Approximately 12 years ago, I began my real estate career. In short order, I became the owner of a computer, bought a separate Compaq notebook, purchased a cell phone which took up 25% of my purse space, carried a beeper which was perpetually on, and uploaded my first website.
The website project was a computer/business project created by my cousin who was studying business and IT in university. He needed a project for a grade and I wanted to explore the world of computing as inexpensively as possible. This short lived partnership in which my FTP uploads didn't work properly and the website was down more than it was up, gave me a new found respect for having some expertise and support in the world of electronic media.
My disaffection with the world of computing had started a decade earlier when in highschool; we had a brief encounter with mainframes. The sterile white room and noisy electronic hum were enough to persuade me that I wanted to avoid this world of zeros and ones for as long as possible.
Becoming a Realtor changed that. I now found myself dependent on dialing into a computer to access MLS listings. Although my first website quickly proved to be inadequate as a business tool, my cousin had succeeded in one important thing...It was now was quite clear to me...I needed to check my e-mail more than once a month. I'll never forget the look of disbelief from my cousin at my lacksidasical attitude towards e-mail, he simply stated; "whenever you wake up, it's morning for you".
Well, in some ways, I feel as though the process of "waking up" has been in perpetual motion for most of the last decade. My experiments with websites led me initially to Homes.com and then to Advanced Access where I was introduced to an electronic library of tools which helped me understand the medium of the internet and how to market my web site. My interactions with Advanced Access were pivotal. This company took the unusual step of training agents who were their clients. I was assigned an Account Executive who seemed to take a genuine interest in making sure I progressed and my website prospered. Internet searches for real estate agents in our area in those early days consistently ranked Advanced Access Sites at the top of list.
More recently, my experience with Blogging seems like Deja Vu all over again. There is so much noise on the Blogosphere, my instinctive reaction is to turn away from this medium of personal gibberish. It wasn't until search engine requests for information kept bringing up personal blogs as "expert" opinion that I decided I needed to re-examine my earlier assumptions. It has become increasingly clear to me we are re-defining the nature and essential elements of on-line presence.
As I've read the posts and articles about the early days of several prominent players on the Blogosphere, I have been bemused by the re-definition of ancient. In the historic annals of cyberspace, a few short years now represent an eternity and authority has been minimized to being defined by clicks and links. In this faster than the speed of lightning world, we run the risk of loosing our moorings. When things change so quickly, our altered perspective of what matters and what is meaningful may not serve us well in the long run.
Our heightened awarness and quest for personal significance may inadvertently result in our omiting the sign posts and guides which help those coming behind us to find their way. It is not surprising that some blogging experts indicate that most new bloggers will not be blogging in three months. Can we remember who we lost...do we care? Do our platforms merely frame success or do they provide tools to expand and embrace it? Perhaps it is wise from time to time to pause between furious key strokes determined to release another brilliant comment or blog to ponder careful questions such as these. It is easy to surmise that this kind of assistance, this human part of life, is a luxury which is no longer expedient to maintain. But, I think that perspective is short in clarity of vision.
The reason why I will always love books and maintain a personal library is because I learn from the experiences of others. The wisdom nestled with the pages of good book has often nourished my soul. The reason why I will always strive to give of myself and expertise to others is because I flourish most when I extend myself in service. A decade ago when the personal website and personal marketing were the epic of progressive marketing, many turned their focus away from people and hid behind their technology. Somehow, this didn't feel right to me. Although, I utilize technology extensively on my clients' behalf, it never impinges on our time together. For me real estate remains a personal business supported by technology.
In this Journey Through the Web, I am determining that blogging must find its rightful place in my life and practice. May I never become so full of myself that I am unwilling to assist another who is struggling to find their voice. May I avoid the pomposity and cowardice of cruel cuts or opinions which belittle another person; particularly one whom I may never meet. May I be judicious about asserting my opinions, rights, wants and needs, remembering they are only where I happen to be at the moment. And, lastly, may I always remember that behind this screen, there are real people, with real needs and to whom I can offer real assistance....just in slightly modified cyber packaging.
© Audu Real Estate 2007
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