I still remember it so well, even after 30 years. It was years after college, and I ran into one of my most beloved instructors on the train. It was so great to see her. She inquired about my health, which was sweet, and then sort of guided the conversation to these health bars she was selling. EEK! I still feel that as a loss. My dear friend was not really concerned about my health, but was seeing me as a little payday.
So realtors are business people. We are salesmen. I have heard tell of insurance sales people who would join a church, work the congregation for their business and then move to the next flock to shear. Horrible. So what to do? For myself, I would never want my friends or family to suspect that I had ulterior motives in our relationship.
I know that I would always want to go to a friend if I needed to hire someone in their trade or profession. We trust our friends, that they will do right by us. I do feel that people should give very special rates to their friends. Of course it is always nice to cut folks a good deal. But more importantly, I think that when you engage a friend or family member, you are giving up the prerogative to strongly insist on a given level of service, or other considerations that you may want to seek. Some things we may have to "let go" to preserve the relationship, if the affair goes sideways. Noone wants to cringe at the thought of seeing that person, after somthing goes a bit hinky, at the next reunion.
So here's to forever friends and our best success in the coming year.
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