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Are We Being Too Guarded?

By Jim Hirschhorn

Real Estate Agent with Real Living Real Estate Solutions

February 12, 2009 09:17 AM

If you are on Facebook or even if you aren't you have probably heard about the "25 things about me" exercise that is going around. In the event that you haven't, it basically asks you to randomly write 25 things about yourself, presumably that people don't know about you. Try it. It is not so easy. The 1st one I read was from a close friend and he really got deep.

A few examples are..."22. I saved my son's life once. That's still an incredible thing for me to fathom." and "8. My Grandpop Sam died in 1973. I think about him at least once every single day."

This is deep stuff. Clearly a revealing and moving exercise. I'm not kidding. Try it. Try to write down 25 things about you. Why do I bring this up? Well there is always a flip side. I have read a handful of these writings and have also seen people who have taken the exercise to mean something completely different.

I won't put examples down of the others as i don't intend to embarrass anyone but when all of the 25 items are about work and self promotion, clearly the point was missed!

Are we being too guarded in life? Careful is one thing and we have heard our parents and grandparents remind us never to give any information over the phone or carry your social security card with you but with today's technology, there are many safeguards.

If we are able to reveal a little peek into ourselves, our lives and our personality, don't you think that we are able to reach an even greater number of people? If we all just stay in our houses and order pizza, how will the world know how much we have to offer?

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Maureen McCabe

HER Realtors - Columbus, OH

Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I am guarded. I would probably NEVER do the 25 Things about me. I could probably piece all the 5 things about me memes that we did over and over here and on our outside blogs since late 2006. I probably have 25 between those but you are probably not going to find anything deep or moving there.

I would not see the point of posting work and self promotion though either.

Feb 12, 2009 10:22 AM

Mary PAUL, ABR, CRS,GRI, e-PRO,

RE/MAX Advantage Realtors, Searcy, AR - Searcy, AR

I have always been a careful person. But I think you can be too careful, you have to have a life, just be careful. lol

Feb 12, 2009 11:18 AM

Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS

Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA - Murphy, NC

Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA

You're right, this is deep. I've had someone at a party ask everyone to tell one thing about themselves that no one else knows, but 25, I'd have to really have some quiet time for that list. I haven't made my list, but I don't think I'd feel it was something I wouldn't share. That's just me though. P.S. I still have our son's orange fishy teething ring in my freezer - and he's 21 yrs old and we've moved twice.

Feb 12, 2009 12:57 PM

Vanessa V. Simmons

Real Living HER - Columbus, OH

Realtor

I do think that being guarded is a natural reflex for many of us who have learned that to reveal too much can sometime come back to haunt you. Personal/Professional divide... Great Post

Feb 13, 2009 01:16 AM

Jim Hirschhorn

Real Living Real Estate Solutions - Orlando, FL

GRI, Real Living - Orlando

Maureen, your audience is dying to know more about you! :) The point is that it is a personal choice. Why do such an exercise if you don't REALLY want to? Silly, right?

Mary, Do you think being careful is generational or do we do what our parents did and so on...?

Barbours...throw out the Binky!

Vanessa, clearly all of our moves are based on our previous experiences as well as the experiences of people we know. I still have customers that are weary of renting their house because they know someone whose sisters, uncles brother had a bad experience!

Feb 13, 2009 04:11 AM

Douglas Garbe

Real Living Real Estate Solutions

I have always lived two lives. My professional one (whatever profession that would be at the time) and my personal life. Sometimes, rarely, the two would mix.

I have also noticed that sometimes when I find out TOO MUCH about a potential client or customer...it get's a little icky.

I really do not want to know ALL the details.

I mean, it's good to know the guy is sober, not stealing from his boss and he hasn't beaten the wife and kids for the last 5 years.......but keep it to yourself. Know what I mean.

Professional means biting your tongue and being a good listener.

In my book.

Feb 13, 2009 04:13 AM

Makes sense. I am extremely aware and careful of what I put out on the internet. From Facebook to ActiveRain to LinkedIn, I am very conscious of the fact that all of this information is public and could come back to bite anyone...even if they never run for political office!

Feb 13, 2009 04:17 AM

well I just did a "bucket list" on Facebook thanks to Kristal Kraft... Yes I prank called as a kid and there are a lot of X 's missing because I am deathly afraid of heights a lot of that stuff will never be X'd for me...

Why people want to jump out of planes, bungee jump, parasail etc. is beyond me.

Not sure if I did it though because I don't think I have ever posted anything to Facebook before... other than what posts from Twitter and I was trying to figure out HOW to turn that off the other day and could NOT find it.

Feb 13, 2009 04:34 AM

So let me get this straight. We may never learn 25 things about you but your bucket list is all set to go in the event of your death? It seems to me if one of your 25 things was to "not have a bucket list", you could kill 2 birds with 1 stone!

Feb 13, 2009 04:37 AM

I probably did it wrong... I don't think I SENT it. Which might be OK with me. I am not fond of all the notices from FB.

Feb 13, 2009 10:46 PM

Okay - so you really didn't need to know that about me. Is part sentimental and part just to drive our son nuts every time he comes over and opens the freezer.

Feb 15, 2009 02:17 AM

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