I've always been proud of what I did for a living. I was a criminologist for 18 years, and though I sometimes got flak for working for the federal government, people usually had the impression that what I was doing was honourable, that it would help make our world a wee bit safer.
When I stayed home for 5 years to raise my two sons, that too was honourable.
When I left criminology and started my Montreal home staging business, that was at least interesting and gutsy. I thought it was honourable too - helping homeowners get the most from their investment, and helping buyers see the true potential in a property.
And then I became a Montreal real estate agent. And something changed. Now, when I tell people what I do for a living, I usually get one of three reactions:
- Suspicion. I see it in their eyes and in their body language (it's the criminologist in me). They want to get away from me as quickly as they can politely do so, and they certainly don't want to divulge any personal information for fear that I'm going to add them to my "contact" list and never let them go.
- Pity. I experienced this recently on a trip to Los Angeles. Without fail, every person who heard I was a real estate agent looked at me with pity. "Oh, poor you. " I was not prepared for this. And then when I told them that here in Montreal, we haven't had the crazy down market seen in so many U.S. cities, they think I'm also a spin doctor (see point above on suspicion).
- Boredom. Either they used to be a real estate agent themselves, or half their neighbours, friends and family members are or were. Yawn.
I help people sell their home. Their HOME.
And I help people find the house that will become their next home.
Home: The place where they will find peace, raise their family, seek sanctuary, create memories, gather with loved ones, find comfort, heal from wounds and mould themselves into the powerful creatures we all are meant to be.
There's honour in that, isn't there? There's gotta be.
Originally published at www.readysetsold.ca/blog
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