"Badges?... We don't need no... stinkin' badges!" is one of the most frequently quoted, misquoted, and parodied movie quotations of all time. The original quotation comes from the 1948 film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre starring Alfonso Bedoya and Humphrey Bogart. However, it is likely best remembered from the movie, Blazing Saddles, the 1974 satirical Western comedy directed by Mel Brooks and starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder.
In my lifetime, I've actually worn a number of badges. There were those tin ones I adorned as a child playing "cowboy". Those old black and white Saturday morning shows of Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, and The Rifleman were a regular fixation and offered role models: guys in white hats always going after the bad guys. In fact, they must have had such an impact that my family still enjoys taunting me with countless pictures, displaying me in my hat, badge, and armed with my trusty "6-shooter" refusing to go anywhere without them.
The one "badge" that I truly covet and one that holds a special place of honor is my Eagle Badge, attained at the tender age of 13.
(Sorry Active Rain). Scouting planted those early seeds, furthering my personal development and encouraging a commitment to serving my community. As I reflect back on the words in The Scout Law: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous... I am reminded these traits still apply affecting my daily role and responsibilities in my chosen profession. The Boy Scout Motto: Be Prepared. Those words remain fundamental to our daily routines and practice. (And yes, those are 2 Palms pinned on the ribbon of my Eagle Badge).
Later in life I served a community wearing a different badge. "To Protect and To Serve" were the words adorning my patrol unit.
What I find most intriguing is how closely the Law Enforcement Oath and Code of Ethics resembles those of our profession. A few extracted verses for comparison include, "...my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception... be constantly mindful of the welfare of others... Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided in me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty. I will never permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust... I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...
Perhaps it's no surprise then that I pursued real estate as a chosen career. As with Scouting and Law Enforcement, there's a sense of duty, a "need" if you will, to help, to serve and to protect. Today I wear only a name badge, my company logo and name proudly inscribed upon it. Attaching it to my dress shirt before heading out reminds me of the responsibility, the trust and the importance of what we do each and every day in this wonderful profession we know as real estate.
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