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Embrace Change To Fit In

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

April 29, 2009 10:58 AM

Change Computer For someone who grew up in the pre calculator days of high school with logarithm tables in Trigonometry class, to visit today's schools where some students are issued laptops and passes to carry cell phones, it illustrates how you must

Embrace Change To Fit In.

It doesn't matter if you were the school slide rule champion. Today is the day of Podcasts, USB memory sticks, and Twitter. We must adjust to the times, to best communicate with all those using the latest tools. Particularly the upcoming generations.

I had read that the 20 something generation was very much texting over other forms of communication. It seems like land line voice mail is almost dead. Not many listen to it. The hard copy newspaper? A struggling industry. Twitter and Facebook, the advent of something new with having your own web space and mini blogs.

Change is not to be feared. You just have to figure out especially with technology, what parts of it work for you and let the rest go by the wayside. Even with Twitter and Facebook you don't have to be "online" with them beyond a certain amount of time that is meaningful to you. All I can say from the extremely techy friends I hang around with, is hang on to your hat. Wait till you see the 4G cellular wireless speeds. Video is coming to a cell phone near you.

Hopefully we will still slow down and take walks in the park and throw a frisbee with the dog. And pick up our children and hug them. Some of the best things in life are free. Embrace change for what it is. Something different. Perhaps a better way to connect and help people in the world. Take note from the teenagers. They are working with it quite well. Old methods are not necessarily worse. Sometimes the new just can help you touch more people than before and share with them what you learned and maybe meet someone across the country in Sacramento or Idaho that you never would have met before, who for just a brief moment gives you that smile you need so very bad today. And you give them one too.

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Richard Weisser

Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA

Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Gary...

Or enjoy the smell of bread baking or the calmness of gardening or so many other "non-technical" pleasures. Good post!

Apr 29, 2009 01:34 PM

Tina Allen

Exit Realty Tri-County - Mount Dora, FL

I keep trying to be on top of new technology, however, I seem to figure one out and then there are five more to learn.

Apr 29, 2009 01:49 PM

Michael S. Mackey

CENTURY 21 All Islands - Mililani, HI

REALTOR ABR, CRS, GRI, RSPS

Bob Dillon, (cir. 1962?) 'The time's they are a changin'. Faster every day. too.

Apr 29, 2009 02:06 PM

Linda Jandura

Raleigh Cary Realty - Apex, NC

Realtor, North Carolina Buyer & Seller Specialist

Well Gary, I finally found someone who admits to using a slide rule. I actually took a mini 1 week course on it my senior year in high school- right before Calculators came out.

Life is so much easier now, and good thing, because it's so much faster too.

Apr 29, 2009 02:18 PM

Myrl Jeffcoat

Sacramento, CA

Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Ah yes, the old slide rule. I really need to dig mine out and show it to my grand-kids. I wonder if they will even recognize what it is. I had also heard the same thing about the 20 something year olds being more into texting and the techy stuff. And it does certainly seem they have a device appendaged to their fingers 24/7. But I still don't really get the whole Twitter thing! But a couple of years ago, I didn't get the blog thing, and look at how addicted I am now! Life really is such an evolutionary process:-)

Apr 29, 2009 02:23 PM

Connie Goodrich

Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX

CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas

With the world of technological distractions that are also blessings there are those things I hope will never change. Going to church as a family, sitting at the table for a meal undistributed, personal discussions face to face, sitting beside your child to help with math. We indeed have a lot of enhancements but there is no substitution for quality interaction with all tech toys put away.

Apr 29, 2009 02:34 PM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Gary, I'm all for change and really trying to keep up with at least some of the technology....I figure it just might help keep me young :)

Apr 29, 2009 02:58 PM

Carol Culkin

Diamond Partners Inc - Overland Park, KS

Overland Park Residential Real Estate

Gary - Change is the only way to progress in our society, and we never really understand just how modern technology can improve our lives until we give it a try - and then it seems that most of us don't want to step back.

