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Eight Seconds or Eat Dirt

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

Bull RiderIn professions like those associated with the Real Estate industry, one committed to service of the customer, we should all strive to be the best.

         DO YOU HAVE EIGHT SECONDS??

That's the standard to "qualify" to be the best. I'm talking bull riding pardner. The chute opens and out you go on "Texas Tornado" or "Wyoming Wonder" or "Big Boy". Hang on. Oh and by the way you can only hang on with "one" hand. Are you strapped in with the leather strap? Do you have your teeth clenched for the wild ride? The eight seconds? You must stay on the beast that long to be judged. If not, start over on another ride and by the way

         EAT DIRT

Much in our professional development requires eating plenty of dirt. Practice, fail. Practice again, make a mistake. More dirt. Practice again, embarass yourself, lose a client, get yelled at. This dirt is turning into a meal I think.

But you know what? The best Cowboys (or Cowgirls), the best Realtors, Stagers, Loan Officers, Inspectors, Appraisers, have eaten plenty of dirt and got past the eight seconds to be the best at what they do. They get back up. They want to have another ride. Another go at it.

How about you? Do you like eating dirt? It goes pretty good with being a champion!!

Yvonne Root
rooms b.y. root - Prescott, AZ
Home Stager - Northern Arizona
Gary, There are so many great elements in dirt. Yes, I've eaten much dirt in the past and expect to have a few more spoons full before the week is over. I've developed a taste for it. :) Thanks for the fun post! 
Mar 31, 2008 02:01 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC
Hi Gary,
I am glad that all the dirt I have eaten does not have calories or I'd be a very huge woman!
Mar 31, 2008 02:08 AM
Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!
I've certainly learned more from being on the ground than up in the saddle....it's tough to admit but easier to take that way ;-)
Mar 31, 2008 03:08 AM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Gary...this is a very timely post for me cause this past month has been filthy!

Thanks for helping to keep it in perspective! ....

Mar 31, 2008 04:39 AM
Rosario Lewis
DDR Realty - Newburgh, NY
GRI, SRES - DDR Realty - Orange County, NY
Yee Haa!! I like the analogy. Although I would never try to ride a bull, mechanical or otherwise, I will continue to ride out this real estate cycle.
Mar 31, 2008 06:10 AM
Mark Organek
And the United States of America - Mesa, AZ
It's not a game, it's your life.

Learning comes at the cost of experience.  Dirt doesn't taste bad at all when washed down with the taste of victory.

Mar 31, 2008 07:29 AM
Margaret Ann Innis
Decorate To Sell - Merrimack Valley Real Estate Staging - Andover, MA
Real Estate Staging - MA & NH
We have hit the dirt many times - that's experience!  Best part is:  there's money in that dirt!  :)
Mar 31, 2008 08:08 AM
Sandra Carlisle (Ayers)
Berkshire Hathaway California Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Real Estate Marketing & Sales
Dirt good!
Mar 31, 2008 08:25 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Gary, I guess we've all had our share of some dirt here and there....certainly lessons learned as long as we remember we'll most likely have to eat it again one day.
Mar 31, 2008 11:52 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth
Eating dirt seems to be an experience many of the good ones here have experienced on their way to being champions. Glad you made it through the eight seconds!
Mar 31, 2008 02:29 PM
Carol Culkin
Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS
Overland Park Residential Real Estate
Rejection is a big part of this business so I have eaten dirt and I disliked it enough to eat it less and less - As I became stronger and stronger, I found myself listing more and now other agents are eating dirt! Yeehaw!  
Mar 31, 2008 03:49 PM
Brian Block
RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President - McLean, VA
Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate
Hi Gary -- I just got my 8 seconds: My 8 Seconds of Fame on CBS National News This Morning
Mar 31, 2008 11:23 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Carol: Glad you're staying up for the ride these days.

Brian: I saw your clip. You were good during your ride.

Mar 31, 2008 11:59 PM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty
Eating dirt is no fun but often times necessary to succeed!
Apr 01, 2008 03:12 AM
Doug Fritchie
DOUG FRITCHIE-Silver Legacy Properties,Inc. - Portland, OR

Gary,

  Dirt has many Minerals and micro-nutrients needed to complete our daily diet and well being ! Great analogy.

Apr 01, 2008 03:18 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Gary,

You write some of the best blogs on here, really enjoy them!

Apr 01, 2008 03:35 AM
Kathy Riggle
STAGING SMART N SOLD - Houston, TX
Houston Home Staging

Hi Gary-

As my Texas dad would say "I bit the dust." Makes ya mad enough to give it another go!

Kathy

Apr 01, 2008 07:27 AM
Shannon Aldrich
Keller Williams Coastal Realty - Rye, NH
NH & Maine Real Estate Seacoast
God made dirt so dirt don't hurt!
Apr 01, 2008 09:39 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Patricia: The path to success includes spoonfuls of dirt.

Doug: Minerals build strong bodies : )

Cindy: Aw shucks... thanx

Kathy: Keep on, keeping on....

Shannon: Nothing wrong with gettin' dirty. An honest day's work.

Apr 01, 2008 10:27 AM
Don Wixom
RE/MAX Executives Nampa, ID - Nampa, ID
"Looking out for your next move..."tm
Gary, I had one experience where I lost an eleven thousand dollar commission on a transaction to hold it together.  I had another needy client (demanding, I might say) that I struggled with.  That same afternoon, I asked myself (in the presence of my assistant), "What are they going to do, take my commission away?"  It's all a matter of perspective.. I ate dirt that day & it gave me more confidence! Thanks again for your nice posts!
Apr 01, 2008 03:10 PM