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Embracing CHANGE—Reinventing myself... professionally & personally

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art

I'm in the midst of shaking the dust off of old skills, updating them and generating new skills. The timing couldn't be better considering the current shake-up in the market place. It's a time of rapid change and I don't think everyone will make the transition successfully unless they are willing to embrace CHANGE for themselves and their professional endeavors.

I've updated my blog header by adding my logo and updated the services I offer. I've added photography to my skill set, placed a new focus on my design services for real estate professionals and revamped my consultant services as well. In the upcoming days and weeks I will continue to update, tweak, try new things... essentially embracing CHANGE to improve myself, my service and help others do the same.

The panic about the stock market, real estate market, mortgage market, and unemployment is real. I know because I see people scrambling around me everyday like chickens with their heads cut-off crying just like Chicken Little, "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!" I don't believe this is helpful. What I do believe is that this is an excellent opportunity to change—learn, think and act!

I know that change isn't always easy, yet it's one of the few things in life that we can depend on. Like me, many of you are already in the midst of positive change. I hope more people will embrace it and receive the full benefit change can bring.

Cheers to Change—

Comments(23)

Linda Bourgault
lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Judi—It's good to hear from you again. I wonder if I had know how many changes and how drastic they would be if I would have survived them as well as I have.

In certain societies there are guidelines on how to approach death and mourning. They even have timelines for them. I found this to be true in the Jewish faith and traditions I've read about. However, that isn't the case in other contemporary groups. We end up making our our rules and do the best we can. Sometimes it's a messy process, but think working through the process is the important bit to remember. So change is necessary and actually good for us.

Good luck with your changes.

Oct 27, 2008 01:42 PM
Judi Morgan
RETIRED - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, TX Real Estate

Linda, I think you're moving through the process very well.  I wouldn't want to put a timeline on it -- I feel we all have our own personal timeline to mourn or grieve our losses.  After having been married for 28 years, I found myself divorced -- not something I had planned.  It took me a little over 5 years to work through it all before I was ready to make a committment to a wonderful guy who was very patient with my needing time.  We'll be celebrating our first wedding anniversary on Nov. 3rd.  :)   

Oct 27, 2008 01:51 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Linda, embrace change always. It is not easy. We must CONTINUALLY adapt or get run over. Many of the changes in our life that we first look as bad end up turning out wonderfully for us. Stay in touch. I agree with Judi, the grief process moves at its own pace so go with the flow in that area. Even in Judi's case it turned out ok in the end.

Oct 27, 2008 06:24 PM
Rebecca Anne Cole
PNC Mortgage - Timonium, MD

Change is part of life and it is essential to growth.  I love to read about people expanding their skills to adapt to the changes we face today.  Thanks for your post.

Oct 27, 2008 10:16 PM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

You must be flexible and change constantly.  An old mentor one said "If in ain't broken, go buy a hammer and break it."

Oct 27, 2008 11:11 PM
Randy L. Prothero
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645

I remember a teacher many years ago, saying change is not bad or good, it is reality.  He told us to embrace it and plan for it.  Very wise words.

Oct 28, 2008 10:53 AM
Norma J. Elkins
Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN
Realtor - Elkins Home Selling Team

Change is a scary thing to people but we all must face it ---- and of course learn to deal with it!  Good luck!

Oct 28, 2008 11:15 PM
Michelle Harris
MichelleHarrisHomes.com - Dallas, PA

 

I love your attitude! I see today’s economic situation and a catalyst for a much-needed change.

 

Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can- Richard Bach

Oct 29, 2008 03:09 AM
Linda Bourgault
lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Judi—It's interesting as we share certain things in common. I was married for 21 years, divorced and it was just over fives years later that I met Bruce. We were married on the 1st of Nov. in 1997. One never knows when or how wonderful things can happen. I just grateful for all I've been given. Congratulations on your up coming anniversary on Nov 3rd!

Oct 29, 2008 04:30 AM
Linda Bourgault
lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Judi—It's interesting as we share certain things in common. I was married for 21 years, divorced and it was just over fives years later that I met Bruce. We were married on the 1st of Nov. in 1997. One never knows when or how wonderful things can happen. I just grateful for all I've been given. Congratulations on your up coming anniversary on Nov 3rd!

Oct 29, 2008 04:30 AM
Linda Bourgault
lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Gary - You are absolutely right about it not always being easy. Sometimes change is frightening, but I'm learning to over come fear with by practicing being fearless.

Rebecca - It is good to hear from you. It helps me enormously when I read about someone else's experience as well—a good way to learn from others.

Richard - That's one I haven't heard before! Mentors are wonderful gifts.

Randy - Change is one of the few things that we can count on. I agree with you and your teacher.

Norma - Yes, the learning portion is equally important as facing it.

Michelle - A positive attitude goes a long way in helping us to conquer our fear of change. My dad was a living example of how a positive attitude can bring about change in becoming a better person—especially during incredibly difficult times.

Is it bad form to group responses the way I have? Please let me know in case this is NOT to be done. Thanks.

Oct 29, 2008 04:51 AM
Todd Bookspan, MBA
HomeStreet - Scottsdale, AZ
Senior Mortgage Consultant

Linda - well said.  Change is all around us so it is time to grab on and go along for the ride. It is much easier than fighting it. Thanks for sharing your insights.

Oct 29, 2008 04:37 PM
Cat Zwicker, CRS
Desert Sky Real Estate, LLC - Redmond, OR
Down to Earth Service; Out of this World Results!

Linda, I have learned that change is inevitable and that life presents me with lessons each day if I just pay attention. GBU and good luck on your endeavors, with your spirit you will be a success!

Oct 30, 2008 04:05 AM
Cynthia Sulamo
Sulamo Appraisal Service - Folsom, CA

Terrific Attitude!  We can embrace change or fight it but it is still inevitable.

Oct 30, 2008 04:46 AM
Lyvia May
Meybohm Realtors Of Aiken, SC - Aiken, SC
ABR, EPRO, SRES

Linda,

Very inspiring blog. Personally i agree with you that to move forward requires change. Change is a good thing. It separates the winners from the losers.

Oct 31, 2008 01:15 AM
Richard Stabile
Re/Max Real Estate Limited - Oradell, NJ
Bergen County New Homes Builder Realtor

Linda:

I have written a lot about a make over every 10 years or market cycle. It is important to sit back a minute and analyze the differences and adjust. Sometimes subtle sometimes radical.

I been doing this, first by choice, second by necessity.

Richard

Oct 31, 2008 02:36 AM
Christina Vagnini
Eagle Nationwide Mortgage Company - Summerville, SC
Senior Loan Officer, SC

Great Post! Many see the chance of failure in all of this. I think its an opportunity to try something new and shine.

 

Oct 31, 2008 04:13 AM
Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman
Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI
(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

Life will always through us curve balls and it will always be.....how I handle each and every situation that comes my way. Sometimes change is good..and if I don't take a risk to try it...how will I ever know? 

Oct 31, 2008 04:27 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Ahh  embracing change...much more rewarding then staving it off! - Absolutely love your header!

Nov 10, 2008 02:45 PM
Derenda Grubb
CENTURY 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.'s - Lake Charles, LA
GRI, ABR, CRS

Linda,

You are so right.  When the going gets tough, the tough get going.  Sounds a little corny, but says a lot.  You can sit around a whine or you can remember that many of the greatest estates were established during the Great Depression by those who thought outside of the box and refused to think negatively.

Nov 10, 2008 04:20 PM