I was fortunate enough to attend the Women's Council of Realtors Luncheon on Thursday, March 13 in Baltimore. I am not a member, but was invited as a guest by Arlene Blaker from IMC Lending, who is a dear friend of one of my dearest friends. I wasn't sure I was going to attend until Arlene forwarded me a copy of the agenda which read:
1st Annual Affiliate's Fair
TOPIC: What's a Blog Anyway?
SPEAKER:
Margaret Rome
It was like it was meant to be because a few weeks earlier, I was sitting in my GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) class and my instructor kept referencing a Realtor named Margaret Rome. Being new, I had never heard of Margaret Rome. Listening to the stories and situations my instructor exampled, all I kept thinking was how I would be able to achieve that level of success and respect in the Real Estate industry. Everyone wants to be successful, but success can mean different things to different people.
I was in the travel industry for many, many years and I feel like I did reach that level of success and respect with both my clients and other travel agents alike. I was at the top of my game when I left the travel business. My success came by always focusing on my clients wants and needs before anything else. I used to laugh because the travel agency would always run sales incentives to promote certain travel vendors. I was the number one producer in the office and I would always loose. WHY you ask? Because I did not sell what my company wanted me to sell - I sold what my customers wanted and needed. My incentive, my reward, was a happy and satisfied customer every time.
So when my GRI instructor kept talking about Margaret Rome, I felt a connection even though I had never met her. She was, I felt, who I was as a travel agent and who I wanted to become as a Professional Realtor. And now I was excited at the opportunity to meet this woman in person and I was not disappointed. She was a true professional, poised, well spoken, confident in her presentation and demeanor and I could only watch her with envy.
I had started a blog, so the topic was of interest to me as well. I started the blog without a lot of knowledge and had no responses. I was going to give up on it, until I listened to her presentation. She restored my faith in blogging. So I set up this new blog and got rid of the old. Figured I would give myself a fresh start. So thank you Margaret Rome because here I am blogging and enjoying every word. And after hearing you speak, it doesn't really matter if anyone reads them now, because as I write my blogs from now on, I will remember you, and that will keep me focused on my goals. I don't think the Real Estate Industry has alot of role models, but as a Rookie Realtor, you are mine. My success in the workplace has always been about earning the respect of my clients and colleagues alike. If in the next few years people know me and respect me as they respect you, regardless of the number of transactions I make, THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL I CONSIDER MYSELF A SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL REALTOR.
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