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Sticking your neck out there

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Pareto Realty TN #251071

What do you do with yourself when you've gotten yourself all gussied up for an appointment . . . An appointment for which you have scheduled yourself 2+ hours. You drive across town at the appointed time only to discover that it isn't going to happen.

What d'ya do?

I guess you have many choices:

You can choose to be depressed about it and go drown your sorrows in a cup of coffee at Starbucks . . .

You can take the opportunity to go see that movie you've been wanting to see . . . 

You could go sit in the park and just BE ALONE for 2 hours - When was the last time you had 2 hours to just think and enjoy yourself?

Go to the library and read a great book . . .

Go to a pond or lake and feed the ducks . . . or go fishin'

Go hang out with friends . . .

My point is that I believe most of us REALTORS would see this cancellation as a disappointment. After all, we had really put a lot of preparation into the appointment and had great expectations of the results of the meeting. Sometimes when these opportunities arise, I view them first as inconveniences and fill the time with useless meanderings and 80% stuff . . . Find myself back in the office moving paper around and surfing the internet.

Truth is - These cancellations are GIFTS! We REALTORS tend to keep ourselves EXTREMELY busy. It's in our blood . . . part of our DNA. Our propensity is to fill every minute of every day with DOING stuff, and when windows of time open up, it's akin to scooping a bucket of water out of a pond - The void fills immediately.

I challenge you to stick your neck out there and do something FUN and USEFUL for or with YOURSELF when these voids happen. Create your own bubble and give yourself permission to enjoy the freedom for a few hours. This could be something work related that you've just been wanting to do for a while but haven't had the time . . . or as above, something alone and personal. Do something new and interesting and complex . . . LET YOUR HAIR DOWN! RELEASE YOURSELF!

Pamela is an associate in our office. She has recently moved to Nashville and is making great strides towards establishing a solid real estate business. She has plugged in to all of the training we have offered and is participating in our coaching program. She had agreed to host an open house for us this past Sunday and when she showed up, she could not get into the building . . . Turns out, we had missed the "Open House Week-end" for this secure access building COndo. She called me immediately and we worked through all of the ways she might be able to get herself into the building and do it anyway. The thought of being arrested for "breaking and entering" crossed our minds in addition to the trivial truth that it was against the rules to hold Open Houses on "off" week-ends . . . So we came to the conclusion that it could not happen.

VOILA! Pamela had a gift - 2 hours of FREEDOM . . . Here's what she did with her 2 hours . . . in response to a message I had sent out to invite her to join me for some coaching calls . . .

 Count me in perfect timing and I can't wait to share with you what incredible
> things happened as a result of the open house not happening yesterday isn't
> life strange. I had the most awesome day previewing 4 fsbo open houses that I
> intend to list and because I was so dressed up they were just knocked out with
> me ( I would have never been so dressed to just preview houses so I learned
> something so crucial it is baffling to the mind but I would not have ever
> thought of it without planning on doing your open house) see Barry you cause
> success even when it doesn't seem like it. Thank You soooo much!!!You are the
> best. Pamela

WOW! There's NO way I could take ANY of that credit. She's the one who stuck her neck out there, so I replied:

"Pamela,   I appreciate the kudos, but it is YOU who stuck your neck out there all gussied up :-)   I love to hear success stories - It does my heart good to hear people going out there and doing great things.   You hit on a a subtle difference between those who eke by and those who ROCK . . . The Rock Stars see opportunity when little windows of opportunity open.   Thank you,   b"

Carpe Diem!

b

Coaching REALTORS to Success and Balance!

Barry Owen
Principal Broker & Productivity Coach
Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills
30 Burton Hills Blvd STE 175
Nashville, TN 37215
615.568.2123
Skype: barryo06
www.theowengroup.net
Visit my consumer BLOG @ www.creatingspaces.blogspot.com/
REALTOR Blog @ www.activerain.com/barryo

Keller Williams Realty is a learning-based training & Consulting company supporting our REALTOR partners by offering business models, systems, tools, & support to Build Careers WORTH having, Businesses WORTH Owning, and Lives Worth Living!  

Simply & BOLDLY Living the FourFold Way in Open Space!

Posted by

Barry Owen

Founder
Principal Broker
Pareto Realty
Nashville, TN

615.502.2080
www.paretorealty.co  
Call me: 615-568-2123
email me: barryo@comcast.net

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Comments (8)

Vincent McKamy
Samson Properties - Fredericksburg, VA
Realtor Fredericksburg Virginia
This is a great way of looking at these sometimes depressing monents in our lifes.  I know when a client doesn't show - I move on to the next one.  Good luck
Feb 25, 2008 10:25 PM
Pam Joffe
Solaris Realty - Tampa, FL
Barry- Great thoughts to turn something that could be depressing into something good a glass half full, rather then half empty idea. Have a great day!
Feb 25, 2008 10:30 PM
Dorene Shirley
The Mortgage & Property Connection - Campbell, CA
Silicon Valley Real Estate
Barry - I must admit...after church on Sundays or whenever I have some down time I stop by open houses around my office to be nosey.  I want to know who the agent is, how long in the business and general info on how they got the listing, family, friend or such.  Of course I'm interested in the property.  I need to know whats on the market, but it gives me an opportunity for recruitment or not...and to share with my agents what other agents are doing for business.
Feb 25, 2008 10:32 PM
Christina Moock
Cutler Real Estate - Canton, OH
REALTOR - Cutler Real Estate
Yes, we don't like to have our time wasted by a no show, but sometimes it does open up other opportunities. 
Feb 25, 2008 10:32 PM
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com
Time is one thing we can not get back.  Make the most of it no matter what you do.  Do not waste it away.  Though relaxing and recharging is not a waste of time.  Take time to enjoy life.  It is not all about work!
Feb 25, 2008 10:33 PM
Lu Kalaj
Vision Realty Centers - Brighton Township, MI
I always consider that all things happen for a reason.  Thanks for blogging, and I pray today will be a great day for you.  Lu
Feb 25, 2008 10:54 PM
June Piper-Brandon
Coldwell Banker Realty - Columbia, MD
Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership
This just goes to show you that when opportunity comes knocking you better be ready or you'll miss it!!  So many of us would have just gotten back in our car and growled and snarled and talked ourselves into a bad mood on the way home.  Great post.
Feb 25, 2008 10:58 PM
Charlie Ragonesi
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros
Nice post. I like cancellations some times as the canceller feels bad and sometimes obligated to make it up to you by working with you. Then there are those who cancel and just stink. So as you point out we move on
Feb 25, 2008 11:12 PM