The Garden Analogy

Recently, when I was telling a close family member about what I do as a Realtor, it finally dawned on me: My business is like a garden; my clients are the flowers that have been planted. When the garden needs tending, the gardener simply knows when a good watering needs to happen. Sometimes leaves have to be plucked, branches have to be torn off, and sometimes certain plants have to be removed to allow others to grow. Many people over the years have asked me why I have been successful in real estate. It always amazes me to be asked that question since deep down, I oftentimes feel as fragile as the flower that is about to bloom in the garden. However, the gardener is not responsible for cloudy days, nor can the gardener control if a natural disaster shakes the very core of the garden. As the gardener, I have no ability to make any plant grow nor do I know the complicated science behind it. All I know is that I am supposed to tend to the crop that has been planted, and know that in due time it will be a gorgeous symphony of blooming life. "Just be patient and wait out the season until the vines ripen!" Even in a difficult market, there is still a garden of clients in the community. Typically, I find that the process of tending to the client requires leaning on that good old-fashioned gut level intuition ... clients still have to buy or sell a home and need good counsel. If I viewed myself as a sales person, I would have quit real estate a long time ago. However, when I view myself as the tender of the garden, I will wait with expectancy and allow the process of blooming to occur...