Apr 29, 2009 03:10 PM

Mike Hendren

Mike Hendren Photography - Cloudcroft, NM

A man who remembers slide rules . . . . . .

Change is coming Gary and it seems to be coming faster all the time. But, it sure is fun!

Have a great day!

Mike
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Apr 29, 2009 03:17 PM

Sharon Richards

Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Gary - Technology is changing way to fast to keep up. Btw, thank you very much for the comment you left on Sharon Lee's post. You are definitely a sweet pie too!

Apr 29, 2009 04:57 PM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

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

I love that I can talk to my daughter and grandson every day, at 2000 miles away, and I love how my emailbox gets flooded with photos & videos and syncs the beating of my heart with the paces of the world and the running rhythms of loved ones...I agree though, real hugs are really the best! So all of the technology is a prelude. I always enjoy your posts! ;-)

Apr 29, 2009 05:17 PM

Jesse Clifton

Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

and change we must, my friend or end up like the dinosaurs. I read the other day that some school districts are no longer teaching cursive... they figured by the time the kids were 'of age' actually putting pen to paper would be archaic. I'm still sorta resisting the twitter movement tho. ;)

Apr 29, 2009 08:30 PM

Bruce & Mary Smith

Savannah Lakes Homes - McCormick, SC

REALTORS, Savannah Lakes Village McCormick SC

When we stop changing, we stop! Great post!

Mary

Apr 29, 2009 11:36 PM

Marvin de la Vega

Realty Source Inc - Chula Vista, CA

Great post! This is so true Gary! I'm glad I don't have to go get MLS books for my Dad (thank God he and the books are both retired). In light of all this tech, I've still held firm that I must be at the top of my game when face to face with a client regardless of the tools I have at my disposal. FB, Twitter, AR, my smartphone and touchscreen laptop can't sell that house. Although, having all the stuff certainly helps along the way...

Apr 30, 2009 01:47 AM

Sandy Nelson

Riley Jackson Real Estate Inc. - Olympia, WA

your Olympia area Realtor

As long as I have teenagers still living at home, I'm not worried about adjusting to new technology. After they move out I might need help with the remote control, or the i phone.

Sandy

Apr 30, 2009 03:26 AM

The Rains Team

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Hoschton, GA

A higher standard in real estate

Hi Gary: I love what you said: "Some of the best things in life are free." That is so true and I feel that by embracing technology and learning how to use it you'll become more efficient and effective with your work and therefore have more time to spend building those relationships with your family and friends...doing the things like going to the park or playing with the dog! Great post!

Hope your day is wonderful,

Anne Rains

Apr 30, 2009 03:43 AM

Janice Roosevelt

Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA

OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Your last paragraph is so important, Gary. I wonder sometimes at the lack of self-awareness in people, myself included, at how frenzied our lives have become.Will Gen X know how to write a resume or cover letter or report or will it all be abbreviated.

I'm grateful to have discovered yoga where at least for an hour or so you can forget about everything else and just breathe. I believe in finding some "vacation" time in every day!

Apr 30, 2009 05:21 AM

Peggy Wester

Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI

Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

I agree that change can be good. But I have to admit that I find it a bit disheartening when I see kids who are standing or sitting just a few feet apart texting each other rather than talking. I do agree that it is great that we can now connect with friends and loved ones in a matter of seconds, but at the same time I miss those handwritten letters and cards I used to receive. I think that's my biggest fear with all the technology -- losing the "human" interaction.

Apr 30, 2009 06:12 AM

Esko Kiuru

Bethesda, MD

Gary,

Change is constant. It appears that lately change is just coming at you at an increasing speed and you have to start making decisions which ones to embrace, like between Facebook and Twitter.

Apr 30, 2009 02:17 PM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Gary,

I always feel good reading your posts..they make me smile, remind me to do better, not to be afraid and many times just makes something I know clearer. Thanks Gary!

Apr 30, 2009 02:19 PM