I Was Asked for My Autograph Today

 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.