Interesting Ken... I can tell you're a little "beat up"... Man, I would sit down this afternoon - go somewhere remote & draw out what you want your life to look like over the next few months.  I know we shouldn't be creating demand, but as a professional it's our job to at least get the word out... buy low - sell high right? :)

Keep your head up man!

What? You feel like the spring real estate rush has come and gone? Ken, maybe you should get out more and be more proactive in real estate. I'm not being mean so please don't think that. But you blog non-stop....I would take the time sitting at a computer typing and be proactive and go get business.  Personally I'm swamped and I'm right down the street from you. There are so many ways to get business and I think you are missing the boat by sitting at your computer blogging. Other realtors are out there taking what could be yours.

I take it the notecard writing is behind you? Give it time the phone will ring- Maybe this is the quiet before the storm!

Ken I forget who wrote the post on AR that lists the couple of things you need to do (and not do) and #1 is to post to your buyers why they should hire you. Would you hire you if you tell everyone youre striking out?

Cape Cod Realtor

Hi Ken,

You got at least 21 Cards in the mail this week, that's great.

The spring doesn't end until June 21,  You could have a few deals by then.

Whether the market is hugely busy or really quiet all you have to do is get a few deals here and there. 

There are always people out there who have to buy, and those that have to sell.

Get out there and meet a few of them.

All the best!

Hi Josh, LaNita, Barbara, Stephen, and my main man Kevin.

Thanks all for stopping by.  Various comments.  Some feel good.  Some not so good.

Ken

Ken- Some comments you just take with a grain of salt....good responces!

Ken, I hope that your golf outing the other day proved to be a good MENTAL HEALTH day.  You got some 21 cards out this week and that is probably more than a lot of others got out.  Stay positive and I am sure things will work in your favor.  I hope that your weekend will be very profitable for you.

Don R.

Morning Ken,

You know PPT is the only way! PPT?  = "Power of Postiive Thinking" It works and you know it does. Think that way, start your day, every day, that way, and report your experiences rignt here on Rain!

Hi Barbara, Don and Hal.

Thanks for stopping by.  My golf outing was yesterday.  We had a great time.  Busy weekend.

I am at 24 notes.  I need to go to Walmart today and buy some more.

Thanks for all the support.

Ken

You know what, Ken, in my market area, there are many agents who are busy, but they are not productive. Who cares if you have 50 listings? If you aren't closing them, you're just busy. And broke.

Sometimes you have to cut yourself some slack. Blogging is prospecting, so don't stop blogging. Keep writing those cards to keep in touch & just stay your course with your personal promotion and mailings. One person's proactive is another person's obnoxious (in my opinion) so don't feel you have to do what works for someone else. Everyone in this business has different connections. It's quite possible that right now at this point in time nobody you know is currently thinking of buying or selling. Then before you know it, the phone starts ringing and things just start happening.

Let's be honest. It is pretty quiet in Northern Illinois. Even the "busiest" agents in my office...some real top producers in all of Illinois I might add...will tell you that it is quiet. To clarify, they are "busy" with lots of listings and the upkeep they require, and maybe even running buyers around, but not as much is actually closing compared to the same time in previous years. Some other agents are "busy" buyer's agents for large teams and are getting leads from all those listings. They are managing to close deals, but are paying 50% of their commission to the team lead. So they may be closing deals, but they aren't making much money. Things are not always as they seem. Bottom line profitability is way more important than number of closed deals.

As you know, a big part of this business is who you know. There are many agents who grew up in this area, have friends from high school and college who still live in this area, and who all are "X" years old and buying their first properties, or having kids and moving up. (In my case, I'm from another state, have no family or long term friends here, and my kids are 15 and 18 - well pass the age of playgroups and such). Another agent I know is married to a top executive, and many connections come from that, not from anything she does or the company she is affiliated with. Still other agents work in market areas that are still very popular and selling well. There is a huge difference in market areas. Arlington Heights is selling way better than Lake Zurich, for example, and Lake Zurich is selling better than Cary. Don't compare yourself to others and don't listen to people who tell you that you should be doing this or that. Their situations may not apply to you.

Personally, I applaud your honesty.

Hi Kelly.  Thanks so much for the support.  I will keep plugging away, writing notes, blogging, open houses, etc.

I will make it. 

Thanks again,

Ken