There’s no question about it, there are many promises and statements being made during this emotionally charged political campaign season. They often leave the lips in absolute terms, by those hoping to become president. It’ll be interesting to witness how quickly the political promises will dissipate into the dustbin of historical rhetoric, once the new president is elected. Will that Wall be built? Will the Mexicans pay for it? What about that $15.00 an hour minimum wage – Will it become reality?
Dogmatic statements made by politicians may work for politicians, but they won’t work very well for real estate professionals.
How many of you have heard real estate professionals speak with authority about things in absolute terms when they ought to be presented as only a possibility, or a maybe?
Most of us know the reality is often far less exuberant, than using the verb, "CAN" in the context of something. There are other less committal verbs to describe things and events.
As a real estate professional, whether you get into trouble or not, will often depend on how well a lesson I received years ago in an 8th grade English class, has also been learned by you.
During my critical 8th grade year, Mrs. Kane, the English teacher, taught us the “State of Being” verbs. There are 22 of them, and she made us memorize each and every one them. They are as follows:
Is - Be - Am - Are - Was - Were - Been - Has - Have - Had - Do - Does - Did - May - Can - Might - Could - Must - Shall - Will - Should – Would
The lesson is about understanding the importance of not emphatically stating that something "IS" something, when in fact it "MAY" only be something instead. Or stating something "WILL" be done, when it “MAY” or "MIGHT" only be done!
As real estate professionals, mixing up state of being verbs, and not selecting appropriately while communicating in the business world, can find us treading into painful litigation territory - Especially, if the "F" word gets tossed about. The "F" bomb in this situation is the 5-letter word, "FRAUD" - rather than the 4-letter “F” word.
And neither you nor any of us needs that!
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