Are Other Agents Your Competition or Your Colleagues? Father Knew Best!

OK.  Let's admit it.  Real estate is, by and large, a profession with more than its share of Type-A compulsive workahaulics.  And many of us are very competitive, at least on some levels.  I mean, look at what we do here on Active Rain - and that's just for points!  And you never want to play a game of Monopoly with me!

When I was a senior in high school, I really wanted to plant mt bottom into the first flute chair of the Topeka Youth Symphony, which meant climbing over two other people who had first and second finnies on it.  I spent about four hours a day in a practice room for the entire summer between my junior and senior years, and it became about beating out my little friends. 

At one point, my parents might have noticed that I was getting a little obsessed with flute playing, and also obsesssed with winning the prize.  My father took me aside and explained that in life, I would be a happier person if I focused on being, not competitive, but competent.  And I could see his point.  Super competent is a whole lot more attractive that super competitive.  At the audition is September, I nailed it.  I played beautifully and won the first chair.  But I did it without losing the friendship of my young colleagues.

After a short time in real estate, I realized that my dad's words of wisdom applied to most life domains, including real estate.  I learned early on that I needed the respect and good will of the other agents in the real estate community.  I'm as competitive as the next person, and I like being the best.   I try to get the listing by wowing the seller with my listing presentation.  When I'm working wth buyers, I want to know their needs and the market so well that I can easily make a great match.

So competence works.  My father knew best!