Andy I just read the email you sent out to all of us who answered your call to action - and I found the subject very interesting. Has anybody ever measured happiness before? We seem to be a pretty happy bunch - Especially ActiveRainers.
That is fascinating. I am a Mac using married, educated agent on a team from the West. 4 out of 5 says I am happy. :)
This is a happy bunch on AR. I like the fact that southern agents are most like to be happy. 
I have found nearly all of those I've met through AR to be very happy.
I'm a happy Midwestern agent.. love my job and am happy with life, even if I left real estate.
Some interesting stats that you've quoted.
Andy - I am somehow happy agent from the west. Thanks for the very interesting data!
This is an amazing survey. I think part of the reason we are so happy is because of the relationships right here on Active Rain... Don't worry- be Happy! :)
I love this survey...and very happy to say I work 60 hours by choice which allows me to have a never ending steam of prospects. I have been married for 30 years and he is also a REALTOR and I live in the south! I say this survey hit the nail on the head!
...and the happiest of them all??? may I submit...those who walk the land
I am happy just to awaken every day and behold it all...happy is a cup that when filled should be sipped....because the smallest amount works wonders
OK, I will be the one who notices the 800 lb. guerilla in the room, "the happiest agent on the block is the one who gets the call from the title company informing him/her the property has recorded and closed". Which means I get paid. Guess I won't be invited for tea.
PS. An agent gets even more "happy" when their children get a job.
I found the following fact to be really interesting:
I've been a Realtor in California for 32 years, and have always loved my choice of career.
I'm glad I participated in the survey and was fascinated by some of the results. Can this be a frustrating and trying business at times? Of course, but anything worthwhile isn't going to be easy. All I know is for every frustration and letdown there has been a lot of joy and happiness too! I like to focus on those aspects as that is a big part of why I choose to continue in this profession.
Maybe those who are not happy should move on to another career and leave it to those of us who are happy with their career choice. We'd all be a lot happier... I too am in CA and who wouldn't be happy here where it's selling season all year long?
Oh this one is easy. What makes me the happiest is a big fat check in my inbox after a big closing. That being said, I do work a lot of hours and I love it. But real estate became a lot more fun when the hard work started to pay off.
It is always good to learn what makes our career more fulfilling and rewarding. Thanks for doing this survey!
It is a good business and people that enter it usually are more optimistic than in other industries.
Working 60 hours a week was the biggest shocker to me in the survey. Great reminder that hard work = success.
84% of agents are happy with their careers? That number seems really high compared to the number of agents I run in to that aren't quite there.
I've found that new agents are happiest, agents in the weeds, not so much. Agents who've been around long enough to know that it is simple but not easy, seem to be the happy bunch you refer to!
I love being a Realtor and most of my friends, family and co-workers (mostly Realtors) would tell you that - even if they are the competition. I live in the South and I am married to my best friend and wife of 34 years. I have been a Realtor for 15 years and she joined me after the first year because she was tired of answering the phone and not being able to answer the questions. Funny thing, if I was getting into the business now she may not join me because now everyone calls my cell phone instead of the home phone. So we work together every day (and night and weekend) and I love being able to work with her. Yes, I guess I am one of the Happy Realtors! I am happy that God has blessed me with being able to have a wonderful career and life and somehow it all seems to work!
If agents are unhappy, why would buyers or sellers want to work with them? Agents have to breathe energy and joy into the process which is very nerve racking and exciting at the same time. We agents are there to help people fulfill their dreams and give people the lifestyle that they seek.
It is a tough business, but the highs are watching the joy of the customers grow and build as they get what they want.
Great infographic!
I think that agents overall are givers and the ones that stay in business the longest are the best at being givers. If you learn to give first, the rest falls into place - both money and happiness. Nice to see these stats. Sorry I missed the survey!
With all the nonsense that is going on curious what the poll results will be about 6 months from now.
Add in a glass or two of wine and we're happy campers! (Would wine skew the results of the survey??)
As I have said many times...I am an Anomoly!
I am extremely happy...do not make more than $150 k a year...nor do I need to...although this year may be an exception as I am working less and earning more...in fact... I do not work 60 hours a week...and never have in this industry...unless you consider sitting at a family or kid friendly function with a cold drink in your hand "working".
I do not use a mac or ipad but have an iphone5...I do live in the Midwest...in central Nebraska...where the good life really is good...with clean air, unlocked doors, lots of friendly folks, and miles and miles of natures beauty...
I do not use any lead generating software... nor will I in the future at this point...but I do have the Church and County Fair Directory...I am not on a team...although my wife of 27 years has had great input on my career...and my insurance agent and hundreds of friends might be considered on my team...and this biggy...I do not sacrifice family time for work time (not on your survey results but if you are working 60 hours a week those hours come from somewhere).
I may stay up way late and get up way late...or maybe not...I do not split my commission with any broker...I do not spend 2 or more hours a day on the phone or in front of customers or clients...(refer back to cold drink comment).
I do use what many people have forgetten will work very effectively...a handshake and a smile...I use one or the other or both all the time...and have fun doing it!!
Yep...all in all...I enjoy selling Nebraska Farm Land...I am not the biggest land broker nor the smallest...but I am one of the happiest!
Very nicely done a lot of great information and I do enjoy all the facts that came from the Rain
I love the entire infographic one. But not sure I want to share this one with the clients.
I don't own any Apple products, yet I'm happier than most agents I know that have Apple products. Being happy is simply a choice, so you are either optimistically happy or pessimistically unhappy IMO.
I have an iPad and an iPhone but a windows desktop. I guess I am two thirds as happy as I could be...interesting!
Everyone is happy in different ways. I'm happy when my clients and family are happy. Electronics shouldn't determine an individuals happiness but for some it does.
Have a blessed day
Andy - thanks for the Market Leader survey results! In early 2013 Forbes published an article with the results of a survey from CareerBliss. The survey results were pretty much the same. In survey results from 65,000 employee generated reviews Real Estate Agents came in the top 10 of the 10 happiest jobs. I will use some of this information in my blogs. Thanks!
I think you have to love this job to work hard enough to be a success. It has a very steep learning curve even though it has a low barrier to entry.
I like this inforgraphic. I think the only thing I could add is one of the characteristics of the happiest agent on the block is that their significant other isn't in real estate. LOL.
Well done. The one observation I have, however, is that you picked AR as a study group. I find that members and contributors on this platform are relatively happy and successful overall so I'm not surprised by these positive results.
Thank Andy. I must agree. I'm a very happy Realtor all of the Realtors I work with seem to be very happy. Add in a few company mixers and we're "Super Happy".
it is true, lol, that agents earning below 10k are likely unhappy.
And to be happy you must be married? That is UNETHICAL there!
Andy
thank you for sharing your article here I enjoyed reading it and happy yes
doing what I have done 33 years. There is nothing I could have done and enjoyed it more than real estate.