The Purpose In What We Do

When I entered into Real Estate as a career and asked others why they chose this business I often heard, "To make money."  I have to tell you, money was an attraction of mine to, but not the sole purpose.  So I spoke with an ex-manager of mine about this and he made some great points which have driven much of what I am doing today with everything I do.  As he had said, "Any sales-related environment is about serving others.  Everything you do in your business should be centered on serving your customers.  If you can do that, you will be successful." 

So how does that statement apply to all of the "things" and "stuff" we do.  Things like technology, websites, blogs, education, yada yada yada?  Well, let's take a look at some of those things:

1. Education - This is the basis of everything else.  You can't provide any adequate level of service if you don't know what you are doing. 
2. Technology - We often look at the technologies available to us as better ways to serve our own needs.  Actually, the ability for us to be more efficient in our business processes allows us to provide better levels of service to our customers and allow us to reduce alot of those traditional stressors associated with Real Estate transactions for both buyers and sellers.  Technology also allows us to identify more accurate listing prices and market listings in a much more effective way for sellers.  We can reach out to much larger areas with beautiful presentations like never before.  All of which is providing the best level of service to the customer who entrusted you with selling their property.
3. Websites - I'm going to mess with some heads here, I don't view my website as a "lead-generation machine".  Yes, lead-generation is a function . . . but not the only function.  My website also serves customers with providing not information about the area but also valuable services such as mortgage calculators, links to area websites and information, utilities connection, so forth and so on.  I (with help from my husband) have layed the site out through the customer's eyes taking into account internet-browsing behavior and what others have often said they want from a Real Estate website. 
4. Blogs - This new-found area is a great way to provide information and advice out to large groups.  It's a great way to serve the local community with news and information related to Real Estate and allow them to interact through comments. 

The list can go and on.  My point is that any business has to have purpose, and every business makes money.  Money is a purpose which is selfish in an unselfish profession.  Genuine purpose leads to vision which leads to a planning and strategies which leads to success.  For me, my purpose is simple . . . to assist sellers and buyers with their Real Estate needs working to make Real Estate fun and exciting the way it should be.  These are the some of the biggest and most important purchases for customers, and it's also a very exiciting time.  They trust me enough to assist them, I owe them the best I can give them.  Because when it comes down to it, I don't exist in this business without the customer.  So it's not about me, it's about serving them.