Home > Blogs > Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living > NW Living Brokered by eXp Realty

Live good. Be happy. Be AUTHENTIC. Be DIFFERENT. Be YOU!

By Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

Managing Real Estate Broker with eXp Realty

January 06, 2008 05:29 AM

I was recently Meme'd. And while sharing some very-off-subject-from-Real-Estate-things about me with the folks on Active Rain was an exercise in, well, exorcism of my past follies, I recognized something VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT REAL ESTATE MARKETING (for that matter...ALL marketing) that I think is worth sharing.

I am convinced that we are meant to bring ALL OF THE funny, weird, silly, tragic, educational, insightful, things that make up WHO WE ARE to our careers, our families, and our friendships.

I truly believe that when we bring our WHOLE SELVES to whomever we come in contact with...the experiences of the past then get the opportunity to do what they are meant to do...they are meant not only to grow YOU, but are also meant to help YOU CONNECT WITH OTHERS.

It is so important not to compartmentalize all of that "Stuff" that, when put together, makes YOU...YOU from your Real Estate Career! Share it. Laugh about it. Cry about it. Snicker, and cavort about it. Share WHO YOU ARE with your clients...because, just like you, they are PEOPLE TOO.

What a funny thing LIFE is!

Live good. Be happy. Be AUTHENTIC. Be DIFFERENT. Be YOU!

-Mimi

Mimi

Comments(18)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mimi, I am so on board with your thoughts here about being YOU. I discovered that immensely in researching a career in real estate and talking to countless agents in my office and many other offices. You do the world a great disservice if you ARE NOT ALWAYS YOU!!! Everyone has their own unique story.

Jan 06, 2008 05:42 AM

Chuck Marunde

Sequim & Port Angeles Real Estate - Sequim, WA

Sequim Real Estate Broker

Mimi, I like your post and agree. The joy of being a real estate agent is that we are all about relationships. Well, I personally think all of life is about relationships, but certainly if we are to be successful in real estate, we must become experts on relationships. With that in mind, I think our personal personalies, with our unique personalties and quirks, good, dumb, great, incredible, silly at times, discerning, spontaneous, and personal is part of what builds a strong and long lasting friendships. [I had fun using personal and personalities so many times in that sentence. I'm so silly.] Thanks for your thoughts. Hey, you're just across the pond from me. I'm in Port Angeles. Hi.

Jan 06, 2008 05:44 AM

Frances C. Rokicki

Fran Rokicki Realty, LLC - Bolton, CT

Broker-Mentor,CRS

OMG! So true, often my clients mention that I am just like someone in their famiy! Talk about funny! Of course, I ask, and you do love this person, right? That always brings chuckles and nodding for yes:)

Jan 06, 2008 05:45 AM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Gary-

It seems so simple, yet so many folks think that their business life should be an entirely different entity from their personal life. What a loss for them and the folks they get to work with.

Thanks for your comments!

Live good. Be happy.

-Mimi

Jan 06, 2008 05:48 AM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Chuck-

Howdy neighbor! My daughter and I have spent many hours hunting for agates on a VERY SPECIAL BEACH by Joyce...so I know right where you are.

Thanks for the awsome comments.

Live good. Be happy.

-Mimi

Jan 06, 2008 05:50 AM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Frances-

I am so glad that you share your unique 'self' with your clients.

Keep on keepin' on.

Live good. Be happy.

-Mimi

Jan 06, 2008 05:51 AM

Lu Kalaj

Vision Realty Centers - Brighton Township, MI

I appreciate the reminder to be yourself. Often what I see, are Agents who have to work hard at not being themselves, so they can mirror the other person, for a sale. What about that? Glad to see you, as well as many others, just want to be themselves. Hope you have a great year, 2008. God Bless, Lu

Jan 06, 2008 06:07 AM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Lu-

Thanks for the nice comments! I think we have to BELIEVE that "What is FOR US will not GO PAST US." and TRUST that we get the opportunity, being ourselves, to work the folks we are INTENDED to work with.

God's blessings to you too!

-Mimi

Jan 06, 2008 06:17 AM

Jo-Anne Smith

Oakville, ON

Cute post, Mimi....I'm currently wearing two different coloured wool socks...this time of year I don't care where I find the wool socks (the sock bag is filled with loners who's partners got eaten by the ravenous dryer monster) as long as my feet are toasty!

remember Dr. Seuss? He said one of my favourite things of all time "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

((-:

Jan 06, 2008 01:34 PM

Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~

Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT

Mimi-I do agree with you. People do want to see us as we are. Nothing different.

Jan 06, 2008 05:07 PM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Jo-Anne-

Dr. Seuss was one of the greatest philosophers of all time! I keep a copy of Oh, The Places You Will Go! in my office at all times.

Live good. Be happy. Be YOU!

-Mimi

Jan 07, 2008 02:23 AM

Tom Plant

WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA

Mimi - I couldn't agree with you more. Do you do advertising? I'd be very interested in hiring you to do a campaign for me.

Jan 07, 2008 02:54 PM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Tom-

I do all of my own ads, I design, build, conceive, dream about, have fun with, and enjoy them immensely...and, I have helped people develop their soul into a marketing campaign (logo, headers, tags, etc...). But, I do not have the time to develop and produce all of the pieces necessary for an ad campaign for someone else.

I am selling a lot of real estate right now! How blessed am I? So, I hardly have the time to keep up on building new marketing stuff for my own business.

I would make time to consult with you, or brainstorm with you about ad campaign concepts and would be happy to do that for/with you. What, exactly, are you thinking you need help with?

Live good. Be happy.

-Mimi

Jan 09, 2008 06:00 AM

Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459

Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI

Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Mimi

Always dare to be different

Tom Braatz

Jan 09, 2008 09:48 AM

Tom Plant

WINEormous.com - Murrieta, CA

Mimi - You hit the nail square on the head. That to me is the essence of blogging.

Jan 25, 2008 02:26 AM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Tom and Tom-

You think this little ad stuff and blog stuff is cool...

come check out my new webite (designed and built by Yours Truly!) www.livegoodbehappy.com

Cheers!

Live good. Be happy.

-Mimi

Jan 28, 2008 08:59 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mimi, I am so on board with what you said about bringing your whole self into your work. Why would you want to do otherwise? I have always been authentic but to some that is a new concept. I guess they weren't comfortable with themselves all along.

Feb 02, 2008 06:35 AM

Mimi Osterdahl, NW Living

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

"Do good work for good people."

Gary-

I think it is simply a good reminder that PEOPLE are the driving force for business. People are made up of lots of different experiences and personalities. When we put on a "Super-Realtor" suit, instead of going into our business as ourselves...we lose some of the most treasured experiences we can have as human beings...connecting, personally and AUTHENTICALLY with eachother.

Yes, we have to be EXPERTS at what we DO...but we also have to be EXPERTS at who we ARE.

Live good. Be happy. Be authentic. Be YOU.

-Mimi

Mimi Osterdahl / The Muljat Group Realtors / Bellingham, Washington / www.LiveGoodBeHappy.com

Feb 02, 2008 07:12 AM