20, 2008 05:39 AM
Kim Sellers
Lake Arrowhead, CA Coldwell Banker - Lake Arrowhead, CA
Lake Arrowhead Realtor - BRE#01412099 - Lake Arrow
Great post, now I am hungry, kidding.  The outside the box thinking and the "go gett'em" attitude is the name of the game. 
Feb 20, 2008 05:39 AM
K. Davis
Davis Enterprises - Sarasota, FL

Nothing is better than finding a team who is all on the same page and working to move forward effectively as a unit with a supportive infrastructure. Food allows people to bond in a way strict business does not; however, social time is not office time. If you mix business with pleasure, make sure the focus stays on how people can bond as a team and enjoy their time together while they (again, I stress) move forward. Some of my best musing has been done while chewing--and my happiest and most professional times in office were while sneaking a bite of food from a community plate in between clients (passing the snack plate like athletes hand off a ball during a game). My business management philosophies are not exactly archaic; and if you order pizza or make a reservation for your office to have and outing, I recommend placing the order or confirm your table by the Internet.

Cheers, Darrin! You are a great blogger and I am sure your office is hoppin'. :-)

~~ Kae 

 

Feb 20, 2008 07:56 AM
Gregory Maley
Sold Buy the Sea Realty & R.E.N.T. - Wilmington, NC
REALTOR, GRI, CBR, SHS, e-PRO, ABR
If food was all that mattered to agents, there'd be a higher turn-out at Brokers' Opens.  We want innovative ideas, managers who answer questions when we have them, help us put out fires when we need assistance, and stay out of our way when we don't.  We need managers who help us MAKE MONEY!  The agents who sit around meetings wondering why there aren't doughnuts are not the agents who do any business -- and probably won't ever do any business.  
Feb 20, 2008 09:28 AM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

Did someone say Pizza?!?!    LOL - Hey if all we wanted was our broker to say  "Hey; Did you sign up for that Bufini Class?"  - As they head for the candy jar - we could all work for -----. 

Fun is good - but it needs to follow success -

Friends - Well it's good to like the people you work with; but I don't see how being productive has to do with playing in the office with your friends all day...

Food is good - I like BRAIN FOOD.... someone to feed me ideas and knowledge.  Nachos are good too!

 

Feb 20, 2008 11:49 AM
James Downing - Metro DC Houses Team REALTORS®, CRS, GRI, ABR,MRP, MilRes
Real Living | At Home - Washington, DC
When Looking to Buy or Sell - Make the Right Move

So I missed Pizza today.... I had Nachos for dinner  :-P

 

Feb 21, 2008 02:18 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital
Um, Gregory - there is a high turnout at brokers' opens that serve lunch!  And Darin I think one reason that so many agents are struggling with this market is that they weren't around to learn from the Aunt Bea tyes.  There is an over-reliance on all technology except perhaps it's the telephone.
Feb 21, 2008 02:50 PM