Purple Haze

This past week, I found myself imagining what the future will look like when I obtain a broker’s license. For the past few months I have been studying for the brokers test. I have always been told by my mentors that one of the most sure fire ways to success is to use positive mental imagery to help create the future you envision for yourself. I know, it is very “The Secret”, only not really. It has been proven, time and again, that those who approach new endeavors with confidence and resolve are more likely to see those goals reached, in whatever the field may be. Being resolute with intention is definitely a good practice even if you just need the motivation to go to the grocery store.

In my experience, resolve and determination paired with tenacity and the ability to never give up are keys to success in life, especially if you have chosen a life in real estate.  My mini mental vacation took place in between the highly exciting legal descriptions chapter and the always informational taxing real estate investment chapter. I imagined my modern and minimalistic industrial office space that overlooked the bustling city. I envisioned the line of agents lining up at my door step to be a part of the hip and exciting brokerage that I created. You get the idea. The silliness of this is not lost on me, but it works.

As a result, I found myself researching domain names for my future company. I came up with a few that have real potential and of course I am keeping those under my hat for now. In researching my options I came across many “helpful” sites. One of which was more like a message board than an informational site. What I found here stopped me cold in my tracks and is the motivation behind writing this blog post.

Right before my eyes was an entire board filled with real estate professionals who were asking others to help them come up with a name for their real estate business. Yes. You read that correctly. Do people really do this? According to some, namely my wife, I am a bit of a control freak. The notion that there are some who seek out counsel from strangers online about naming a business is shocking to me. This concept would never even float across my consciousness. In fact, this would be found underneath the four millionth thing on my list of things to do in life. Once I shook off the shock of it, I realized that if I were a customer looking for a broker that knowing they were unable to name their own business would probably send me running in the opposite direction. Customers want confidence and creativity in the professionals that they choose to work with. I would have serious questions about their effectiveness and drive. I may be simplistic and a little too wavy gravy in my approach, but to each their own.

Obtaining a broker’s license is something that any licensed agent can decide to do. Some will pass the test, others will not. For those who do pass the test, the road to success will be dependent upon their ability to run an office, recruit quality agents and a million other things on any given day. I venture to guess that those whose pleas for help in naming their brokerage may not be the ones who blaze trails in this industry. In my humble opinion, whether you are in real estate or selling bananas at the local farmers market, your brand is something that only you can truly decide on. I tend to be more philosophical than most and I believe that an important part of the beginning stages of creating something new is being able get inspired and that the right name will present itself when the time is right.

 The real estate business brings just as many rewards as it does challenges. My hope is that we all remember that approaching any challenge is worth every bit of time and energy that it requires and that the potential for reward is infinite. When we are allow ourselves to imagine our futures we will find all of the answers we need within ourselves. Oh, and closings, many many closings.