I typed my first blog in 2008 and have been hanging around ever since. AR has literally changed my real estate life. To be truthful, it helped kick my career in the pants that started in 2004. So much has happened in my life since my first blog post...as our listings say.. "Too Many Upgrades To Mention."
We humans can't help but fear what we don't understand. It's a fact. I also resonate a lot with this saying:
"In the absence of information, we jump to the worst conclusions." - Myra Kassim.
It's true. When we heard Ben was buying (some called it a hostile takeover) AR many assumed the worst. He was all but demonized as the opportunistic guru from KW who was going to find a way to have us all getting shitfaced on "the kool-aid."
Well.... that hasn't happened. Not unless he's injecting subliminal messages. Or something.
I've met Ken, and my first impression was that he was a run of the mill guru who was flying around the country making $ off of Realtors. I didn't have a favorable opinion of his personality. But I have a tremendous about of respect for Bob Stewart and well, if he's a friend of Bob, then he needs to be someone I take seriously if he's running the show here at AR.
The difference between "the old AR" and the "new AR" is that Ben is not intimately involved with blog posts, comments and all that jazz. Perhaps he's just too damn busy. Maybe he's blocked me or something. I have no idea. Can you do that here?
I think it's fair to be unbiased in both slander and with praise. I despise Zillow, but give them a high five for revolutionizing the industry (even though I hate them) and doing what Realtor dot com failed to do. I don't think of Ben as Zillow, but I do see him as the guy who sits on top of KW. And good for him. We should all be able to learn something from him. I would SO let him buy me a drink.
I, for one, am grateful that he hasn't made the theme as KWish as everyone bet on. I never thought he would. You'd have to be a fool to waive your company flag to a community that's so incredibly diverse as AR.
Great work, Ben. As the saying in the Navy goes... Bravo Zulu! Thanks for keeping the site around and proving most of the haters wrong. At the end of the day I need, want and hope the very best for this industry website.
Because it's the best!
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