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The Scrabble Word of the Day

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

September 26, 2008 05:41 AM

With the financial markets in turmoil with banks and credit problems one word pops into my mind as the Scrabble game word of the day.

TRUST.

From an institutional point of view, from our representative government, from entirely too many an individual, trust is not what it is supposed to be. These are character flaws. Human weakness. What's remarkable to me is many Americans live lives with their families showing trust in each other each day. Yet if power corrupts, and greed sets in for many an individual or organization it seems that trust just goes right out the window.

In the future days ahead, those of us who are trustworthy individuals can be examples to those who are not. Unfortunately sometimes the consequences of bad apples amongst us affect the whole barrel. For those of us who show trust in our lives keep doing what you are doing.

More than just a word. Trustworthiness is a way of living the right way.

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Linda Jandura

Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC

Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Gary, great thoght to start off the weekend.

Trust has to be earned, even among friends and family members, And it can easily be broken by lies and secrets. So if trust is so hard to earn even among those closest to you, how can we expect our clients to immediately trust us?

In the short time we are interacting with them in a transaction, we have to be honest, professional and knowledgeable and let them feel that we are doing what's best for them.

Sep 27, 2008 01:37 AM

Cathy Lee

CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

We do need to trust. I know in my heart that everything will be all right. We can choose to have God with us through this challenge or decide to be alone. I am trusting in HIM.

Sep 27, 2008 03:33 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hi Susie: Realtors being in another "salesperson" category are typically at the bottom of the list for trustworthiness. It is a guilt by association with a handful that we just have to deal with.

Linda: Good point how trust is even difficult with those closest to us at times, so with clients it easily van be a bigger hurdle. Our actions of high integrity should show them we have their best interest at heart.

Hey there Cathy: Faith in God is a rock you can trust.

Sep 27, 2008 04:01 AM

Sharon Paxson

Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA

Newport Beach Real Estate

Gary - I agree with you that as Realtors we are guilty by association of others that they do not trust. I always put the clients interests first!!!

Sep 27, 2008 04:17 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Gary: Trust is going to be hard for the government to convey to me, banks too. I really don't trust that the executive branch has got a gun to Congress' head about this bail out. Makes me wonder what they might uncover upon a two or three week investigation. It's coming to light that some very prominent economists are worried about too much, and too hasty, intervention here. We seem to preach free market economy...until it has a free market down turn.....then it's all about regulation. The solution is actually scarier to me than the actual problem. Government intervention is not so easy to take back later.

Sep 27, 2008 04:22 AM

Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Trust is harder and harder for us this days - not just with institutions.....but with people....its hard not to be skeptical....or cynical........how badly we all want to be able to trust...to feel safe in someone elses promises........

Sep 27, 2008 05:19 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hi Sharon: If we keep giving our good example out there to the world, our clients will forget those "others" that are less than stellar in the industry.

Hi Chris Ann: Trust in institutions I agree is something more often than not we shouldn't do. Even trust in our elected representatives seems tough to swallow at times. I agree that regulations and solutions put forward can be worse than the problem. The frustrating thing about the whole financial mess is so much of this seems out of control for the little guy out there. Once laws are in place or new regulations implemented they can't be undone over many, many years.

Liz: I agree, that to be cynical seems to be the more "natural" way we want to feel nowadays, and not trusting. It comes from what we see and experience.

Sep 27, 2008 05:22 AM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Gary, I always enjoy visiting here and reading your wonderful posts. I, too, am in the camp for not intellectually trusting human nature, but my senses tend to... I try to trust/ leani on the sustaining INFINITE... I am, by nature, a very trusting person. Most of us are, which is something that also makes us all vulnerable. I do try and stay in tune with my inner guidance though. Sometimes I miss the mark, but I think it would take a lot more energy & be an empty experience of life, to go around NOT trusting as an M.O.

Sep 27, 2008 02:06 PM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Hey Mara: Trusting DOES make us vulnerable. But with a new situation we should trust and not be cynical. Using common sense and our inner guidance from experience is helpful but we should trust.

Sep 27, 2008 03:21 PM

Tim and Pam Cash

Crye-Leike (Sango) - Clarksville, TN

Real Estate Professionals - Clarksville TN

Gary, Trust is something many hold dear to them. Once broken, it is difficult to get it back.

Sep 27, 2008 03:22 PM

Jennifer Fivelsdal

JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY

Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Gary I love scrabble I carry a travel version with me. During my vacation I spent a lot of the time playing scrabble and taking photos.

You are right being trustworthy is important, that is a quality I seek out in anyone I want to do business with.

Sep 27, 2008 03:25 PM

Laura Watts

Positive Properties, LLC - Laurinburg, NC

Gary-What happened to a prayer and a handshake were all you needed? The group ALABAMA sings that. Times have changed and now it is very important to get everything in writing and then hopefully trust will not become an issue. It would be nice if everyone could be trusted.. Thanks for another good post.

Sep 27, 2008 04:28 PM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

Thanks, Gary. Now I T-R-U-S-T you'll accept my move with S-P-L-I-N-K (x=4; y=12) ;-)

Sep 27, 2008 08:31 PM

Don Rogers

Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO

Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Gary, The trust that people put in us to help them is something that is earned and is rewarded with their show of appreciation when they refer a friend to us. I value that trust and work even harder to maintain it.

Sep 28, 2008 12:21 AM

LS Rogers Realty

LS Rogers Realty - Richardson, TX

Reminds me of when business was done with a hand shake. Personal Integrity was everything. Now no one's trusted until it's in writing. It's nice to remember how "good" things used to be.

Sep 28, 2008 01:07 PM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Tim and Pam: The more important to keep trust together the best we can. It is earned for sure.

Jennifer: I remember those travel versions of Scrabble. Makes long trips fly by.

Laura: Everything now IS in writing so true. The world has changed.

Hi Mara again: I know not to play brainy you in Scrabble ; )

Don: Great trust does add to the referrals. An excellent point.

Trunda: No verbals anymore, right? Much more trust in the old days I think.

Sep 28, 2008 04:28 PM

Richard Weeks

Dallas, TX

REALTOR®, Broker

With those letters you could also have spelled:

Rut

Strut

Sturt

Tut

Sep 28, 2008 10:00 PM

Mike Saunders

Retired - Athens, GA

Gary - unfortunately, the word often is only used in the game of Scrabble.

Sep 28, 2008 11:41 PM

Richard Weeks

Dallas, TX

REALTOR®, Broker

But hardly in the game of Life

Sep 29, 2008 01:13 AM

Patricia Beck

RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realty

Trust is so important yet many people cannot trust each other these days. Lengthy contracts have not always been around. There was a time when people could trust each other by a simple handshake or verbal agreement. You are right, it is important to be a trustworthy person regardless of the actions of those around you.

Sep 30, 2008 03:24 AM