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Memories at ActiveRain - Christmas morning and the silence.

By
Real Estate Agent with Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME

Christmas lights in San Antonio, Texas.

photo courtesy of Corey Leopold

I had a lot going on in my life.

It was Christmas Day 2008.  I was just less than a month into blogging here on ActiveRain, just slightly over that with my blogging on AgentGenius, and my fledgling site looked nothing like it does today.  My real estate career wasn't yet a year old and I was just a few short days from celebrating my second year in my new city.  I loved what I knew of real estate, but hadn't really found my footing quite yet.

I had had two featured posts by that Christmas morning and I was thrilled that anyone cared enough about what I wrote to think it was worthy of a feature.  This crisp (yeah, it was actually slightly cool for Texas) morning, I woke up before my wife and had some time to reflect on a lot of things.  While sitting having a cup of coffee, I opened my laptop on the deck out back and typed out a post.  It was a personal post.  One of my first.  It had nothing to do with real estate and everything to do with me.  It was just some thoughts in my head that spilled down onto my keyboard and into your households via ActiveRain.

Shortly after clicking the "Post Blog Entry" button, my phone began to vibrate.  I actually doubted many people would even read the post, as it was Christmas morning, but I was wrong.  ActiveRain was alive that morning.  Alive and reading.  When I realized the post had been featured, I chuckled at the fact that I was probably one of the few that wrote a post on Christmas morning, so the pickings must have been a little slim.

Regardless, I learned something that day.  Something that has served me well in blogging and real estate.  Being yourself is a crucial component to any business plan - especially one involving blogging.  I knew it before this, but seeing the reactions from others here at ActiveRain really hit home that morning.  I haven't stopped since.  It was a pretty cool gift that morning and one I hope to repeat soon (Christmas isn't that far away).

Read the original post here on ActiveRain:

Christmas morning and the silence.

Comments (15)

Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Matt:

It's hard to belive that you have been in real estate for such a short time. Through your writings you sound like a veteran.

That was a nice Christmas post and a different angle on the day - the quiet. It's so true.

Sep 17, 2009 01:51 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

awwwwwwwwwwww sweet post Matt. Glad to know you!

Sep 17, 2009 01:51 AM
Matt Stigliano
Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME - San Antonio, TX

Claudette - It was a really cool morning for me.  My life was in quite a bit of flux having just left behind a career of 14 years and moving to a new city (something I'm good at).  That moment was particularly good for me.  Gave me a few needed moments.  See my comment to Missy to understand why I feel I'm able to "sound like a veteran."

Missy - You ought to know I'm glad I know you as well.  You're one of the original handful of people that really helped me figure things out and shape my career.  If I hadn't discovered AgentGenius and ActiveRain and just went by what I was told in the office (my old office), I probably wouldn't be where I am today.

Sep 17, 2009 01:54 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Matt you are funny man. Sounds better than waking up with a stocking full of coal:)

Sep 17, 2009 02:16 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Very well done Matt, you are quite an insightful writer. The best to you!

Sep 17, 2009 02:42 AM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

ToulaRosebrock,com

Hi Matt:

Congratulations on all of your successes...

We need to be ourselves...HOW VERY TRUE!!!

Sep 17, 2009 04:52 AM
Matt Stigliano
Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME - San Antonio, TX

Bill - I usually just a stocking full of Swedish Fish.  Every year.  And I'm not complaining.

Wanda - Thanks.  I just wrote what comes off the top of my head usually, which is how I love to write.

Toula - If you're not yourself, then who are you?

Sep 17, 2009 05:10 AM
Susan Brown
Keller Williams NE, Kingwood Texas (Humble & Atascocita too) - Kingwood, TX

Thanks for sharing your AR memory.  I did chuckle at the "crisp" description of a Texas morning - I don't think I've said that yet! 

Sep 17, 2009 11:07 AM
Mark Hall
Realty One Group Cascadia - Vancouver, WA
Homes for Sale Vancouver Washington

Dude, nice new photo. I think the old one was a little more "Rock Star."

Sep 17, 2009 04:42 PM
Matt Stigliano
Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME - San Antonio, TX

Susan - Crisp for Texas is anything below 85. Haha.

Mark - The one of me in a suit was more "rockstar"?  Really?

Sep 18, 2009 12:31 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Matt - That is a good reminder to be yourself.  Especially when choosing a Realtor, many people want to choose someone they like personally.  It's good to let people get to know you.

Oct 05, 2009 05:30 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Great post Matt and sorry it took me so long to read it!

Oct 11, 2009 05:22 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

thats neat - but I have to tell you - you'll now have some stiff competition Christmas morning! lol

Oct 20, 2009 04:42 PM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Hello Matt and you never claimed your signed photo print from Robert Swetz for your post winning! Please take a look at this link ..........

Memories at Active Rain Contest Winners Announced!

VB ;o)

Dec 17, 2009 10:56 AM
Matt Stigliano
Kimberly Howell Properties (210) 646-HOME - San Antonio, TX

Robert - I somehow missed the post announcing the winners!  Thanks for letting me know.  I'll shoot you an email when I'm done looking through the photos.

Dec 18, 2009 11:37 PM