This morning Charlene and I got up early to take our walk by the ocean in Jupiter Florida since humidity was at 90% and 5 mile walks in the sand can be like being in a sweat lodge for two hours. Since recent storms in Florida fishing has been not something you want to do but this morning the ocean was like glass and the number of boats out were many in groups of 7 or more in many areas. As I was letting my mind wonder as I walked I started to see some similarities to real estate marketing and how we go after clients. As someone who has fished a lot in my lifetime it became clearer as I walked.
As a child fishing with my Dad and Brother there was not any electronic fish locators so knowing the areas and understanding the structure that are fish habitats was very important. You had to trust your gut instincts and the possibility could come up zero even with the best of knowledge. As the modern electronic age came into being fishing became more scientific where chance was lessened with a better guarantee of success but of course even with electronic devices fish don't necessarily cooperate with our best work and intentions.
As I watched a series of boats I knew they were on to an area that has proved to be good in the past and the boats stayed there for at least an hour before they hit another area considered promising. Real estate marketing is like that. How long do we stay with a certain electronic media before we head elsewhere? I have experienced a hour of modern fishing in one place for stripped bass and then have 10 minutes of nonstop action. How long do we stay with something before we give up? Too many new agents are impatient and without instant gratification they move on not knowing they are about to hit a school of fishleads. Recently I hit a dry spell on videos on Youtube so should I move on to Facebook? In the last week I had a podcaster call for an interview, three new actual investors ready to buy, and four more who called after the podcast, all because I stick with video.
What I love about fishing is dropping a line down into water I can't see through and then feeling the tug on the line that tells me I caught one. If is a moment that is hard to describe unless you have done it, and now it is a test of knowing how to bring the fish to the surface. Fishing for leads is just the same, we put our lure into some unknown waters waiting patiently for a tug and then not losing the lead because we yanked too hard or we were distracted and didn't realize what we had. I love good surprises but even more I love knowing how to be patient, staying with something I know has worked and will still work, and how to also cut my loses. I know that there are constant new shiny objects that some real estate "guru" will say will make me a instant millionaire like with QR codes that were the cat's meow and the bee's knees, then properly faded into the background of failed ideas. So what is it for you and will you stick around long enough for a school of fish clients to come to your blog, you videos, your podcasts, your direct mail, or whatever it might be?
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