I contend that while the current market is challenging and as a whole, movement on sales is slow, there are still deals closing and still people making money.  Not everyone, but they are out there.

You see, the market is slow... NOT STOPPED. 

WHY ARE PEOPLE WHINING?  There are people out there working very hard to use the current market conditions as an excuse for their own failures or lack of effort or lack of creativity.  And any agent or lender that explains to every potential client, friend, neighbor, and vendor how awful the market is and how "nothing" is moving right now is likely to scare away the potential deals that are still available. 

So, the problems only get worse for the whiners (and probably for their clients too)!

These so called "professionals" fail to see an important point. Even if a client (or potential client) understands how they can make money in the current market, they are going to avoid the doom-n-gloom agents and lenders.  These clients want a professional that understands the market cycles and does not have a deer-in-the-headlights look of confusion due to a naturally occuring market cycle.

To whine makes one look uninformed, uneducated and unprofessional!

I am not saying you have to feel good about the market.  And you clearly should not pretend all is super great.  But a rational understanding and explanation for clients about how money can be made in each phase of market cycles is a big part of being a trusted adviser that people will seek out for business deals.

In a capitalistic market, each period of the natural cyles of boom and bust is a period where some people make money and, yes, some lose money.  If the economy is good, new wealth may also be created. 

It is Economics 101.  Almost every day there is either too much supply or too much demand.  That can mean:

* Too many properties or not enough properties.

* Too many agents (or lenders) or not enough good ones that don't soil the industry.

* Too much money (can you say "sub-prime" and "loose requirements?") or not enough money available.

The market cycles are natural.  Learn how they work and make money.  People do this every day inspite of markets. 

If you feel you are powerless to the market and all you can do is whine to anyone that will listen just to prove it's not your fault, do everyone else a favor and take a look at yourself and how this appears to others.   Does it help you be successful in anyway?  If not, maybe whining about it is not such a good idea.  It is a great opportunity to mature as a business professional!