Deb - welcome! And your post is so true. To be successful in this industry, one's "heart" must be in it. Ours is a "people" business. Hope to read much more from you!
Great post and the emphasis should be if you're ONLY in it for the money. Of course, we all want to be financially successful,but if that is all we, or any other businessperson, care about, failure is imminent. So, yes, we are all in it to make a good living, but if all we concentrate on is the amount of cash that person represents, we are doomed.
Great post, Deb. Very impressive for a first post. Looking forward to reading many more of the same quality!
Hi Deb. While I appreciate the sentiments I am not doing this for charity. During my days off I use my time to donate to charity but when I am working I am compensated for my knowledge and experience. I make no apologies for that. I also tell my nieces and nephew not to be ashamed of making an honest living. There is no shame in working and being compensated for one's work.
For those that are just seeing the title...I know Deb personally because she's in my office ...but she is brand new to blogging ...ActiveRain and so forth. Be kind :)
I too believe that if I didn't give a certain level of care to my clients and treated them like a can of beans for sale it would not work for me. For others it does.
Of course we are not charity... and of course we need a commission check to survive. Bottom line is that if I just wanted a "paycheck" I can go work at an office behind a desk....seeing no one....dealing with noone but my PC.....a get a steady paycheck.
This is not just a "job" for me...and I have met many who have been in 'caring' businesses prior to RE ...like nursing, counseling etc...those are the ones you'll see giving their opinion on the JOYS of seeing a happy face :)
Some can be a bit emotional (I'm not saying wrapped up personally in a transaction but at least putting some feeling into the NEEDS of our clients) and some can be a rug.
I say...whatever works for the agent AND the individual in order to click for a good 'business' relationship.
Great post to start a discussion! As has been mentioned, balance is the key. Somewhere in between lies the truth. There is nothing at all wrong with getting a fair return for your work. However, there are easier ways to earn a living, so a love or passion for it will make you more sucessful. Good luck to you!
Welcome Deb, Obviously earning a living is important. How you do business though is important part in anyones success. Repeat business and referrals come from happy clients.
Very very true. I once heard a former colleague say, "I'm just looking for my next paycheck". While I appreciate the honesty, I felt sorry for their client(s). Always put your client's best interest out front when they are trying to find a home and the rest will come. They will appreciate you, respect your expertise and value your sincerity and be clients for life and you won't have to "look for your next paycheck", it will find you!
Like with everything else... if you are passionate about what you do, you will be successful. Simple.
My, my, my. Who knew I'd have so many comments. I want to first thank all of you for even reading my post, and also want to personally thank my private cheerleader - Sally (Celeste) Cheeseman..... ;)
A few of you vehemently disagree with what I wrote, and to that I say, you are most certainly entitled to your opinion. No doubt you feel passionate about your work and that is a good thing. I would be remiss, however, if I didn't clarify a couple of things. Jeanne Gregory said it best. The OPERATIVE word that I used was ONLY. "If you're ONLY doing this for the money....". However, I, too, am not in the charity business. I get it when someone says:
- I am not in the priesthood.
- This is not missionary work.
- I am not out to save the world.
- I am not willing to shed blood for a customer.
- I do not feel obligated to "think" for my customer.
I think it goes without saying that most, if not ALL of us wouldn't be doing this without compensation. The only point I wanted to make, certainly in my humble opinion, is that true gratification comes not in the form of monetary gain, rather, it is in knowing that you made someone's life better and fuller as a result of your efforts. I, for one, believe that one reaps what one sows. I am a firm believer in putting my clients needs first, similar to what Karen Feltman wrote. She suggested that her client take a less expensive home because of her desire to put the emphasis not on herself, but rather on her client.
Nevertheless, I do not expect the world to agree with my thinking, and if you oppose it, again I say, you are in fact entitled to your opinion.
From the land of Aloha, I wish all of you success and a prosperous New Year!
Deb...Okay...so .......now I'm a cheerleader? lol.....Come have lunch with me :)
Hey Deb~ I completely agree, clients don't really care how much you know, they want to feel how much you care. Welcome to AR. DJ
Deb, your first broker was a very wise woman, and I agree with her 100%. Anybody who does anything ONLY for the money will fail. If a person has to force themselves out of bed every morning and force themselves to go to work just for the money, then I would call that a complete failure.
One of the things that I sometimes feel ashamed about is the public's perception of real estate agents as money hungry charlatans with a huge sense of entitlement who earn way too much money for what they do. I am well compensated for what I do, but I will readily admit that this is by far the easiest way to earn a living that I have ever had. I do enjoy the work though.
Welcome! Welcome!! Welcome!!! to ActiveRain! Lots of opportunity here to generate and grow your business, have a good look around and jump in! You can really get your name out in to the world more efficiently then any other way on the internet with ActiveRain!
ACTIVERAIN Quick facts!
- 225 points for each blog 10 a week
- "Do a piece on several of your local subdivisions"
- 25 points for each comment 10 per day
- Comments get you noticed by other Rainmakers and they comment back on your blogs
- 25 points for each re-blog 10 per week
- Find great blog pieces that you like and re-blog them!
Yep, I'm enjoying the financial benefits of this industry. However in order to be successful, you must detach yourself from the pay cheque at the end of the transaction. If you always put your clients first, you will be well rewarded. I cringe when I hear agents say, I need the $, they must buy this house.
Deb, Congratulations on Your Featured Post! Welcome to the Rain! Active Rain is a great place to share your knowledge, expertise and thoughts, as well as network and learn so much from the vast pool of talent already onboard.
Welcome Aboard and Much Success!
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