The Person You Just Met Might Not Be Who You Think

Today was an ordinary day in my world of Real Estate farming. Yes, I am still farming. As I walked up and down the street, I ran across a few friendly faces that I have greeted before. We stopped, we talked and I continued to make my way through the neighborhood. As I came upon my next block of homes, I ran into a gardener. As he pushed the loud, deafening lawn mower, I shouted hello. I also told him that I was going to place one of my flyers inside his truck since the window was open and he was sort of occupied. He smiled and said okay.

  As I continued along my journey, I ran into this same gentleman many blocks over later in the morning. He laughed and shouted, “You sure get around the neighborhood!” At which point I replied, “I just want to take over the neighborhood like you!”

He laughed and so began our long conversation. We shook hands and then he began to share his story with me. He said, “Ya know, I am not a gardener. I actually live a few blocks over.” He pointed to the other guy cutting grass and said, “That’s my gardener. I am out here cutting grass with him to work off the debt I owe him.” At this point we began to discuss the importance of doing whatever it takes to survive. I handed him my business card. As he looked at it, half-way surprised, he looked at me and said in a half statement-half inquisitive tone, “You are licensed! You are licensed and you are out here walking around.” I told him, that it is “probably the less glamorous side but yes everyone must do what they need to survive, including myself.”

Stopping and sharing a good story with this gentleman reminded me that everyone has a story to tell. Part of the job of Realtors across the Country is to stop and be a good listener. You never know who you might meet and they might not be who you thought they would be! Just as I thought this man was a gardener, he thought I was someone hired to deliver fliers door to door. Take some time to talk and most importantly to listen.