What Would My Clients Write About Me If There Were A Realtors' Day?

Ever since W.L. Moody, Jr., gave me his worn copy of Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People when I was about 12-years old, I've had this thing about making sure I'm around people who motivate me to both understand as well as improve myself.

It all started when I asked Mr. Moody how I could be rich like him someday, and he told me two things:  "First, to attain wealth you have to have money working for you, people working for you, but preferably both.  Second, read Dale Carnegie's book at least once a year for the rest of your life."

And that was when he gave me his copy of the Carnegie book.  It's on my desk right now because I have just finished reading it for about the 55th time.

What I get out of all of this is not necessarily lessons in life, but a better understanding of myself...what I think about the components of life, and why I think as I do.  Often times, I find I've had a lifetime of faulty reasoning that brought me to a lousy opinion that I need to change.

One of my favorite radio talk programs is hosted by Dennis Prager, a modern day Jewish scholar-philosopher.  The subjects of his programs are always about life, faith, who we are and why we are.  Sometimes I don't agree with him, but to listen just to his thoughts and reasoning, I have to reconcile them with my own belief system.  I admire Mr. Prager and I thank him for what he has given me.

And there's author John Maxwell.  His biographical blurb says he's "an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker and author." Of his many books, I think I have gotten more out of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. You can pick up a new one for $25 or a used one for less than $10. 

Everyone knows that Herb Kelleher and Lamar Muse founded Southwest Airlines.  Mr. Muse resigned after a few years, so it was left up to Mr. Kelleher to promote and attain the airline company dream that he and Mr. Muse had.  John Maxwell reminded me in his The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership that Mr. Kelleher's employees bought a full page ad on Boss's Day, 1994, in "USA Today."  Here's what it said.

Thanks, Herb

For remembering every one our our names

For supporting the Ronald McDonald House

For helping load baggage on Thanksgiving

For giving everyone a kiss (and we mean everyone)

For listening

For running the only profitable major airline

For singing at our holiday party

For singing only once a year

For letting us wear shorts and sneakers to work

For golfing at The LUV Classic with only one club

For out-talking Sam Donaldson

For riding your Harley Davidson into Southwest Headquarters

For being a friend, not just a boss

Happy Boss's Day from Each One of Your 16,000 Employees

So what did I get out of this?  Other than reinforcement of my deep respect for Mr. Kelleher and his 16,000 employees, I got this:

What would my prior clients write about me if there were a Realtors' Day?  I'd better do some evaluating and make some major adjustments.  What about you?  How would you fair?

Copyright 2008 - William S. Cherry

BILL CHERRY, REALTORS

DALLAS

214 503-8563

OUR 43RD YEAR SELLING TEXAS!