Suzi:

You bring up some good points, but actually too many for me to tackle in one post.  I'm not really sure where you are going with this.  Sorry. 

Suzi - I think we have all had scenarios similar to what you describe here I know I see some that fit my life.

I think the thing to do is to accentuate the positive and minimize the negative.

a recent example -  a flyer was not ready in time to deliver to a vendors home so I had one printed and ask them to review it from their perspective prior to getting the final printing done. Vendor was very pleased to be asked.

Suzi - Great information on your post.  I agree on your combo about realism and positive thinking but I take it one step further and point out that even in the worst of situations you can still have positive outlook even though it looks 100% grim :)

Joan, sorry, I guess I did get wound up. I will edit. My dilemma is telling the truth and being positive when someone asks you a question and the reality is not good. I just read one of Todd's blogs that gave a good example.

Kathy, good example.

Once I was not selling radio spots in South Texas. We were in the middle of a peso devaluation. Retailers needed to advertise, it was Christmas! Yet they were afraid to. That was also the time of the Ethiopian Famine. So, South Texas was struggling yet we were being bombarded about another company starving. I talked the Radio Station into sponsoring a Rock for Ethiopia famine relief concert. We divided 60 second spots into affordable 15 sec promos. Locals felt as if they were contributing to famine relief, they got their name out in the public and associated with a good cause, as a community we contributed to the cause. All radio reps were inspired and selling, too. Everyone won--but it looked pretty bleak for awhile.

Justin, Can you give me an example? As a loan officer, you must have a few.

Suzi, this is a great post. I think that in today's world, we have to be prepared for the worst and expect the best. When I have to deliver bad news to a client that I can not help, I always tell them that their situation is not a total loss unless they want to give up. I give them the different directions that they can go in and then when they are done, they can come back to us.

Thank you, Danny. One of the greatest things we can do is show prospects, customers, clients steps they can take towards self empowerment.

Accumulating real stories about overcoming odds will be arsenal we can all use to benefit others. I guess that's your purpose:-) for this group.

I believe positive thinking, speaking, and acting is vitally important. However, I prefer to acknowledge REality. For example, if a prospect comes to you and they are fresh from teachings of the "Secret", of practicing the law of attraction--what they say can be a far cry from the truth. Believing that we have 0 credit card debt doesn't make it so. Yet, visualizing 0 balances is healthy.

Do you understand what I am saying? Can anyone help me out with this?

Suzi, I am a Pollyanna.  There, I said it and I can't help it.  Now, with that being said I think I get what you are saying.  You can't just live with your head in the clouds, act like everything is perfect without acknowledging the Reality of the world?  There are bad things going for sure, but there are good things going on?  Conforming/FHA limits have gone up to $729,500 and there should be more news and information about that in general instead of the negative drum beat of the nightly news.  When we go and see our clients we need to be careful of how negative we come across to them.  You have to have them live in the real world of the market but maybe we need to be careful of how we present it. 

When I am stressed and sitting in my office wringing my hands about business, I make it worse by driving myself crazy by getting down.  I have better luck by leaving, recharging doing something good and I have a more positive energy and when I give off a more positive energy, some how I get busier and have better luck?  Maybe it is a coincidence, I don't know. All I know is it works for me.  Not saying I don't have issues and struggles but if we sit around collectively in a group and are negative, I just think it will make things worse?  Am I going in the right direction?  Stay strong, the market is a market and will change, we just have to hang on tight for awhile!!

Audrey, thanks. I do agree with you though I may not have expressed it well. My concern is at an extreme end of the spectrum that some folks in some streams of thought are being lead to believe that if you do not claim to have. debt for instance,  that it will disappear. Or, that if one acknowledges a balance that it is creating stronghold for the balance.

I guess I prefer to acknowledge reality and submit solutions or proposals for correction. I believe that individuals have power to counteract negative and turn things around to positive.

I also agree that worry doesn't promote good for anyone. I, personally am fortunate that I don't have an inclination to worry.

Let's take my son for a hypothetical example. He is a college freshman and recently contracted Acute Mono. He is missing a lot of school and has been miserable. That is reality. Reality too is that it may be very challenging for him to catch up. However, we know it is possible. With prayer and medical treatment he will be better soon. His teachers have been notified. The Doctor sent a letter of explanation and implored them to let him catch up rather than dropping him. Now I know that Luke can overcome this time in his life. He will just have to work hard to catch up. Am I letting him down by acknowledging his real life circumstance? Would it improve things if I deny that he has acute mono and visualize everything okay? My point is that we may need to acknowledge the truth of the circumstance to turn things around.

I expect him to heal faster than normal. I expect him to catch up. I can't wait until to see my healthy son with his smile again.

(for an example:-)

Suzi, you are absolutely right.  We have to be proactive and can't just "wish" our problems away.  Your son's health is definitely an issue that is reality and has to be dealt with in the way you explained.  I totally get what you are saying.  I think what most people are trying to do is rally around some positives to not too far down in the dumps!

I hope your son is healthy and back at school soon!!  All the best, Audrey

Audrey, that was a sunny surprise. So, would we agree that concern is not pessimism, and that looking at a miserably sick person, or economy and being spurred to action is, positive? when I make reality and positivism work together, I will have no challenges:-)

(How is the market?) This is my most frequently asked question. My much thought over answer is "Opportunistic times for both buyers and sellers. People are still buying and selling today. Buyers have lots to choose from and sellers looking to move up or downsize can still do so and look for the same great deals on their purchase."

Have a great week Suzie!

K & E, Good morning. Great example!