I'm a pretty even keeled guy. The Marine Corp taught me discipline....balance. Today, being a father of two boys ages 10 and 14, I can honestly say that it takes a lot to get me angry. I'm usually unaffected by ignorance.
But I can't seem to shake this one.
It gets to me when I walk into a FSBO listing appointment and the seller tells me that other agents spoke negatively about me or my company. I work hard to preserve my reputation. As anyone in sales will attest...your reputation is everything. It takes a lifetime to build and a few minutes to destroy. So I hold it sacred.
Don't get me wrong. I've been blessed to work with some fantastic agents and brokers from competing companies over the years. After all, this is one of the only businesses in the world where we, as competitors, must work together to meet a common goal. So why make it more difficult if it doesn't have to be?
When ANYONE asks me about one of my competitors, I speak of them very highly. I never, ever, speak negatively about any of my competitors to potential clients, or anyone for that matter. I've always felt that it makes you look like a small person if you need to denigrate a competitor to accomplish a goal. And I honestly believe that any reasonable person would agree.
I recently went on a FSBO listing appointment with one of my new agents. As we sat in his living room, the seller began to tell us how other agents he sat with earlier either blasted me and my company or said they'd never heard of us. I especially love the "never heard of em" line when that particular agent and I are in each other's phone contacts and we've closed deals together.
And this isn't the first time.
Is it really necessary to talk trash about your competition? No, it isn't. My agent and I walked out of that FSBO appointment with the listing. We didn't lie or denigrate any competitors. We got the listing on our own merits.
To the agents who talk trash....in my best Boston Townie accent....How do you like them apples?
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