This was the most amazing thing to happen to me in a long time. Today, I pulled up home and parked my car about 5:30pm. There were a group of about 8 or 10 of the neighborhood youngsters playing in front, ages ranging from about 4 years old to about 10.
After pulling my briefcase out of the car I heard the voice of one little girl asking me if I was the guy on the front page of the newspaper. (Our community paper put a big picture of me and my best friend Guy on the front page about a week or two ago playing chess at the community club we run) I said yes that was me. Another little boy piped in and said I saw your picture on the sign by Foodland. "How did your picture get there?" I explained that I pay for that. The first girl asked if I was still on TV (I was never on TV). I said no I am not. She responded owe you can afford that anymore? This was getting pretty funny. I tried to explain that I sell houses and I am not a television guy. This did not seem to have any effect on their excitement.
Before I knew it she nudged the little girl next to her and said, "Ask him."
I looked down to see her holding out a paper and a pen and asking if she could get my autograph. I was getting pretty embarrassed at this point.
Thinking quick on my feet, I pulled out my picture business cards and asked if they would rather have them. By their excited responses you'd have thought they were baseball cards. Having only a few more in my pocket, I told them I had more in the car and if they preferred I have magnet cards. You guessed it; I could have traded them for a Sammy Sosa rookie card.
While this was happening, my wife Darnelle pulled up in her car with my 6 year old son Jacob. She stopped to watch and was obviously puzzled by what she was watching.
After I passed out the refrigerator magnets each youngster asking for 2 or more of them I walked back to the house. My wife was waiting and dying to find out what was going on.
Just as I began to tell her the story, three more children showed up at our door asking if they could also get magnets. I went in the house and grabbed the ones off our refrigerator, which sent them on their way all excited. I then was able to tell my wife the story.
After grabbing a quick bit of food, Jacob and I loaded in the car and headed for the chess club. During the drive he asked me if we still had any refrigerator magnets (he seemed to be concerned). I said, "don't worry we can get more". He then questioned me about why I gave them to the neighbor children. I explained how they thought I was famous. He quickly responded, "You are Dad!" I said, "Jacob I am not famous I am only a Realtor". He responded without thinking, "Dad you are the best Realtor and that makes you famous". Wow, talk about making my day.
Beside the smile on my face, I walked away knowing that someone's perception is their reality. If your clients perceive you're a great realtor, than you are at least to them. If children perceive you are famous, they will find the most amazing ways to make you feel like it.
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