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You can find me in the Labrea Tar Pits.

By Alan May

Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

March 31, 2016 12:08 AM

I'm a bit of a dinosaur.

I used to be on the cutting edge of technology, but these days, I seem to be on the bleeding edge, and it's my blood that's dripping out there.

I used to be the guy in the office who had a handle on all the new tech that showed up to help us handle real estate better and better. I was one of the first adopters of the new MLS software, which was graphic and colourful, and there were lots of folks in our office who came to me for advice.

I used to be one of the few in the office that understood how to use the new phone system, and all the intricacies that came with it. Our office manager used to send people to me to answer phone questions, as I was one of the few who kept (and understood) the manuals.

These days, the tech is coming at us fast and furious. Customer Management Software... Newsletter software... digital dashboards for all of our listings, etc... we even order our signage online. I can't keep track of all of the passwords... "Sexy" no longer works on all of my sites... they have to be a minimum of 8 characters, and they have to have one Capital letter, one number and one strange character... (I thought that I was the strange character).

I'm falling behind, and feeling a little like a T-Rex stuck in a tar pit.

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Bill Roberts

Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA

"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

You know Alan May they don't even give out owner's manuals with the new phones. I guess they expect everybody to just call you.

Bill Roberts

Mar 31, 2016 12:15 AM

Alan May

I know... but I'm a Mac guy, and we never read manuals anyway.

Mar 31, 2016 12:20 AM

Liz and Bill Spear

Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH

Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Alan, There's never a shortage of new bright and shinys out there. And the Labrea Tar Pits were an interesting visit for me some years back :)

Mar 31, 2016 12:18 AM

Alan May

I remember that visit too... I still have something stuck on my shoe.

Mar 31, 2016 12:20 AM

Dianne Goode

Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC

Realtor/Broker

I feel your pain! I keep my millenial son on retainer for tech advice and graphic design. Otherwise I'd be right there in the tar pit with you.

Mar 31, 2016 12:21 AM

Alan May

come on in, the tar is fine.

Mar 31, 2016 02:34 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Hahaha. Ain't it the truth? We have a cheat sheet with all of our passwords for the various sites. The problem, we keep it hidden, and often too well.

Mar 31, 2016 12:39 AM

Alan May

You mean I shouldn't write my passwords on a post-it-note and put it on the front of my computer?

Mar 31, 2016 02:35 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Home Stager/Redesign

Well Alan- that's something that you and a good friend of mine have in common!!! I do love all things tech but still trying to figure out Twitter.

Mar 31, 2016 01:12 AM

Alan May

I do have a twitter account... just not sure why.

Mar 31, 2016 02:35 AM

Lisa Heindel

Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Real Estate Broker

I'm not sure that the tech is changing more rapidly, just that we are more aware than ever that it's almost impossible to keep up, especially with little T-Rex arms :)

Mar 31, 2016 01:16 AM

Alan May

I know... who can reach all those buttons? ;-)

Mar 31, 2016 02:35 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Alan - Eternal vigilance is the price of technological competence, and sometimes you just want to take a nap. I read about a guy whose password was "incorrect" - every time he forgot it, the computer would tell him what it was.

Mar 31, 2016 03:15 AM

Alan May

LOL... I like that. I may have to steal it.

Mar 31, 2016 03:59 AM

Dana Tapia

Re/Max of Orange Beach - Orange Beach, AL

Gulf Coast Real Estate Professionals

Something new pops up every day, it seems. The "Labrae Tar Pits" title made my day. It reminded me of one of my favorite Bugs Bunny episodes - My Bunny Lies Over The Sea. Have a great afternoon!

Mar 31, 2016 03:24 AM

Alan May

my favourite is The Rabbit of Seville. Just how much culture did Bugs introduce us to?

Mar 31, 2016 04:04 AM

Suzanne Strickler

Realty Mark Associates - Havertown, PA

School is never out for the Successful.

I know what you mean. When the electricity goes out around here, it feels like recess from technology.

Mar 31, 2016 03:37 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mort...

New Lenox, IL

Alan May

what on earth did we do before all this technology?

Mar 31, 2016 04:04 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

I hear ya, Alan May. But just this of all that experience, wealth of knowledge, and unique perspective we offer as dinosaurs ...

Even I had a hard time writing that and getting it out ...

Gene

Mar 31, 2016 04:14 AM

Alan May

yep... we dinosaurs know lots of stuff that we could impart to the younger generation of real estate professionals... if only we could get out of this block of amber.

Mar 31, 2016 04:16 AM

Rob D. Shepherd

RETIRED - Florence, OR

RETIRED

For passwords use Password1! That should be easy and no one will guess it. LOL

Mar 31, 2016 04:44 AM

Alan May

one of the most common passwords out there... i'll stick to "sexy".

Mar 31, 2016 05:14 AM

Mimi Foster

Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO

Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I have a dear friend with whom I speak almost daily who is a Realtor in Denver. She's about 20 years younger than I am and is a tech guru. Sometimes by the end of a conversation, I'm exhausted and will say something like, "Just tell me which of these new gadgets/programs/apps/classes/whatever is REALLY revolutionary and will bring me lots of money, and I'll look at it." It really goes so fast that there's no time to master what you thought was the latest and greatest.

Mar 31, 2016 06:06 AM

Alan May

I know... even the concept of having that discussion is exhausting.

Mar 31, 2016 08:09 AM

Lottie Kendall

Compass - San Francisco, CA

Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

You are not alone, Alan. I'm playing in the tar pits, too.

Mar 31, 2016 06:09 AM

Alan May

I think that might have made a better title. "Playing in the tar pits".

Mar 31, 2016 08:09 AM

William Feela

WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN

Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

If you are the dinosaur...I am your great grandfather

Mar 31, 2016 09:00 AM

Alan May

Hello great-grand-dad!

Apr 05, 2016 09:17 AM

Dan Tabit

Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Alan, That's what my kids are for. I hand my tech to them and say, "make it go".

Admitting we are dinasaurs is the first step to recovery. "Hi, my name is..."

Apr 05, 2016 09:08 AM

Alan May

I know, Dan. But they do that eyeroll, and everything.

Apr 05, 2016 09:17 AM

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You can find me in the Labrea Tar Pits.

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